We remember the green card and the warning triangle - the international permit, not so much

Every summer, the same story: packed, booked, kids in the car - and only at the border do you realise something's missing. Greek police don't ask if you're on holiday. They ask if you have the document, and if you don't, you pay.

The green card (international insurance) is sorted in advance through your own insurance company, not at the border - and carry the original. A fire extinguisher, a warning triangle and a first-aid kit are trivial while you're still at home, but on the road each one carries a fine of 40 to 80 euros if it's missing.

But the biggest trap is the international driving permit. Plenty of people think their Macedonian licence is enough for Greece - it isn't. Without it, a routine check can cost you up to 300 euros. You get it at vehicle inspection stations or from drivers' associations, from around 700 denars - same document, but the price varies from place to place.

And the hi-vis vest? In Greece it's not a legal must, but it's recommended - one per passenger, in the cabin, not the boot. When you pull over on the motorway, it's too late to go looking for it.

The full checklist with prices and fines for 2026, beaches by region, the cost of the trip and live border cameras - we put it all in one place. Sort this out at home; at the border it's too late. See the full guide to documents for Greece and the guide to a Greek holiday.