What to sort out at home, before you leave

Every summer it's the same scene: a queue at Bogorodica, frayed nerves in the car, and someone realising at the barrier itself that they brought an ID card instead of a passport. Greece is in Schengen - with an ID card they turn you back. So the list below isn't bureaucracy for its own sake; it's the things that cost you money and time if you forget them.

Documents: passport, licence, green card

For Greece you need a passport (up to 90 days visa-free) and, alongside your Macedonian licence, an international driving permit. Greece is one of the few countries that genuinely demands it; you get it at home at the vehicle-inspection stations or driver associations for around 700 to 1,000 denars. Without it the fine runs up to 300 euros, and your insurer can dispute a claim after an accident. The green card (international insurance) is mandatory and is arranged in advance with your insurer - carry the original, not a copy.

The kit the police will check for

This is where people slip up, because nobody thinks about it until they're pulled over. The car must carry a working fire extinguisher (type S2, around 2 kg) - without it the fine is 80 euros. A first-aid kit and a warning triangle are also mandatory, each carrying a 40 to 80 euro fine. Hi-vis vests aren't legally required in Greece, but they're strongly recommended: one per passenger, in the cabin, so you can put it on before stepping onto the road in a breakdown.

The border is slower this year

Since April, Bogorodica and Evzoni take fingerprints and a photo on your first entry into Schengen, so instead of 20-30 seconds per passenger it now takes 2-3 minutes. That means longer queues, especially at weekends. Tolls (diodia) are paid only in euros, in cash or by card, and you should fill up before the border - fuel is pricier in Greece. Every price and fine for 2026 is laid out in one place.