Greece introduces sweeping reforms to digitize driver's licenses and fight corruption

Greece is taking significant steps to end long-standing issues of bribery and delays associated with obtaining driver's licenses and vehicle registrations. The Ministry of Transport has announced six key interventions designed to curb corruption and simplify services for citizens.

These reforms are ushering in a new, fully digital era for driving licenses, vehicle transfers, and driving tests. The goal is to minimize human interaction, enhance transparency, and speed up service delivery. Over 2.1 million electronic applications have already been submitted, with the ministry aiming to reduce in-person visits and ensure all actions are digitally recorded.

Key changes include exclusively online applications for license renewals and new permits, leading to automatic license issuance after passing the practical exam. A new platform, report-diplomata.gov.gr, allows citizens to report incidents of bribery or delays, anonymously or by name. Practical driving exams will be recorded by cameras to address disputes, and theoretical exams will move to a new digital platform with enhanced security and monitoring features.

The digital transformation aims to eliminate queues and the need for physical paperwork, making the process more efficient. The ministry is also clearing a backlog of approximately 40,000 pending licenses accumulated under the old system. The pilot phase for the new digital theoretical exam system has begun in Heraklion and will be rolled out nationwide.