Residents of Leros are increasingly protesting against the disproportionate financial burden they face when getting their vehicles inspected, a cost far exceeding the national average.
Currently, a standard passenger vehicle inspection (MOT) on the island costs €90, significantly higher than the Greek mainland average of €45 – €60 at private inspection centres, and even lower at public facilities.
This inflated pricing cannot be justified by operational costs or the challenges of insularity, especially given that the principle of “transport equivalence” is meant to ensure fairness between mainland and island regions. Instead, the issue appears to stem from monopolistic practices, as Leros is served by only one inspection centre, with no competition to regulate prices.
Leros Mayor, Mr. Timotheos Kottakis, has written to the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, expressing outrage over the situation. Despite his efforts to push for a review of the pricing policy, the inspection company has refused to adjust its fees. He also noted that the same firm previously received free electricity from the municipality, yet still maintained exorbitant charges.
The situation raises serious concerns about consumer protection and the need for state intervention. There is an urgent call for price caps on MOT services, particularly in areas lacking competition, to ensure fair treatment for all citizens, regardless of location.
Letter from Leros Mayor Timotheos Kottakis to the Minister
To: Deputy Minister of Infrastructure & Transport,
Mr. Konstantinos Kyranakis
Copied to: Minister of Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy, Mr. Vasilis Kikilias
Minister of Development, Mr. Takis Theodorikakos
Subject: Unjust MOT Pricing on Leros
Dear Minister,
A private vehicle inspection centre operates on Leros, charging our citizens the highest fees in Greece, €90 for a standard passenger vehicle, with similarly inflated rates for other vehicles. We question who sets these prices and on what basis. Our community is effectively trapped under an unchecked monopoly.
Despite constitutional protections for island regions, our legitimate demands for fairness remain unmet. We continue to stand as guardians of our homeland, driven by love for our country, yet we face unjust economic burdens.
From the outset, I engaged with the company’s owner regarding these unacceptable charges, but no compromise was reached. Notably, in 2021, under the previous municipal administration, this same firm charged the highest rates in Greece, despite receiving free electricity from the municipality.
Minister, I trust in your immediate intervention to rectify this exploitative pricing.
Respectfully,
Mayor of Leros,
Timotheos Kottakis