Drivers involved in road collisions will face fines of up to €3,000 if they fail to move their vehicles when required, the police said in a statement outlining the provisions of new legislation and motorists’ obligations following traffic accidents.
The House of Representatives recently amended the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Law, with the changes published in the Official Gazette of the Republic on 21 April 2026. The amendment aims to ease congestion on the road network, particularly following minor traffic collisions.
What the law says
Under the new provisions, drivers involved in road accidents are required to move their vehicles off the roadway to the nearest safe location, provided that no visible bodily injuries have been caused and that certain conditions are met.
These include cases where police presence at the scene is not required, where the vehicles can be moved without towing and without causing further damage to the vehicles or the road surface, and where it is reasonable to do so under the circumstances.
Before moving their vehicles, drivers are required to immediately inform their insurance company, exchange essential details – including full name, insurance policy number, driving licence number, vehicle details and telephone number – and take photographs of the scene. The photographs must show the vehicles in their final positions after the collision, registration numbers, visible damage and the surrounding area. Drivers must also exchange the photographs and send them to a person designated by their insurance company.
Penalties
Failure to comply with these obligations constitutes an offence and, upon conviction, carries a fine of up to €1,000.
An offence is also committed by any person who incites, forces or attempts to incite or force a driver involved in a collision not to move their vehicle or not to carry out the required actions before moving it. Such offences are also punishable by a fine of up to €1,000.
Once a vehicle has been moved, the owner, driver or any person responsible for or in control of it is prohibited from parking or abandoning it illegally or dangerously, or in a manner that obstructs traffic.
In cases of non‑compliance, the legislation allows law‑enforcement authorities to move the vehicle, recover the cost of removal and impose penalties through the courts. These include a prison sentence of up to one year, a fine of up to €3,000, or both.
The police advise drivers who have moved their vehicle off the road following a collision that did not result in visible injuries to consult with their insurance representatives before leaving the location entirely.
