i got chatting to a Greek owner driver a couple of weeks ago, his truck was registered in Bulgaria. i asked him why.
all you have to do in Bulgaria is hand over 1500 euros, and they give you an o’licence, and it is much cheaper to buy a truck there. he explained that because the government in Greece was in such a financial mess, that it is charging higher taxes, and fees to such an extent, that all businesses are moving away.
no CPC required.
limeyphil:
i got chatting to a Greek owner driver a couple of weeks ago, his truck was registered in Bulgaria. i asked him why.
all you have to do in Bulgaria is hand over 1500 euros, and they give you an o’licence, and it is much cheaper to buy a truck there. he explained that because the government in Greece was in such a financial mess, that it is charging higher taxes, and fees to such an extent, that all businesses are moving away.
no CPC required.
Bulgaria has the lowest tax rate in the EU for businesses, however VAT is 20% same as UK, as for trucks being cheaper to buy that’s crap, even a 1994 car would cost you almost £1,000 here, that’s why most people import 2nd hand cars from other countries.
As for O Licences? Wouldn’t surprise me as money talks with the government officials, they recently introduced Video Cameras into the driving tests to make sure the buying of licence’s was outlawed, all it did was increase the black market price from 500 BGN to 1500 BGN according to the local papers here.
so, the o’licence bit could be true then?
limeyphil:
so, the o’licence bit could be true then?
Honestly speaking, yes it could be, lets face it if you can buy a car or LGV Licence then its only a case of crossing palms with silver in the Kat Office or who ever deals with the O Licences here.
The locals in our village have even stated that for 300 lev (About £145) you could just take the documents for a newly imported vehicle with its existing number plates and they’ll MOT it and issue new BG Plates for it without even seeing the vehicle and thats BG’s equivalent of Vosa
I took my car in for registering as it came from Italy, they simply took the old plates off, checked the Engine and Chassis numbers tallied with the Italian Documents, checked I had a first aid kit, triangle and fire extinguisher not forgetting a high viz jacket in the boot Lol and then tested the brakes on the rollers, that was the 12 month MOT costing £35 in total including BG Number plates fitted.
Government officials are paid a pittence, the local paper says they average around 800 BGN per month, which is less that £100 per week, corruption still exists despite the government trying to tackle it.
Whether its a copper looking to get £9 from a speeding ticket to pocket or local MP’s taking bribes to pass laws it’s all public knowledge. Read Novinite News online and you’ll see loads of reports of corruption even to the point of Judges in the courts taking bribes Lol