Vehicle safety, technical knowledge and maintenance checks
What the exam tests
This domain tests whether you can identify safety-critical defects and know the routine checks that keep a Category B car roadworthy. Questions cover tyres, lights, brakes, fluids, warning devices and periodic inspection.
Core rules
- Tyres must have at least 1.6 mm tread across the central three-quarters of the tread width and around the entire circumference. Check pressure when tyres are cold, using the vehicle manufacturer’s figures. Under-inflation increases heat, wear and fuel use; over-inflation reduces grip.
- Check lights, indicators, brake lights and reflectors regularly. Keep the windscreen, mirrors and lights clean. Check brake fluid, engine oil, coolant and screen wash, and act on warning lights rather than ignoring them.
- ABS prevents wheel lock under heavy braking and helps steering, but it does not replace a safe gap. ESC helps correct loss of control but cannot overcome excessive speed. TPMS warns of pressure loss; it is not a substitute for a manual check.
- Passenger cars in Greece are subject to periodic technical inspection at ΚΤΕΟ, first at four years from first registration and then every two years, unless the current rules set a different interval for the vehicle. A valid ΚΤΕΟ certificate is part of legal road use.
- Secure loads. A loose object in the cabin can become a projectile in sudden braking. Roof loads change stability and fuel consumption.
Worked example
A tyre-pressure warning light appears on the dashboard. The driver stops at a service station and finds one tyre at 1.6 bar instead of the recommended 2.2 bar. The correct action is to inflate to the manufacturer’s cold pressure, inspect the tyre for a nail or damage, and monitor it. Simply resetting the warning is wrong because the cause remains. If the tyre is damaged or the pressure falls again, the car should not continue at speed.
Traps
Do not check pressure immediately after a long drive and treat the hot reading as the target. Do not mix tyre types or sizes illegally. Do not assume that a recent service replaces the ΚΤΕΟ. Do not ignore a brake warning light or a burning smell. Do not carry heavy loose items on the rear seat.