Car Rentals in Greece: Documents, Insurance and Driving

Note: This guide focuses only on renting and driving a car in Greece. For ferries, flights, trains, buses, and local transport options, see our Greece Transportation Guide.

Renting a car in Greece can completely change how you experience the country—giving you access to remote beaches, mountain villages, and flexible itineraries that public transport simply cannot reach. However, car rentals also come with hidden rules, insurance traps, and local driving habits that many travelers are unaware of.

This guide explains how to rent a car in Greece safely, what documents you need, which insurance options matter, how to avoid common mistakes, and how to drive with confidence on Greek roads.

Before Renting a Car in Greece: Requirements & Documents

Age Requirements

The minimum age, length of licence holding and any young driver charge depend on the supplier and selected vehicle group. Confirm the actual contract before paying.

Credit Card Deposit

Confirm the accepted deposit card, cardholder name and required available funds. The hold and payment rules depend on the company, vehicle and protection selected; a debit card may not meet the supplier’s conditions.

Driving License & International Driving Permit (IDP)

Check official licence recognition for the issuing country and your residency, then obtain the supplier’s document requirements in writing. Bring the accepted original licence and any required permit or translation. A permit is not a substitute for the original licence.

Car Rental Insurance in Greece: What to Choose

CDW (Collision Damage Waiver)

CDW reduces your financial liability in case of damage but usually includes a high excess. Damage to tires, glass, mirrors, and the undercarriage is often excluded.

Full Insurance / SCDW (Zero Excess)

Check the exact excess, exclusions and deposit. A product labelled full insurance or zero excess may still exclude particular damage or contract breaches; external protection may reimburse a charge rather than remove the supplier’s hold.

Third-Party Coverage

Always check whether tires, windows, and the underbody are included. These are among the most common damage claims and are frequently excluded from basic coverage.

Choosing the Right Car for Greece

Why Small Cars Work Best

Narrow streets, limited parking, and tight village roads make Mini or Economy cars the most practical choice for most travelers.

Manual vs. Automatic

Most rental cars in Greece are manual transmission. Automatic vehicles are available but more expensive and should be booked well in advance.

Diesel or Petrol?

• Diesel: Better for long mainland drives
• Petrol: Ideal for short island trips

Driving in Greece: Local Rules & Survival Tips

Hard Shoulder Etiquette

Remain in the marked lane and do not move onto the hard shoulder to permit overtaking. Follow posted controls and drive conservatively rather than copying an unsafe manoeuvre.

Roundabouts

Follow the actual signs and priority controls at the junction. Do not assume that the arrangement matches the rule familiar from your home country.

Speed Limits & Cameras

Speed cameras are common on highways and near city entrances. Fines are issued automatically and forwarded through rental companies.

Fuel Stations and Toll Roads

Fuel stations on islands often close early in the evening, and many are closed overnight. Refuel before long drives, especially outside major towns.

Toll roads operate on major mainland routes such as Athens–Thessaloniki and Athens–Peloponnese. Both cash and cards are accepted at most toll booths.

Taking a Rental Car on Ferries

Transporting a rental car by ferry is not always permitted. Most rental companies require written permission before allowing vehicles on ferries.

In many cases, it is cheaper and easier to return the car and rent a new one on the island rather than paying ferry vehicle fees.

Parking Rules and Strategies

Read the local signs, payment instructions and time limits. Line colours alone are not a reliable national parking rule. Keep access clear and follow the municipality’s procedure for any notice.

Car Rental Pickup Checklist

• Take photos and video of the car before driving off
• Check tires, rims, mirrors, and windshield
• Confirm fuel level and return policy
• Review insurance documents and excess amount
• Ask about ferry restrictions
• Save emergency and roadside assistance numbers

Match the rental to the part of Greece you will explore

A car is often more useful for regional exploring than for an entire holiday. Spend your Athens sightseeing days without a rental if walking and public transport meet your needs, then collect a car for a Peloponnese route. This can avoid paying for a vehicle while it stands in city parking. In Crete, compare a city based stay with the days you genuinely need a car for villages or coastal outings. A rental does not make every distant beach a comfortable day trip.

Choose an island vehicle by road access, party size and luggage rather than appearance. A compact car can ease narrow streets, but it must still fit the occupants and bags safely. Reserve an automatic transmission explicitly if that is necessary for the driver. A photograph or generic vehicle group does not guarantee a particular model. Ask how a child seat is reserved and confirm the correct size and fitting arrangements before collection.

Compare insurance terms in writing

Ask what damage waiver is included, the excess and deposit, and which parts of the vehicle or circumstances are excluded. Tyres, glass, underbody, keys, unsuitable roads and unauthorised drivers can require separate attention. A product described as full protection may reimburse a charge afterwards rather than remove the rental company's deposit or excess. Read who provides the protection and how a claim would work before paying for two overlapping products.

Keep the contract and assistance number offline. If the vehicle is damaged, follow the company's reporting procedure and any requirement for police or other documentation; do not arrange repairs independently without agreement. Record the condition at collection and return with dated photographs, including wheels and existing marks. Ask the desk to acknowledge damage already present. A clear inspection protects the record without assuming that every scratch will result in a dispute.

Arrange mainland and island sections separately when practical

Taking a rental car on a ferry needs written permission from the company and confirmation of the applicable insurance. The ferry's ability to carry vehicles does not establish that the rental contract permits the crossing. Check vehicle booking, sailing conditions and return arrangements. Compare this with returning a mainland vehicle and collecting a separate island rental; the second approach can be simpler even when it involves an additional pickup.

A one way rental needs an actual confirmed return branch, its opening hours and any charge. Returning in a different town or island should never be assumed from a national brand name. For an early flight, check whether the desk or key drop operates at the time required and how the final condition is recorded. Allow time to refuel under the contract's policy and to reach the terminal after the return.

Drive conservatively and use lawful access

Stay within the marked lane and follow the posted controls. Do not drive on the hard shoulder to allow another vehicle to overtake. At a junction or roundabout, follow the actual signs and priority rules rather than assuming a familiar system from home. Give extra attention to pedestrians, motorcycles and limited visibility on village and mountain roads. Stop in a permitted safe place to read directions; the passenger or an appropriate mounted device can manage navigation.

An ordinary hire car may be prohibited from unpaved or unsuitable access roads. A mapped route is not proof that the surface is permitted by the rental company or safe for the vehicle. Ask about the final approach to remote beaches and accommodation, and park only where signs and local rules allow. Choose another destination if the legal access does not suit the vehicle. Do not block a narrow village road or emergency approach to obtain a closer photograph.

Questions to resolve before paying

Confirm the accepted original driving licence, any international permit or translation, the minimum age for the selected group and how long the licence must have been held. Legal recognition and the rental company's documentation policy are separate checks. Obtain an answer for the issuing country and your residency rather than relying on a universal statement about all non EU licences. An international permit supplements the original licence; it should not be treated as a replacement.

Finally check the deposit payment method, cardholder name, mileage, fuel rule, extra driver and late arrival policy. Give the supplier your actual arrival details and ask what happens after a flight delay. Compare the total contract price with the transport alternative for your itinerary. A car is worth hiring when it makes the planned days easier and fits the conditions, not merely because it appears in a standard holiday checklist.

Official information for your planning

Gov.gr: non EU driving licence recognition

Reviewed 11 October 2026. Recheck dated services, access, policies and official rules before travelling.