Tips For Renting A Car And Driving In Greece

Why you should rent a car in Greece

If you’ve followed any of my previous travels then you know that I an absolute sucker for a good road trip. Renting a car gives you the freedom to go anywhere you want, whenever you want. You want to go on a sunrise mission to Oia in Santorini? You’ll need a rental car! You want to admire the sunset over on Mount Zeus in Naxos? That’s right, you’ll need a rental car!

The best way to get the most out of your time in Greece is to rent a car. You’ll have all of the flexibility that you can dream of and you don’t need to rely on public transportation. Honestly, I don’t think there’s anything I hate more than using public transportation. Even that’s it’s a more sustainable way of traveling, I simply hate it if I can’t explore every nook and cranny that a destination has to offer.

If you don’t have a rental car and you want to see certain parts of the country you’ll depend on taxi’s, busses and tours. These are either very expensive options or simply impossible to do sometimes if you want to visit a place very early in the day. It will take a lot longer to reach several destinations in one day and if you’ve booked a full day tour you’re also stuck if the weather turns out to be a complete disaster that day.

Renting a car will give you the possibility to go more off the beaten path , drive on coastal roads, pass by historic sites and along vinyards.

Where to rent your car

What do you need to rent a car in Greece?

When you rent a car in Greece you’ll need the following requirements:

You need a standard international driver’s license.
An International Driver’s Permit (IDP) may be mandatory depending on where you rent. If you are from North America, Australia, or outside the EU, you should arrive in Greece with an IDP to be safe
You must be at least 21 years old and have your driver’s license for a minimum of 1 year. But some rental companies do charge more if the driver is younger than 25 years old.
You need a credit card in your name
Your ID (or passport)

stone walkway under the bougainvillea flower plant

landscape photography of gray rock formations

Rental car insurance in Greece

Driving in a different country always requires some adaptation and a lot of times, especially in touristic areas, you’ll be dealing with a lot of other tourists driving. Often they are very cautious, yet scared drivers. Throw in a mix of locals that are driving like utter lunatics sometimes and you see why it’s necessary to have a good car insurance when you’re renting a car in Greece.

Typically, rental cars in Greece come with a basic Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), but this isn’t exactly insurance, and only covers the car for up to €1000-3000 EUROS worth of damage.

This is the amount they hold on your credit card until you return the car in one piece. CDW typically does not include tire, cracked windshield, or undercarriage damage either.

And this is why I ALWAYS book my rental car through SunnyCars! Cause every single insurance is already included in the total rental price. There won’t be any unpleasant surprises afterwards!

💡 TIP – Make sure you always carry your driver’s license, passport, insurance and rental papers with you

Is it safe or difficult to drive in Greece?

Most visitors find that driving on the Greek highways is a breeze. Driving on the Greek islands is fine as well, you just need to get used to the smaller roads and that some roads might not be in the best condition.

Always check the speed limits: Exceeding the speed limits can set you back from 100€ to 350€.
- In urban areas: 50 km/h
- On open roads: 110 km/h
- On motorways: 120 km/h
Roundabouts – Unexpectedly, those entering the roundabout have right of way and not the ones already on them.
In Greece, when you’re driving uphill and taking sharp turns, honk the horn to let the cars in the opposite lane know you’re coming!
Contrary to the driving rules, Greek drivers exhilarate when the traffic lights turn orange, anxious to pass it in time before it turns red.

Road rules in Greece

Like many other countries, Greece has its own road rules but here are some which may catch out any unsuspecting traveler on the road:

Driving side – In Greece people drive on the right side of the road.
Wearing a seatbelt while driving is mandatory. Not wearing a seat belt in a car or a helmet on a motorbike will set you back 350 €.
Children – Children under the age of 10 are not allowed to sit in the front seat in an effort to protect their safety. What’s more, it is obligatory for toddlers under the age of 3 to be seated in a suitable child restraint.
It is strictly illegal to use your mobile phone when you’re on the steering wheel in Greece. Talking on your phone without hands-free headphones will cost you 100 €.
Passing red traffic lights, or ignoring a stop sign will cost you 700 €.

Tips for renting a car in Greece

1. Make sure to check your rental car

This is my number one tip when renting a car in Greece, or anywhere else for that matters. It’s your own responsibility to check your rental car. Make sure to take many good and clear photos and detailed shots if there’s already some damage visible.

You will also receive a check-form before your rental officially starts. Make sure to see if all the damages are marked on the form. If this isn’t the case you need to tell the employee and have them add it to the check list before you sign anything.

2. Check what type of gas is needed for your rental car

This may sound pretty logical but it does happen. People put in the wrong type of gas at a petrol station and then of course the car won’t start anymore.

If you’re ever in doubt about which type of fuel you need, try to find the sticker in your rental car that provides that information. This can usually be found on the car key, on the dashboard, or on the fuel door.

There are gas stations everywhere in Grecce. What I like to do is download the map of Greece from before on Google Maps. That way you don’t need any data when you’re searching the map for a nearby gas station.

Where to rent a car in Greece

There are numerous options but I usually prefer to pick up my car as soon as I land at the airport or when I arrive to the port. But if you’re planning on renting a car in Greece during high season make sure to do so well in advance.

Car Rental and island hopping in Greece

It’s very important to know while planning your trip that most car rental companies won’t allow you to take your rental car on a ferry in Greece. So you will always have to book a separate rental car per island.

Even at the small chance that a rental car company does allow you to take their car on a ferry, the extra costs really aren’t worth it. Not only will the rental company charge an extra fee, especially if your drop off locations is on. adifferent island. But the ticket price for the ferry will also be a lot higher.

Charlotte

Charlotte Lint is the founder of Charlies Wanderings.
Charlotte has traveled all over the world and is based in Belgium where she also owns her very own dental practice.
She is an expert on writing efficient travel guides and finding unique places to stay.
Every month she helps over 134.000 people discover the most beautiful places in the world through her detailed travel guides.

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Tips For Renting A Car And Driving In Greece