Renting a car in Greece — I Wish Someone Had Told Me This

After countless trips to Greece and six months living in Athens, I thought it was a good time to organise a small guide on renting a car in Greece, with plenty of information from the needed documents to the actual driving, from parking to petrol stations, from the ferry to the inslands to safety and finally scams too with my tips on how to avoid them and have the best experience.

So, it’s time to dive in.

Getting Your Licence Sorted

First things first, let’s talk about your driving licence. This is a bit of a hot topic in the forums, with some conflicting info, so let’s get it straight. If you’re from Europe or the UK, your national licence is generally all you need.

However, if you’re coming from outside Europe – say, Australia, the US, or Canada – it gets a little trickier. While some rental companies might hand over the keys with just your local licence, especially if it’s in Latin letters, the consensus, and what I strongly recommend for peace of mind, is to get an International Driving Permit (IDP). 

It’s typically pretty cheap, it lasts for a year, and can save you a world of trouble if you’re stopped by the police or, even worse, involved in an accident.

Picking the Right Car: Size & Transmission

When choosing your car, think small. I personally recommend a smaller car like a Fiat 500 or Toyota Yaris.

Greek streets, especially in old towns and villages, can be incredibly narrow, and parking spaces can be tight. You’ll be much happier manoeuvring a compact vehicle.

If you’re travelling with three people and a lot of luggage, you might need a small SUV, but be aware that even these can feel cramped with six bags.

As for transmission, manual is the default in Greece, like much of Europe. If you’re not used to driving a stick shift, make sure you specifically book an automatic car well in advance. They’re less common and usually a bit more expensive.

Booking Your Greek Car

My golden rule for renting a car anywhere is to book as far in advance as possible. This gives you a wider choice of vehicles and, more importantly, a better price. Peak season, typically from late June to early September, sees prices double and availability plummet. 

Another great tip is never book from a street office. You never know how trustworthy the rental actually is. Don’t believe Google Maps reviews with 5 stars based on just a bunch of reviews, maybe all locals. Possibly brothers, sisters and cousins.

Speaking of booking, for the last 7 years, I have been using a great aggregator website called DiscoverCars. Think of it like an Airbnb for car rentals, where every local and global provider is ranked between 5 and 10 stars based on real, verified customer feedback.

So I usually filter above 8 stars, or even 9, to shortlist only the most trusted companies and book the best deal from there. Another great thing about this website is that most operators offer free cancellation up to 24/48 hours before pickup, so you can lock in a good deal without worry

A quick warning: if you see prices around that seem too good to be true, like 5 Euros/day, they probably are. This can be a sign of a scam where they’ll add hidden fees, upsell expensive insurance, or charge you for pre-existing “damages” when you return the car.

Car documents

Car rental companies in Greece typically don’t leave the original car documents (like registration or insurance) in the glove compartment. They keep the originals for security and legal reasons, relying on electronic checks by police.

However, it’s a good idea to have a copy, or at least a photo of these documents, along with your rental contract, on your phone. The rental contract itself is what you absolutely must have with you at all times.

When driving, remember to always take with you your driving license, the IDP (if needed) and the Passport or ID Card.

Insurance

Cars come with a mandatory TPL (Third Party Liability insurance) and usually also with a CDW (Collision Damage Waver) that limits the out-of-pocket to a smaller sum, called excess, typically between 700 and 3,000 Euros. So, in case you cause an accident, this is the amount you will pay before the insurance will kick in.

Now, this is arguably the most crucial piece of advice I can give you: add full insurance with no excess!. Seriously, it’s not worth the risk in Greece.

Minor bumps, scratches, or even stone chips are incredibly common on these winding roads and in tight parking spots. If you return the car with damage and only have basic insurance, you could be on the hook for hundreds, if not thousands, of euros in deductibles.

Some credit cards offer rental car insurance, and it’s worth checking your policy in detail. However, be aware that most cards also have a deductible, which usually leaves you out of pocket for around 500 to 1000 dollars or euros, which is still some money

The easiest way to go is to add full insurance with zero deductible during your booking phase.

For example, on the comparative website DiscoverCars that I previously suggested, the full insurance costs around 8-10 euros a day, which is a bargain in my opinion, considering the peace of mind it gives.

The typical charge at the counter is anything between 20 and 50 Euros/day. Even worse, the insurance at the counter may actually not include everything (wheels, undercarriage, etc). Read the small print carefully.

And always, always take plenty of photos and videos of the car’s exterior and interior when you pick it up. This protects you against claims for pre-existing damages when you return it.

Driving in Greece: What to Expect

Driving in Greece is on the right side of the road, like most of Europe. If you’re used to driving on the left, take it easy for the first couple of days, follow the flow of traffic, and consider an automatic car to reduce the things you need to think about.

Greek drivers are often described as… “enthusiastic” and traffic can be chaotic in the main cities. I am married to a Greek woman, and often, the way the Greeks talk may seem aggressive, but honestly, it’s far from it.

It must be said that speeding is not uncommon, and turn signals aren’t always a priority. 

In saying that, speed limits are enforced with cameras and police checks, so stick to them to avoid hefty fines and administration fees added later on by the rental company. Generally, it’s

• 50 km/h in urban areas,
• 90-100 km/h on secondary roads,
• up to 120 km/h on highways.

By the way, honking is a common form of communication, so don’t take it personally. It’s used to communicate, like saying “I’m here!” when overtaking.

But now let’s go down more specifically based on where you are planning your road trip.

Driving on the Mainland

Athens: Having lived there for six months, I can tell you, driving in Athens is absolute madness. The traffic is just bad, drivers can be aggressive, especially at commuting time, and navigating the narrow, often congested streets is a bit of a nightmare.

Plus, Athens has traffic restrictions where only odd or even licence plates are allowed in the city centre on specific days. 

Honestly, public transport in Athens is great, and I highly recommend it. I personally suggest picking up your rental car only on the day you plan to leave Athens for a road trip, and then returning it when you come back, using the metro for city travel.

Thessaloniki (North): Thessaloniki also has traffic, but it is much more manageable. Public transport consists of a decent bus service and a few metro stations, as the entire network is still under construction.

A car is great for exploring the surrounding areas, like Meteora, Mount Olympus, or ancient sites.

Peloponnese & Inland Greece: Outside of Athens, mainland driving is generally much more relaxed. The highway system is well-maintained and efficient.

Areas like Delphi, Corinth, and the Peloponnese offer fantastic road tripping opportunities with beautiful drives and plenty of historical sites. Street parking in smaller towns is usually easy to find.

Driving on the Islands

Driving on the Greek islands is a unique choice, offering stunning coastal roads and hidden coves that public transport can’t reach. However, the roads can be narrow and winding.

Renting a car Santorini: This iconic island is a dream to explore by car, offering a ton of flexibility to discover viewpoints like the highest point of the island, which buses don’t reach. However, be prepared for some challenging, but beautiful, driving, especially on the winding mountain roads between Fira and Oia, and near cliffs.

Parking can be tough, particularly in popular spots like Oia for sunset, where you might pay around €12 for a private car park, but it’s often worth it to avoid the packed buses.

Renting a car in Crete: As Greece’s largest island, Crete is fantastic for road trips and offers plenty of diverse landscapes, from green mountains to coastal towns.

Honestly, the car is a must in Crete because you will be able to explore and enjoy so much of this big island, besides reaching unique beaches otherwise impossible to get to with public transportation.

Renting a car in Naxos, Paros, Rhodes, and other islands: On many islands, having a car (or even a scooter/ATV) will take your exploration to another level. These smaller islands often have less public transport compared to the mainland.

I have always rented a car on any island that I have visited, and honestly, it’s a turning point in the holiday, even for just a few days.

Just take it slowly in the islands, because streets and roads can be quite narrow, but locals driving are so relaxed and easy going, which is a great plus!

I still remember the great time I had when I rented a car in Rhodes, an island that is well connected by bus on the south coast, but impossible to experience with public transportation on the north and west coast

Parking

Parking is usually pretty easy-going, but it can be a challenge in Athens and popular island towns.

It’s usually colour-coded:

• Yellow lines typically mean no parking at all.
• Blue lines mean paid parking, usually via meters or apps like ParkAround.
• White lines can indicate free parking, but sometimes with time limits, and they’re often hard to find. On my last road trip in Crete Island, I also found areas with white lines that required a special 1 Euro ticket, so check around the signals before leaving the car

Be warned: improper parking can lead to fines, and in Athens, they might even remove your licence plate, requiring a trip to the police station to get it back after paying the fine. If you’re staying in a big city, pre-planning parking or using secure paid garages is a good idea. You might even encounter ‘parking keepers’ who expect a tip for looking after your car.

Ferries and Island Hopping with a Rental Car

This is a big one, and something you need to be very clear about with your rental company: many, if not most, car rental companies in Greece do NOT allow their cars to be taken on ferries between islands or from the mainland.

The main reason is often related to insurance coverage and the logistical headache for the company if the car is damaged on another island.

If you plan to island hop, you’ll generally find it much easier to rent a car separately on each island. However, some companies, like Athens Car Rental (ACR) or sometimes Hertz, might permit it, sometimes with a small premium or no extra cost, but you’ll usually need to pick up and return the car to the mainland.

Always double-check their specific policy when booking. If you do take a ferry, be aware that you and your passengers might have to exit the car before boarding.

Honestly, trying to island hop with a rental car can be quite challenging. My biggest tip here is to rent just for your stay on the island. You will save money and headaches too.

Petrol (Fuel)

Fuel stations are generally easy to find, especially on main roads. Prices for petrol are similar to most of Europe, meaning they’re generally more expensive than in places like the US or Australia (30-40% more).

Usually, the stations are serviced at no extra cost, which means someone will help you fill in the tank.

Just say “full, please” or learn it in Greek, “Γεμάτο, παρακαλώ” (Yemáto Parakaló)

Children’s Seats & Seatbelts

Seatbelts are mandatory for all passengers, both in the front and back seats, across Greece. If you’re travelling with kids, child seats are required for children under 12 years old or shorter than 135 cm.

For younger children (0-5 years), a proper child seat is needed; for older kids (5-12 years), a booster seat is usually sufficient.

You can rent child seats from the rental company, but if you’re hiring the car for an extended period, it might actually be cheaper to buy one locally or bring your own, especially if you’re paying 5-10 euros per day for a rental seat.

Greece follows European regulations for child car seats, which currently operate under two parallel systems: the older R44/04 standard (based on weight) and the newer R129 or i-Size standard (based primarily on height). Here’s a comprehensive breakdown:

Safety

While Greece is a safe place, it’s always wise to be aware. Never leave anything valuable, or even a visible bag, in an unattended car.

Petty crime, like break-ins, can happen, and the cost of repairing a damaged car can be more bothersome than any lost items. If you absolutely must leave something, hide it in the boot and ensure it’s not visible from outside.

Based on my experience, the most unsafe place is Athens, where you should pay double attention.

Scams

I have already published a full guide to the most damaging car rental scams in Greece, and how to avoid them.

In this post, I want to mention probably the most expensive and common scam, where the rental companies will try to charge you at the drop-off time for pre-existing damages to the car.

Of course, it’s an easy time for them because you can possibly be in a rush to check in for your flight, so you are quite vulnerable.

This is why I always suggest taking as many photos as possible at pick-up time, of the inside, outside, underneath, roof, and from all 4 sides of the car, regardless of whether the damages are “all” marked on the contract.

It’s so easy to miss one or two that can cost you even 1,000 euros at the drop-off time. You can use the photos as dated proof of the original status when you picked up the car.

As I previously mentioned, I also highly suggest taking full insurance that will cover you from this scam as well as real damages.