Renting a Car in Greece: Complete Driving and Car Hire Guide

Renting a car in Greece opens up parts of the country that public transport doesn’t reach — the Peloponnese coastline, Crete’s south coast, Zagori’s mountain villages, and the interior of larger islands. It is also often the most practical option for routes where buses run once a day, if at all.

This guide covers everything you need to know: licence requirements, insurance, how Greek roads actually work, toll costs, and island-specific tips.

Licence and Age Requirements

EU licence holders: Your national driving licence is accepted throughout Greece. No International Driving Permit (IDP) required.

Non-EU visitors (UK, US, Canada, Australia, etc.): An IDP is legally required alongside your national licence. In practice, many rental companies do not check strictly — but if you are stopped by police or involved in an accident, the absence of an IDP can complicate your insurance claim. Obtain one before you travel (in the UK via the AA or RAC; in the US via AAA). Cost: approximately £5–15.

Minimum rental age: Most companies set the minimum at 21, with a young driver surcharge (typically €10–20/day) for drivers under 25. Premium and luxury cars often require drivers to be 25+.

Automatic vs Manual

Most rental cars in Greece are manual gearbox. Automatics are available but cost significantly more — expect to pay 20–40% above the equivalent manual rate. In peak season, automatics in the most popular island destinations (Santorini, Mykonos, Corfu) book out weeks in advance.

If you are not comfortable with a manual on hilly terrain, book your automatic early and confirm availability in writing.

Insurance: What You Actually Need

Every rental includes basic Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) by law. CDW covers the car against collision damage but includes an excess — typically €800–1,500 — which you are liable for if the car is damaged.

Options:

• Super CDW (full protection): Reduces your excess to zero. Typically costs €8–18/day from the rental company. Worth it in July–August on crowded island roads.
• Third-party insurance: Always included. Covers damage to other vehicles and property.
• Theft protection: Sometimes included, sometimes extra — check your contract.
• Credit card coverage: Some premium credit cards (particularly Amex Platinum and certain Visa Signature cards) include CDW when you pay for the rental with that card. Read the terms carefully — many exclude Greece or require full payment on the card with no other card used.

What base CDW usually does not cover: tyres, wheels, windscreen, roof, undercarriage, and keys. Check the rental agreement specifically for these exclusions.

The Greek Road Network

Motorways (autostrades): Greece has a reasonable motorway network along the main corridors — the Athens–Thessaloniki axis (E75), the Athens–Patra road (A8), and the Egnatia Odos running east–west across northern Greece from Igoumenitsa to the Turkish border. These are well-maintained and fast.

National roads: Secondary roads connecting towns and regions. Quality varies. The main roads on Crete, Rhodes, and Corfu are generally in good condition. Mountain roads in the Peloponnese and Epirus can be narrow, unsurfaced in sections, and subject to rockfall.

Village roads: In many hill villages and island caldera communities (particularly Santorini’s caldera villages), roads are single-track and designed for donkeys. A scratch or trim clip from a stone wall is a common and expensive lesson.

Signposting: Road signs are in Greek and often also in Roman script on the main routes. Rural signposting can be sparse. Download offline maps (Google Maps or maps.me) before entering areas with poor signal.

Toll Roads and Costs

Greece has an extensive toll road network on its main motorways. Tolls are generally moderate:

Route	Approximate total toll (2026)
Athens–Thessaloniki (full route)	approximately €25–35
Athens–Patra	approximately €12–18
Athens–Corinth	approximately €3–5
Egnatia Odos (full E-W)	approximately €20–28
Attiki Odos (Athens ring road)	approximately €3–4 per traverse

Individual toll booths: typically €1.50–4. Most accept cash and card; some newer booths are card-only.

Athens: The Attiki Odos ring road around Athens is the main toll route visitors encounter. If you are driving into Athens from the airport or northern highway, you will almost certainly pass through at least one booth.

Petrol prices (as of 2026): Approximately €1.80–2.10/litre for unleaded. Diesel is marginally cheaper. Prices on islands are typically 10–20 cents/litre higher than the mainland. Fill up before taking ferries to smaller islands where petrol may be limited.

Driving Culture and Road Rules

• Speed limits: 130 km/h on motorways; 90 km/h on national roads; 50 km/h in urban areas unless posted otherwise
• Seatbelts: Mandatory for all occupants
• Phone use: Illegal without a hands-free kit
• Alcohol limit: 0.5g/l (lower than the UK but higher than several EU countries); effectively zero for drivers under 2 years licensed
• Parking: In central Athens and major island capitals, parking is a serious challenge in summer. Use designated lots (look for the blue ‘P’ sign). Do not park on double yellow lines or in front of fire hydrants — wheel clamping and towing is actively enforced in Athens

Petrol stations: Ubiquitous on the mainland; less frequent on smaller islands and in mountain villages. Plan ahead on the Mani peninsula, in Zagori, and on less-developed islands.

Island-Specific Tips

Crete

Crete is the easiest island to drive on — it has a proper motorway across the north coast (free to use) and good main roads. The south coast (Sfakia, Plakias, Matala) requires mountain roads with steep drops and no barriers on sections. A standard small car handles it fine; the driving is rewarding.

Santorini

Santorini’s roads are heavily congested in summer. The caldera-edge road between Fira and Oia is narrow, windy, and full of tour buses, quad bikes, and ATV rentals. ATV accidents are common — avoid renting these. The road to the airport is straightforward. Parking in Fira in July–August is effectively impossible; park at the edge of town and walk.

Mykonos

Private cars are banned from Mykonos Town (Chora) from June to September. You can reach the outskirts and outlying beaches by car; the town centre itself is pedestrian. A scooter or quad is more practical for island exploration, but the same caveats about narrow roads and insurance apply.

Corfu

Good roads on the main routes. The north-west coast (Paleokastritsa, Agios Georgios) involves steep, winding roads worth taking slowly. The Corfu Trail walking route means occasional walkers on road sections in the north.

Rhodes

Well-maintained roads. The east coast route from Rhodes Town to Lindos is excellent and the main tourist corridor. The island interior (Profitis Ilias) can involve unpaved tracks.

Best Time to Hire

May–June and September–October: The ideal window. Roads are quiet, petrol is easier to find, and rental rates are 20–40% lower than July–August peak. Temperatures are comfortable for open-window driving.

July–August: High season means high prices, fully booked automatics, and congested island roads. If you’re renting in this period, book at least 3–4 weeks in advance and confirm insurance and age requirements in writing.

November–March: Winter driving on the mainland involves snow on mountain passes (Pindus, Taygetos). Some island roads close periodically. Rental prices are low and roads are empty if you want to explore out of season.

Booking

For the best rates: compare across aggregators — a single comparison search across local and international operators returns the widest selection. Book in advance for peak season; drop-off flexibility often costs less on aggregators than at-desk.

Pick up at Athens Airport (ATH): All major companies have desks at Eleftherios Venizelos Airport in the arrivals hall and in the designated car rental area outside. Budget €40–80/day for a compact car in July (as of 2026).

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