Rent a car in Greece

You do not need an International Driving Permit if you have an EU or EEA licence. A national licence written in the Latin alphabet is generally accepted when carried with your passport or identity card, including a UK licence. Requirements can vary for other non-EU licences, so confirm the supplier's terms before you travel.

Yes. Most local Greek suppliers accept debit cards and cash for the remaining balance at collection. International chains usually require a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit. TakeCars shows the deposit method before you confirm, so choose a supplier whose payment terms suit you.

An economy car starts at around $43 per day in the shoulder season. In July and August, the price rises to about $73 on the mainland and may be higher on popular islands. Automatic cars usually cost 40–60% more than manuals. Many operators offer a discount of 20–30% for rentals of 14 days or longer.

Hiring a car on the island is usually the better option. Taking a car on the ferry costs around $65–160 each way, and many Greek rental policies do not provide Collision Damage Waiver cover during the crossing. Crete, Rhodes and Corfu all have local suppliers offering competitive rates and delivery to your hotel.

The new code introduced escalating penalties for repeat offences, so previous violations continue to affect later penalties. Fines for drink-driving, speeding, phone use and seatbelt offences increased by two to three times. The 50% discount for paying a fine within 10 days at the Public Treasury remains available. Further changes to speed limits are due in 2026.

Around $32 one way on the E-75 motorway — roughly 500 km. Each gate costs €1.50–€2.80 depending on the operator. As a rule of thumb, plan for $7–11 per 100 km on Greek toll motorways.

Around $14 one way for a passenger car — one of the priciest single tolls in Europe. The alternative is the Rio — Antirio car ferry next to it at about $13: a 10–15 minute crossing, usually without a queue.

Third-party liability insurance is included by law. Basic Collision Damage Waiver with an excess is also usually included. Glass, wheels, alloy rims and the underbody are normally excluded, while Super CDW may add cover for these parts. Check the exact terms, especially for island travel where roads can be narrow and parking spaces tight.

The standard minimum age is 21, and you must usually have held your licence for at least one year. Some local Greek operators accept drivers aged 19–20 and charge a young-driver fee of $5–15 per day or a flat fee of about $50 per rental. Premium cars and SUVs generally require a minimum age of 25. The upper age limit is usually 70–75, although some island suppliers accept drivers up to 80.

Yes. Many local Greek suppliers on TakeCars offer cars with no deposit and full insurance included. International chains usually place a hold of $550–1,650 on a credit card in the main driver's name. The deposit amount and accepted payment method are shown before you book.

Athens uses a different colour system from the rest of Greece. White markings indicate paid visitor parking, blue spaces are for residents, and yellow means no parking. Elsewhere in Greece, blue usually means paid parking, white is free and yellow is prohibited. Check the nearby signs carefully, as illegally parked cars in central Athens may be towed quickly.

A litre of 95-octane petrol costs around €1.72, 98-octane petrol about €1.85, and diesel about €1.55. Fuel at motorway service stations may cost around €0.40 more per litre. Many rural stations close between 19:00 and 22:00 and may not open on Sundays, so fill up in larger towns before travelling to remote areas.

The 0.2‰ limit (effectively zero) applies to drivers with under two years' experience, motorcyclists and professional drivers. Everyone else has 0.5‰. Under the 2025 Code, exceeding the limit starts at a €350 fine and a 30-day driving ban.

Athens Airport usually has the widest selection and the lowest prices because of the volume of rentals, with Thessaloniki close behind. Island airports such as Heraklion, Chania, Rhodes, Santorini, Mykonos and Corfu are typically 20–40% more expensive. Santorini and Mykonos tend to have the highest prices because their rental fleets are smaller.

Call 112 — the European emergency number with English support. Police are required to attend any accident with damage. Don't move the car before they arrive. Photograph everything, notify the supplier within 24 hours, and don't sign documents in Greek without a translation — otherwise the insurance may not pay out.