Which side of the road does Greece drive on?
Greece drives on the right. If you normally drive on the left, take extra care when leaving the airport, a car park or a fuel station and when joining the road after a stop.
Greece · Car rental
Car rental in Greece
Compare rental options for mainland Greece, Crete and Rhodes. Choose the right airport, vehicle and collection arrangements for the journey you are planning.
Exploring Greece
Why hire a car in Greece?
A car can help connect archaeological sites, coastal stops and smaller towns when your itinerary extends beyond a single city or resort. Decide where you want to go before deciding how many rental days you need.
Athens Airport is a starting point for mainland journeys; Heraklion Airport serves trips on Crete and Rhodes Airport serves Rhodes. These are separate travel areas, so plan flights or ferries and rental arrangements between them.
For time focused on central Athens, compare public transport with keeping a car and paying for parking. For a trip combining the mainland and islands, separate rentals can be worth comparing with taking a vehicle on a ferry.
Airport car rental
Choose the airport for your itinerary
Compare Athens for the mainland, Heraklion for Crete and Rhodes for an island itinerary. Check each offer’s collection instructions before booking.
Athens · ATH
Athens Airport
Compare car rental at Athens Airport for journeys along the Attica coast, into the Peloponnese and through mainland Greece.
Athens Airport car rental
Heraklion · HER
Heraklion Airport
Compare car rental at Heraklion Airport for exploring Crete’s coastal towns, inland villages and mountain routes.
Heraklion Airport car rental
Rhodes · RHO
Rhodes Airport
Compare car rental at Rhodes Airport for trips to Rhodes Town, Lindos, island villages and coastal stops.
Rhodes Airport car rentalLook beyond the headline
What to check before booking
Compare the complete rental conditions, including licence documents, deposits and collection. Ferry permission matters if your route leaves the mainland or your arrival island.
Don't compare rentals on headline price alone.
01
Total price
Compare the final price, including airport charges, extra drivers, child seats, late collection and any one-way fee. Check cancellation terms as well as the daily rate.
02
Deposit and payment card
Confirm the deposit amount, accepted card types and whether the payment card must be in the main driver’s name. Check how and when the deposit is released.
03
Insurance and excess
Compare the damage and theft excess and exclusions for glass, tyres and the underbody. Check how any separate reimbursement cover works.
04
Collection method
Read the booking-specific instructions: a terminal desk, an outdoor collection point and a shuttle or meeting service can involve different arrangements.
05
Vehicle and transmission
Check luggage capacity and passenger space. Select automatic transmission explicitly if needed; an example model does not guarantee the exact vehicle.
06
Fuel and mileage
Confirm the fuel level required on return, refuelling charges and whether mileage is limited.
07
Licence and drivers
Bring your original valid driving licence and the identification required by your supplier. Requirements depend on the licence’s country of issue; verify whether an International Driving Permit or translation is needed for Greece and confirm the supplier’s age and licence-holding conditions before booking.
08
Ferries and one-way rentals
Do not assume a rental car can travel on a ferry. Ask the supplier about permission, any written approval, ferry cover and charges before booking. Compare separate rentals on each island with transporting one vehicle. Check whether a different return location is offered and compare the full fee.
Greece by car
Plan the journey beyond your arrival point
Greece drives on the right. If you normally drive on the left, take extra care when leaving the airport, a car park or a fuel station and when joining the road after a stop.
Mainland motorway routes can involve tolls. Follow the payment signs for the lane you use; on Olympia Odos, cash and card payment options are available alongside electronic-pass lanes. If the car has a toll device, ask how it is charged and whether service fees apply.
Build driving days around the actual roads, rest stops and accommodation rather than distance alone. Mountain and coastal sections can need more time than a map suggests.
Wear seat belts, arrange suitable child restraints and set navigation before moving. Follow posted signs and current road rules; leave extra time for unfamiliar roads and stop safely before using a phone.
Choosing your car
Match the car to the roads and luggage
A compact vehicle can make parking and village streets easier, provided it has room for everyone and their bags. Larger groups should compare usable luggage space rather than the example model alone.
If you need an automatic, select it when comparing offers. Check the vehicle category and any “or similar” wording.
Choose a vehicle for the paved roads on your itinerary. An SUV does not automatically give permission to use unpaved roads; check the supplier’s restrictions and cover before taking a beach access track.
Before you book
Car rental in Greece FAQs
Which side of the road does Greece drive on?
Greece drives on the right. If you normally drive on the left, take extra care when leaving the airport, a car park or a fuel station and when joining the road after a stop.
What driving licence do I need?
Bring your original valid driving licence and the identification required by your supplier. Requirements depend on the licence’s country of issue; verify whether an International Driving Permit or translation is needed for Greece and confirm the supplier’s age and licence-holding conditions before booking.
How do tolls work in Greece?
Mainland motorway routes can involve tolls. Follow the payment signs for the lane you use; on Olympia Odos, cash and card payment options are available alongside electronic-pass lanes. If the car has a toll device, ask how it is charged and whether service fees apply.
Can I take a rental car between Greek islands?
Do not assume a rental car can travel on a ferry. Ask the supplier about permission, any written approval, ferry cover and charges before booking. Compare separate rentals on each island with transporting one vehicle.
Which airport should I choose?
Athens Airport (ATH) suits mainland routes. Heraklion Airport (HER) is on Crete and Rhodes Airport (RHO) is on Rhodes. Choose the collection area to match where you will drive and compare separate bookings for a trip covering more than one area.
Do I need a car while visiting Athens?
A car may be unnecessary for a stay focused on central Athens. Compare public transport and accommodation parking, then consider collecting a vehicle when the mainland part of the trip begins.
Do I need a 4×4?
Choose for passenger space, luggage, transmission and the roads you plan to use. Check permission and cover before leaving paved roads; booking a 4×4 does not remove rental restrictions.
Are automatic cars guaranteed?
Only book an offer whose transmission meets your needs. Confirm the booked category and remember that the model shown may be an example.
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Search car rental in Greece
Compare price, deposit, excess, vehicle and collection conditions for your mainland or island itinerary.
