Car hire in Greece
Tips for a cheap rental car
Greece has loads of wonderful things to see and experience! With a hired car, getting to and from the many exciting places in the country is made smooth and easy. The size of the country also makes it convenient to get around its different areas fast.
Rules
There are a few requirements for car hire in Greece. Keep in mind that these requirements may vary depending on your chosen car hire firm. Below we’ve listed a few rules that seem to apply generally.
- The absolute lowest age limit for car hire in Greece is 21 years, but depending on the type of car you’d like to hire, the age limit might be higher.
- Some firms have an age limit of 25 years for all types of cars.
- Car hire companies that allow car rental for young drivers often charge extra if the driver is under 25.
- Some firms have an upper age limit of 70 years.
As already mentioned, these rules will vary depending on the car rental company you choose. For this reason, it is best to check with your chosen firm before you book your car!
Add-ons at booking
If you want extra equipment in the car, e.g. a GPS or a child car seat, it is recommended that you add this when booking the car. This will, in turn, facilitate the pick-up of your car and ensure that the equipment is available on site.
Having a GPS in the car is a very good idea, especially if you will be driving in the countryside and in mountainous areas. The roads in these areas are narrow and winding, and finding your way without guidance and direction can be very difficult.
Also be aware that by Greek law, children between the ages of 3 and 11 years and shorter than 135 centimetres are required to use a child car seat. Children under 10 years must also sit in the back seat of the car.
Driving in Greece
Driving through the beautiful landscape of Greece is a wonderful experience. You’ll find the driving pace in the countryside very comfortable. If you want to drive in major cities like Athens, however, you can expect more hectic traffic. Remember to stay alert as many Greek drivers don’t follow the traffic rules to the letter.
The major motorways in Greece are in good condition, but be aware that the roads in the countryside and the mountainous areas usually are narrow and winding. Especially on the mountain roads, the bends can be very sharp and you might have a hard time finding passing places. Remember to go slow and, as always, drive safe!
Below you’ll find a list of a few important Greek traffic rules:
- Talking on the phone while driving without the use of a hands-free is prohibited and very heavily fined.
- There are a few toll roads in Greece. The toll is very small, between 70 cents and 2 euros, and you can pay in cash. We recommend that you pay the toll instead of trying to find an alternative route as this can prove quite difficult.
- In roundabouts, you must yield not only to cars in the roundabout, but also to the cars heading into the roundabout on your right. The drivers on your left will have to give way to you, as you will be on their right side.
- There is no law in Greece requiring you to keep the dimmed lights on during the day.