Driving in Greece: licences, car rental and road rules

Match the car to the trip, not to the country. A car pays for itself on Crete and in the Peloponnese, where you string together beaches, gorges and hill villages that buses reach once or twice a day. It is a liability in Athens, where parking is scarce and the metro is faster, and on Mykonos or Hydra, where lanes and car-free rules make a scooter, bus or boat the better tool.

An EU or EEA licence is accepted on its own. Drivers from the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand should carry an International Driving Permit together with the original licence; rental desks and police can ask for both. The IDP is a translation, not a licence, and it does not replace your own.

Bring your passport, the licence, the IDP and the credit card in the main driver's name. Most companies block a deposit on the card, so a debit card often fails at the counter. If you plan to cross to another country by ferry, tell the rental company in advance; cross-border cover is not automatic.

Expect €35–90 a day in summer for a small manual car, with automatics, SUVs and one-way rentals costing more. Winter rates on the mainland can fall well below that. Fuel is sold by the litre; a small car on Crete uses roughly €10–15 of fuel per 100 km at 2026 prices (check current pump prices).

Book early for July and August, especially on Crete, Rhodes and Corfu, where the fleet runs out. Compare the total, not the headline: airport pick-up fees, an extra driver, a child seat and full insurance add up. Greek roads and island lanes produce scrapes, so decide on excess cover before you sign.

Greece drives on the right. Speed limits are commonly 50 km/h in towns, 90–110 km/h on ordinary roads and 120–130 km/h on motorways, with lower limits in rain and on mountain roads; signs govern. Seat belts are compulsory in every seat, and children need an appropriate seat or booster.

The drink-drive limit is 0.05% for most drivers, lower for new and professional drivers, and police run roadside checks in summer. Phones must be hands-free. On many rural roads the hard shoulder doubles as a slow lane, so faster cars may overtake you on the right; keep right and let them pass.

Expect motorbikes filtering, goats and farm vehicles on mountain roads, and unlit stretches after dark. Fuel stations are common on main roads but thin out in the interior; fill up before long mountain drives.

Parking is the real cost of a car in Athens and Thessaloniki, and on Mykonos and Santorini in August. Use paid lots at the edge of town and walk or take a bus in. In island villages, blue-lined spaces are paid, yellow ones are restricted, and a car left in a lane can be towed.

Motorways such as the Athens–Thessaloniki route and the Attiki Odos around Athens charge at booths, paid in cash or by card. Ferries carry cars on most routes, but you pay per vehicle plus per passenger, and you must book in July and August. Arrive at the port well before departure and follow crew directions for loading.

Book the car at the same time as your flights for July and August, and at least a few weeks ahead in June and September. In winter, walk-up rentals on the mainland are usually fine, but island agencies may have closed for the season.

If your trip is Athens plus islands, decide the car question before you book ferries: taking a car on and off ferries adds cost and time, and some islands are easier with a local rental for two or three days than with a car you bring from the mainland. Check the best time to visit greece and your route before committing.

Rules, limits and rental terms change; confirm the current drink-drive limit, IDP requirement and insurance excess with your rental company and an official Greek source before you drive. Prices here are 2026 estimates and vary by island, season and company.

This page is general information, not legal or insurance advice. If you are renting for a long stay, check how your travel insurance and any long-stay visa conditions treat driving and vehicle cover.