What do you need to rent a car in Crete?

Requirements for renting a car in Crete and Greece: the checklist

• A driving licence valid in Greece — however recently you passed.
• Your passport or national ID card.
• An International Driving Permit — only if your licence was issued outside the EU or the EEA.
• Your booking reference — the confirmation email on your phone is enough.

That is the whole list. You pay when you collect the car, in cash or by card — debit cards included — or online when you book, if you prefer. Nothing is blocked on any card. How renting without a deposit works.

Age: from 18

You can rent from 18, automatics included. Drivers aged 18–22 pay a young-driver fee of €10 a day; from 23 there is none. Insurance follows each driver's own age: from 27, full cover with zero excess is included; under 27 the car comes with basic cover and a €1,200 excess, or you can add full cover with zero excess for €10 a day. Renting as a young driver.

Your licence, and when you need an International Driving Permit

A licence issued in the EU or the EEA is enough on its own. A licence issued anywhere else is accepted by us at pickup, but Greek traffic law requires it to be carried together with a valid International Driving Permit. The permit is issued only by the country that issued your licence and cannot be obtained in Greece, so arrange it before you travel. The International Driving Permit, explained.

Extra drivers

Adding a driver costs nothing. Each driver shows their own licence and passport or ID card, and the age rules above apply to each one by their own age: the young-driver fee for anyone aged 18–22, and the insurance tier that matches their age.

What you do not need

• A credit card
• A deposit, or any amount blocked on a card
• A licence held for one or two years
• To print anything

Where you collect the car

At Heraklion Airport arrivals or Heraklion Port, free. At your hotel in Heraklion, free; in the resorts along the coast for €10–€40; at Chania Airport for €80 each way. A handover between 21:00 and 06:00 costs €10–€55, depending on the hour. If you arrive by plane, give us your flight number when you book: we follow the flight and wait if it is late.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a credit card to rent a car in Crete?

Not with us. We take no deposit and do not ask for a credit card: you pay at pickup in cash or by card, debit cards included. Many companies in Crete do require a credit card for the deposit, so check before you book anywhere else.

How long must I have held my driving licence?

Any length of time. A licence valid in Greece is enough, however recently you passed. Many rental companies ask for one or two years; we do not.

What is the minimum age to rent a car in Crete?

18 with us. Drivers aged 18–22 pay €10 a day; from 23 there is no age fee, and from 27 full cover with zero excess is included.

Do I need an International Driving Permit in Crete?

Only if your licence was issued outside the EU or the EEA. Greek law then requires the permit alongside your licence, and you have to get it in the country that issued your licence, before you travel.

Can I pay in cash?

Yes. You pay when you collect the car, in cash or by card. If you prefer, you can also pay online when you book.

What does an extra driver need?

The same as you: a licence valid in Greece and a passport or ID card. Extra drivers are free; a driver aged 18–22 pays the young-driver fee.

What happens at pickup?

We check the licence and the ID, you sign the rental agreement, and you drive away — about ten minutes. No card is charged for a deposit.