Important Tips For Renting A Car In Greece

Cars, scooters and quads are popular rental options in Crete. You’ll see rental companies lined up as you leave the airport or step off the ferry. Getting around, particularly to those less populous and more remote locations, is only possible by renting a car in Crete. Public transport consist of buses that run from town to town on a schedule, but it can often be busy and hot.

To maximize your vacation, its recommended renting a car. This allows you to explore all the hidden beauties the island has to offer and visit the far away beaches and towns. Okay, driving on the roads may be a little scary for those not used to the more narrow and windy roads, but if you can get past that, then apart from the convenience it brings, you will also be rewarded with discovering the hidden beauty of Crete

Here are some tips for renting a car in Crete. 

Book your rental car as early as possible

When planning your holiday, book your rental car as soon as you know the dates and a rough idea of times you are travelling. It is advised to do this literally as early as you can – as the prices tend to be a lot cheaper the earlier you book. This is a great way to save money when visiting Crete. You could face paying twice as much if you leave it even within a couple of weeks of arriving.

It also helps that pretty much all car rentals online are free cancellation up to 48 hours before arrival, so it never hurts to book and then cancel if your plans change. Scan our website to search for the best prices. The local and smaller car rental companies like ours will almost always be cheaper than the big brands.

Purchase rental car insurance online

I would always recommend taking out insurance, particularly if you’ve not driven on the roads before. Don’t get me wrong, they are perfectly safe (if you drive safely that is) but the key here is peace of mind, as you never know might happen no matter how slow you go. I’ve had more than couple of minor bumps and scratches (always self-inflicted) accidently scraping posts or when getting out of car parks etc.

Its recommended taking out a car rental excess insurance policy either from our company or from a third party. People have used a Big Blue Cover many times and loads of others exist out there. They are as cheap as our zero excess program.

Other companies will try persuade you to buy extra insurance over the counter but just politely tell them you don’t need what they’re selling!

Bring a non-Amex credit card

You’ll need a credit card in the name of the driver for them to put a holding deposit on. Not all car hire companies take American Express, so it’s worth checking ahead and/or bringing a non-Amex credit card. Otherwise it will be another chance for them to slap some fees on using your debit card.

Leave a USB cable in the car

To save yourself bringing a portable charger, as long you have your USB cable, the car is a perfect way to charge your cell phone on the go. If you are lucky you may also have a modern stereo which will allow you to play music through your phone. Be warned; Greek radio on the islands is pretty dreadful. Apart from the constant dropping of signal, the music and stations are usually sparse and play mainly traditional old skool bazooka-type stringed instruments!

Remember your driving permit

Kind of goes without saying. Make sure you bring your driving permit as they’ll need to take a copy.

Google maps or Waze is your friend!

Don’t try reading a map in the car. Apart from being dangerous if you are solo, it will also likely lead to countless arguments if you are a couple! It’s worth packing a phone holder for the car and taking instruction from the Google or Waze people rather than taking wrong directions from your partner!

When it comes to driving on Crete you’ll find the majority connected with dual/triple lanes, the roads will tend to be single lane carriageways. Expect the roads to be winding and at times steep. This is especially the case if you are wanting to get from one side to the other. If you are able to, and the time difference of taking the scenic route and the fastest route is not massive, then it’s worth taking the scenic route.

Road markings are not always clear so it’s worth crawling through crossroads if you are not sure who has the stop sign and who has the right of way.