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The Complete Greece Driving and Rental Guide

Its rich historical past, pleasant weather and beautiful landscape make Greece one of the popular touristic countries in the world. However, it is always recommended to drive carefully in Greece, and stick to the right part of your lane and let the others overtake without blocking the lane yourself.

  • Speed Limit and Traffic Signs
  • Seatbelt and Child Safety
  • Parking, Fuel and Toll
  • Traffic Violation
  • Driving Licence and Age Requirements

Speed Limit and Traffic Signs

Driving in Greece is on the right-hand side of the road and overtaking is from the left. Dipped headlights should be used in poor daytime visibility and the use of full beam headlights in towns is strictly prohibited. The middle lane of a three-lane highway is for passing.

Speed Limit

There is a speed limit of 50 km/h in rural areas, 110 km/h in open roads and 120 km/h on motorways.

Traffic Signs

Signs in Greece follow the general European standards in terms of shapes and colours. There are mainly 4 types of traffic signs in Greece: regulatory, warning, informational and directional.


Greek regulatory signs usually feature a circular shape, with some exceptions.

Greece_Traffic_Sign_YieldYieldGreece_Traffic_Sign_StopStop
Greece_Traffic_Sign_Speed_Limit_60_km_hSpeed Limit (60 km/h)Greece_Traffic_Sign_No_OvertakingNo OvertakingGreece_Traffic_Sign_No_Overtaking_by_LorriesNo Overtaking by Lorries

Greek warning signs are triangular with a red border and a yellow background.

Greece_Traffic_Sign_Speed_BumpSpeed BumpGreece_Traffic_Sign_Slippery_RoadSlippery RoadGreece_Traffic_Sign_Pedestrian_CrossingPedestrian CrossingGreece_Traffic_Sign_Wild_AnimalsWild Animals (Deer etc.)Greece_Traffic_Sign_Level_Crossing_With_GatesLevel Crossing with GatesGreece_Traffic_Sign_Level_Crossing_Without_GatesLevel Crossing without GatesGreece_Traffic_Sign_Single_Track_Level_CrossingSingle-track Level CrossingGreece_Traffic_Sign_Multitrack_Level_CrossingMultitrack Level Crossing

Greek information signs feature a rectangular shape with a blue background.

Greece_Traffic_Sign_InformationInformationGreece_Traffic_Sign_First_AidFirst AidGreece_Traffic_Sign_Caravan_SiteCaravan Site

In Greece, direction signs mostly feature a rectangular shape with green and blue background colours.

Greece_Traffic_Sign_E_Road_Numbering  E Road NumberingGreece_Traffic_Sign_Motorway_NumberingMotorway NumberingGreece_Traffic_Sign_Advance_Direction_Sign_Stack_TypeAdvance Direction Sign (Stack Type)
*Please be aware that rules are subject to change. QEEQ.COM will try the best to maintain the accuracy of this information.

Seatbelt and Child Safety

Seatbelt Laws

The driver as well as all passengers must wear seatbelts all the time while seated inside a vehicle. Failure to do so can cause a €350 fine.

Booster Seat Laws

Children under 3 years old must be placed in a suitable child restraint. 


Children between 3 and 11 years old, measuring less than 1.35m must be seated in an appropriate child restraint for their size. 


From the age of 12, children measuring over 1.35m can wear an adult seat belt. 


Placing a rear-facing child restraint in the front passenger seat is allowed only when the passenger airbag is deactivated. 

*Please be aware that rules are subject to change. QEEQ.COM will try the best to maintain the accuracy of this information.

Parking, Fuel and Toll

Parking

· Permitted Parking


Parking spaces in Athens are quite rare and hotel parking is usually not free of charge. It would be advisable for you to book a hotel that offers free spots. 


In Santorini – one of the most touristic islands almost all tourist attractions there offer free parking. 


You may not be familiar with the below parking signs, which inform you that parking is prohibited in the odd or even months of the year. 

Greece_Traffic_Sign_Alternative_Parking_Prohibited_on_the_Odd_Months_of_YearAlternative Parking (Prohibited on the Odd Months of Year)Greece_Traffic_Sign_Alternative_Parking_Prohibited_on_the_Even_Months_of_YearAlternative Parking (Prohibited on the Even Months of Year)

· Parking in Athens


Athens has a specific parking system in place. Spaces marked by a white line are for short-term visitors while spaces marked in yellow are for commercial use only. Short-term visitors can use the white spaces from 09:00 to 21:00 on weekdays, and from 09:00 to 16:00 on weekends.


Prepaid parking cards need to be displayed for the use of blue short-stay spaces, and can be bought at newsagents, tobacconists, kiosks and other small shops, with a maximal validity of 3 hours.


Occupying short-term parking spaces without paying the required parking fee, or exceed the time limit for which has been paid for will incur a €20 fine. If paying within 10 days, the fine can be reduced by half.

Greece Parking Lot


· Forbidden Parking


 In Greece, you are not allowed to park in the following spots:


- Less than 15 feet from a fire hydrant


- Less than 5 metres of a pedestrian crossing


- Less than 15 metres from a bus stop


- More than 12 inches from the curb


- On the sidewalk


- If blocking a driveway


- With the left side of the vehicle next to the curb


- Less than 20 feet from a crosswalk or intersection


- Within 30 feet from a traffic control device


- In a fire lane


- In violation of a posted sign regulating parking within a shopping centre or office complex


Vehicles parked in prohibited places may be towed away or their licence plates may be removed. Fines will be also applied.

Fuel Prices

The average price for Greece gasoline price in January 2018 is 1.96 Euros per litre while diesel’s average price is 1.33.

Toll

Most of the tolls need to be paid by cash, while some accept credit cards. It is thus recommended to have a few one Euro coins at hand when driving on Greek toll roads. Toll fees are usually from about 0.70 Euro cents to 2 Euros per segment.

*Please be aware that rules are subject to change. QEEQ.COM will try the best to maintain the accuracy of this information.

Traffic Violation

DUI Laws

The legal BAC limit in Greece is 0.05%. Being caught over this limit usually involve severe penalties, which can go as far as a long prison sentence.

Traffic Fines

Speeding fines in Greece range from €100 to €350. Fines can be reduced by 50% if paid within 10 days. Otherwise, the full amount is due.


Parking in a wrong place may incur an on-the-spot ticket, and you should pay for the ticket in cash at the post office. 


In some cases, traffic infringement will cause your credit card to be debited after you return the car due to unsettled tickets happened during your rental. You can always contact QEEQ’ 24/7 customer service team to help you to clarify.

*Please be aware that rules are subject to change. QEEQ.COM will try the best to maintain the accuracy of this information.

Driving Licence and Age Requirements

To legally rent and drive a car in Greece, you must be at least 21 years old and present a valid national driving licence that has been held for at least 1 or 2 years (according to different car hire companies). Driving licences issued in Greece or the European Union are accepted without the need to obtain an IDP. Driving licences from non-EU countries must be accompanied by a valid International Driving Permit (IDP). Please note that an IDP does not replace the requirement for a regular driving licence.

*Please be aware that rules are subject to change. QEEQ.COM will try the best to maintain the accuracy of this information.

Guest reviews

1 /
Jason Burne-Jones

June 17, 2025

Destination: Athens

10Excellent

Very satisfied with the service.

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Josephine Irving

June 17, 2025

Destination: Athens

8Very good

Satisfied

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Webb Thackeray

June 14, 2025

Destination: heraklion

10Excellent

The process was quick and smooth.

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Brook Horace

June 14, 2025

Destination: Athens

10Excellent

Satisfied

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Todd Pansy

June 12, 2025

Destination: Santorini

4Average

The booking stated that cancellations before 12:00 would be free. We arrived at the store at 11:20, but there was no staff present. They finally arrived at 11:55 but were very unhelpful and communicated poorly in English.

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Bob Stowe

June 11, 2025

Destination: Athens

10Excellent

The process was smooth. The car was in great condition.

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Vera Robbins

June 11, 2025

Destination: Athens

10Excellent

Very satisfied.

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Vito Clare

June 10, 2025

Destination: heraklion

10Excellent

Satisfied

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Aaron Ricardo

June 10, 2025

Destination: Athens

10Excellent

Pickup and drop-off were very quick.

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Hilary Addison

June 8, 2025

Destination: Athens

4Average

The staff here are very strict about time. Additionally, the car was decent, but we couldn't get in touch when we wanted to extend the rental. They also asked us to pay extra money.

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Gerald Gray

June 8, 2025

Destination: Corfu

10Excellent

Very satisfied

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Truman Colclough

June 7, 2025

Destination: Athens

10Excellent

Very satisfied.

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Robert Field

June 7, 2025

Destination: Athens

2Poor

The company tries every possible way to take money from you and resorts to tricks to achieve this. Their bumper is as flimsy as a sheet of paper and can be easily damaged with a light kick. In China, such a cheap item would only cost around one or two hundred yuan, but they charge you 350 euros. It's an unpleasant display of the deeply ingrained exploitative attitude of traditional capitalist countries in Europe.

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Harvey Louis

June 6, 2025

Destination: Santorini

10Excellent

Excellent car rental experience

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Darlene Leopold

June 5, 2025

Destination: Thessaloniki

2Poor

Terrible experience, definitely avoid this company, absolutely avoid them!!!! First, I called the rental office and was told they'd pick me up in 5 minutes, but I ended up waiting for 30 minutes. Then, I headed to the rental office, which was quite far. After reaching the office, I had to wait in line for around 1 hour as there were only 2 staff members. While waiting, you'll even see huge spiders crawling on the ground. When it's finally your turn, they informed me that my reserved car was unavailable and offered a free upgrade. However, the deposit required was 1280 euros, despite me having already purchased full insurance through the rental company's official coverage. Even if you buy the rental company's full insurance, not domestic insurance through rental platforms, they still force you to purchase an additional insurance at the store, costing around 20 euros per day. The deposit then drops to 80 euros. This is blatant forced consumption. Having rented cars in Greece at least 5-6 times, this is the only time I felt extremely dissatisfied! It’s a major scam. Do not go to this company.

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Laura Larkin

June 3, 2025

Destination: Rhodes

6Average

Luckily, I took a video of the area under the bumper when I picked up the car. When I returned it, they said I caused the damage and casually mentioned that the insurance would cover it. My insurance has a deductible, though. After showing them my video, they double-checked their own photos to confirm.

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Milo Ruth

June 3, 2025

Destination: Santorini

10Excellent

The car return process was very smooth, just a brief inspection was needed.

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Upton Newton

June 1, 2025

Destination: Athens

10Excellent

Overall very straightforward, no upselling, and the return process was a simple check. Booked a Volkswagen Golf but got a diesel Audi A3 instead. Although it had higher mileage, it was still nice to drive, and the diesel saved some money.

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Eudora Dan

May 31, 2025

Destination: Zakynthos

10Excellent

The location was easy to find, no queues, and the car pickup was very quick. They provided us with a nearly new car with just over 9000 kilometers on the odometer. The staff was very friendly as well—highly recommended. Additionally, we purchased full insurance for 6 euros per day. Since there are many wild bushes that grow into the roads on Zakynthos Island, which could easily scratch the car, I’d suggest getting full insurance.

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Tobey Crichton

May 26, 2025

Destination: Santorini

10Excellent

Satisfied

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Virgil Hal

May 26, 2025

Destination: heraklion

10Excellent

Satisfactory

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Mortimer Adams

May 25, 2025

Destination: Athens

10Excellent

Check the pickup location in advance and it's quite easy.

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Webster Benedict

May 23, 2025

Destination: Athens

10Excellent

Satisfied, thank you very much.

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Darren Whit

May 23, 2025

Destination: Athens

10Excellent

Car handover was convenient and efficient!

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Abigail Harrod

May 23, 2025

Destination: Athens

10Excellent

Very satisfied, a trusted brand.

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Jennifer Sapir

May 23, 2025

Destination: Athens

10Excellent

Very satisfied, a trustworthy big brand.

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Giles Geoffrey

May 22, 2025

Destination: Athens

10Excellent

This was my first time renting a car abroad, and it was very convenient and efficient. The scheduled pickup time was 9 AM, but we actually got the car at 10 AM. The rental company agreed to let us return the car at 10 AM as well, which was great!

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Maggie Barnard

May 22, 2025

Destination: Athens

4Average

The service from the car rental staff during pick-up was very poor.

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Jane Pullan

May 21, 2025

Destination: Athens

10Excellent

The overall service was satisfactory.

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Florence Bronte

May 21, 2025

Destination: Crete

10Excellent

Very friendly, fast pickup and drop-off.

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Quinn Dickey

May 19, 2025

Destination: Athens

10Excellent

Very good.

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Shirley James

May 18, 2025

Destination: Santorini

10Excellent

Great service.

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Bruno Reynolds

May 15, 2025

Destination: Santorini

10Excellent

Very satisfied! However, remember to take photos of the car's body and underside during pickup to avoid any trouble when returning the car.

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Lennon Jimmy

May 13, 2025

Destination: Santorini

10Excellent

Highly satisfied.

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Astrid Owen

May 12, 2025

Destination: Athens

10Excellent

The car was an old Ford and consumed a lot of fuel. They tried to upsell insurance once. When returning the car, the staff just gave it a quick check without being too strict. During pickup, they provided a small card explaining that minor scratches within the card's area didn't need to be noted. For fuel, you return the car with the same amount as when you picked it up, no need to fill it completely.

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Corey

May 12, 2025

Destination: Athens

10Excellent

Satisfied, quick car pickup.

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Tobey Dorothy

May 11, 2025

Destination: Santorini

6Average

No one came to hold a sign to pick us up at the airport. After leaving the airport and going uphill, you can see the Alamo flag, it's just a 3-minute walk from there. The staff have an accent, which makes them hard to understand. You need to leave your phone number and email address to help them contact you. The deposit is frozen at 900 euros, which is excessively high! The car provided was very old, had tens of thousands of kilometers on it, and had many scratches! The rims were also damaged! You need to record every detail on-site and clarify everything with the staff; otherwise, you might be wrongly charged when returning the car. Luckily, I recorded videos!

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Viola Patience

May 9, 2025

Destination: Athens

8Very good

The service was satisfactory, but I rented a Golf and they insisted on upgrading me to a Nissan Juke. The Juke is a terrible model, so everyone should avoid renting it.

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Armand Church

May 7, 2025

Destination: Athens

10Excellent

It was an excellent car rental experience, the service attitude was very good.

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Gloria Louisa

May 5, 2025

Destination: Athens

10Excellent

Good

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Ogden Bill

May 4, 2025

Destination: Santorini

6Average

Our flight schedule changed, combining two flights into one, and we arrived two hours early. They charged us an extra 40 euros to pick up the car earlier; otherwise, we had to wait until the original scheduled time. It felt a bit like extortion. I've never experienced a car rental where you couldn't pick up earlier than planned!

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Rae Needham

May 3, 2025

Destination: Santorini

10Excellent

The rental company's service attitude was excellent!

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Cecilia Arnold

May 1, 2025

Destination: Athens

10Excellent

The service is fine.

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Cathy Dobbin

April 29, 2025

Destination: Athens

10Excellent

Very satisfied.

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Esther Katte

April 27, 2025

Destination: Santorini

10Excellent

Very satisfied

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Montague Clare

April 26, 2025

Destination: Athens

10Excellent

Very satisfied

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Carol Hamlet

April 22, 2025

Destination: Athens

10Excellent

Immediate deposit refund is commendable, but a Mercedes-Benz really can't show its full potential in downtown Athens. However, it's excellent on the highway.

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Cedric Childe

April 22, 2025

Destination: Athens

8Very good

It's good, not bad.

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Moses Mark

April 21, 2025

Destination: Crete

10Excellent

Everything is good, except the store is not located inside the airport. It's about less than 1km away, and there is a shuttle bus for transfers. However, with dozens of car rental companies at the airport, it's quite surprising that a big company like Europcar does not have an airport branch. That said, the environment of the store outside the airport is much better.

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Isaac Wallis

April 16, 2025

Destination: Santorini

8Very good

Overall, it was okay. The staff were very friendly but extremely meticulous during the inspection! They paid close attention even to the tiniest scratches. They kept promoting their insurance. The car was quite old and didn't have Bluetooth, so I used my own speaker to play music throughout the trip. Given the low price, it's a reasonable option for those looking for affordability. Taking photos and videos during pickup is highly recommended, and the staff there also suggested doing so because they are very thorough during the inspection. For example, they spent a lot of time and recorded even a scratch smaller than half the size of a pinky fingernail. I was worried that they would be equally strict during drop-off. Luckily, I drove very carefully and avoided any scratches or collisions. However, there were indeed many gravel roads, so extra caution is necessary.

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Best rates found by QEEQ users in the last 30 days.

Frequently asked questions

Q1.What is an insurance excess?

The excess is the amount you'll only be liable for in case of damage(under Collision Damage Waiver) or theft(under Theft Protection) of the vehicle.
Information about the excess will be clearly stated in the price inclusion when you reserve a car on QEEQ.

Q2. How can I add an addtional driver?

You are advised to make a request upon your arrival at the rental counter. Additional charge per day will incur unless '1 Additional Driver Included' is stipulated on the rental.
Please note that the same licence and age requirement applys to the additonal driver. The addtional driver is supposed to present the required licence document along with the main driver at pickup.

Q3.What if I want to pick up or drop off my rental car out of office hours?

QEEQ will show you the car offers available at your chosen time on the search results.
However, pick-up or drop-off out of general opening hours may subject to an extra fee unless self-service pick-up or drop-off is available.
After you reserve a car on QEEQ, we will inform you of specific policy of the car hire company by email.

Q4. Can I take the hired car to another country or cross border?

If you want to pick up your car in one country and drop it in another, your search results will show you cars you can do that with.
If you're planning to cross any borders during your trip, bear in mind:
1. You may have to pay more.
There are often extra fees, taxes or additional cover you'll pay at the car hire counter.
2.It may not be allowed.
Depending on where you're hiring, you may not be able to take your car to another country.
Please email us if you want to take your hire car into a different country during your trip, and we'll talk you through your options.

Q5. Can I pick up my car at one location and return it at different location?

Yes. You can pick up the vehicle in one place and drop it off in another. An ‘one-way fee’ will incur. Whether it is inclued in the rental price or what additional cost may arise will be clearly stated at the time of booking on QEEQ.
Please inform the car hire company of your drop-off location when you pick up the vehicle or contact them directly during your trip. You will find a phone number on the rental agreement you signed at pickup.

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