Greece traffic rules and self driving car rental tips

Greece traffic rules and self driving car rental tips | QEEQ

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
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.
  Yield Stop
  Speed Limit (60 km/h) No Overtaking No Overtaking by Lorries
  Greek warning signs are triangular with a red border and a yellow background.
  Speed Bump Slippery Road Pedestrian Crossing Wild Animals (Deer etc.) Level Crossing with Gates Level Crossing without Gates Single-track Level Crossing Multitrack Level Crossing
  Greek information signs feature a rectangular shape with a blue background.
  Information First Aid Caravan Site
  In Greece, direction signs mostly feature a rectangular shape with green and blue background colours.
  E Road Numbering Motorway Numbering Advance Direction Sign (Stack Type)
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.
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.
  Alternative Parking (Prohibited on the Odd Months of Year) Alternative 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.
  
  · 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.
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.
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.
Read more details

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

Guest reviews

Europcar
7.3 - "The pickup process took longer than expected when compared to other companies I have dealt with before. Upon returning the car, the rental company informed me that there were scratches on the front disc wheel and charged me 171 euros. However, when I received the invoice via email, it stated that I only owed 140 euros. "
OK Mobility
9.7 - "Didn’t know there was a free shuttle to ok mobility just out of the airport, spent $30 on a taxi, advertising this a little better would help."
Hertz
10 - "No comments"
CarQ
7.7 - "It's been already a week and I have no confirmation whatsoever that everything is ok with the car that I returned and I haven't been returned my deposit"
Record Go
10 - "Trusted car rental company. Was not overly pushy with conprehensive insurance as i already bought from QEED. Car was very new with good performance. Will go nack again if in Atgens. Thanks."
Wheego
9 - "The car was very new and in great condition, best hire car I’ve had in a while"
Eurorentals
10 - "Great vehicle and staff! Highly recommended! "
Cargini
9.7 - "Everything was fine. Just waiting for deposit release and I can give 5/5 stars"
AUTOCANDIA
9 - "The voucher said that we would be met by representative of the Hire company at airport arrivals. This wasn't the case and we had to find our way to the shuttle bus pick up point and waited 20 minutes for the bus. None of which would have been a problem if we had known this in advance"
Modi
9.7 - "Time lost for check-in. Ideal to check in directly in airport"
Avance
8 - "Car was a bit old (peugeot 301) but in good condition. Multimedia was very basic without support of carplay/android auto. Staff was ok. "
Centauro
8.3 - "I made the reservation through the QEEQ platform, which clearly stated that CENTAURO accepts deposit by debit card. When I went to the office to pick up the car, even though I showed the voucher that clearly stated I could pay the deposit with a debit card, the clerk insisted I needed a credit card. I finally picked up the car after about two hours, the only reason being that there was a long queue behind me because I informed that I am not going to leave the counter if I don't pick up the car. Except for this incident, everything else was fine."
CarQ
10 - "Everything was as it should be. I didn't find anything wrong or negative."
Alamo
8 - "They need to provide a better quality of car in Kefalonia as the roads are not really suitable for a Suzuki Swift. Before long this newish car will be a heap. Great service though and very kind and friendly staff at the desk especially Paula."
ABBYCAR
7 - "Considerable wait on collection of the car, which was in poor condition with stains on the inside. Mechanically sound, but cosmetically not very good. Also, central locking only worked off the key, not the fob."
Thrifty
8.7 - "We upgraded the car on the counter. Smooth experience. "
Alamo
9 - "No child seats available"
Record Go
9.3 - "Very good and helpful staff, especially Lora. "
GREEN MOTION
8.3 - "Pros: - Fast service - Fast pickup Cons - Their office is dirty and run down - Tires of car were almost sleek, should have been replaced long ago - The paint was peeling from the bumper - Picked it up with 1/4 gas - Seats need a good washing, they had stains"
Exer
9.3 - "Excellent experience with rental company and vehicle well suited to local roads"
Yours Car Rental
10 - "Brand new car, higher class than I booked. Our flight was delayed by more than an hour but the representative waited for us. Paperwork took less than 10 min. "
Record Go
9 - "Outstanding car, new, and free upgrade. friendly and helpful counter staff, although booking process a little slow but just because several people arrived at once. Good minibus service from Airport to rental site. Well run, excellent overall"
Dollar
6 - "El coche era un fiat y no un wolksvagen , con la perdida de potencia , no estaba indicado que Dollar estaba en Hertz y esperamos varias horas hasta localizarlo , además las señoras del mostrador muy desagradables"
OK Mobility
9.7 - "Brand new cars, excellent location."
United Rentacar
9.3 - "Car was fairly new however the steering column was making noises which did not make it a pleasurable experience to drive "
Thrifty
10 - "The counter person was really pleasant and took me to the car."
VOLTA 4u
5 - "Old company just change name. They have old cars. The given car was unbalanced and break issue. Poor support. Not recommend it. "
Centauro
9.3 - "Loved the car for the island. It was perfect. Barring a few scratches, the car was really clean. Centauro did a good job. Their staff was very helpful and courteous."
GREEN MOTION
7.7 - "Need to specify the location of Green Motion Car Rental Igoumenitsa Port office on Google Maps"
Europcar
10 - "Friendly service at pick up and drop off"
Caldera
9.7 - "Good car. Could have been easier to find Caldera pickup at arrivals."
Europcar
10 - "I have some complaints about the company.They asked to charge me for 37 euro if i drop it off at 06:00pm as had asked so i drop it off the previous day.thanks you."
ADDCAR RENTAL
9 - "The staff at the rental agency in Heraklion - Apollo Car Rental - were excellent; friendly and flexible in problem-solving. Also they all had high level language skills not just in English. One felt one ‘was in good hands’. "
Europcar
10 - "I don’t usually comment but I truly believe that their rating doesn’t do them justice. The entire team was extremely professional and very polite. Congratulations and I will be definitely using them again."
Avance
7.7 - "Car was bad in condition. Very bad. Dimitris was amazing"
SURPRICE RENT A CAR
10 - "Very efficient and friendly staff"
CARWIZ
10 - "Konstantinos and Konstantina best of the best!!!"
Avance
9 - "I would make sure that people are aware that they charge an extra fee for dropping the vehicle off early even if it’s unavoidable due to the airline changing your flight. We were charged an extra 25 euros which was very frustrating. "
Record Go
9.7 - "Other then a few minor scratches the car ( a Hybrid Toyota Corolla) was in prime condition. The lady at pick up ( Constadina) was very helpful and suggested this car since I needed the luggage space. Everybody was very polite and helpful at Record go. Bravo! "
ABBYCAR
9.3 - "Everything was great, only I am waiting when my deposit will be released. Staff promised that usually it is released within 2 days, but toduy is already 3rd day."
DRIVE SA
9 - "Due to not having credit card we had to get full insurance. Car didn’t have full tank but it was written like that."
Alamo
9.7 - "Hi The procedure from start to finish was perfect...the team was professional and very helpful...the vehicle did not disappoint even for a moment...we will definitely be back."
Avance
10 - "Easy process throughout"
Exer
9 - "Excellent service. Kalliope is a very good agent at Exer. Easy to find and just opposite the airport. Good little car. Would highly recommend. "
Alma Car Hire
7 - "The car was much bigger and older than the one we booked at the reservtion so we were not able to park properly to the hotel´s parkway. We kindly asked to change the car to the company the next day but the representative refused to give us another car arguing they did not have any. He did not give us a solution. Very bad customer service. "
ABBYCAR
8.7 - "It needs to be clear that there is no one waiting for you outside. You need to exit and go to your right where the transit van waits for you. Also again the full to full doesn’t apply. Usually you return the car trying to get the right amount of gas… Generally speaking I would rent again from Abbycar BUT I would like the full to full to be applied. Very friendly staff!"
Autounion
9 - "Wish the directions for where to get the shuttle for the ride to the rental car place was a little bit more clear than it was. The ride to the car rental place is about 10 min from the airport. The person at the counter asked us where we were going and warned of us the area we were driving. Great Advice. Loved the fact the this was a 24 hour rental agency."
Alma Car Hire
9.7 - "Good, efficient, friendly. reliable. "
DRIVE SA
9.7 - "Counter located in the arrivals hall. Easy to find. A bit of paperwork and then was personally escorted to the car for handover. Quick and easy and very reasonably priced. Would use again."
Thrifty
10 - "The agent met us at the airport with the car. He said we could return it to the location at the port where we would be departing from in a few days, so that was really convenient. The car was in great condition and we had no negative experiences. "

Best car rental deals in Greece

Lefkada
from USD 3.58/day
Book Now
Athens
from USD 3.87/day
Book Now
Crete
from USD 4.87/day
Book Now
Rhodes
from USD 5.33/day
Book Now

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.