Car Hire
Greece has proven to be one of the most travelled
to countries in Europe with its many islands taking
the plaudits for their beauty and long sandy beaches.
Of course, in order to see what these islands have
to offer you need a car to truly travel freely and
see everything you care to see.
With many of the larger, frequented islands having
had large improvements on their roads, such as Crete
and Corfu, travellers from surrounding countries are
no longer bothering to take their own vehicles but
hire them instead. Those this has never been a luxury
for more far a field holidaymakers like us, it has
meant that the car hire industry has had to develop
quickly to satisfy demand.
The first thing you require is your driving license.
Greece recognises all national driving licenses, provided
the license has been held for at least a year. It
also recognises an International Driving Permit, which
should be obtained before you leave home.
Rental cars are available almost everywhere, but
it’s best to hire from major cities where competition
lowers the prices. All the multi-national car-hire
companies are represented in Athens, and most have
branches in other major towns and tourist destinations.
Though smaller islands only have one outlet.
High-season weekly rates with unlimited mileage start
at about €280 for the smallest models, dropping
to about €200 per week in the winter. To these
prices must be added VAT of 18%, and optional extras
such as a collision damage waiver of €12 per
day (more for larger models), without which you’ll
find yourself liable for the first €295 of the
repairs (more for larger models). Other costs include
a theft waiver (at least €6 per day) and personal
accident insurance.
You can find better deals at local companies. Their
advertised rates can be up to 50% cheaper, and they
are normally more open to negotiation, especially
if business is slow.
If you want to take a hire care to another country
or onto a ferry, you will need advanced written authorisation
from the hire company. Unless you pay with a credit
card, most hire companies will require a minimum deposit
of €120 per day.
The minimum driving age in Greece is 18 years, but
most car-hire firms require you to be at least 21
– or 23 for larger vehicles. This is commonplace
throughout Europe though there is slight variations
between countries where you will need to be as old
as 25 to hire a car.
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