Renting a Car in Greece as an American: IDP, Islands & Ferries

Your US driver's license and the International Driving Permit

Article 98 of the Greek Highway Code (Law 5209/2025) bans driving without a Greek license, then lists exemptions. One of them covers holders of a valid license issued by the United States, Canada, Australia or the UK, for cars, mopeds, motorcycles, tricycles and quads, during their stay in Greece, as long as they meet the Greek minimum age. US licenses were first added to this list in 2021 (Law 4850/2021).

The same article also accepts a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) from any country for people who do not live in Greece. Driving a car without a valid license costs 700 euros under Article 98, and the license is also withdrawn on the spot.

The rental desk, however, applies its own contract, and several big companies still ask for an IDP (see below). The State Department also says insurers may require both your US license and an IDP for coverage in Greece. An IDP is cheap and avoids an argument at the counter.

What the rental companies ask for

Rental contracts are stricter than the law. Examples (October 2026):

Auto Europe, a rental broker, tells non-Greek drivers to carry an IDP and says it will be asked for at the counter. If your contract requires one and you do not have it, the desk can refuse the car, and driving would breach the rental terms, so ask whether that affects your cover.

Insurance and credit card rental coverage

Rental rates include third-party liability, but the damage waiver has a deductible (excess): Enterprise at Athens Airport lists 1,000 euros for mini to compact cars, up to 2,500 euros for luxury cars.

Read the exclusions. Hertz Greece says damage to the underside and wheels is not covered by any of its insurance products. Europcar's waiver excludes the underside, wheels and tires, windshield and mirrors, and Budget's excludes the underside, roof, glass and tires.

Age rules, deposits and manual vs automatic

• Minimum age is a company rule: 21 at Sixt Athens Airport (higher for some car groups) and Budget Greece (with a fee under 25); over 21 for small cars at Hertz Greece; 21 for mini and economy and 23 otherwise at Europcar Greece; 23 at Enterprise Athens Airport, or 21 to 22 with a fee of 12.40 euros a day plus airport surcharges.
• Deposit (bring a physical credit card in the main driver's name): Enterprise at Athens Airport pre-authorizes 290 euros for mini to intermediate cars, 390 euros for standard to van and 1,000 euros for premium, luxury and electric elite. Europcar Greece takes the deposit only on a credit card, not debit or prepaid cards, and Budget Greece does not accept debit cards. Hertz says the hold can take up to 14 days to be released.

Most rental cars in Greece have a manual transmission. Dave's Travel Pages says most cars are manual and automatics are not common and need a special request. If you cannot drive stick, filter for automatic when you book, and book early for summer.

Picking up at Athens Airport (ATH)

The main rental desks are in the arrivals hall of the terminal, and most cars are a short walk away:

• Enterprise: counter between Gate 3 and Gate 4 in the arrivals hall; cars about 500 meters away, outside the terminal.
• Sixt: inside the arrivals hall between Exit 3 and Exit 4, open 24 hours.
• Auto Europe lists Alamo, Budget, Enterprise and Thrifty desks in the arrivals hall, all open 24 hours, with many cars in a car park about 500 meters from the terminal.

Enterprise says the drive into the city takes about 40 minutes on toll roads (Attiki Odos, A6 and E94). For a short city stay, pick the car up when you leave Athens.

Driving in Athens: daktylios, parking and cameras

Central Athens has a traffic restriction zone, the daktylios ("ring"). Under the official 2026 decision (Ministerial Decision D.O.Y./161393/2026), it applies from October 12, 2026 to July 23, 2027, Monday to Thursday 7:00 am to 8:00 pm and Friday 7:00 am to 3:00 pm. It does not apply on weekends, public holidays or public transportation strike days.

• Odd-even rule: plates ending in an even number may enter on even dates, odd plates on odd dates. The boundary roads themselves, such as Alexandras Avenue and Syngrou Avenue, are outside the restriction.
• Rental cars: the decision exempts cars rented by foreign visitors for their first 40 days in Greece, as long as a copy of the rental contract is in the car. Keep it in the glove box.
• Proto Thema reports a 100 euro fine for violations.

GOV.UK calls traffic in the larger cities busy, fast and chaotic. Auto Europe says street parking in Athens is hard to find and almost always paid; 24-hour underground garages are easier.

Cameras: since March 2026, AI cameras in Attica issue fines for red lights, speeding, bus lanes, phone use and seat belts. To Vima reported plans for about 1,000 more in Attica, Thessaloniki and Crete during 2026. Fines reach the rental company first; Hertz Greece adds a 30 euro admin fee per fine, Europcar 35 euros plus VAT.

Tolls on Attiki Odos and other motorways

Attiki Odos, the ring motorway that links the airport with the city, charges once on entry: the toll depends only on the vehicle category, not on distance or time of day.

• Staffed lanes take cash or bank cards, but not Diners or American Express. Bring a Visa or Mastercard, or euros in cash.
• e-PASS lanes are only for cars with an electronic transponder. Ask your rental company whether the car has one before using them.
• Missed a toll? Attiki Odos says you can pay it at Alpha Bank, Eurobank, National Bank of Greece or Piraeus Bank, quoting the car's registration number.
• Most other main highways, such as Olympia Odos, Nea Odos and Egnatia Odos, also have toll plazas, and the Attiki Odos e-PASS works in their electronic lanes.

Islands: ferries with a rental car and renting on arrival

Check the contract before you drive onto a ferry:

• Hertz Greece: only with prior written approval and its Ferry Boat Cover, at 20 euros a day up to 60 euros per rental.
• Europcar Greece: written authorization is mandatory at pick-up, at 25 euros plus VAT per direction; without it, the car is not covered for damage or loss on board.
• Budget Greece: not allowed without written authorization from the local Budget manager, and Budget says no insurance is valid while the car is on board.

For most island trips it is simpler to travel as a foot passenger and rent again on arrival:

• Crete: the largest Greek island (see our Crete car hire guide). Lonely Planet says Chania and Heraklion airports have many rental firms, main roads are in good shape but winding, and road signs are sparse, so download offline maps.
• Mykonos: see our Mykonos car rental guide for airport and port pick-up.
• Santorini: Lonely Planet says renting is simple, but driving can be tough because of narrow lanes, cliffside drops and peak-season traffic, and parking is stressful in Fira and at the beaches.

Quads, ATVs and scooters

GOV.UK warns that people are seriously injured or killed in quad accidents every year and that quad biking is excluded from many travel insurance policies.

• Helmets: GOV.UK says drivers and passengers must wear helmets on quads and mopeds, and that riding without one may invalidate your insurance. Greek media report a 350 euro fine and a 30-day license withdrawal for riding without a helmet.
• License: your license must cover the vehicle. For mopeds, GOV.UK says at least category A1 (light motorcycle) is needed, so a US license without a motorcycle endorsement may not be enough. Ask the rental firm before you pay.
• Insurance: GOV.UK says hire company insurance is usually third-party only, so you pay for damage to the vehicle; the Visa Signature benefit excludes motorcycles and mopeds.
• Proposed rules: in June 2026 the deputy transport minister announced plans to require five years of license history to rent a quad and to make rental firms supply helmets. Ask your rental firm whether this already applies.

Road rules that differ from the US

Greece measures speed in kilometers per hour. The new code set these default limits for cars, unless signs say otherwise:

• No right turn on red: Article 9 of the code says the driver stops at a steady red light and waits until it turns green, and a green arrow allows you to go only in the direction it shows.
• Red light: 700 euros and a 60-day license suspension.
• Phone: using a phone without hands-free costs 350 euros, 3 penalty points and a 30-day license withdrawal; a phone in a hands-free holder is allowed.
• Seat belts: 350 euros and a 30-day withdrawal for the driver, 150 euros for a passenger.
• Speeding: up to 20 km/h over costs 150 euros; more than 50 km/h over, 700 euros and 60 days, says To Vima.
• Alcohol: the general limit is 0.5 g/l; Your Europe gives 0.2 g/l for novice and professional drivers and for motorcycle and moped riders. The safest rule is not to drink at all before driving. Your Europe also says cars must carry a warning triangle, first-aid kit and fire extinguisher.

Frequently asked questions