Destinations / Greece
Driving in Greece as a visitor
Usually yes. Greece expects visiting drivers to carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence, and rental desks ask for one. It matters most when your licence is not printed in the Latin alphabet.
Standard delivery included. Need it sooner? Express lands by for $25 more.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Greece expects
| Permit needed | Expected |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna |
| Valid for | Up to 3 years |
| Drives on the | Right |
| Emergency number | 112 |
| Top speed limit | 130 km/h motorways |
What the rental desk will ask you for
| Your own licence | The original card. A photo of it, or a photocopy, gets turned away. |
|---|---|
| Licence translation | Expected. Hand it over with the licence, never instead of it. |
| Booklet format they know | 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna |
| Minimum age | 18. Under 25 usually pays a young-driver surcharge. |
| Deposit | A credit card in the driver's name. The hold is taken in EUR. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| In the car | Carry a first-aid kit, fire extinguisher and warning triangle. |
|---|---|
| Helmets | Seatbelts and motorcycle helmets are mandatory. |
| Alcohol | 0.05% alcohol limit. |
| Tolls | Tolls on national highways (Attiki Odos, etc.). |
On the road in Greece
At the pump
Stations sell amolivdi (unleaded 95/100) and diesel (petreleo kinisis); almost all are full-service with an attendant, and cards are widely accepted though small rural stations may be cash-only. Petrol runs around EUR 1.85-2.00 per litre in 2026.
After a crash
Call 112 for emergencies; for any injury or dispute you must wait for and obtain a police report, which insurers and rental firms require. Vehicles should not be moved until documented if there is injury, and both driver and rental company can each be fined EUR 1,000 if the driver lacked a required IDP.
Sources: acerentacar.gr · keeptalkinggreece.com · autoeurope.com · keeptalkinggreece.com
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Greece?
Usually yes. Greece expects visiting drivers to carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence, and rental desks ask for one. It matters most when your licence is not printed in the Latin alphabet.
Which IDP format does Greece accept?
Greece recognises the 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna format. Your permit is prepared in that format.
Will a rental desk in Greece ask for one?
Island and mainland rental desks consistently ask for the IDP.
How fast can you get one?
Express orders are emailed within 5 minutes. The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay and the order is refundable for 30 days.