Destinations / Greece
Driving in Greece as a visitor
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Rental companies and local authorities in Greece commonly ask non-EU drivers to carry an IDP alongside their national licence.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Greece expects
| Driving document | Depends on licence issuer, script and rental policy |
|---|---|
| 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 | Check the desk policy for your issuing country and licence script. A translation accompanies the licence and never replaces an official permit. |
| 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?
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Rental companies and local authorities in Greece commonly ask non-EU drivers to carry an IDP alongside their national licence.
Which translation format is used for Greece?
Greece uses the 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna convention format. A Vialy translation is prepared in that format but is not a government-issued permit.
Will a rental desk in Greece ask for a translation?
Island and mainland rental desks consistently ask for the IDP.
How fast can Vialy prepare one for Greece?
The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay, 30 minutes as standard and 5 with Express.
Also in Europe
Driving on to another country on the same trip? Each page states what that destination expects.