To drive a car in Greece, you have to be at least 18 years old. That is the minimum age for a Category B license, which covers standard passenger vehicles up to 3,500 kg. Mopeds start earlier at 16, motorcycle minimums rise with engine power up to age 24 for the most powerful bikes, and car rental companies almost always set their own floor above the legal one, usually 21 and sometimes 23 or 25.
Minimum Age by Vehicle Type
Greece follows the EU license category system, and the minimum age depends entirely on what you want to drive.1gov.gr. Age Requirement for Driving Licences
- AM (mopeds and light quadricycles): 16 years old.
- Category B (cars up to 3,500 kg, up to eight passengers plus driver): 18 years old.
- Category A1 (motorcycles up to 125cc and 11 kW): 18 years old.
- Category A2 (motorcycles up to 35 kW): 20 years old.
- Category A (unrestricted motorcycles): 24 years old, or 22 if you have held an A2 license for at least two years.
The step from A2 to A is where visitors most often get the rule wrong. At 22, you qualify for full Category A only if you already have two years of A2 experience behind you. Without that history, you wait until 24. Scooter rental shops on the islands do not always check carefully, but mainland traffic police do.
Rental Companies Set a Higher Bar
Being 18 and legally allowed to drive is not the same as being able to rent a car. Most Greek rental agencies set a minimum rental age of 21, and some raise it to 23 or 25 for larger vehicles, SUVs, and premium categories. This gap catches younger visitors off guard, especially those who assumed a valid license was enough.
Drivers under 25 typically pay a young driver surcharge on top of the daily rate. The amount varies by company and season, but you should expect to see it on every quote if you fall in that band. Some agencies also set an upper limit around 70 to 75, above which they either decline the rental or add a senior driver fee.
What Rental Insurance Covers
Greek law requires every rental vehicle to carry third-party liability insurance, and legitimate rental companies include it in the base price. It covers damage you cause to other people and their property. It does not cover damage to the rental car itself.
Most quotes also include a Collision Damage Waiver, which caps your liability for damage to the rental at an excess, often around €800. The company blocks that amount on your credit card as a deposit. You can buy a full waiver to remove the excess, or rely on premium credit card coverage, though the card route means paying for damage upfront and claiming reimbursement afterward. Decide before you arrive at the counter, because the upsell pressure at the desk can be heavy.
Taking a Rental on a Ferry
If your plans involve island-hopping, check the rental agreement first. Many companies require written permission to take the vehicle on a ferry, some charge extra for ferry coverage, and others prohibit it outright. For most multi-island itineraries, returning the car before the ferry and picking up a fresh one on the next island is simpler and often cheaper.
License Requirements for Foreign Drivers
Age is one hurdle; paperwork is the other. What you need depends on where your license was issued.
EU and EEA license holders can drive in Greece on their national license alone. No International Driving Permit is required. Drivers from countries that are party to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic can also use their national license as long as it meets the convention’s formatting rules. Countries outside that framework require an International Driving Permit carried alongside the original license at all times.2gov.gr. Non-EU Driving Licenses – Exchange and Recognition
Greece also has license exchange agreements with the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, and several other countries. Those matter for people establishing residence and eventually converting to a Greek license. For short-term visitors, the practical answer is simpler: carry an IDP regardless. Rental companies routinely demand one whatever the treaty status, and a police officer at the roadside is not going to debate international treaty law with you. An IDP is inexpensive and removes ambiguity.2gov.gr. Non-EU Driving Licenses – Exchange and Recognition
Rules That Matter Once You Are Driving
Greece drives on the right, which is straightforward for North American and continental European visitors and a real adjustment for anyone used to the UK, Australia, or Japan. A handful of rules catch visitors more than others.
Alcohol Limits
The general blood alcohol limit is 0.50 g/l. Novice drivers and professional drivers face a much stricter 0.20 g/l, which is effectively zero tolerance. If you have just reached the minimum age for your license category, the novice rule is likely to apply to you. Drunk driving fines range from €350 to €1,200 depending on severity, with mandatory vehicle impoundment and license confiscation. Above 1.10 g/l, prison time of up to five years is possible.
Phones and Seatbelts
Seatbelts are mandatory for everyone in the vehicle, and child restraint systems are required for young passengers. Holding a mobile phone while driving is illegal. Hands-free cradles and wireless headsets are allowed. A first offense for holding the phone brings a €350 fine and a 30-day license suspension.3Your Europe. Road Rules and Safety in Greece
Roundabouts Work Differently
This is the rule that surprises most foreign drivers. Elsewhere in Europe and in North America, vehicles already in a roundabout have priority. In Greece, the default is reversed: vehicles entering the roundabout have priority over those already circling. The exception is when a yield or stop sign is posted at the entrance, in which case you give way to traffic already inside. Check for signs before you enter, because the rule can flip from one roundabout to the next on the same road.
Speed Limits and 2026 Changes
Greece overhauled its traffic code in mid-2025, and one of the biggest changes for visitors took effect on January 1, 2026: the speed limit on single-lane urban streets dropped to 30 km/h. That covers most city streets with one lane in each direction. Multi-lane urban roads and highways kept their previous limits. Penalties are steep. Exceeding the limit by 50 km/h or more triggers a €700 fine and a two-month license suspension. Foreign drivers get no special leniency.
Documents and Equipment in the Car
You need to carry your valid driving license (plus IDP if applicable), your passport or national ID, the vehicle’s registration document, and proof of insurance whenever you drive.4Your Europe. Car Registration Documents and Formalities Every vehicle must also carry a warning triangle, a first aid kit, a fire extinguisher, and a reflective vest meeting the EN20471 standard, which you must wear if you get out of the vehicle on a major road or highway after a breakdown or accident. Rental cars should come with all of it; open the trunk and check before you drive off, because the fine for missing equipment falls on the driver, not the rental company.