Do you need an international driving license in Greece? Tips for non-EU drivers

One of the main requirements to rent a car in Greece is driving license (along with ID or passport and credit card).

Thus, if you are planning to travel to Greece and rent a car, you may wonder which driving licenses are valid in Greece. 

The short answer is that EU driving licenses are eligible for car rental in Greece. Driving licenses from some other countries are also accepted, but for most non-EU countries an International Driving Permit (IDP) is required.

Let’s see further when and why you need an IDP in Greece.
 

Yes. There is no such thing as an EU license you should get. You can drive and rent a car in Greece with your local driving license, if you come from an EU-country.

However, keep in mind that many companies and authorities don’t accept a driving license with no Latin alphabet. All your information (name, surname etc.) must also be in English (aka in Latin alphabet), so that they can be recognized from local organizations.
 

Another issue that may get you anxious is renting a car in Greece with a UK license. What happens after Brexit?

Well, United Kingdom is no longer considered an EU-country, so the UK driving license is not recognized as an EU driving license.

However, United Kingdom is on the list of the countries that according to the Greek state don’t require an International Driving Permit.

One of the most common questions we get is whether renting a car in Greece with US license is possible. Or if you can rent a car in Greece with Australian license.

Unfortunately, for non-EU countries, you need an International Driving Permit (IDP) together with your national license for car rental in Greece.

So, to put it simply, if you wonder whether you can rent a car in Greece with Canadian license or if a US driver's license is valid in Greece the answer is no. The same is true to rent a car in Greece with Indian license for example.

Abbycar can help you navigate in this complex field and guide you to any further requirements you may have to rent a car in Greece and face no problems with insurance or local controls.