Car hire in Crete starts from around £15 a day booked ahead, making Crete one of the most affordable and rewarding islands in Greece to explore on your own wheels.
The island has two airport gateways, Heraklion in the centre and Chania in the west, both with plentiful local suppliers whose prices routinely undercut the big international brands by three or four times. With no motorway tolls, well-surfaced main roads and a small car ideal for the coastal lanes, car hire in Crete is genuinely easy, and a hire car is the only way to reach the beaches, gorges and hill villages the tour buses skip.
This guide covers everything you need for car hire in Crete: what it actually costs, which of the two airports to choose, what a hire car unlocks across the island, the rules of the road, and the answers to the questions travellers ask most. Compare live prices in the search above, or read on to plan your trip.
How Much Does Car Hire in Crete Cost?
Car hire in Crete costs from around £15 a day for a small economy car booked ahead in the shoulder season, rising to roughly £25 to £45 a day in the peak weeks of July and August.
The cheapest rates come from the local Cretan and Greek suppliers, such as Surprice, Right Cars and Yours Car Rental, which the major international brands cannot match: an Avis or Hertz economy car on the same dates often runs £52 to £62 a day. Booking car hire in Crete through a comparison site that aggregates the local operators is how you reach the lowest price.
| Car class | Typical price (booked ahead) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Economy / Compact | From £15/day | Couples, narrow island roads, low fuel costs |
| Intermediate / Saloon | From £22/day | Families, longer touring, more comfort |
| Small SUV | From £30/day | Rougher back roads, mountain villages, groups |
| Automatic (small) | From £28/day | Those who prefer not to change gear on the hills |
The price of car hire in Crete depends most on when you book and when you travel. The shoulder season of late September and October is both the loveliest time to drive Crete and among the cheapest, with the sea still warm and the summer crowds gone. Book two to three weeks ahead for shoulder-season trips, and three to six months ahead for July and August when demand peaks and the cheapest cars sell out first.
Heraklion or Chania: Which Airport Should You Choose?
Choose your Crete gateway by which part of the island you want to explore. Heraklion Airport (HER) sits in the centre of the north coast and is best for central and eastern Crete: the Palace of Knossos, the Lasithi Plateau, the beautiful Gulf of Mirabello around Elounda and Agios Nikolaos, and the Minoan south.
Chania Airport (CHQ) serves the west and is best for the elegant old town of Chania, the White Mountains and the Samaria Gorge, and the Venetian harbour of Rethymno. Both have strong UK connections and plentiful car hire, and both let you pick up the moment you land.
Two gateways, one island
Heraklion (HER) for central and eastern Crete: Knossos, Lasithi, Elounda, Spinalonga, the Minoan south. Compare deals on our cheap car hire Heraklion Airport page.
Chania (CHQ) for western Crete: Chania old town, the White Mountains, the Samaria Gorge, Rethymno and Lake Kournas. Compare deals on our cheap car hire Chania Airport page.
Many visitors fly into one and out of the other, driving across the island in between, though a one-way drop-off fee usually applies. If you are staying in one region, simply choose the nearer airport. Note that Heraklion airport is expected to be replaced by a new airport at Kastelli, currently scheduled to open around 2027 to 2028, though the current Heraklion terminal (HER) remains the gateway for now.
What a Hire Car Unlocks in Crete
Crete is large, 160 miles from end to end, and its finest places are spread far beyond the resorts, which is exactly why car hire in Crete makes such sense. A hire car is what turns a week in one town into a tour of the whole island.
From Heraklion you can reach the Palace of Knossos in twenty minutes, climb to the windmills of the Lasithi Plateau, or follow the Gulf of Mirabello to Elounda and the haunting island fortress of Spinalonga. From Chania you can drive up into the White Mountains, stand at the head of the Samaria Gorge, or wander the Venetian streets of Rethymno.
Beyond the famous sights, a car reaches the Crete that visitors remember most: the pink-sand lagoon of Elafonisi in the far south west, the palm beach of Vai in the east, mountain tavernas serving their own wine, and dozens of quiet coves down a farm track off the main road.
We have built a full set of six Crete scenic drives, three from Chania and three from Heraklion, each with honest road-by-road notes, a Leaflet map and downloadable PDF and GPX files. For the complete picture, our Easy Touring in Crete guide brings them all together and grades them from gentle coast drives to mountain roads, so you can match the day to your confidence. Choose your airport above and the island opens up from there.
Driving in Crete: Rules and Roads
Driving in Crete is easier than many visitors expect. You drive on the right and overtake on the left, the same as mainland Europe and the opposite of the UK. The main north-coast road, the E75, is a fast, modern and toll-free dual carriageway linking Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos, so the long hops between regions are quick and simple. There are no motorway tolls anywhere in Crete.
Away from the main road, the island’s character shows. Mountain and village roads are narrower, steeper and more winding, sometimes with a rough surface or a stray goat, so a small, nimble car is the sensible choice and an automatic takes the strain out of the hills. A local habit worth knowing: on narrow stretches, slower drivers often pull onto the hard shoulder to let you pass, but check it is clear before overtaking.
Speed limits are 50 km/h in towns, 90 km/h on the open road and 110 km/h on the E75 dual carriageway, lower in the wet. For the official rules of the road and current requirements, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office keeps an up to date summary on its Greece travel advice pages.
Do you need an International Driving Permit for Crete?
No. UK licence holders do not need an International Driving Permit for Greece, and neither do EU or EEA licence holders. Your full national driving licence, held for at least one year, is all you need. Bring your passport and a credit card in the main driver’s name for the deposit.
Frequently Asked Questions: Car Hire in Crete
What is the cheapest car hire in Crete?
The cheapest car hire in Crete comes from the local Greek suppliers such as Surprice, Right Cars and Yours Car Rental, with small economy cars from around £15 a day booked ahead, and less in the off-season. Comparing across all suppliers at once is the surest way to find the lowest price, as the local operators routinely undercut the big international brands.
Is it easy to drive in Crete?
Yes, Crete is easy to drive for most visitors. The main north-coast road is a fast, toll-free dual carriageway, signage is clear and in the Latin alphabet as well as Greek, and a small car handles the narrower mountain and village roads comfortably. Take the hill roads gently and you will find it very manageable.
Do you need a car in Crete?
A car is the best way to see Crete, which is large and has its finest beaches, gorges and villages spread far beyond the resorts. Public buses link the main north-coast towns but are slow and skip the coves and mountain villages, so a hire car is well worth it for anything beyond a stay in one resort.
Which airport is better for Crete, Heraklion or Chania?
Heraklion (HER) is better for central and eastern Crete, including Knossos, Lasithi, Elounda and Spinalonga, while Chania (CHQ) is better for the west, including the old town, the White Mountains, the Samaria Gorge and Rethymno. Choose the airport nearest the region you plan to explore, or fly into one and out of the other to see both ends of the island.
Do you need an International Driving Permit for Crete?
No. UK, EU and EEA licence holders do not need an International Driving Permit to drive in Crete or anywhere in Greece. Your full national licence, held for at least a year, plus your passport and a credit card for the deposit, is all you need to collect your car.
When is the cheapest time to hire a car in Crete?
The off-season and shoulder months are cheapest, with late September, October and the spring offering both low prices and lovely driving weather. July and August are the most expensive and the busiest, so if you travel then, book three to six months ahead to secure the lowest rate before the cheap cars sell out.
Compare Cheap Car Hire in Crete
Ready to book? Use the search above to compare car hire in Crete across all the major and local suppliers at your chosen airport. Pick Heraklion for the centre and east or Chania for the west, choose a small car for the coastal and mountain lanes, book early for the best price, and one of Greece’s most beautiful islands is yours to explore at your own pace.