Does Europcar require an IDP in Greece?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Europcar in Greece: the policy in plain terms
Asks for a licence translation for non-EU and non-Latin-alphabet licences across its European network. Europe's leading mobility brand.
Rental companies and local authorities in Greece commonly ask non-EU drivers to carry an IDP alongside their national licence.
In Greece specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Greece ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Europcar will typically ask for it at the counter. Island and mainland rental desks consistently ask for the IDP.
Europcar runs a europe / global network; at its Greece desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Greece drives on the right, uses the EUR, and sets a minimum driving age of 18, so an IDP is the document that removes any doubt at the counter.
What to bring to the Europcar counter in Greece
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Convention format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the EUR deposit; Greece drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Greece Europcar renters should know
- Carry a first-aid kit, fire extinguisher and warning triangle.
- Seatbelts and motorcycle helmets are mandatory.
- 0.05% alcohol limit.
- Tolls on national highways (Attiki Odos, etc.).
Europcar's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
Europcar's typical minimum rental age is 21 (some categories and countries allow rental from 18 on selected vehicles), and a Young Driver Surcharge applies to drivers aged roughly 22 to 25 - published at around EUR 30 per day in addition to the rental cost, with the exact amount varying by country per the local Specific Terms.
Europcar accepts only a credit card in the main driver's name (valid with an expiry date after the scheduled return) for the deposit; the deposit amount is blocked - not debited - on the card at pick-up, or within 48 hours before pick-up for Online Check-In, and debit cards are generally not accepted for the security deposit.
Only drivers registered on the rental contract may drive the car, and each additional driver must meet the same age and licence-held requirements; an additional-driver fee typically applies and is set per country. The driver must have held a full valid driving licence for at least one year (the from-18 categories also require one year's licence holding).
Cross-border travel must be declared and authorised, and in the UK taking a vehicle abroad requires the mandatory Europdrive product (24/7 overseas breakdown cover plus VE103B proof of ownership and a Green Card); for one-way rentals a one-way fee is charged and is included in the displayed price when pickup and return locations differ.
Europcar requires a full valid licence held at least one year; if the licence is not written in English (or the language of the country of rental) the driver must present an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside the original national licence - this typically applies to non-Roman/non-Latin-alphabet licences, while an IDP is usually not required to drive within the EU.
Once you collect the keys in Greece
Major motorways (Attiki Odos, the A1, the Olympia Odos and others) use staffed cash/card toll plazas charging fixed per-section amounts of roughly EUR 1.50-3; there is no national vignette, and Crete has no toll roads at all. An optional e-pass transponder exists but tourists normally just pay at the booth.
City-centre parking in Athens and Thessaloniki is controlled-zone paid parking (white/blue marked bays) paid via app or kiosk ticket, and is genuinely scarce. White-and-yellow kerbs and resident-only zones are off-limits and towing/clamping is common, so a guarded public garage is the safer choice.
Under the September 2025 Traffic Code fines are steep and digital: exceeding the limit by even up to 20 km/h is EUR 150, and handheld phone use and no-seatbelt each draw large fines with possible licence-point penalties. Camera and digital violations are increasingly forwarded to rental firms and billed to your card.
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.
Full driving guide for Greece →