Independent guide. Not the official website of Heraklion Airport.

Car rental · the #1 way to see Crete

Car rental at Heraklion Airport

Crete is big (260 km end to end) and the best beaches are not on a bus line, so most visitors rent. At Heraklion Airport you either collect from a desk in the arrivals area or meet a company rep in the car park. The price on the booking page is rarely the problem; the deposit and the insurance excess are.

Car rental shuttle bus on the apron at Heraklion Airport
Photo: Jonashtand, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Two ways to collect your carDesk or rep
  • Typical deposit on a credit card€300–1,500
  • Needed for most non-EU licencesIDP
  • Pick-up time in summer15–45 min

Compare car rental at Heraklion Airport

Enter “Heraklion Airport” and your dates: compare suppliers, deposits, insurance and fuel policies before you book.

How collection works

Desk, meet-and-greet or shuttle: which is better at Heraklion Airport?

  • In-terminal desk

    International brands and the big Greek firms have counters by the arrivals exit. Quick to find; queues of 30–45 minutes on summer Saturdays.

    • Easy to find
    • Longest queues

  • Meet-and-greet

    A rep with a sign meets you in arrivals and walks you to the car in the car park. Usually local Cretan companies, often with full insurance included.

    • No queue
    • Check the meeting point

  • Off-airport shuttle

    Cheaper headline prices, a short minibus ride to a depot. Fine by day, annoying after a late landing with children.

    • Cheapest
    • Adds 20–40 min

Before you sign the rental contract

  1. 1

    Bring a credit card

    In the main driver’s name. Many firms refuse debit cards for the deposit, or force you to buy their full cover.

  2. 2

    Read the excess

    Basic CDW leaves you liable for €500–1,500. Know the figure before you decide on extra cover.

  3. 3

    Film the car

    Walk round it with your phone, wheels and windscreen included, before you drive off. Same on return.

  4. 4

    Check the fuel rule

    Full-to-full is the fair deal. “Full-to-empty” means paying the firm’s price for a tank you will not finish.

Know what you need already? Go straight to our pages on cheap car hire, automatic cars, 7 and 9-seat minivans or premium cars and SUVs at Heraklion Airport.

What a rental car really costs at Heraklion Airport

Headline prices swing hugely with the season: a small manual car can be cheap in April and three or four times the price in the first two weeks of August. What stays constant is the structure, so compare on these four lines rather than on the daily rate:

Line on the contractWhat to look for
DepositBlocked on a credit card, often €300–1,500. Zero-deposit deals usually mean full insurance is already included.
Excess (CDW)The amount you pay if the car is damaged. “Full” or “SCDW” cover brings it to €0; check what is excluded (tyres, glass, underside).
Fuel policyFull-to-full. Petrol stations on the national road are open late; in villages they often close in the evening and on Sundays.
ExtrasSecond driver, child seats (often €3–7 per day), young-driver fee under 23–25, out-of-hours fee for night pick-ups.

Ranges seen across suppliers in 2026; your quote prevails. Read the full breakdown in our guide to deposits, insurance and traps.

Driving licence rules for Heraklion Airport car rental

An EU or UK licence is enough. Drivers from most other countries, including the US, Canada and Australia, are asked for an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence; rental firms in Greece do check, and without it your insurance can be void after an accident. Most companies want the driver to be at least 21 (23 for bigger cars) and to have held the licence for a year.

Driving out of HER

The airport sits right next to the national road (EO90, called VOAK) that runs along the north coast. Turn east for Gouves, Hersonissos, Malia and Agios Nikolaos; turn west through Heraklion for Rethymno and Chania. The road is being upgraded in stages, so expect roadworks and changing lanes. Overtaking traffic uses the hard shoulder, and locals expect you to pull half onto it to let them pass. Our driving in Crete guide covers speed limits, parking and the goats.

Our take

Staying in Heraklion city or one resort for a week? Skip the car for the first days, take a transfer or taxi, and rent locally for two or three days of exploring. Touring the island? Rent from the airport and keep it for the whole trip.

Sources and official links

Car rental at the airport: frequently asked questions

Where are the car rental desks at Heraklion Airport?

In the arrivals area and on the forecourt just outside. Meet-and-greet companies send a rep with a name sign to the arrivals exit and hand the car over in the car park opposite.

Do I need a credit card to rent a car at Heraklion Airport?

Usually yes, in the main driver’s name, for the deposit. Some local firms accept debit cards if you take their full insurance; confirm before booking.

Do I need an International Driving Permit in Crete?

If your licence was issued outside the EU and the UK, yes in most cases, including US licences. Get it before you travel; it cannot be obtained in Greece.

Is it worth renting a car in Crete?

For exploring, clearly: Balos, Elafonisi, the Lasithi plateau and most quiet beaches are hard to reach by bus. For a week in one resort, a few days of local rental is cheaper.

Can I take a rental car on the ferry from Crete?

Only with written permission from the rental company, and insurance usually does not cover the crossing. Ask before booking if you plan to island-hop.

What is the speed limit on Crete’s national road?

It changes by section, mostly 70–90 km/h on the old stretches and up to 110 km/h on upgraded ones; follow the signs, cameras are increasingly common.

Collecting the car tomorrow?

Book a fixed-price transfer for tonight and pick up the car rested.

Book a transferCar rental: deposit and insurance guide