A. Minimum Age by Vehicle Category

To rent a vehicle, the driver must meet the minimum age requirement for that specific category:

• 24 Years Old: Group A & B (Engine sizes: 1.0L – 1.15L)

• 26 Years Old: Group C, D, & E (Engine sizes: 1.2L – 1.6L including Compact, Family, Cabrio, and Sedan models)

• 27 Years Old: Group E1 (Engine sizes: 1.6L – 2.0L)

• 28 Years Old: All SUVs (Groups F & F1), 7-seater/9-seater Minibuses, Jeeps, and large utility vehicles (e.g., Skoda Karoq, Toyota C-HR, Opel Vivaro, Nissan Primastar, Citroen Jumpy/Spacetourer, Peugeot Traveller, Mitsubishi L200, VW Transporter).

B. Driving Experience & License Validity

• Minimum Experience: The driver must hold a valid driver's license for at least 24 months (2 years).

• Insurance Terms: Meeting these requirements is mandatory for our Insurance Policy to cover any accidental vehicle damage.

C. Important Rules for Young & Senior Drivers

• Under 24 Years Old: Drivers under 24 cannot receive 100% Full Insurance Coverage. A damage excess (deductible) applies based on the vehicle type, starting at 600€ for Mini (-M), Economy (-B), or Compact (-C) categories. Larger categories require a special prior agreement and a minimum excess of 800€+.

• 25+ Years Old: Drivers aged 25 and older receive standard insurance coverage and do not require a credit card to rent standard vehicle categories.

• Maximum Age: The standard maximum age limit is 75 years old. Exceptions can be made for regular/returning customers.

Questions about your age or license? Contact us at info@athenscars.gr and our team will reply to you shortly.

A. How is a Reservation Completed?

Your reservation is only finalized once you receive a confirmation email from Athenscars. This email will include your unique Reference Reservation Number, your confirmed vehicle type, the rental rate, and your chosen pick-up details.

⚠️ Important: Please review the confirmation email to ensure all details are correct. If you do not receive this email within a few hours of booking, please check your spam folder or contact us immediately at info@athenscars.gr.

B. Booking Validation & Changes

To keep your reservation valid, the original booking details must remain accurate.

• Airport Arrivals: If you land at a different airport than the one specified in your booking, your reservation will automatically be canceled. We strictly enforce this policy to prevent vehicle "No-Shows."

• High-Season Bookings (July 1 – September 15): Due to high demand, all bookings during this peak period must include exact flight numbers, real arrival times, and your definitive choice of car type. These details cannot be modified after confirmation. Athenscars reserves the right to cancel incomplete high-season bookings within 24 hours of receipt.

C. Making a Second Booking (Double Bookings)

• To Replace an Existing Booking: If you submit a new booking for the same dates, driver name, and contact details, we will assume you are correcting a mistake or changing your car type. We will automatically cancel your original booking and replace it with the new one.

• To Rent Two Cars Simultaneously: If you need to reserve two separate cars for the same dates using the same email address, please ensure you enter a different driver’s name for the second vehicle. This signals to our team that you require two distinct rentals.

Lock In Current Rates Today The promotional offers displayed on our website are updated regularly and available for a limited time. If you haven't finalized your holiday dates yet, you can still secure today's low rate! Simply book with your tentative dates now, and you can easily update the exact times and dates a few days before you arrive. This guarantees you get the best online price before rates go up.

Cancellation & Vehicle Availability Policy

A. Fair Cancellation Terms

We offer flexible cancellation options to give you peace of mind when planning your trip to Crete:

• Standard Cancellations: You can cancel your reservation free of charge up to 2 days before your scheduled arrival. Last-minute cancellations due to proven health or travel emergencies are also exempt from fees.

• Same-Day/Last-Minute Cancellations: If you cancel on the day of your arrival while already in Crete for non-health-related reasons, a 15% cancellation fee of the total rental amount will apply.

B. Our Availability & Upgrade Guarantee

Athenscars maintains a large fleet, particularly at Heraklion Airport and Chania Airport. We never intentionally cancel a client's booking. However, if an unexpected issue arises (such as a system error or a previous vehicle accident) and your selected car is unavailable, we will provide a free upgrade to a higher car category.

💡 Last-Minute Bookings: If you are booking a car on the same day you need it, please email us directly for immediate confirmation to ensure vehicle readiness.

C. Flight Delays vs. Incorrect Booking Details

Our schedule relies heavily on accurate arrival times to ensure your car is ready when you step off the plane.

• Tracked Flight Delays: If your flight is delayed, do not worry—your vehicle is guaranteed. We track flight numbers and our team will be waiting for you.

• Incorrect Information or No Flight Number: We cannot hold vehicles for bookings that lack a valid flight number or contain incorrect arrival details. If you change your flight times or experience changes of several hours, please email us immediately to re-verify your booking status.

• Walk-In/No-Show: If you make a walk-in booking or arrive without flight information, you must show up at the exact time stated on your reservation. If you arrive late, we reserve the right to assign the vehicle to another customer.

A reservation is completed and a car is booked in two ways:

• a. No Deposit of money (payment on car pick up-when we meet) or
• b. The client can reserve a car by using a credit card or by transferring an amount of money with IBAN account. The rest amount of money can be paid either in cash or Credit/debit/cash card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, etc.)

1. Mandatory Booking Information

To ensure your reservation is valid, all required fields on the booking form must be fully and accurately completed. This includes your contact details, phone number, and a valid email address. Incomplete forms lacking this essential information cannot be processed and will render the reservation invalid.

2. Secure Privacy Guarantee

Your privacy is our priority. We guarantee that all personal information—including your home address, telephone number, and email address—is kept strictly confidential within the Athenscars network. We never sell, rent, or share your data with third-party marketing companies. Your details are strictly used to manage your rental vehicle and secure your booking.

• Arriving by Ferry: Port pick-up is exclusively for travelers arriving by ship. Please provide your ferry name/shipping company and your mobile number when completing your reservation.

• Already in the City? If you are not arriving by boat, we cannot meet you at the port. Please choose hotel delivery instead.

• Nearby AirBnB Guests: If your accommodation is right next to the port and you prefer to meet there, please add "MEETING at the Port - STAY nearby" to your reservation notes.

• Scheduled Returns:  For returns to Heraklion or Chania Port, an agent will meet you at the harbor at your specified drop-off time.

• Arriving Early? If you arrive ahead of schedule, you must call us at +30 6936 790870 or +30 6939 905912.

• Port Parking Alternative: If an agent cannot meet you early, we may instruct you to leave the vehicle inside the private Port Parking lot. Renter covers the 5€ entry fee in this scenario.

• 🚢 Heading to Santorini? Port Return Instructions

  • Drop-off Time: Please aim to return the car at 07:30 AM. There is no need to arrive earlier, as our parking area is situated right in front of the Santorini ferry.

  • Key Handover: If you happen to arrive early, please meet our employee at the vehicle or step out of the ferry line to hand the car keys directly to us.

If you have completed your booking but have not yet received a confirmation email, please follow these steps:

1. Check Your Spam/Junk Folder: Automated confirmation emails can occasionally be misdirected by your email provider.

2. Contact Our Support Team: If you still cannot find your booking details, simply send us a quick message at info@athenscars.gr. We will gladly locate your reservation in our system and manually forward a copy of the confirmation email directly to you.

I wish to RESERVE a SECOND CAR: If you wish to Reserve a second vehicle (for friends or family members), do not reserve a car with the same information as your first reservation. Write the name of the driver of the second vehicle. This way we will know you did not reserve twice by mistake.

• Experience: All drivers must hold a valid driver's license for at least 2 years.

• Non-EU Licenses: If your license is from a non-EU country, you must provide an International Driving Permit (IDP) unless your country falls under the Vienna Convention agreement. Email info@athenscars.gr to check your license status.

• Greek Traffic Law Warning: Driving with an unaccepted license carries a mandatory 1,000€ government fine if stopped by the police TO YOU AND ANOTHER 1,000€ government fine TO OUR AGENCY. Furthermore, in the event of an accident, your insurance will be entirely voided, leaving you personally liable for court expenses and damages.

We highly recommend acquiring an International Driving Permit before arriving in Europe to avoid legal complications.

A. Traffic Violations and Fines

The renter assumes full financial and legal responsibility for all parking tickets, speeding fines, and traffic violations incurred during the rental period. Renter conduct must comply entirely with Greek Traffic Laws, which align with standard European Union driving regulations.

B. Prohibited Driving Areas & Illegal Parking

Vehicles must only be driven on standard asphalt roads and parked in designated, safe locations that do not obstruct traffic flow.

• Old Town & Village Restrictions: Parking or driving on the extremely narrow streets of historic villages and old city centers is strictly prohibited.

• Insurance Exclusion: Any vehicle damage sustained while parked illegally, or in a manner that obstructs public traffic, is completely excluded from all insurance coverage. Repair costs in these scenarios will be billed directly to the renter.

C. Coverage Limitations and Total Loss Policy

While purchasing a Full Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) provides excellent protection, it is subject to the following strict conditions:

• Single-Claim Policy: Full CDW coverage applies to a single accident or incident per rental agreement.

• Negligence & Rejection of Claims: Insurance providers reserve the right to deny 100% coverage if an accident is caused by reckless driving, extreme negligence, or a severe violation of traffic laws. This includes—but is not limited to—making illegal U-turns on main highways or crossing solid double lines, even if prompted by a GPS navigation error.

• Vehicle Total Loss: In the event of a severe accident resulting in the total loss of the vehicle due to driver fault, the insurance claim will face intensive scrutiny. Under these circumstances, Athenscars is under no obligation to supply a replacement vehicle, and the rental agreement will be terminated immediately.

To ensure your vehicle is ready precisely when you arrive, our reservation system relies heavily on accurate scheduling data. Please review how we handle flight delays versus unverified arrivals:

1. Bookings with Valid Flight Numbers (Guaranteed Fleet Hold)

If you provide a valid flight number during your booking, your reservation is 100% guaranteed.

• Our airport staff continuously track live flight statuses.

• Even if your flight suffers a significant delay, our team will wait for you at the arrivals gate. Because flight delays are completely out of your control, we will always hold your vehicle.

2. Walk-Ins & Bookings Without Flight Numbers (Time-Sensitive Hold)

Bookings submitted without a valid flight number (or clients trying to walk in directly) face strict time limitations, as we cannot verify your exact arrival.

• Vehicle Release Policy: You must arrive at the exact pick-up time specified on your booking form. If you arrive late, or if you land on a completely different day than indicated without notifying us, we cannot guarantee vehicle availability.

• Right to Reassign: To prevent unverified "No-Shows" at the airport terminal, Athenscars reserves the right to release the vehicle and reassign it to another customer if you fail to show up at your designated booking hour.

Key Rules

1. No Money Down: No payments or deposits are taken for next year’s reservations.

2. Conditional Holds: Bookings are not 100% guaranteed until we finalize which models stay in our fleet next season.

3. Written Records Only: All requests must be processed via email for fleet logging purposes.