Driving Permit for Greece
Driving in Greece with a foreign license? An IDP is recognised in Greece and often requested at rental desks, though many non-EU visitors are exempt. See Greece IDP rules and road laws.
- Drive on
- Right
- Convention
- 1949 + 1968
- IDP validity
- 12 months
- Processing time
- 24 hours
Do you need an IDP to drive in Greece?
Greece drives on the right and, as a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, recognises the International Driving Permit (IDP) as an official translation of your home driving licence. If you are visiting Greece with a foreign license, whether you strictly need an IDP depends on where that licence was issued. Holders of licences from EU and EEA countries can drive and rent a car in Greece on their national licence alone, with no IDP required. For many non-EU visitors an IDP is a sensible thing to carry alongside a valid national licence, and it is the safest assumption when planning to drive in Greece.
There are important exemptions. Greece recognises certain non-EU licences for short tourist stays of up to six months, so drivers from some countries are not legally obliged to carry an IDP. Under Greek legislation, visitors from Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States and Gibraltar can drive and rent a car on their valid national licence for stays under six months without an IDP. Even so, the on-the-ground reality is what matters most: car rental companies at airports and on the islands frequently ask to see an International Driving Permit before releasing a vehicle, and the US Embassy in Greece notes an IDP may also be useful at a roadside police check or after an accident. If your national licence is not printed in the Roman (Latin) alphabet, carrying an IDP is strongly recommended because it provides a standardised translation that Greek authorities and rental staff can read.
Because policies vary between rental desks and enforcement can be inconsistent, many travellers driving in Greece choose to carry an IDP regardless of their exemption status. The IDP is never a standalone document, it is only valid when presented together with your original national driving licence, and it does not replace it. Carrying both helps avoid disputes at the rental counter and removes any doubt during a police check, making it a simple way to drive in Greece with confidence.
Greece recognises the IDP under both the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Conventions.
Greece is a signatory to both the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Conventions. In practice, an IDP issued by another signatory country is recognised for your permitted visitor stay — in Greece, plan on 12 months.
What you need to drive in Greece
Have these ready before you pick up the keys.
Minimum age 18 (21 for rental).
IDP for non-exempt countries.
An IDP is only valid when carried together with your original national driving licence; it is a translation and never a replacement for that licence.
EU and EEA licence holders do not need an IDP to drive or rent a car in Greece, and visitors from Australia, Canada, Gibraltar, the UK and the US can drive on their valid national licence for tourist stays of up to six months without being legally required to hold one, though rental firms may still request it.
If your national licence is not in the Roman (Latin) alphabet, carrying an IDP is strongly recommended so Greek authorities and rental firms can read your details.
The minimum age to drive in Greece is 18, but rental companies commonly set their own minimum of around 21 to 25 and may add a young-driver surcharge for drivers under 25.
Mandatory in-car equipment in Greece includes a warning triangle, a first-aid kit and a fire extinguisher.
Seat belts are compulsory for all occupants and using a hand-held mobile phone while driving is prohibited.
What to know before you turn the key
Greece drives on the right — the driver sits on the left, and roundabouts flow anti-clockwise.
Carry your IDP and your original license together — rental desks and police checks will ask for both documents.
Required for renting scooters/ATVs.
The general blood-alcohol limit is 0.05% (0.02% for novice, professional and motorcycle or moped drivers), and drink-driving can bring heavy fines and licence withdrawal.
Local rules to watch in Greece
Low-emission zones, tolls, and city-specific rules that catch visiting drivers out.
Athens operates a central traffic ring (the Daktylios) that restricts vehicle access on alternate days based on the last digit of the number plate, with exemptions for certain low-emission and permit-holding vehicles.
Many Greek motorways are toll roads, including the Rio-Antirrio Bridge, with tolls payable by cash or card at booths.
Signs you'll meet on the road
Eight internationally recognised signs — including which side of the road Greece keeps.
Common questions about driving in Greece
Drive Greece, confidently.
Apply online in minutes and get instant digital access to your IDP translation — with an IDP PVC card option if you want one in your wallet.