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Greece – Rental Car on Ferry Question?

Are there rental car companies in Greece that allow for transporting a car on a ferry without voiding the insurance? In researching this issue, I find lots of people stating insurance is often voided. I have yet to see anyone state that specific rental car company(s) honor insurance while on a ferry. It seems odd to me that driving a car onto/transporting a car on a ferry is such a high risk endeavor. I’d like to hear people’s experiences.

We plan to rent a car and travel Greece for a few weeks in the spring. Our intention is to rent in Athens, travel mainly around the Mainland but potentially travel to Kephalonia and Corfu as well, and likely drop the car off in Corfu, rather than driving back to Athens.

I appreciate your help! – Ryan

Posted by
11037 posts

The best place to get an answer to your question is from the rental car company

Posted by
2462 posts

The other thing to consider is one way rentals are extremely expensive if allowed at all.

Thus, I have a hard time imagining you will find a rental car company willing to allow you to do what you want on multiple grounds.

I would rethink your itinerary.

Posted by
3115 posts

Ryan, Beth's comments about one-way rentals is accurate. You will be paying a sizeable fee to drop your car off on Corfu, ASSUMING you can find a travel agency that will allow it, which I doubt. With the money you'll save by returning the car to Athens you can then fly to Corfu and fly back to Athens later on. It's also unlikely that the rental company will allow you to take the car off the mainland by ferry.

Posted by
532 posts

This is interesting to me as we are considering a car for Corfu (Igoumenitsa, actually) to Athens, so the reverse of your direction. This will be in Spring 2020, only for 5 days, and not include transit on a ferry.

Just for kicks I selected a three week rental in May 2019 on the Auto Europe booking site and Avis shows a $280 USD drop fee for your route (Athens - Corfu), about $13 USD/day so not really that bad. You really do need to check whether or not rental companies will permit the car on a ferry. Call Auto Europe...their toll free number is on their website. In my experience they are very helpful. You ll also need to call your insurance provider.

Posted by
3 posts

Thanks for all the advice. I as well found that the fee for a rental with differing pickup and drop off points was about $280; certainly not prohibitive.

Posted by
186 posts

We have rented cars on the mainland and taken them to ferries onto islands many times. Never had any insurance voiding issues raised with the car rental companies (all international American companies). The different drop off location fee is well worth the loss of time returning a car to a city you have no need to go back to. Recently, we rented in Igoumenitsa and drove the car directly to the ferry. They are all walking distance and this is routinely done, so you likely want to at least return your car at a mainland city location.