Types of insurance for car rental in Greece

We all want to make the most of our vacation and of course, when you come to a country like Greece, sitting in a hotel or just relaxing on the beach is not the whole package of experiencing Greece. Therefore, renting a vehicle is a great way to make your vacation unforgettable and all cars for rent in Greece have to be insured.

In this article, we will analyze the features of car insurance for renting a car in Greece.

Why do we need insurance when renting a vehicle in Greece?

Car insurance in Greece is an important part of the rental agreement and you will not hire a car without minimum insurance.

First of all, insurance is necessary, namely for the renter. It will protect you from unnecessary expenses if an accident is caused by you or if the car is damaged or destroyed.

Each type of insurance protects against certain risks, so when executing a car rental, the agreement contains several insurance options.

In most cases, all drivers try to get the most complete insurance.

Types of car insurance

There are different types of car insurance; it is divided into 2 categories: standard/basic and extended. Which one you will choose depends on how you take risks, your budget and rules of the rental company. The cost of car insurance in Greece for rentals depends on the amount of days your rental period consists of.

Standard/Basic Insurance

Usually the standard insurance is already included into the car rent. It includes the following types of insurance:

TP (Theft Protection) is car theft insurance. Most often, it includes a deductible, the amount of which is specified in the agreement. Moreover, different types of insurance may have different deductible amounts in the contract. Personal items in the passenger compartment are not covered by the insurance.

Deductible is the amount of the maximum pecuniary responsibility of the renter. Whatever happens, if the terms of the rental agreement are met, the driver will not pay more than the deductible amount is. A deductible and a deposit are not the same thing. Each car and type of insurance has a different deductible cost.

TPL (Third Party Liability) is the liability insurance for the case of an accident caused by the renter. If an accident is caused by the renter, the insurance company will pay for repairs to the damaged party. And if the extended insurance (CDW, SCDW) is absent, the repair of the rented car is fully paid by the renter. If you are not the responsible party, then the damage to your car will be paid by the guilty party’s insurance company.

The renter also takes responsibility for cases when any damage to the car is caused by his fault (for example, he ran into a tree), or if the guilty party of the accident is another driver who failed to remain at the scene of the accident.

These insurance policies are mandatory while renting, and without them, you just will not get the car. In good rental companies, CDW insurance is also included into the list of mandatory ones. But it is not common everywhere.

When you book on the website, please carefully consider which insurance types are included in the booking price. On our website, all the conditions are clearly specified when you register.

Extended Insurance

There are 2 types of the extended insurance in Greece: 

CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) is car damage insurance with a deductible. This type of insurance is included in the cost of the standard insurance by many rental companies. In such a case, if faced with the insurance event, the renter pays everything that is less than the deductible amount. The insurance company pays for the rest.

Usually, the insurance does not include damage to the wheels, glass and passenger compartment, as well as damage and loss of the keys. That is why, while driving on dirt roads, you should be careful. 

SCDW (Super CDW) is a type of CDW insurance, but with a reduced deductible. This is a safer option, but it also costs more.

The insurance agreement usually does not include:

– the damage to wheels and car glass
– the damage of the passenger compartment/Interior
– travelling by ferries
– the damage that was sustained on dirt roads
– the damage that was received outside the permitted car operation area

Therefore, all unclear moments and any matters of concern should be discussed with the employees of the rental company in advance, before signing the contract.

However, some companies sometimes issue entirely complete kinds of insurance, which include all kinds of damage. This option is the safest for car rental, as you can stop worrying about anything. But it is also the most expensive. And you should always make sure that all the options are specified in the agreement.

Violations of the Insurance Agreement

Violations of the agreement include actions of the renter that clearly break the traffic rules and the Greek law. These include:

– driving after drinking alcohol or using drugs

Alcohol cancels any insurance. Therefore, we strongly advise you not to “abuse” it when driving.

– transferring steering to a driver who is not included in the agreement
– extremely rude and careless driving
– driving on the roads that are not intended for passenger cars
– cases when the driver did not report to the insurance or rental company on an accident or a damage

If it turns out that the renter has crudely violated the law in any of these ways, the insurance company will refuse to pay, leaving the driver alone with the rental companies, the police, and often with the courts.

Documents for Insurance Registration

To obtain insurance for a car in Greece, you need the same documents as for car rental. After all, the insurance is issued directly at the time of signing the rental agreement. To do this, you need 3 main documents: an international passport, a driver’s license and an IDP (international driver’s license).

Greece signed the Vienna Convention in 1968, according to which in Greece it is possible to use the national driving licenses of the countries participating in this Convention. But practically, most rental companies, especially the ones in large cities, refuse to rent out cars without an IDP.

It is also a good reason to have to present to the authorities(police) if requested while traveling on the road.

In order to rent a car in Greece, it is highly recommended to issue an IDP before the trip. This will significantly simplify communication with rental companies and insurance companies. Depending on your country of residence the IDP is issued at the traffic police department or car club associations and are issued on the spot. You need to register and pay the fee.  Contact your local authorities for details on where to issue your IDP.

Renting with Auto Logic and the Advantages of Working with Insurance

When you rent a vehicle at Auto Logic Rental Group, you have the opportunity to study all the insurance conditions that rental companies provide for their cars.

We work with reliable local companies that value their reputation.

In addition, Auto Logic Rental Group has additional advantages:

– very transparent and clear conditions within the terms and conditions 
– convenient booking and filtering system: you can choose a car with a second driver or unlimited mileage at once
– you can choose child safety seats with your online booking
– the ability to choose not only a car category, but also a particular car that you like
– the car is delivered to your hotel or airport
– support service, which will help you at any stage of the car renting. In particular, our specialists will help you if you have to communicate with an insurance company.

Conclusion

A car in Greece is not a luxurious thing, but a necessity if you want to see the true beauty of this wonderful country.  We recommend that you take out full insurance when you rent a car so that nothing could spoil your trip. This way you can completely relax and enjoy your vacation!

Explore Greece with Auto Logic Rental Group!