Hiring a car at Heraklion Airport is straightforward if you sort three things before you fly: book in advance, bring a valid driving licence and ID, and know where you’ll meet the rental company. With a local company like Cretarent, a representative meets you at arrivals with your name on a sign, the car is parked about a minute away, and you can pay when you collect it.
KEY FACTS
- Heraklion Airport “Nikos Kazantzakis” (HER) is Crete’s busiest airport, about 5 km east of Heraklion city centre.
- Cretarent’s minimum driver age is 22, with a licence held for at least 12 months.
- No credit card is needed: pay on arrival by cash, card or PayPal.
- No deposit is required, except a refundable €500 card deposit for the SUV and Cabrio B groups.
- The second driver is free and kilometres are unlimited.
- Office hours are 08:00–23:00, seven days a week; a €20 late-delivery fee applies outside these hours.
Should you book your car before you land?
Yes, and as early as you can for summer dates. Heraklion is the main gateway to Crete, and from June to September demand for cars at the airport is far higher than supply. Prices rise and small automatics sell out first. Booking ahead locks in the car type you want and the price you saw.
In the shoulder months of April, May and October there is more choice, but booking still saves time on arrival. Cretarent offers a discount for booking in advance, and cancellation is free up to 3 days before pick-up.
If you’re comparing Heraklion car rental options, compare the full price rather than the daily rate: insurance, extra drivers, deposits and the fuel policy are where the price changes.
What documents do you need to hire a car in Crete?
Bring these to the pick-up:
- A valid driving licence, held for at least 12 months. Greek and EU licences are accepted as they are.
- An International Driving Permit if your licence is from outside the EU and isn’t in Greek or English.
- Your passport or national ID card.
- Your booking confirmation, on paper or on your phone.
You’ll sign the rental agreement at handover. Read the insurance section before you sign; it is the one part of the contract worth a few minutes of your holiday.
How old do you have to be to rent a car at Heraklion Airport?
At Cretarent the main driver must be at least 22 years old and have held a full licence for at least 12 months. Additional drivers follow the same rules and must be named on the contract. Cretarent doesn’t charge for a second driver, which is useful on longer days when you want to share the driving.
Do you need a credit card or a deposit?
Not with Cretarent. Many international brands at the airport block a large amount on a credit card as a security deposit, and some refuse debit cards altogether. Cretarent takes payment when you collect the car, by cash, by card on a mobile POS terminal, or by PayPal.
There’s no deposit for most car groups. The exception is the SUV and Cabrio B groups, which need a refundable €500 deposit on a debit or credit card, or in cash.
What insurance is included?
Insurance is where airport car hire prices differ most, so check it before comparing rates. Many budget quotes include only basic cover with a high excess, the amount you pay if the car is damaged, and then sell extra cover at the desk.
Most Cretarent car groups include 100% full insurance without excess in the price shown when you book, so there’s no upsell at handover. Please check the rental agreement for the exclusions that usually apply in Crete, such as tyres, the underside of the car, glass and damage on unpaved roads, and ask the representative if anything is unclear.
Two other things to know: the car is insured for driving on Crete only, so taking it on a ferry to another island needs permission first, and anything you leave in the car isn’t covered. Keep bags out of sight when you park at a beach or a viewpoint.
Where do you meet the rental company at Heraklion Airport?
This is the question most first-time visitors worry about, and with a meet-and-greet service it’s simple. After you collect your luggage and walk into the arrivals hall, a Cretarent representative will be waiting outside arrivals with a sign showing your name. Look for the green Cretarent logo.
The car park is about a minute’s walk away. You inspect the car with the representative, sign the agreement, and you’re on your way. It is one of the main reasons travellers choose car hire Heraklion Airport with a local company instead of queueing at a desk in the terminal.
If your flight is delayed, there’s no need to panic. Add your flight number to the booking. Cretarent’s staff track arrivals and will wait for you.
Which car should you choose?
Choose for the roads you’ll actually drive, not the ones in the brochure:
- Small economy (e.g. Skoda Citigo or similar): ideal for two people, city streets and village parking. The cheapest to run.
- Compact and medium (e.g. Toyota Yaris, VW Golf or similar): the best all-rounder for couples with luggage and longer drives on the national road.
- Family and estate (e.g. Opel Astra SW or similar): room for four adults and suitcases.
- SUV and 4×4: more clearance for unpaved roads to remote beaches, and a higher seating position on mountain roads.
- Minibus: for groups of up to nine, so a family group can travel together in one vehicle.
Automatics are in high demand in summer, so if you need one, book it early. Prices on the Cretarent site currently start from €27 a day for a small automatic (October 2026 rates; check at booking).
What’s the first drive from Heraklion Airport like?
Short and easy if you’re staying in Heraklion city: the centre is about 5 km away. Most visitors head east or west on the national road (VOAK), the main highway along the north coast. It’s busy in summer, and local driving habits take a little getting used to: slower vehicles often move onto the hard shoulder to let faster cars pass. Keep to the speed limit and stay alert near junctions.
Some useful habits for the first day:
- Plan your first stop before you leave the car park: phone signal is good, but sat-nav instructions come quickly at the airport roundabouts.
- Fill up in daylight; petrol stations in the countryside may close in the evening.
- Park legally in town. Fines go to the rental company and are passed on to the driver.
If you’re staying in the city, car rental Heraklion gives you an easy base for Knossos, the archaeological museum and the beaches to the east.
How does returning the car work?
Return the car with the same fuel level as at pick-up; that’s the fuel policy, and it avoids refuelling charges. Agree a return time and place in advance. If you’re flying out, allow time to drop the car before check-in, especially in summer when the airport is busy. Cretarent can also collect the car from your hotel or the port if you’re leaving Crete by ferry.
Frequently asked questions
Q Can I rent a car at Heraklion Airport without a credit card?
Yes. Cretarent doesn’t require a credit card. You can pay on arrival in cash, by card or by PayPal.
Q Is there a charge for an additional driver?
No. The second driver is free, as long as they’re named on the rental agreement and meet the age and licence rules.
Q What happens if my flight is delayed?
Add your flight number to the booking. The team monitors arrivals and will wait for you.
Q Can I drop the car somewhere other than the airport?
Yes. Cretarent delivers and collects at Heraklion Airport and port, hotels in the Heraklion area and Chania Airport. Confirm the drop-off location when you book.
Landing soon? Book your Heraklion car hire with Cretarent today: no credit card, free second driver, and a friendly face waiting at arrivals.