Guide: Car Rent and Driving in Kefalonia (Cephalonia)

Whenever I want to rent a car, I usually use a rental car broker that compares rates from different car rental companies.

Just enter the dates of your trip and your preferred pick-up location into the search engine, and you can find dozens of rental cars from well-known international companies like Avis, Europcar, and Hertz, as well as Greek car rental companies such as Exer, Direntacar, and AutoUnion.

Local or national car rental companies are not always included in the search engines of other rental car brokers, which is why DiscoverCars is such a useful website for comparing rates and renting cars on Greek islands like Kefalonia.

With a 4.6 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot from 177,896 reviews, DiscoverCars is both trustworthy and reliable.

What kind of car to rent on Kefalonia

The best car to rent on Kefalonia will depend primarily on your needs, such as the size of your travel group.

Since almost all roads on Kefalonia are paved, renting a 4WD car is generally unnecessary because you can reach most beaches and sights with a standard 2WD car.

Although many foreign tourists, especially Americans, often opt for a large SUV, this can actually be quite a hindrance when driving on Greek islands.

If you observe the cars driven by Greeks, you’ll notice that most of them drive small hatchbacks.

When they do need to travel off-road, a small Jeep is often preferred over a large SUV.

This is not without reason, as roads on Greek islands can be narrow, and parking spaces are often limited or suitable only for smaller cars.

Unless you are a large family, travelling as a group, or have a lot of baggage, I would advise renting a smaller car model, such as a Fiat Panda or Opel Corsa.

Before you book a rental car, there are a few things you should always check:

– Documents needed to rent a car and any possible restrictions.
– Whether a deposit is required and the amount.
– What is included in the standard insurance and if it’s worth paying extra for full coverage.
– Pick-up and drop-off instructions.
– The reputation of the rental car company.

Documents and restrictions

Some rental companies might impose surcharges for young drivers or those who have recently passed their driving tests, or may only allow them to rent the lowest category of cars, so it’s worth checking if this applies to you.

Deposit

Most rental car companies require a deposit, although on Greek islands this is generally only a few hundred euros at most, or sometimes not required at all in case you rent with a local company.

You can always use a credit card for the deposit, but if you prefer to use a debit card or cash, you should check carefully whether the company you are renting from allows it.

Rental car insurance

Next, review the insurance: Check what is included, how high the deductible is (the amount you need to pay out of pocket for damage caused by your fault), and whether it might be better to opt for full insurance coverage to protect against all risks.

However, even with full insurance, it’s wise to verify what is truly covered, as some all-risk policies in Greece may not include flat tyres or damage to the undercarriage.

Pick-up and drop-off instructions

When renting a car, it’s also a great idea to review the pick-up and drop-off instructions, as there may be extra charges if you want to pick up or drop off the car at a different location or outside office hours.

Almost all Kefalonia rental car companies offer free pick-up and drop-off at the airport, or will provide free transport between the airport and their rental car office if you give them your flight number.

Some rental car companies will also offer this service when you arrive or depart from one of Kefalonia’s ports, such as Sami, Fiskardo, or Poros.

Check reviews

Last but certainly not least, always check the reputation and read reviews of the company you plan to rent from, even if you are using a car rental broker for your booking.

It’s easy to do a quick Google search and read the reviews of all car rental companies in Kefalonia.

Ignore reviews from people with only one written review (as they tend to be unreliable), as well as 1-star horror stories, since no car rental company in the world is free from such complaints and you don’t know the full story behind them (as the reviewers might have been at fault themselves).

Focus on the average rating of the car rental company (4 out of 5 or higher is good!) and reviews written by those with several dozen or even hundreds of other reviews on their name.

Again, check the general trend among the reviews and don’t focus solely on negative ones.

Renting a car on Kefalonia: My own experience

During my trip to Kefalonia, I booked a car with AutoUnion, the largest car rental company in Greece.

I provided the flight number for my Olympic Air flight from Athens to Kefalonia Airport in advance, and when I walked through the baggage claim area into the arrivals hall, a representative from AutoUnion was already waiting for me.

At their office, we went over the rental car conditions and the insurance policy, after which we walked to my actual rental car, a white Nissan Micra.

The car looked brand new and was in excellent condition, which is always good to see.

Together with the representative, I walked around the car and inspected it for scratches and minor damage, which was noted on the rental form.

Whenever I rent a car, I always take a video or some pictures of all sides of the car at pick-up, and I would highly advise others to do the same.

Although I find Greek people honest and have never had an issue with car rentals during my visits to the mainland and around 20 different Greek islands such as Astypalea and Crete, it’s still important to document the state of the rental car at pick-up and any previous damage.

There is no need to be paranoid or think rental car companies are out to charge you for previous damages, but it’s better to be safe than sorry!

Within 15 minutes of walking out of Kefalonia Airport, all the paperwork was completed, and I was ready to drive around the island!

My car rental with AutoUnion in Kefalonia turned out to be excellent, and there were zero issues when returning the car a couple of days later, which was an even quicker process.

Kefalonia is a great island to explore by car, as the roads are generally in excellent condition and the views are fantastic.

While some Cycladic islands such as Santorini can be notorious for narrow roads, crowded streets, and difficult parking, the situation on the Ionian islands is much better.

This is especially true for Kefalonia, as the island is less visited than its southern neighbour Zakynthos, as well as Lefkada and Corfu to the north.

Kefalonia is a large island, and driving times can be rather long, so it’s best to focus on one part of the island at a time.

For example, if you stay in the south of Kefalonia, it can easily take two hours to reach Fiskardo in the north, resulting in a four-hour round trip, which makes for a long drive for a day trip!

It’s a good idea to research what you want to see and do on Kefalonia beforehand and consider this when selecting the location of your hotel, holiday home, or other accommodation on the island.

If you plan to stay on the island for a week or longer, it might be worthwhile to split your time between accommodations in different parts of Kefalonia to limit driving times, or ensure you stay somewhere central.

The driving durations on Kefalonia indicated by Google Maps and other route planners are often underestimated by at least 10 to 20%, so if it says a drive will take one and a half hours, it’s better to plan for it to take at least two hours.

This is especially true in the first days on Kefalonia, as you will likely stop frequently along the road to take pictures of the stunning scenery and panoramic views.

Although the driving routes indicated by Google Maps or other route planners and navigation tools are usually reliable, make sure you don’t follow them blindly and always use common sense.

This is especially true in small villages or when driving to a holiday home, as route planners might direct you onto extremely rough gravel roads full of large stones and potholes intended for livestock rather than cars.

That was also the case when I drove from the airport to my accommodation, as the fastest route on Google Maps directed me off the main road onto an impassable path that was far too rough and narrow!

Instead, the written instructions from the hosts, along with some old-fashioned signs placed along the road, guided us to the proper driveway leading to our holiday home.

You’ll find many car rental companies in Kefalonia, ranging from major international brands to local businesses, and it’s always best to compare prices and policies before you book a car.