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The aforementioned Declaration is the first step but it is not enough. In order to lawfully operate, a Certification by the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) that the legal requirements are met is required.
COMPANIES
You can start with one single car. Then, for each car added to the fleet, you have to inform the GNTO.
From the Regional Tourism Directorate (RTD) of your region of activity. You may find list of RTDs here
Cars for rent without a driver shall be removed from the fleet upon completion of 12 years from the date of first registration.
Cars for rent with a driver shall be removed from the fleet upon completion of 7 years from the date of first registration or 9 years, if they are originally of open type.
Drivers shall:
- hold a B-category driver’s license for at least 24 months;
- have no criminal record;
- be Senior High School graduates;
- be fluent in one (1) foreign language at least;
- hold an Insurance Clearance Certificate by an insurance institution;
- hold a Health Certificate, issued by a medical institution or doctor.
Minimum – 3hrs.
However, in the islands (except for Crete and Evia) and during the period from May to August, it can be 30 minutes.
No, you have to establish a branch/office.
Yes, if clients have made a reservation/booking. In this case, you can wait for the customer holding a board with their name, but without your company’s name as it is considered as solicitation and fines may be imposed.
If your fleet consists of more than 10 cars, you are required to have a parking area for half the cars, with parking lots of 6 square meters per car. The area can be anywhere in the region or island, not necessary next to your office.
Cars for rent shall undergo a mechanical control every year.
Consumers
In Europe, all cars are required to be insured for material damage and personal injury to third parties for the minimum amount set by law.
Because this reduces the extent of their financial liability in the event of an accident or theft. The statutory minimum insurance coverage has a limited scope and does not cover damage or theft of the rented car.
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) – With this coverage, clients can reduce their financial liability in the event of damage to the car only to the excess amount as set at the beginning of the lease.
Super Collision Damage Waiver (SCDW) – With this coverage, clients can further reduce their financial liability.
Theft Protection (TP) – clients can reduce their financial liability in the event of car theft.
Personal Accident Insurance (ΡΑΙ) – insurance up to a certain amount of the driver and passengers for death and/or personal injuries that may occur during rental.
Yes, but then you will be more exposed in case of damage. So, for example, if you refuse to cover own damages, you will be liable for the repair of the material damage, as well as for the costs of transporting the car to the workshop, consequential damages etc.
No, there are some exclusions for damages that are not guaranteed by any cover. Such damages are those caused solely to car bottom, tires and wheels and in general, damages that are not part of a more general accident, damages due to misuse (driving on an unsuitable road, towing another vehicle, participating in speed races etc.)
In these cases, client is responsible until the office opens and the office clerk picks up the keys and checks the car.
The final billing amount includes also charges that cannot be calculated at the beginning of the rental, such as extra kilometers travelled, extra days of rental, damages, fines for road traffic offenses, etc.
The lease contract is the document by which the rental company authorizes the client to make use of the car in accordance with the relevant terms. Details such as the car’s registration number, brand and type are not known at the time of reservation. Also, the client may decide to have extra coverage or services at the time of picking up the car.
This is done for practical purposes. Otherwise, a company representative should accompany each client to the car he is about to pick up and then both should return to the office to complete and sign the lease contract. This deprives the rental company of the ability to provide fast service to its clients.
In any case, the Company provides clients with a document outlining any pre-existing damages and a detailed list of mobile equipment. Thus, clients have the chance, and this is fair, to check the car and in case they find discrepancies, to notify the office accordingly before picking up the car. In such a case, the Company shall amend the report of the car’s condition with the new data.
For travelling to European Union countries, the procedure is very simple; in general, the approval of the Car Rental Company and the issuance of the corresponding Green Card are required. If you plan to stay in the destination country (one way rental), you will be charged with the cost of car repatriation.
Most companies have the option of canceling a reservation free of charge, provided this is done well before the specified date of pickup. In case of prepaid reservations, special terms apply and an amount may be charged for cancellation. Car Rental Companies are required to inform the customer at the time of reservation of their cancellation policy.
If the client wants to make some changes during the lease (e.g. date or place of return, add a driver, etc.), he has to contact the Company and ask for its approval. Any change actually affects the final billing amount.
It is the simplest way to secure the collection of additional charges that may arise during or at the end of the lease. Such charges may be time extension of the rental, additional driver, refueling, fines for traffic offenses, damages, extra kilometer travelled etc.
You can choose whether to pay the rent by card or cash. However, you will be asked for a credit or debit card to cover the guaranty.
Reservations are made by car category. Each category includes several models with same characteristics (e.g. capacity, fuel, luggage compartment, etc.). The Rental Company is obliged to deliver you any car of the category you have booked, but not a particular model.
Only if he/she has been declared as additional driver and his/her details have been recorded in the lease contract. Otherwise, insurance coverage does not apply.
If the Car Rental Company refuels its cars at a gas station, it employs someone to carry out this task (transportation to and from the gas station) and this is an expense.
If it holds its own gas station, the price is higher because the installation, maintenance and operation costs are depreciated against a much smaller amount of liters. In addition, it employs personnel for the management and operation of this facility.
You can file a complaint to the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) and/or the General Secretariat for Consumers and, of course, to contact our Association, STEEAE.
