Mandatory Things to be Taken Care of before Renting a Car in Chania

Chania is a regional unit and also the name of the second largest city in the island of Crete. Administrative boundaries and titles aside, recent excavations have unearthed relics that prove that it was inhabited since at least the Neolithic age. With such a long and checkered history and its vibrant natural landscape, it has a lot to offer to tourists and travelers.

Chania has a number of towns and villages situated throughout the region including ancient harbor towns, fishing villages and several monuments and buildings from the Byzantine, Venetian, and Ottoman era. In addition, the agro-tourism and eco-tourism are becoming very popular. The best way to experience these treasures is with your own vehicle. And with a rental car, you can do just that. All you need to do is be mindful of a few things and you should be set to enjoy a lovely vacation in Chania.

·        · Acquire a Valid License: Find out how to obtain an international driving permit, or if your country’s license is acceptable

·         Driver Restrictions: Car rental services in Chania tend to be quite laid back about a driver’s age, but the legal minimum driving age is 21 years. However, some agencies may refuse to allow drivers under 25 and over 70 years of age (or they may charge more). They also allow additional drivers at no extra cost

·      Insurance Options: This is often overlooked, but a very important aspect of renting a car abroad. Find out about insurance options for damage, accidents and theft of the car. Also, ensure that you have international personal accident coverage. Traveling insurance may or may not cover medical costs and bills if you need hospital care

·        Car Specs: It is best to rent a car you are comfortable driving. Roads and even highways in Crete are narrower than what you may be used to, owing to the landscape. Most rental cars have manual transmission, so find out options for automatic if you need it

·       Extras: You may not need a GPS in the age of smart phones (though most cars would have them), but other accessories like child seats are best requested beforehand. Most car rental services give them for free or charge a nominal amount

Pick up and Drop: Find out about free pick up and drop options. Ask about options to drop off the car in a different city than the one where you picked it up. This way, you can pick up a car in Chania and drop it off in Heraklion if your itinerary calls for it.