Driving Licence and International Driving Permit for Greece
EU and UK photocard licences are valid for driving and hiring a car in Greece on their own. Drivers with a licence from outside the EU and EEA, such as the US, Canada or Australia, should carry an International Driving Permit alongside their home licence. This guide explains who needs what, and what changed for UK drivers after Brexit.
- EU / EEA
- Home licence only
- UK
- Photocard, no IDP
- US/CA/AU
- Licence + IDP
- Held for
- 1+ year
EU and EEA driving licences
EU and EEA driving licences are fully valid in Greece, with no permit or translation required. You drive and hire on your home photocard licence, which the rental desk records at pickup. The only condition most agencies add is that you have held the licence for at least 1 year.
Can I drive in Greece with a UK licence?
Yes, a full UK photocard licence is accepted in Greece, and no International Driving Permit is needed for tourists after Brexit. Carry the plastic photocard itself, because the paper counterpart is no longer issued and a photo on your phone is not accepted. If your licence still shows an old paper format, an IDP is a cheap safeguard.
Who needs an International Driving Permit?
Drivers whose licence comes from outside the EU and EEA generally need an International Driving Permit to hire and drive in Greece. This covers visitors from the US, Canada, Australia, South Africa and many other countries, whose national licence is not in a recognised European format. The IDP is only valid alongside your original licence, not on its own.
How to get an International Driving Permit
- Apply in your home country before you travel, because Greece does not issue IDPs to visitors.
- Take your valid national driving licence, a passport photo and the fee to the issuing body, such as a motoring association or post office.
- Choose the 1968 Vienna Convention permit, which is the version recognised in Greece.
- Carry the IDP together with your national licence for the whole trip.
