Everything You
Need to Know

No card deposit is required at the time of booking. We do not place a pre-authorisation hold on your card before or during the rental. Payment is settled at pick-up — by card or cash. This is one of our most distinctive policies and a key reason customers choose Caravel over larger companies.

We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and cash (Euro). There is no credit card surcharge. Contactless and chip & PIN are both accepted at all locations. We do not currently accept cryptocurrency or cheques.

Yes — that is our standard process. Reserve your car online (or by phone/email), receive written confirmation, and pay in full at the rental desk when you collect the vehicle. No payment is taken at the time of reservation.

Yes. Our quoted prices include VAT, CDW insurance, unlimited mileage, roadside assistance, and airport/hotel delivery at participating locations. The only additions would be optional extras you choose to add (baby seat, GPS, extra driver, etc.) or the young driver surcharge if applicable. We do not add fuel surcharges, admin fees, or surprise extras.

Yes. The person booking and the main driver do not need to be the same person. Simply provide the main driver's details (name, licence number, age) at the time of booking. They must be present at pick-up with their own licence and a valid form of ID.

Every hire includes: Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), Theft Protection (TP), and Third-Party Liability to the legal minimum required in Greece — all with €0 excess.

€0. Our standard price includes CDW and Theft Protection with zero excess — there is nothing additional to pay in the event of damage. No upgrade is required.

€0. We require no credit card deposit or security block. Payment is made on collection only.

Yes. At Heraklion Nikos Kazantzakis Airport (HER) and Chania International Airport (CHQ) our team meets you in the arrivals hall with a name board. There is no need to find a shuttle bus or offsite depot — we bring the paperwork to you. Vehicle handover takes place in the airport car park or adjacent area.

Yes — we offer hotel delivery and collection across most of Crete for bookings of 5 days or more. This service is free of charge within a 15 km radius of our Heraklion, Hersonissos, and Stalida offices. For more distant locations a small delivery fee may apply. Please mention your hotel at the time of booking and we will confirm the details.

All drivers must present: (1) a valid driving licence — EU licences are accepted; non-EU licences must be accompanied by an International Driving Permit (IDP); (2) a valid passport or EU ID card; (3) your booking confirmation (printed or on your phone).

We monitor flight arrivals at both Heraklion and Chania airports in real time. If your flight is delayed, our team will wait for you — there is no extra charge for delays. Please call us if your delay extends beyond 3 hours, just so we can schedule accordingly.

Yes — one-way rentals between our locations are available. For example, you can pick up at Heraklion Airport and return at Chania Airport. A one-way fee may apply depending on the route and duration. Please request this at the time of booking.

Drivers must be at least 21 years old and hold a full driving licence. There is no maximum age limit — drivers up to 85 years old are welcome. Drivers aged 21–24 are subject to a Young Driver Surcharge of €11 per day, as this is required by our insurance provider.

Yes — provided it is accompanied by a valid International Driving Permit (IDP). The IDP must be obtained in your home country before you travel; we are not able to provide one in Crete. US, UK (post-Brexit), Australian, and Canadian licences all require an IDP for legal driving in Greece.

A minimum of 1 year of driving experience is required (i.e., your licence must have been issued at least 12 months before the start of your rental). This applies to all drivers and additional drivers.

Yes — additional drivers can be added at a supplement of €5 per day per driver. Each additional driver must be present at pick-up with their own valid driving licence and passport/ID. All additional drivers must meet the same age and licence requirements as the main driver.

All our vehicles operate on a full-to-full policy. You pick up the car with a full tank and return it with a full tank. There is no pre-purchase option — you simply fill up at any petrol station before returning the car. Petrol stations are plentiful across Crete. If you return the car with less than a full tank, you will be charged for the missing fuel plus a small refuelling service fee.

No. All our hire rates include unlimited mileage. Drive from the western tip of Crete to the east and back — there is no counter running on kilometres. This is included as standard on every booking with no restrictions.

Our vehicles are insured for use in mainland Greece and Crete only. Taking the car on a ferry to another island or crossing an international border is not permitted under the rental agreement and would void all insurance coverage. If you need to visit another island, we recommend renting locally there.

Call our 24/7 assistance line immediately — the number is on your rental agreement. For accidents involving another vehicle, contact the local police (100) and do not move the vehicles until an officer has documented the scene. Do not admit liability to third parties. We will guide you through the next steps by phone. For breakdowns, we will send roadside assistance or a replacement vehicle depending on the situation.

Cancellations made 48 hours or more before the scheduled pick-up time are completely free of charge — no cancellation fee, no questions asked. For cancellations made within 48 hours, a fee equivalent to one day's rental rate applies. As no payment is taken at the time of booking, there is nothing to refund for advance cancellations.

Yes — modifications are welcome subject to availability. Contact us by phone, WhatsApp, or email at least 24 hours before your original pick-up time. Date changes within the same booking period are usually free; changes that extend the rental are charged at the applicable daily rate. Changing the pick-up location may incur a small administration fee.

You are welcome to return the car earlier than planned. No penalty applies for early return. However, we do not refund unused rental days — the agreed rental rate covers the full booked period regardless of actual usage. If you think your plans might change, we recommend booking the minimum period you definitely need and extending if required (subject to availability).