Greece for American Drivers — IDP Required by Law, Plus Mountain Roads

Unlike most of Europe, where an IDP for an American is a sensible nicety, Greece actually requires one. The reason is script: Greek police read the Greek and Latin alphabets, and a US licence in plain English without an accompanying translation doesn’t satisfy the rule that covers non-Latin-format licences. Rental desks know this and will ask. So the first job for the US-to-Greece trip is the International Driving Permit from AAA, bought before you leave — you cannot get one once you’re in Greece, and it must travel clipped to your original licence.

The roads, not the side, are the adjustment

You drive on the right here, so there’s nothing to relearn about which lane you belong in. What demands attention is the terrain. Mainland Greece is mountainous, and routes into the Peloponnese, Epirus or up to Meteora throw long sequences of hairpins, blind bends and crumbling shoulders at you. On the islands — Crete, Naxos, the Cyclades — the challenge flips to single-track village lanes, scooters, and goats that own the road. The newer toll motorways (Egnatia, Attiki Odos) are excellent and run to 130 km/h, but the older national roads are slower and rougher than any sign suggests.

Alcohol and fines are stricter than home

Greece’s alcohol limit is 0.05, below the 0.08 standard across US states and just 0.02 for newer drivers, with summer checkpoints common around the islands. Speeding bites too: going 20-plus km/h over typically costs around €100, and even a modest overshoot runs about €40, often payable on the spot — the Speeding Fine Calculator gives you a figure before you go. Confirm the IDP requirement itself on the Driving Permit Checker.

Before you collect the car

Greek law requires a warning triangle, first-aid kit and fire extinguisher in the vehicle — check a hire car carries all three. Petrol is around $1.92/litre, among the pricier in the EU, and 112 is the all-purpose emergency line. Many islands also limit cars in old-town centres, so park outside and walk. Full rules and speed tables are on the Greece driving guide.