What to Know Before Renting a Vehicle in Santorini

Santorini is a small island with a big reputation, and navigating it independently — on your own two or four wheels — is one of the best decisions you can make as a visitor. But there are a few things worth knowing before you walk into a rental shop, because the island has some specific characteristics that don’t apply everywhere else.
Think of this as the briefing you’d want before you arrived, rather than the one you piece together after your first wrong turn on a caldera road with a cliff on one side and a tour bus on the other.
The Roads
Santorini’s main roads are paved and well-maintained. The route along the caldera rim from Fira to Oia, the road down to Akrotiri in the south, and the coast road on the east side toward Kamari are all straightforward. What catches people off guard is the secondary network — the narrower roads connecting smaller villages, the tracks leading to lesser-known beaches, and the streets inside the villages themselves, which were built for donkeys and have not been significantly widened since.
On these roads, a smaller vehicle is a genuine advantage. The Smart For Two available at Iakovos Rentals was practically designed for Santorini’s village streets — it fits where nothing else does. An ATV has the advantage on rough terrain. A scooter wins on the very tightest passages.
What you don’t want is a large rental car from the airport. You’ll spend half your time finding somewhere to turn around.
Parking
Parking in Fira and Oia during peak season (June through September) is a serious consideration. Both villages have designated parking areas outside the main pedestrian zones — use them. Trying to find a spot closer in is a waste of time and occasionally leads to situations that require reversing on roads that don’t have enough width to do so comfortably.
ATVs and scooters can park in spots that cars simply cannot use, which is one of their practical advantages beyond the riding experience.
Fuel
There are petrol stations in Fira, Kamari, and a few other locations around the island. The distances involved are small enough that fuel is never a crisis, but it’s worth noting where the stations are on your first day rather than discovering this information when the tank is empty on a Sunday afternoon in Akrotiri.
Most rental vehicles will be provided with a full tank. Return them full. It’s the right thing to do and avoids any top-up charges.
Licensing Requirements
This is the one that catches people out most often. Greece requires a valid license for all motorized vehicles above 50cc. For vehicles between 50cc and 125cc, an AM or A1 license is required. For anything above 125cc — and most of the interesting vehicles at Iakovos Rentals fall into this category — you need either an A-category motorcycle license or a B-category car license.
The B-category car license covers two-wheeled vehicles up to 125cc in most EU countries if issued after 2011. For ATVs above 125cc, requirements can vary depending on the specific vehicle classification. When in doubt, call ahead — 698 280 0996 — and confirm before you arrive.
Non-EU visitors should carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national license.
Insurance
Basic third-party insurance is standard with all rentals. Check what’s included and what isn’t, particularly regarding damage to the vehicle itself. This is not unique to Santorini — it applies everywhere — but it’s worth reading the rental agreement rather than assuming full coverage.
Timing
Peak season in Santorini runs roughly from late May through early October, with July and August being the busiest months. During this period, the roads around Oia in the late afternoon — when everyone converges for the sunset — can get genuinely congested. If you’re planning to ride to Oia for sunset, arrive early enough to park and walk in, rather than trying to navigate the approach roads at 7pm in August.
Early morning is the best time to be on the road. The light is better, the roads are quieter, and the island reveals a different character before the day-trippers arrive from the cruise ships.
Where to Rent
Iakovos Rentals is based in Perivolos, on the south coast of the island. Perivolos is well-positioned for accessing both the caldera road routes to the north and the southern routes toward Akrotiri and the lighthouse. Free delivery is available, which means if you’re staying in Fira or Oia, you don’t need to figure out how to get to Perivolos before you have a vehicle.
They offer scooters from 125cc to 300cc, ATVs at 450cc and 550cc, and small cars including the Fiat Panda and the Smart For Two. Helmets are included free of charge. With a 5.0 rating across 91 Google reviews, the track record speaks for itself.