How Our Car Hire Terms Work — Insurance, Deposits & Fuel Insurance — Choose Your Coverage Level 1. Basic Coverage (CDW — Collision Damage Waiver) 2. Enhanced Coverage (SCDW — Super CDW) 3. Full Coverage (FDW — Full Damage Waiver) The "Never Covered" List (Even with FDW) Optional Add-On: WUG Cover Deposit — What to Expect Who Can Hire a Car? Minimum Age Requirements: Required Documents at Pickup: International Driving Permit (IDP) Rules: Fuel Policy Full-to-Full Same-to-Same Mileage & Extra Drivers Family Travel & Navigation: Cancellation Policy Returning Your Car One-Way Rental Options: Rules of the Road Vehicle Inspection — Protecting Both of Us What we check together: Home Rental Terms How Our Car Hire Terms Work — Insurance, Deposits & Fuel Our car hire Agia Pelagia terms are clear and straightforward. Before you book, you can see exactly how insurance, deposits, fuel, driver requirements, and cancellations work. If anything is unclear, contact us and we will explain it directly. Insurance — Choose Your Coverage Level When comparing rent a car Crete insurance, the key detail is your excess. We offer three coverage tiers so you can choose the level that suits your trip and budget. 1. Basic Coverage (CDW — Collision Damage Waiver) What it is: Standard cover included with every rental. How it works: CDW limits your liability to a set excess amount if the vehicle is damaged. It does not mean full cover. The excess: The excess is blocked on your credit card as a security deposit at pickup. Vehicle Category Typical Excess Amount Economy (e.g., Toyota Aygo, Fiat Panda) €800 Compact (e.g., Toyota Yaris, Renault Clio) €900 SUV (e.g., Dacia Duster, Hyundai Tucson) Premium / Luxury €1,400 2. Enhanced Coverage (SCDW — Super CDW) What it is: Mid-level cover for drivers who want to reduce their excess. How it works: SCDW lowers your excess liability by around 50%. For example, an Economy car may drop to about €250, and an SUV to about €400. Cost: Usually around €5 to €8 per day, depending on vehicle category. 3. Full Coverage (FDW — Full Damage Waiver) What it is: The highest level of cover. How it works: FDW reduces your excess to €0. In many cases, it also removes the need for a credit card deposit. Cost: Usually around €10 to €15 per day. The "Never Covered" List (Even with FDW) Tires, wheels, and undercarriage damage Windshield, glass, and mirror damage Interior and upholstery damage Roof damage Loss of keys, including replacement and programming Driving on unpaved or off-road surfaces Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs Optional Add-On: WUG Cover WUG (Wheels, Underside, Glass) Cover is usually available for about €5 to €10 per day. It covers damage to the tires, undercarriage, and exterior glass. Note: Damage Administration Fee — If new damage is found, a flat €30 Damage Administration Fee may apply per incident. Deposit — What to Expect Our deposit policy depends on the insurance tier you choose: With Basic CDW: A deposit equal to the excess amount is blocked on the main driver's credit card. With Enhanced SCDW: The blocked amount is reduced, usually to around €250 to €450. With Full FDW: In many cases, no credit card hold is required. Payment Methods: Some local agencies in Agia Pelagia accept debit cards or cash if FDW is purchased. Deposit Release: After a damage-free return, the block is released immediately by the rental company. Banks usually take 5 to 15 business days to show the funds again. Choose FDW if you want to avoid a large pre-authorisation on your card. Who Can Hire a Car? Minimum Age Requirements: 21 years old for Economy and Compact vehicles 23 years old for SUVs, convertibles, and minivans Some local partners may accept drivers aged 19 to 20 with a young driver surcharge of €10 per day, capped at €60 per week Young Driver Surcharge (Ages 21–24): Major brands often charge around €5 per day for this age group. Some local Agia Pelagia agencies waive this fee. Required Documents at Pickup: Valid Driving License: Category B, held for at least 1 year Identification: Passport or national ID card Credit Card: In the main driver's name, unless your booking allows deposit-free rental with FDW International Driving Permit (IDP) Rules: Not usually required for: EU/EEA, UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and Switzerland licence holders Usually required for: Many other non-EU licence holders Check licence requirements before travel, as they depend on nationality and licence country. Fuel Policy Full-to-Full You receive the car with a full tank and return it full. This is usually the most economical option. If the car is returned short of fuel, the missing amount is charged plus a refuelling fee, often around €20. Same-to-Same Common with local agencies. You receive the car with a recorded fuel level and return it at the same level. Local Fueling in Agia Pelagia: AEGEAN Station: Approximately 1.2 km from the resort entrance BP Station: Approximately 3.5 km above the village on the national highway Mileage & Extra Drivers Mileage Policy: Unlimited mileage is included in all rentals. There are no daily kilometre caps or distance surcharges. Additional Drivers: A second driver is often free with local Agia Pelagia agencies. Major brands usually charge around €5 to €10 per day. The additional driver must be present at pickup with a valid licence. Family Travel & Navigation: Child Seats & Boosters: Usually available for around €2 per day. Some local agencies include them free. Request them in advance, especially for summer bookings. GPS Devices: Usually around €8 per day. Most customers use a smartphone with offline maps instead. Cancellation Policy Free Cancellation: Cancel up to 48 hours before pickup for a full refund Late Cancellation (Within 48 hours): Usually subject to a 1-day rental charge No-Show: The full rental period may be charged Modifications: Date or vehicle changes are usually free, subject to availability Written email confirmation is required for cancellations. Returning Your Car Grace Period: 59 minutes after the scheduled return time Late Returns: After the grace period, a full extra day may be charged at the current rate Early Returns: Unused days are generally non-refundable Drop-Off Location: Return must be to the agreed location unless a one-way rental was arranged One-Way Rental Options: Heraklion Airport pickup with Agia Pelagia drop-off may be available without surcharge, depending on supplier. Returns in another city, such as Chania, usually carry a one-way fee. Local suppliers may charge around €30, while major brands may charge €80 to €120. Before You Hand Over the Keys: Remove personal belongings, check the fuel level, and return the car in reasonable condition. If the vehicle is returned excessively dirty, a cleaning fee may apply. Rules of the Road Unpaved Roads: Driving on unpaved dirt or gravel roads voids all insurance cover. This includes the Balos access track. Ferry Travel: Taking the car by ferry requires prior written authorisation. Unauthorised ferry travel may void insurance and trigger a penalty fee. Smoking: All vehicles are smoke-free. A cleaning fee of €150 may apply. Speed Limits: 30 km/h in village and urban zones, 50 km/h on multi-lane urban roads, and 90 / 110 / 130 km/h on rural roads, expressways, and motorways. Loss-of-Use Fee: If renter-caused damage puts the car out of service, a fee of €60 per day may apply. Traffic Fines: The renter is responsible for all traffic and parking fines during the rental period. Vehicle Inspection — Protecting Both of Us Before departure, we inspect the car with you. What we check together: Existing scratches or dents recorded on the rental agreement Tire condition, fluid levels, and lights Spare tire and emergency repair kit Fuel level We recommend taking a full video of the vehicle before driving away, including bodywork, glass, wheels, roof, interior, and fuel level. This helps avoid disputes when the car is returned. Ready to explore Crete with clear terms and no surprises? Compare available cars → or see Heraklion Airport pickup options → for arrival logistics.