Season
July and August normally carry the highest demand. Spring, autumn and winter can be considerably cheaper.
CRETE AUTORENT
Chania Airport Car Rental (CHQ)
Collect your car at Chania International Airport and drive straight to Chania, Platanias, Kissamos or Rethymno. Compare no-deposit, no-credit-card and zero-excess offers for your dates.
✓ No Deposit Required✓ No Credit Card Needed✓ Airport, City & Hotel Pickup✓ Full Insurance Options✓ Zero Excess Options✓ Manual & Automatic Cars✓ Free Cancellation Options✓ New Cars Available
Chania Airport car rental: quick answer
You can collect a rental car at Chania International Airport (CHQ), on the Akrotiri peninsula about 14 km from Chania town (20–25 minutes). Most local suppliers meet you in the arrivals area or at the car park opposite the terminal, as shown on your voucher. Small cars start from about €25/day in winter and about €60/day in August. No-deposit, no-credit-card and zero-excess offers are available on selected cars.
Small-car seasonal price guide
Low-season prices are usually lowest in winter and spring, while July and August are the busiest and most expensive months.
| Month / 2026 | Small car | Large car | SUV | Van | Cabriolet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | €25 | €50 | €70 | €70 | €70 |
| February 2026 | €25 | €50 | €70 | €70 | €70 |
| March 2026 | €25 | €45 | €65 | €65 | €60 |
| April 2026 | €30 | €50 | €70 | €70 | €65 |
| May 2026 | €35 | €55 | €75 | €75 | €75 |
| June 2026 | €45 | €70 | €90 | €95 | €90 |
| July 2026 | €55 | €85 | €100 | €115 | €90 |
| August 2026 | €60 | €90 | €115 | €130 | €105 |
| September 2026 | €40 | €60 | €85 | €85 | €80 |
| October 2026 | €30 | €50 | €75 | €70 | €60 |
| November 2026 | €25 | €40 | €65 | €65 | €45 |
| December 2026 | €30 | €50 | €75 | €75 | €75 |
Indicative price guide — not a booking offer. Values are rounded for easier planning and seasonality comparison. Use the booking form for the exact price and conditions available for your dates.
POPULAR CAR TYPES
Indicative low- and high-season examples
Typical reference ranges help you budget before checking exact availability.
| Example vehicle | Type | Passengers | Luggage | Low season | High season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🚗 Fiat 500 or similar | City / Mini | 4 | 1 | €25 | €40 |
| 🚗 Ford Fiesta or similar | Compact | 5 | 2 | €30 | €45 |
| 🚗 Volkswagen Polo or similar | Compact | 5 | 2 | €30 | €50 |
| 🚙 Toyota Corolla or similar | Sedan | 5 | 3 | €35 | €55 |
| 🚙 Hyundai i30 or similar | Compact | 5 | 3 | €40 | €60 |
| 🚙 Nissan Qashqai or similar | SUV | 5 | 3 | €50 | €75 |
| 🚙 Kia Sportage or similar | SUV | 5 | 3–4 | €55 | €80 |
| 🚙 Toyota RAV4 or similar | SUV | 5 | 3–4 | €60 | €85 |
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What changes the price of car rental in Crete?
Car category
Small manual cars usually cost less than automatics, SUVs, vans and convertibles.
Rental length
The daily rate can change with the number of rental days, especially for longer stays.
Pickup point
Airport, port, city and hotel delivery conditions can affect the final total.
Coverage & extras
Insurance level, child seats, additional drivers and one-way returns can affect the total price.
ARRIVAL GUIDE
Picking up a rental car at Chania Airport
Chania International Airport “Ioannis Daskalogiannis” (CHQ) is the main airport for western Crete. It has a single terminal, and in summer it handles many charter and low-cost flights from across Europe, so the busiest times for car collection are the afternoon and evening arrival waves.
From the airport a short road leads down the Akrotiri peninsula to Chania town and the north-coast highway (VOAK). That makes CHQ the most practical pickup point for Chania, Platanias, Agia Marina, Kissamos, Georgioupolis and even Rethymno, about an hour to the east.
Quick guide
Airport codeCHQ · Chania International Airport
LocationAkrotiri peninsula, about 14 km from Chania
To Chania Old Townabout 20–25 minutes
Pickupmeeting point or supplier station, shown on the voucher
Meeting point
Many Crete rental companies do not have a desk inside the terminal. A representative usually meets you in the arrivals hall with a name sign or at the car park opposite the terminal. Share your flight number when booking so the supplier can follow delays.
Driving times from the airport
Chania Old Town about 20–25 minutes, Souda Port about 20 minutes, Platanias about 30 minutes, Georgioupolis about 45 minutes, Kissamos about 50 minutes and Rethymno about 1 hour.
Returning the car
In summer allow at least 2 hours before your flight to return the car, complete the check and walk to the terminal. Follow the return instructions on your voucher and refuel in advance according to the fuel policy.
Late or early flights
For night arrivals, check the supplier's opening hours in the offer, as out-of-hours pickup may carry a fee. Book ahead for summer evenings, when many flights land close together.
No deposit
With a no-deposit offer nothing is blocked on your card when you collect the car at Chania Airport. These cars usually include full insurance; you still pay the rental price, part online and the rest as stated in the offer.
No credit card
Selected cars can be paid by debit card or in cash at pickup. Bring a physical card in the main driver's name; prepaid and virtual cards are often not accepted.
Zero excess
Full insurance (FDW/SCDW) reduces the excess to zero on selected cars. Check whether tyres, glass, the underside and keys are covered, as some policies exclude them.
Automatic cars
Automatics are available at Chania Airport, but in smaller numbers than manual cars. For July and August book early and use the automatic filter in the search.
Search
Choose the city or pickup point and your exact dates.
Filter
Use no-deposit, no-credit-card, automatic and other filters.
Compare
Review the total price and the conditions of each car.
Extras
Add child seats, extra driver or other available options.
Driver
Enter the main driver and contact details.
Reserve
Pay the online advance shown for the chosen vehicle.
Collect
Follow the voucher instructions and collect the car in Crete.
FAQ
Chania Airport car rental – frequently asked questions
How far is Chania Airport from Chania town?
About 14 km. The drive to Chania Old Town takes around 20–25 minutes, slightly longer in summer evening traffic.
Is there a car rental desk inside Chania Airport terminal?
Some companies have desks, but many local suppliers meet customers in the arrivals area or at the car park opposite the terminal. The exact meeting point is written on your booking voucher.
Can I rent a car at Chania Airport without a credit card or deposit?
Yes, on selected offers. Use the 'No credit card' and 'No deposit' filters: these cars are usually paid by debit card or cash and come with full insurance, so no security amount is blocked.
How early should I return my rental car at Chania Airport?
In summer, aim to return the car about 2 hours before departure, or earlier if the supplier's return point is outside the terminal. In low season 1.5 hours is usually enough.
Can I rent a car in Chania without a deposit?+
Yes. No-deposit rentals are available for selected cars and dates. When this option is available, no security deposit is required. The exact conditions are shown before you confirm your booking.
Can I rent without a credit card?+
Yes. Selected cars can be rented without a credit card. Debit-card or cash payment may be available depending on the rental conditions, and the accepted payment method is shown before booking.
Is insurance included?+
Insurance is included according to the conditions of the car you choose. Full-insurance and zero-excess options may also be available. Coverage, excess and exclusions are clearly shown before confirmation.
Can I get an automatic car?+
Yes. Both manual and automatic cars are available in Crete. Automatics are especially popular in July and August, so earlier booking is recommended for the best choice.
Can I pick up at an airport or hotel?+
Yes. Pickup is available at major airports, cities and many hotel or resort locations across Crete. Choose the most convenient pickup point when making your reservation.
What documents do I need?+
You normally need a valid driving licence and a passport or national ID. An International Driving Permit may also be required when the licence is not written in Latin characters.
How much does car rental cost in Chania?+
Prices depend on the month, car category, rental duration and pickup location. The price shown for your selected dates is the total to use for your booking; the seasonal tables on this page are useful for planning.
Should I book before arriving in Crete?+
Booking ahead is recommended for July and August, especially for automatic cars, SUVs and 7- or 9-seaters. Spring and autumn usually offer more availability.
Are there toll roads in Crete?+
No. Crete has no conventional motorway toll roads. Parking fees and local access restrictions can still apply in some towns and tourist areas.
Can I add a child seat or second driver?+
Yes. Child seats and additional drivers can be added when available. Any charge is shown before you complete the booking.
Can I return the car in another city?+
Yes, one-way rentals between different Crete locations can be available. If a one-way charge applies, it is shown before the reservation is confirmed.
Can I modify or cancel the booking?+
Yes. Cancellation and modification conditions are shown before booking, and many cars include free-cancellation options. Keep your booking details handy if you need to make a change.
