Season
July and August normally carry the highest demand. Spring, autumn and winter can be considerably cheaper.
CRETE AUTORENT
Heraklion Airport Car Rental (HER)
Collect your car at Heraklion International Airport and drive straight to Heraklion, Hersonissos, Malia or Agios Nikolaos. 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
Heraklion Airport car rental: quick answer
You can collect a rental car at Heraklion International Airport (HER), about 5 km east of Heraklion city centre (10–15 minutes). Most suppliers meet you at the arrivals exit or in the car parks next to 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 Heraklion Airport
Heraklion International Airport “Nikos Kazantzakis” (HER) is Crete's busiest airport and one of the busiest in Greece. It sits on the coast just east of the city, so the terminal area and the roads around it can be crowded at peak arrival times in summer.
The airport is right next to the north-coast highway (VOAK). From here Hersonissos is about 25 minutes east, Malia about 30–35 minutes, Agios Nikolaos about an hour and Rethymno about 1 hour 10 minutes to the west, which makes HER the natural pickup point for central and eastern Crete.
Quick guide
Airport codeHER · Heraklion International Airport
Locationon the coast, about 5 km east of the city centre
To Heraklion centreabout 10–15 minutes
Pickupmeeting point or supplier station, shown on the voucher
Meeting point
Most rental suppliers at Heraklion Airport meet customers outside the arrivals exit or in the car parks beside the terminal, then walk with you to the car. Your voucher shows the exact place and a phone number to call when you land.
Driving times from the airport
Heraklion centre about 10–15 minutes, Knossos about 20 minutes, Hersonissos about 25 minutes, Malia about 30–35 minutes, Agios Nikolaos about 55–60 minutes and Rethymno about 1 hour 10 minutes.
Returning the car
The roads and car parks around HER are congested in summer, so allow at least 2–2.5 hours before your flight. Follow the voucher's return instructions and refuel before you reach the airport area, according to the fuel policy.
Busy summer arrivals
On summer weekends many flights land within a short time, and automatics and family cars sell out first. Book early and add your flight number so the supplier can adjust to delays.
No deposit
With a no-deposit offer nothing is blocked on your card when you collect the car at Heraklion 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 Heraklion 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
Heraklion Airport car rental – frequently asked questions
How far is Heraklion Airport from the city centre?
About 5 km. The drive to the centre takes 10–15 minutes outside rush hour; Hersonissos is about 25 minutes and Malia about 30–35 minutes to the east.
Where do I meet the rental company at Heraklion Airport?
Most suppliers meet customers outside the arrivals exit or in the car parks next to the terminal. The exact meeting point and a contact phone number are on your booking voucher.
Can I rent a car at Heraklion Airport without a deposit?
Yes, on selected cars. Use the 'No deposit' filter: these offers usually include full insurance, so no security amount is blocked on your card at pickup.
How early should I return my rental car at Heraklion Airport?
In summer allow at least 2–2.5 hours before departure, because the terminal and the roads around it are busy. Outside the peak season about 2 hours is usually enough.
Can I rent a car in Heraklion 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 Heraklion?+
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.
