Season
July and August normally carry the highest demand. Spring, autumn and winter can be considerably cheaper.
CRETE AUTORENT
Heraklion Port Car Rental – Ferry Port Pickup
Collect your car when your ferry from Piraeus, Santorini or the Cyclades docks in Heraklion. 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 Port car rental: quick answer
Heraklion Port is Crete's busiest ferry port, right next to the city centre and the Venetian fortress (Koules), and about 4 km from Heraklion Airport. Overnight ferries from Piraeus arrive early in the morning, and in summer fast ferries arrive from Santorini and the Cyclades. Small cars start from about €25/day in winter and about €60/day in August, and no-deposit and no-credit-card 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.
FERRY ARRIVAL GUIDE
Picking up a rental car at Heraklion Port
Heraklion Port lies directly below the old town, next to the Koules fortress. Conventional ferries from Piraeus and island ferries, including high-speed boats from Santorini, dock at different quays, so the meeting point depends on your ship.
From the port you reach the north-coast highway (VOAK) in a few minutes. Heraklion Airport is about 10 minutes away, Hersonissos about 30 minutes and Malia about 35 minutes, while Knossos is about 15 minutes south of the city.
Quick guide
PortHeraklion Port, next to the city centre
Locationbelow the old town, by the Koules fortress
Ferriesovernight from Piraeus; Santorini and the Cyclades in summer
Pickupmeeting at the port or in the city, as shown on the voucher
Meeting at the ferry
Suppliers that deliver to the port usually meet you at the passenger exit of your quay or at an agreed point in front of the port. Give your ship name and arrival time when booking; the supplier will call if the quay changes.
Traffic around the port
When large ferries arrive, the port road and the city centre get very busy. A small car is easier here, and it helps to leave the port area before heading to the highway.
Driving times from the port
Heraklion Airport about 10 minutes, Knossos about 15 minutes, Kokkini Hani about 20 minutes, Hersonissos about 30 minutes, Malia about 35 minutes and Agios Nikolaos about 1 hour.
Returning the car for a ferry
Plan to arrive well before sailing, as foot passengers board ahead of departure and the port road can be slow. Agree the return point with the supplier: the port, the city or Heraklion Airport.
No deposit
With a no-deposit offer nothing is blocked on your card when you collect the car at Heraklion Port. 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 Port, 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 Port car rental – frequently asked questions
How far is Heraklion Port from Heraklion Airport?
About 4 km. The drive takes around 10 minutes outside rush hour, so it is easy to combine a ferry arrival with an airport return, or the other way round.
Can I collect a rental car when arriving by ferry from Santorini?
Yes, if the supplier offers port delivery. Give your ferry company and arrival time when booking; fast ferries from Santorini run mainly in the summer season.
Is it easy to drive out of Heraklion Port?
The port road is busy when big ferries arrive, but the highway is only a few minutes away. Follow the signs for the airport or Agios Nikolaos to head east, and for Rethymno and Chania to head west.
Can I take a rental car from Heraklion Port to another island?
Usually not without the supplier's written permission, and insurance normally covers Crete only. Ask before booking if you plan to take the car on a ferry.
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.
