Car Hire in Zakynthos

The city of Zakynthos is located on one of Greece's most beautiful islands — Zakynthos (Zante). The remarkable natural architecture featuring grottos, cliffs, and picturesque bays, diverse vegetation, pristine white beaches, and opportunities to see rare protected wildlife attracts tourists from around the world. Car rental in Zakynthos allows you to explore the most interesting locations throughout the city and island, even during a brief vacation.

Advantages of Car Rental Through Localrent Service

We maintain an extensive fleet of vehicles compiled from the best offerings of local rental companies. Finding the right car on Localrent is straightforward thanks to our user-friendly and intuitive website interface. Customers choose our service for these key advantages:

1. Transparent Pricing. We immediately display the exact cost of car rental and selected services. Rental prices remain fixed after advance payment is made.
2. Flexible Deposits. You can select a vehicle with an appropriate deposit size and payment method, or choose options without a security deposit.
3. Minimal Advance Payment. During booking, we charge 15–20% of the rental cost to your card. The remaining balance is paid when receiving the vehicle.
4. Convenient Search. Filters allow you to sort offerings by car brand, mileage, payment method, deposit type, transmission type, fuel type, or insurance coverage. All settings are accessible by clicking the corresponding button on the main page.
5. Quality Support. Localrent is more than just an intermediary. We continue working with clients throughout the rental period: answering questions, helping find solutions when you cannot reach the rental provider, or resolving disputed situations.

Requirements for Car Rental

A bank card is required for booking, from which we will charge the advance payment.

The document list for renters is minimal:

• Passport
• Valid driver's license
• Voucher — we send this to your email immediately after advance payment

Rental companies may have specific age and driving experience requirements. Conditions are individual and may depend on the vehicle's make and model. Enter your age and driving experience in the settings, and we will hide unsuitable options.

Traffic Regulations in Zakynthos

Zakynthos, like all of Greece, operates right-hand traffic. Traffic rules and road signs are standardized with European regulations. If you have European driving experience, no significant surprises await you.

Essential Traffic Guidelines:

• Drivers and passengers must wear seatbelts before starting
• Headlights must be activated during nighttime or limited visibility conditions
• Yield right-of-way based on right-hand priority rules or priority signs
• Speed limits must always be observed
• Radar detectors are prohibited

Speed Limits:

• Urban areas: 50 km/h
• Outside settlements: 90 km/h
• Highways: 110 km/h (minimal highway infrastructure exists in Zakynthos)
• Children over 12 years old and taller than 135 cm may use standard seatbelts. Otherwise, appropriate child seats matching the child's height and weight are required.

Local Driving Considerations:

• Narrow Roads. Road surfaces are often compact, making small vehicles the optimal choice for navigation.
• Abundant Mopeds and ATVs. Motor vehicles are extremely popular, with operators frequently displaying careless driving habits. Exercise maximum caution while driving.
• Pedestrians Outside Crosswalks. Monitor speed and remain alert — pedestrians may appear unexpectedly.
• Local Driving Styles. Traffic in Zakynthos is generally calm, but drivers don't always observe traffic regulations.

Driving under the influence is prohibited. Maximum permitted blood alcohol level is 0.5 per mille.

Fuel Stations and Parking Considerations

Fuel Station Availability: Fuel stations are plentiful in Zakynthos, particularly in tourist areas. However, when planning interior island travel, refuel whenever stations appear. Away from major settlements, fuel availability decreases.

Available fuel types include gasoline, diesel, and gas. Fuel quality remains consistently high at both chain and independent stations.

Payment Methods: Both cash and bank cards are accepted. However, maintain 100–200 euros in cash, as rural stations may experience terminal malfunctions due to poor internet connectivity.

Parking Guidelines: During peak tourist season (May through mid-October), free parking in Zakynthos is challenging, especially near beaches and attractions.

Free Parking Zones: Identified by blue signs with white "P" and white road markings.

Paid Parking Areas: More numerous, featuring identical signs with tariff information below and blue road markings. Commercial parking payment options include parking meters, parking tickets, or mobile applications. Mobile apps are particularly convenient as they display nearby available spaces.

Booking Your Vehicle in Zakynthos

Our intuitive interface makes vehicle selection and booking straightforward. Complete these 5 simple steps:

1. Enter travel dates and fill "Pick-up" and "Return" fields
2. Configure filters to display suitable vehicles. Sort options by brand, vehicle class, deposit type and size, year, engine capacity. Click "Filters" to view all available settings
3. Select preferred vehicle, choose insurance type, add required services, and click "Continue"
4. Complete primary driver information, specify exact pickup time and location
5. Choose payment method and click to proceed. During booking, we charge 15–20% advance payment from your bank card

Check your email immediately after payment for the electronic receipt and order voucher containing rental company contacts. If not received, check your spam folder or contact us directly.

Must-See Destinations with Your Rental Car

Zakynthos offers countless attractions worth exploring. We recommend studying interesting locations beforehand and creating an approximate itinerary. Choose paved roads exclusively — insurance coverage excludes dirt roads, making you personally liable for vehicle damage. The island frequently requires parking stops, so consider compact vehicles when group size permits.

Five Essential Locations:

1. Solomos Square. Features the Church of Saint Nicholas, established in 1561 and earthquake survivor. This church holds special significance for locals — Saint Dionysios, the island's patron saint, served here. The square houses Zakynthos Cultural Center with a public library containing 50,000 literary works and hosting art exhibitions.
2. Bochali Fortress. This 12th-century Venetian fortress was constructed on the ancient Psofidas acropolis site. The fortress served as a Venetian stronghold during Turkish conquests. Despite wars and earthquakes, the fortification remains relatively well-preserved: visitors can see the prison, powder magazine, main bastion building, church ruins, and water supply and sewage system remains. Bochali Hill's summit offers beautiful views of Zakynthos city and sea.
3. Cape Skinari with Windmills and Lighthouse. This location is inherently picturesque with vegetation-covered cliffs and deep blue sea, while windmills and lighthouse add special character. Boat rentals to the Blue Caves are available directly at the cape. The road to Skinari is paved but quite narrow, winding, and uphill. Choose powerful but compact vehicles like Ford Focus ST or Hyundai i30 N.
4. Navagio Bay. Features white sandy beaches, azure-blue sea, cliffs, and crimson sunsets. The beach's main attraction is a smugglers' ship grounded in 1980. To reach the bay, travel to Porto Vromi where you can park and take boats to the location. Choose glass-bottom vessels to observe marine life.
5. Marathonisi — Turtle Island. Known for beautiful beaches, sea caves, and turtles that lay eggs directly on shore. Head south to Kalamaki port where we recommend taking small private boats with guides to reach the island. Vehicle parking is available near the port.

Car Rental Locations in Zakynthos

You can select pickup and return locations during booking. Options vary by rental company. Most rental offices are located at Zakynthos International Airport, as tourists prefer immediate vehicle access upon island arrival.

Vehicle pickup is also available at Zakynthos port or through delivery service to any location within Zakynthos city.

Travel Tips for Car Rental Customers

Even experienced travelers may overlook important details due to excitement or overwhelming impressions. These tips help avoid unpleasant surprises:

Vehicle Inspection

Thoroughly examine the vehicle before signing the rental agreement. Document existing damage with photos and videos. Record fuel tank level in the handover report — return the vehicle with the same fuel amount.

Route Planning

Zakynthos and the entire island offer numerous captivating destinations. Create at least approximate itineraries with timing. This ensures reaching locations that motivated your island visit.

Traffic Regulation Compliance

Local drivers often ignore signs and speed limits, while pedestrians cross outside designated crosswalks. Better to remain attentive and overly cautious than deal with police and insurance companies following accidents.

Frequently Asked Questions