Greece might be one of the most popular European destinations for Brits, but those wishing to hire vehicles should take great care, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has warned.
In updated travel advice, the FCO has told drivers to ensure they have the right insurance and to check the condition of hire cars following a spate of crashes.
Around three million Brits venture to Greece every year to relax on its golden beaches and take in its rich culture, and many will look to hire vehicles to help get around.
But they’ve been warned to be watchful, especially when renting mopeds and quad bikes, as the insurance provided is often only third party – meaning it only covers damage to another vehicle.
This can leave Brits out of pocket as any damage sustained to their hire vehicle must be paid for, or they could face arrest should the hire company press charges.
Having the right insurance is particularly important given that the proportion of road deaths in Greece is significantly higher than in the UK.
The FCO points to Department for Transport figures which reveal there were 739 road deaths in Greece in 2017, equating to 6.9 deaths per 100,000 of population. In the UK, the figure was 2.8 per 100,000 for the same period.
Brits should also take note that it is illegal to smoke in a vehicle in Greece if a child under 12 is in the car, with the law applying to both the driver and passengers – the fine of €1,500 is more than enough to ruin a holiday!
In addition to the insurance cover that comes with a hire vehicle, holidaymakers may also want to consider car hire excess insurance, which covers the excess that would need to be paid in the event that the vehicle is damaged or stolen.
A driver would need to pay the excess in the event of a claim, but would then be able to claim it back via the policy. When purchased via a third party, the policy is also significantly cheaper than that available at the hire desk.
Date Created: 13/08/2019
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