Should I rent a car ?

Corfu is a small island, measuring just 64 km from north to south, and 34 km at its widest point. But that doesn’t mean you can get around it in a few days.

If you want to see more, get around faster, or visit more secluded beaches, rent a car.

When to rent

There are many car rental points on Corfu Island. If you plan to rent for a longer period and drive around the island, we recommend booking in advance. From airport to airport. If you are planning only for a few days – check when you arrive at your resort.

Prices and insurance

Prices depend on the machine category.

Prices are lower in April-May and October, but don’t try to compare these months with July-August. Prices are quite high, in recent summers even small car rentals reached 100 EUR per day.

There are several types of insurance. Completely comprehensive insurance, which is more expensive, and simpler insurance offered by local rental companies, which do not insure the wheels, mirrors, and the bottom of the car. It is inappropriate and unwise to demand full insurance from a local rental company – they have nothing else.

I highly recommend taking out full or partial car insurance.

International or local rental company

Do you usually choose where it’s cheaper?

When renting from an international company, you will usually enjoy a new or only a few years old car. But pay attention to all the rules. When booking a car through the booking.com platform or from an international rental company, a deposit or credit card guarantee will be required. This is usually stated in the rental conditions. ALWAYS CHECK.

It has happened before – you arrive, approach the counter and suddenly there is a shock – you need to leave a deposit of 750 EUR (the better the car, the higher the deposit). Otherwise you will not get the car. If you cannot leave a deposit – you will not get your cheap rental car.

When renting through local car rental companies, they usually don’t require a deposit or a credit card. You just fill out the paperwork, pay (by card or cash, cash is usually cheaper) and off you go. But the cars are usually a few years old.

When renting from an international company, the car rental is calculated by the day, while when renting from a local rental company in a resort, it is calculated by the day. This means you pick it up in the morning and you have to return it in the evening. Because the car will be rented again the next morning.

Which car to choose?

 When choosing a car, I would advise against renting a limousine unless your hotel is directly across from the airport and you are not planning to drive around the island. Here, the smaller the car, the more comfortable, maneuverable, and roomy it is when you need to fit into a parking space.

Check how many people the car can hold and how much luggage you will have. If you take a very small car, and there are 4 or 5 of you, and each one has a suitcase, then you will either rent a trailer for the luggage or someone will have to run after you. If the difference in price between the rented cars is small, then take a slightly larger one.

Manual or automatic

The roads of Corfu are definitely not simple – the further away from Corfu town, the narrower, more winding, into the mountains and hills.

Experienced drivers say that it is better to take a manual car. This will definitely make it more comfortable for you to drive on extremely steep slopes.

But if you only know how to drive automatics, don’t start learning to drive a manual here.

There are fewer cars with automatic transmission for rent in Corfu, even in some resorts, rental companies do not have them, and besides, the rental is more expensive.

Fuel and fuel dispensers

– Most rental points have petrol cars.

Usually, when you pick up the car, it is checked how much fuel is in it, and the car must be returned with the same amount of fuel.

– There are quite a few gas stations, but when driving to more mountainous areas, try to fill up your tanks. In the mountains, gas stations are a hassle, and the car you drive there simply swallows you.

At the stations, you don’t need to get out of your car, you just drive up, open the window, hand over money or simply tell them how much you want to fill up, and they’ll do everything for you.

You can pay both in cash and by credit card. Sometimes the internet is down and the card doesn’t work…

– The speakers are not open all night, usually closing at 11 p.m. at the latest.

Now there are automatic dispensers where you can fill up at night. But not everywhere. You can choose the language and pay with either a card or cash.

– Until this fall, diesel was cheaper than gasoline, but this fall something changed…

Features of parking machines

Parking is particularly difficult in Corfu Town.

– There are several paid parking lots, they are usually full in the summer, the fee is about 3-4 EUR per day. It is forbidden to enter the old town itself.

– There are a lot of free parking spaces, but you have to look for them carefully and accept that you will have to walk a bit to get to the Old Town. I often park on the Garitsa embankment, or in the Old Port square, or further along towards the New Port.

– When parking, check the signs to make sure you haven’t parked in a spot reserved for taxi drivers, buses, or the disabled. They don’t write fines here or stick them on the windows, they just remove the license plates and that’s it. Or they tow the car (I’ve seen those speeding cars). You have to pay at the police station. It’s especially bad luck if they remove the license plates on the weekend. Then you can only pay the fine on Monday. If you happen to see the removed license plates, call your rental company. 

– Parking is free in villages or resorts. Just be very careful not to block the gates to the yards, and not to park on particularly narrow streets, because when you come in the morning you may find the side of the road scraped.

– I highly recommend: you parked the car – fold the mirror.

How to drive on Corfu Island

– The most important thing is not to drive or rush. In cities, the speed limit is 50 km/h, and on larger roads it is 80 km/h, but it is rare to reach such a speed on the road. Therefore, it is best not to even try.

– The road sign system in Corfu  is a bit complicated – to put it mildly. You won’t always know where to turn before an intersection, as the signs are either hidden from view through the bushes or they are angled in a strange direction. Therefore, it’s better to use a GPS system. 

– Use your car horn before turning  . This will help drivers coming the other way stay out of the way.

– If you have chosen a manual transmission instead of an automatic transmission, use a low/correct gear. Depending on the angle of the road and the speed, you must use the correct gear. When driving uphill, it is preferable to use 2nd gear or even 1st gear if necessary. Remember to use the clutch as little as possible to avoid mechanical damage. Never drive downhill in neutral or using the clutch. This reduces the stability of the car. Instead, use 2nd gear on downhill or 3rd highest gear.

– Do not try to overtake a slow-moving car, moped rider, or garbage truck on a narrow road. Remember the proverb – slower, but faster.

– If a local driving in front of you stops to talk to the owner of the oncoming car – stop, wait, and don’t beep. And don’t get nervous. This is their way of life.

Other rules that locals often don’t follow during the off-season

– The yellow color of a traffic light usually means “hurry up and pass.”

– You cannot use a mobile phone while driving.
– It is forbidden to park on yellow lines.
– It is forbidden to drive if you have consumed alcohol.
– Always carry your driver’s license and passport or ID with you.
– All passengers must wear seat belts.