How to Compare Car Rental Quotes in Crete (So the Cheap Price Stays Cheap)
The headline price is only half the story. Seven things to check on any Crete rental quote — excess, deposit, mileage, fuel, fees — before you book.
Written by Artemis Maninakis
Artemis Maninakis is the founder of IQ Car Rentals and runs its fleet from Kolymbari, West Crete — every guide is written from first-hand local experience on Crete's roads.
Comparing car rental quotes in Crete by the headline price alone is how a "cheap" booking turns expensive at the desk. Two quotes that look €10 apart can be €200 apart once excess, deposit and fees are counted. Here are the seven things we'd check on any quote — including ours.
1. The damage excess — ask for the number
Basic insurance (CDW) almost always comes with an excess: the amount you're liable for if the car is damaged. It varies a lot — on our fleet it's €400–€1000 depending on vehicle group, and we publish it per car. If a quote doesn't state the excess, ask before you book; that single number changes the real risk of the rental.
2. The security deposit
Most rentals block a deposit on your card at pickup. Ask: how much, and on what kind of card? Ours is €300–€500 by vehicle group (or just €120 with Zero Excess cover), shown during booking — no surprise at the desk.
3. What the insurance actually covers
CDW typically excludes tyres, glass, undercarriage and roof. If you plan mountain roads, check what's excluded and what an upgrade costs. We offer optional Excess Reduction and Zero Excess as clearly priced daily add-ons — see the insurance table.
4. Mileage limits
A cheap rate with a 100 km/day cap is no bargain on an island where a single Elafonissi day trip can be 150+ km. Look for unlimited kilometres — all our rentals include it.
5. Fuel policy
Full-to-full is the fair standard: you return the car with the same fuel you got. Avoid "full-to-empty" policies, where you pre-pay a tank at a premium and donate whatever's left. We're full-to-full, always.
6. Location and after-hours fees
Airport pickup, hotel delivery and late-night handovers usually cost extra — the question is whether that's disclosed upfront or discovered at the desk. Our policy: free pickup at our Kolymbari office; airport, port and hotel delivery for a small fee shown at booking; after-hours service (22:00–08:00) €20.
7. Payment and cancellation terms
Check what you must pay now, and what it costs to cancel. With us: no card needed to book, pay at pickup or online, and free cancellation up to 15 days before the rental — see the cancellation policy.
The quick checklist
- Damage excess in euros?
- Deposit amount and card type?
- What does the insurance exclude?
- Unlimited kilometres?
- Full-to-full fuel?
- Delivery / airport / after-hours fees disclosed?
- Prepayment and cancellation terms?
If a company answers all seven clearly before you pay, you're comparing real prices. That transparency is the standard we hold ourselves to — every figure above is published on our site and shown again during booking.
FAQ
Why do excess and deposit matter more than €2/day on the rate? Because they're the amounts actually at stake if something goes wrong — often hundreds of euros, versus a few euros of rate difference.
Is the cheapest quote ever the best? Sometimes — if it discloses everything above and still wins. Compare totals and terms, not headlines.
Where do I see your exact numbers? Per-car excess and deposit appear in the booking flow before you confirm, and the full policy lives in our Terms & Conditions.
Ready to compare for real? See our fleet and what's included or start a booking — every cost shown before you confirm.
