Corfu Airport Auto Rental: 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Booking
Corfu rewards the tourist who can stream on their own time table. The island appears to be like small on a map however once you get off the major roads, distances think longer, buses thin out, and taxis upload up promptly. That is why so many guests decide up a motor vehicle the instant they land at Corfu International Airport Ioannis Kapodistrias.
I have rented motors at Corfu airport for work and holidays, in prime season and in late October drizzle. The trend is regularly the comparable. The individuals who did a few homework are on the street in 20 minutes. The ones who rushed the reserving stand in queues, argue over insurance coverage at the desk and locate surprise expenditures on their card a week later.
If you wish a smooth Corfu airport car condo sense, the most reliable lesson is to keep in mind where others cross fallacious. The following ten error are those I see usually at Corfu airport, together with what to do in its place.
1. Assuming “airport automobile condo” forever way on-site
Many travelers look up “Corfu airport car condo” or “lease car Corfu airport” and expect every outcome is within the terminal. It shouldn't be that straight forward.
At Corfu, a few brands have desks within the arrivals hall and their autos inside the airport parking simply throughout the street. Others operate “meet and greet” or shuttle prone. You exit arrivals, search for a man preserving a small signal, and ride a minibus to an off website online lot a couple of minutes away.
That isn't always unavoidably terrible. Off website online firms is also more cost effective and more versatile on matters resembling mileage or additional drivers. The difficulty seems to be in the event you count on to walk for your car or truck in 5 minutes and in its place lose 40 minutes monitoring down a travel in 30 level warmth after a three hour flight from London.
If you want a truthfully on website online Corfu airport employ a vehicle option, check conscientiously. Look for clear wording along with “table internal terminal” or “on airport”. If the confirmation mentions a travel, meeting point or “administrative center 400 m from terminal”, build that into your timings. It things on arrival, and it clearly things when you've got an early morning departure and want to drop the auto and nevertheless determine in on time.
2. Booking most effective on expense and ignoring the insurance coverage structure
I still see folks brag that they found out the “finest car or truck apartment Corfu airport” for 12 euros an afternoon in August. That base fee is incomprehensible with out understanding the insurance plan.
In Greece, easy insurance plan probably comprises 1/3 celebration legal responsibility and a few sort of collision break waiver (CDW) with a high excess. I have observed excesses from seven-hundred to one,800 euros for an economy car. If there's ruin, you pay up to that quantity unless you might have extra quilt.
The familiar errors are two. First, other people skip any extra conceal and pass their hands, then spend their vacation being worried about narrow streets in Corfu Town. Second, they purchase an “extra refund” coverage from a broker web site and do no longer appreciate that the condo guests will still block the overall excess on their card at selection.
A clever method at Corfu airport motor vehicle apartment counters is to come to a decision in advance how you would like to address hazard. Some guests are relaxed with a sizeable deposit seeing that they have a potent credits card and event with rental claims. Others sleep better with a “0 extra” kit that bills greater in keeping with day however shrinks the protection block and financial exposure.
Read the insurance plan part earlier than you click on “Book”. Compare the settlement of including full duvet from the rental corporate with a standalone extra policy from a reputable insurer. There is not any unmarried proper resolution, yet jogging as much as the desk devoid of a plan is the fastest route to pressure and dear upsells.
three. Not checking fuel coverage and mileage in the past confirming
Corfu airport apartment cars essentially necessarily use the identical couple of gasoline policies. The crisis is that they glance similar at a glance, but fee very exceptional quantities over a week.
“Full to full” capacity you decide up the auto with a full tank, go back it complete, and merely pay for what you operate. This is quite often the fairest preference, in particular should you plan to drive round the island.
“Pre acquire” or “complete to empty” method you pay for a tank of fuel at selection and can go back it on fumes. It sounds handy but infrequently works on your favour unless you can still virtually use so much of the tank and the enterprise premiums gasoline at just about pump expenditures plus a small commission. Many do no longer.
Mileage is an additional quiet lure. Most Corfu car or truck rental firms offer limitless kilometres, which is perfect for exploring Paleokastritsa, Kassiopi, the south coast and inland villages with no focused on distance. A few low rate presents cover a according to kilometre charge above a modest daily reduce.
If your affirmation email is indistinct or uses phrases you do no longer realise, electronic mail or message the provider and ask for clarity. You favor written affirmation of both fuel coverage and mileage. Verbal causes at a busy airport desk are basic to misunderstand and much more durable to dispute later.
4. Overlooking driving realities on Corfu whilst identifying car size
Looking at modern photographs, it's tempting to upgrade to a larger motor vehicle. More area for luggage, better air con, might be even an automatic for convenience. On Corfu, the larger the auto, the extra you want to take into consideration where you intend to force.
The highway from the airport into Corfu Town is extensive sufficient, but as soon as you wander into older districts, roads slim to at least one lane with stone partitions on either sides and tight corners round constructions. Some coastal villages and hilltop settlements are even tighter, with parking that barely fits a compact hatchback.
If you might be staying at a resort on the major east coast avenue, a bigger automobile might not be a issue. If your villa is up a steep lane in the north of the island, a small to medium motor vehicle with respectable vitality and just right turning circle is a miles more effective desire than a cumbersome SUV. I even have watched other folks spend 15 minutes maneuvering a super car or truck out of a lane that was genuinely designed for scooters and donkeys.
For such a lot company, the candy spot for Corfu airport automobile condo is a small or compact vehicle, handbook or computerized based to your convenience. Enough boot area for baggage, but small adequate to slide into tight parking spaces and meet oncoming site visitors with room to breathe.
five. Ignoring stories of distinctive Corfu airport branches
Many travellers do a speedy verify of the model identify and stop there. They see a tremendous foreign employer they be aware of from house, suppose a everyday journey, and reserve. In train, department high quality can differ extensively.
Search in particular for the organization title plus “Corfu airport” and examine the current studies for that place. Patterns topic more than unusual proceedings. If one character mentions a longer wait time, that will just be a busy Saturday in August. If 20 humans throughout 3 months document aggressive smash claims or unexplained costs, pay cognizance.
This tips applies equally to local providers. Some small Corfu employ a vehicle corporations close the airport are useful, with friendly provider and versatile guidelines. Others minimize corners or rely on technicalities to enhance sales. Reviews regularly make the difference clean.
A 15 euro difference on a week’s condo is not very value an unpleasant argument over “pre present” scratches you were never allowed time to file.
6. Not making ready your archives and card correctly
One of the dullest difficulties, but I nevertheless watch it spread in line at the airport each summer. The bureaucracy for hiring a motor vehicle in Greece is simple, but there are a couple of incredible main points.
You in many instances need:
- A valid riding licence which you have held for at the very least one year, often times two, depending at the manufacturer and car team.
- For non EU / EEA drivers from specific nations, an International Driving Permit along your own home licence. Check this upfront, given that you can not attain an IDP while you are already in Greece.
- A credit score card in the main driver’s identify with satisfactory obtainable restrict to duvet the deposit or excess block.
- Passport or nationwide ID card for identification.
Where men and women get stuck is with the card. Many Corfu airport vehicle condo desks do now not take delivery of debit cards for the security deposit, solely for check. Others take delivery of them yet simply with high priced added insurance coverage. Prepaid playing cards are almost always refused outright.
If your confirmation does now not really nation that debit cards are frequent for the deposit, think you want a prevalent credit score card with embossed title and numbers. Also verify the card decrease is top sufficient. I watched a pair from Germany became away considering their modest reduce couldn't accommodate a 1,500 euro block for the extra plus their motel’s pre authorisation.
Print or store your confirmation electronic mail as a PDF, inclusive of the voucher whenever you booked using a broker. Mobile net at Corfu airport is pretty much first-rate, but a useless battery or roaming problem may want to now not stand between you and your car.
7. Chasing “no deposit” delivers with out examining the small print
The phrase “Corfu airport vehicle condo no deposit” is fascinating, enormously in the event you dislike the proposal of a whole bunch of euros blocked for your card. Genuine low deposit or no deposit preferences do exist, however the satan sits inside the element.
Usually, whilst a friends advertises no deposit, it ability one of two matters. Either they have got built the threat into a increased each day fee with necessary full assurance, or they will nonetheless continue a smaller amount as a fuel or site visitors great guarantee. Sometimes both.
There is not anything unsuitable with paying a bit of more for the peace of thoughts that comes from no longer having 1,000 euros frozen to your card. Just comprehend what you're procuring. Check:
The identical volume they will continue to your card, if any.
Whether the no deposit provide is tied to a specific insurance bundle. How they control minor ruin, inclusive of small scratches or chips.Compare this to a frequent package deal from an alternate friends that uses a deposit yet affords cut back premiums. Over every week’s holiday, the full expense can swing both way. The worst mistake is to booklet on the capability of “no deposit” on my own and then hit upon an extended listing of exclusions and extra costs whenever you achieve the desk.
eight. Skipping the inspection and snapshot ordinary at pickup
You are worn out, the queue has been slow, and the beach is calling. The agent aspects to the car, you signal the variety, throw your luggage inside the boot and drive off. That 5 minute shortcut can payment dearly if there may be current ruin that by no means made it onto the document.
At Corfu airport, wherein dozens of automobiles rotate among renters each and every week in summer time, small bumps and scrapes are recurring. Most services are fair approximately this and mark everything they recognize. Some will not be thorough, principally at height occasions.
Treat your inspection as part of the apartment, no longer a nuisance. Walk around the car, test every panel, the wheels, and the entrance and rear bumpers chiefly. Pay consciousness to:
Small scratches and dents.
Alloy wheel scuffs and hubcap hurt. Chips or cracks within the windscreen. Any break at the roof in case you are tall sufficient or can see from an attitude.Photograph every thing, even disorders that are already marked. Capture the automobile from each and every nook, the odometer studying, and the fuel gauge. Time stamped graphics to your cellphone create a rfile that is tough to argue with later.
Encourage the staff member so as to add any lacking marks to the type until now you signal. If they look reluctant, continue to be polite however company. A couple of minutes here is value a long way greater than an irritated e-mail exchange after you return domicile.
9. Forgetting to plot parking and entry at your accommodation
Corfu airport auto condominium is the basic piece. The tougher area, in particular in height season, is dwelling with https://who-is.gr/corfu-airport-car-rental-cars/ the auto whenever you achieve your accommodation.
Many outdated villages and some ingredients of Corfu Town have very constrained parking. Some beachfront motels have exclusive tons, others matter completely on public spaces that stock up rapidly in July and August. Steep confidential driveways are normal for villas, every so often with awkward angles and free gravel.
Before you booklet, ask your accommodation about parking in one of a kind, practical terms. Do now not accept “parking available”. Ask whether it's miles inner most or public, corfu airport car rental deals what number spaces they've, how tight the get right of entry to is, and even if higher motors more healthy conveniently.
This could result not solely your preference of condo motor vehicle dimension, as recounted formerly, yet also even if you even need a auto on your accomplished stay. For example, if you are spending 3 nights in Corfu Town after which every week in a north coast village, you could do enhanced to spend the first area walking and taxis, then organize a Corfu airport automobile condo commencing at the day you leave the town.
Thinking in segments like this will shop cash, parking complications and the rigidity of threading a motor vehicle through the metropolis’s one means technique while you are still jet lagged.
10. Returning the automobile in a rush and neglecting the basics
I have misplaced matter of how many disputes leap at drop off since the renter is hurrying to seize a flight. When you might be rushing, you fail to remember fuel, you park in which you aren't imagined to, or you hand over keys without checking the closing paperwork.

Give your self a excellent buffer for return. If your flight is at thirteen:00, do not plan to roll into the auto park at eleven:45, rather while you rented off website and need a travel ride again to the terminal.
At go back, objective to:
- Refill the tank at a station almost about the airport for those who are on a full to complete coverage. Keep the receipt. There are countless petrol stations inside a short force, yet some might be busy.
- Remove all own goods from the car, including door pockets and under seats.
- Walk around the car or truck with the agent the place you'll be able to and ask them to be certain in writing that the car is again and not using a new break and with a full tank if suitable.
- Take closing snap shots, which includes the gasoline gauge and odometer.
If you'll need use a key drop field since you are returning out of doors place of work hours, photographs and a quickly video walkaround grow to be even greater fabulous. Corfu airport lease a automobile carriers almost always cope with these returns rather, yet a transparent visual list protects you in case a new dent looks on the inspection sheet later.
A short pre reserving checklist
Used effectively, a vehicle turns Corfu into a versatile, convenient island to explore. Used badly, it becomes a thread of tension strolling via your holiday. Before you commit to any airport motor vehicle appoint Corfu deal, run through this quick record.
- Verify if the agency is on airport or off web site with a trip, and how that affects your timings.
- Read current reports certainly for the Corfu airport department, no longer just the brand.
- Compare complete can charge, consisting of insurance plan, gasoline coverage and any mileage limits, not simply the base daily cost.
- Check parking and entry at your lodging and settle upon vehicle size consequently.
- Confirm what cards and archives you want and whether or not any “no deposit” be offering has restrictive circumstances.
Handled with this level of cognizance, Corfu airport rental autos sense much less like a gamble and more like a well managed device on your experience.
Final suggestions from the queue at Corfu airport
If you spend half-hour within the arrivals hall on a busy afternoon, possible well-nigh expect who will breeze through and who will emerge as pissed off. The ones with revealed confirmations, transparent choices on insurance coverage and simple expectancies approximately the car and the island tend to go away smiling. The ones who booked on payment alone and did now not study a note of the phrases are those arguing on the desk.
Corfu vehicle rental does now not need to be difficult. It is without problems a matter of matching the reality at the ground together with your possess tolerance for hazard, price range and driving self belief. Look past headline costs, be mindful how insurance plan and deposits work, decide upon the good measurement of vehicle for Corfu’s roads, and deliver your self time at each pickup and return.
Do that, and your employ a car at Corfu airport becomes what it could be: an uncomplicated gateway to mountain villages, quiet shorelines and overdue dinners in small tavernas, on your possess clock in preference to anybody else’s.