Driving Licence for a Scooter or ATV in Greece: What You Need to Rent in Folegandros

In Greece an ATV (quad) is driven on the plain car licence, category B. A 125 or 200 cc scooter needs a motorcycle licence, A1 or A2, and a car licence alone is not enough. That is what surprises most visitors, and the reason so many Europeans with a category B licence end up on an ATV.

Holders of EU licences drive on their licence as it is. Holders of licences from outside the EU usually also need an International Driving Permit alongside the national licence. Helmets are compulsory, third-party liability insurance is included, and riding off-road voids the cover.

The rest, category by category, follows below. For what to rent and where to take it, see the scooter and ATV rental guide and the Folegandros travel guide.

Use the tool below: pick the categories on your licence and see straight away which vehicles in the fleet you can rent. For the comparison between the two, see ATV or scooter.

EU / EEA licences: valid as issued. A German, Italian, French or Spanish category B licence rents an ATV, an A1 or A2 rents a scooter. No translation and no International Driving Permit needed.

United Kingdom: the UK photocard licence is generally accepted for visits without an International Driving Permit; check the current UK government guidance before you travel, because the post-Brexit rules have changed more than once.

USA, Canada, Australia and the other non-EU countries: you need an International Driving Permit issued in your country under the 1949 or 1968 convention, together with your national licence. The permit on its own is not valid, and it cannot be issued in Greece for a foreign licence.

Carry passport, licence and, where needed, the permit in the same wallet.

The licence is the legal requirement, but every rental company also sets a minimum age for its vehicles, which can differ between scooters and ATVs. Ask us about the minimum age for the vehicle you want when you book; age is confirmed with the licence and passport at pickup.

Experience matters more than you think. If you have never ridden a scooter, the island is not the place to learn: the Chora road has climbs and bends, and the dirt tracks need an ATV and a cool head. A couple with no two-wheel experience is almost always safer and more comfortable on an ATV. See the guide to driving in Folegandros for the roads, fuel and parking.

Helmets are compulsory in Greece for rider and passenger, on scooters and on ATVs, and the fines are real. Every Road Runner rental includes helmets for all passengers.

All vehicles carry the compulsory third-party liability insurance. Not covered are damage to the vehicle itself from misuse, riding off-road, a rider without the right licence and riding under the influence of alcohol. The deposit or excess amount, where one applies, is stated on the rental agreement.

• Ride only on paved roads and on the marked dirt tracks to the beaches.
• Do not hand the vehicle to anyone who is not on the agreement.
• Photograph the vehicle at pickup; we do the same.

The full rental terms are public and the same for everyone.

Pickup happens at the shop in Chora, at the port when your ferry arrives or at your accommodation, free of charge. It takes ten minutes:

1. We check the licence, the passport or ID card and, for non-EU licences, the International Driving Permit.
2. You sign the rental agreement, which states the days, the vehicle and whatever applies to deposit or excess.
3. We photograph the vehicle together, show you the basics and hand you the helmets.
4. You leave with the 24-hour assistance number saved on your phone.

If your licence does not cover the vehicle you booked, we swap it on the spot for one it does cover; that is why it pays to tell us your licence category when you book. See the prices page for the cost by season.

• Assuming a car licence covers a 125 cc scooter because it does at home.
• Leaving the International Driving Permit at home, or believing it can be issued in Greece.
• Leaving the licence in the hotel safe; it has to be on you when you ride.
• Arriving with a provisional licence or a learner permit; they are not accepted.
• Taking a scooter onto a dirt track: it is not built for it and it is not covered.
• Booking a vehicle without telling us your licence category.

If in doubt, send us a photo of your licence before you book and we will tell you what you can rent. See also the rental guide for what is included.