Chapter 1 of 9
The simplest way to choose your rental
For a couple travelling with light luggage, I would start with a small economy car. It is easier to handle on narrow village roads and less awkward to park around busy places such as Lindos. Choose the smallest car that comfortably carries everyone and their bags; saving a little on a car that cannot fit your suitcases is not a useful saving.
An automatic is worth choosing if you normally drive one, or if you would rather concentrate on unfamiliar roads than changing gear. A confident manual driver does not need to upgrade simply because this is an island holiday. For a family with substantial luggage, move up for usable boot space. A larger group needs enough seats and luggage room together—not just the right seat count.
Choose the car for the journeys you plan, not for the idea that bigger must be better. Start with passenger capacity, boot space and transmission, then match the pickup to your first driving day. That keeps the choice practical without paying for size or rental days you will not use. If you are still deciding whether a car suits your stay at all, read should I rent a car in Rhodes first.
- Two people travelling light: start with a small economy car.
- Families: give luggage space as much attention as the number of seats.
- Automatic: a useful choice for familiar, comfortable driving—not an essential upgrade for everyone.
- Larger groups: choose a vehicle that fits both the passengers and their bags.
Chapter 2 of 9
The local companies I recommend
Marathon is the company I usually recommend when a visitor needs a wider choice of vehicles or pickup arrangements across Rhodes. My experience using rentals around the island is why it is my starting point for airport arrivals, different resort stays and travellers looking beyond a basic small car. The practical advantage is matching the vehicle and collection to the whole trip.
Siech is a company I would happily recommend for a stay in North Rhodes, particularly Rhodes Town, Ixia or Ialyssos. I like its friendly local service and direct communication. If your holiday is based in the north and you prefer that smaller-company approach, it is a sensible option to consider.
These recommendations answer slightly different needs: Marathon for broader vehicle and pickup choices, Siech for a smaller local option in the north. Use that as a starting point, then choose the actual rental offer that suits your dates, car size and collection plans. My full Marathon Car Rental review explains what that company does well and where it is not the right fit.
What I would look for in reviews
When I read rental reviews, I pay most attention to the handover, the condition of the car and how clearly the company communicates. A useful review explains the collection and return experience. That tells you more about how the rental will feel than a star rating or praise for a cheap daily rate alone.
Chapter 3 of 9
Airport pickup, town collection or hotel delivery?
I recommend airport pickup when you will use the car from arrival. You can begin the driving part of your holiday straight away rather than making a second journey to collect a car. It is a good fit for a villa or resort stay with regular outings planned from the start.
If your first days are for Rhodes Old Town, restaurants and nearby sights, I would collect later in Rhodes Town. A parked rental adds little to those days. Start the hire when you are ready for beaches, villages or a drive farther along the coast.
Hotel delivery is worth the convenience when you want to settle in first and start exploring later, especially if your accommodation is away from a rental office. Use the exact hotel or villa location in your request. A remote villa and a central hotel are different handovers, so the location, delivery charge and return arrangement matter more than a general promise of hotel delivery.
The comparison that actually matters
Compare the rental days you need, any delivery or return charge and your separate airport journey together. That is the useful comparison between airport pickup and collecting later. If your rental starts after arrival, the Rhodes airport transfer guide covers the journey to your accommodation.
Chapter 4 of 9
What to confirm for a Rhodes Airport collection
For an airport collection, put the requested flight and travel information in the booking/contact form. This gives the rental company the arrival details it needs when it contacts you to confirm availability and confirms the booking. Include a late arrival in those plans so the collection time and any out-of-hours charge are clear.
With the booking arranged, keep the company's handover instructions ready for landing. Airport collection can mean a desk, a meeting point or another collection arrangement, depending on the offer. Follow the instructions for your booking rather than heading to a random rental desk.
For the return, know the agreed location, fuel policy and handover procedure. Leave time to return the car before flight check-in. I would make the last morning straightforward rather than squeezing another outing between the hotel and the airport.
Chapter 5 of 9
Town and resort rentals: start from your accommodation
In Rhodes Town, parking is part of the rental decision. The New Town can be busy, and Rhodes Old Town has restricted vehicle access. If you are staying inside the Old Town, plan collection outside it and use your accommodation's parking or meeting-point advice. For a stay focused on walking around town, I would save the car for the days you head farther afield.
In Lindos, choose a manageable car and plan to use the main car parks before walking into the village. A larger vehicle will not bring you closer to the door; it can simply make parking more awkward. The location of your accommodation matters when deciding where to collect.
Lardos is a separate destination, not another name for Lindos. For a Lardos stay, base the collection or delivery request on your own accommodation rather than a Lindos pickup point. That keeps the rental centred on where your holiday actually starts.
The same practical approach applies to Pefkos, Kolymbia, Faliraki, Kiotari and Gennadi: use the exact accommodation location and choose a handover that avoids an unnecessary trip to another resort. Hotel delivery is particularly useful when it lets you begin exploring from your own base. For resort-specific pickup advice, I have separate guides for car rental in Rhodes Town, Faliraki, Lindos and the other main bases.
Chapter 6 of 9
How to use the car-rental marketplace
Open the Rhodes car-rental marketplace and browse the available listings. You can compare real cars, displayed prices, vehicle details and rental conditions before submitting your travel or contact information. Open the listing details for a car that suits you, rather than choosing only from its starting price.
Once you have chosen a suitable option, complete its booking/contact form with the requested travel and contact information and submit the request. The rental company then contacts you to confirm availability and confirms the booking. That is the next step after sending your request. What actually moves the price, and how to compare the full cost, is in my car rental prices guide.
- 1. Browse the available car listings in the marketplace.
- 2. Compare the displayed cars, prices, vehicle details and rental conditions; read the relevant terms before submitting a request.
- 3. Choose a suitable option and complete the booking/contact form with the requested travel and contact information.
- 4. Submit the request.
- 5. The rental company contacts you to confirm availability and confirms the booking.
Chapter 7 of 9
Documents, payment and rental conditions
Bring your physical driving licence and passport or ID for collection, with every intended driver included in the agreement. The listing's age, driving-experience and licence requirements matter for the vehicle you choose. Where your licence needs an additional document, arrange it before travelling. Keep the required payment method separate from the question of whether a deposit applies.
Most rental agreements specify an insurance excess: the amount you may be responsible for under the agreement if covered damage occurs. Even an offer described as ‘full insurance’ does not automatically mean zero excess. The amount, exclusions and applicable conditions come from the actual rental agreement.
When comparing insurance, look at four things: the excess, what is covered, what is excluded and the procedure to follow if damage occurs. A no-deposit offer and a zero-excess offer are different things. A clear explanation of those conditions is more useful than a reassuring insurance label; you do not need to turn choosing a holiday car into a legal research project. Deposit, excess and credit-card questions get their own answer in no deposit car rental in Rhodes.
Chapter 8 of 9
A calm collection and return
At collection, walk around the car with the company and take clear photographs of existing marks. Check the fuel level and that the car and agreed extras match your booking. This is a short, useful handover habit—not a reason to feel nervous about renting.
Keep the support number with the booking. If damage or a breakdown occurs, stop safely and contact the rental company promptly, following the agreement's reporting procedure. Having the right number ready makes a practical problem easier to handle.
Drive on paved roads permitted by the agreement and take your time on unfamiliar village and mountain routes. Watch for animals around countryside bends. For choosing the beaches and villages you want to explore, the Rhodes Island Guide is a useful companion once your rental is arranged. Not sure about manual or automatic? Use the best car to rent in Rhodes, and if you have never driven here, read driving in Rhodes before collection day.
Chapter 9 of 9
My final advice before you book
If it were my holiday, I would start with a compact car that fits everyone comfortably and collect it on the first day I plan to drive. Choose an automatic if it will make the journeys more comfortable, or a larger vehicle when the passengers and bags genuinely need it. Match airport pickup, town collection or hotel delivery to that plan.
With those choices made, the next step is to compare the current rental listings. Read the details for your preferred car, complete the booking/contact form and submit your request. The rental company will contact you to confirm availability and confirms the booking. Once the car is booked, my places to visit in Rhodes by car routes show where it earns its money.
Compare rental cars in Rhodes
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to rent a car in Rhodes?
Start with a car that fits your passengers and luggage, then choose collection around your first driving day. Browse the marketplace listings, compare vehicle details, displayed prices and terms, and submit a booking request for your preferred option. The rental company contacts you to confirm availability and confirms the booking.
Should I collect the car at Rhodes Airport or my hotel?
I recommend airport collection if you will drive from arrival. If the first days are spent on foot in Rhodes Town, collect later. Hotel delivery is useful when you want to settle in first or avoid a trip to a rental office; use your exact accommodation location in the request.
Which local companies does Looneytravels recommend?
Marathon is my starting point for broader vehicle choice and pickup needs across the island. Siech is a smaller local option I recommend particularly around Rhodes Town, Ixia and Ialyssos, with friendly service and direct communication.
Can I rent a car for only part of my holiday?
Yes—rent for the days you want to explore. For a holiday beginning with several walking days in Rhodes Town, I would collect later rather than pay for a car parked outside. Choose pickup and return for that rental period.
What documents should I bring to collect the car?
Bring your physical driving licence and passport or ID. Follow the licence, driver-age and vehicle requirements in the rental conditions, including any additional document required for your licence. Include every intended driver in the agreement.
Can I collect in one place and return at the airport?
Look for an offer that supports your proposed collection and airport return, and include both locations in your request. The rental company confirms the arrangement with the booking; any applicable return charge belongs in the rental conditions.
Does no deposit mean there is no insurance excess?
No. The security deposit and insurance excess are separate conditions. Most agreements specify an excess, and “full insurance” does not automatically mean zero excess. Compare the amount, cover, exclusions and damage-reporting procedure in the agreement.
What happens after I submit a car-rental request?
The rental company contacts you to confirm availability and confirms the booking. Before submitting, you can browse the real listings, compare displayed prices and rental terms, and complete the form for the option that suits your trip.