Car Hire with Car Hire Tips for Corfu.

1. License

Remember to take your license before you leave home. To hire a car on Corfu, you will need a full UK or European driving licence. There can be problems if your licence has been issued elsewhere in the world, such as the USA. If you have a two-part photo licence, you’ll need both parts if you plan to hire a car on Corfu, even if it’s just for one day. Obviously if you still have the old style licence with no photo card, just the one part will suffice.

2. Payment

You’ll also need some means of payment. Credit or debit cards are widely accepted and sometime mandatory as a deposit is often required to hire a car on Corfu

3. Age regulations

Most car hire companies require you to be between the ages of 23 and 65 to hire a car. If you wish to hire a jeep or 4x4, you will usually need to be over the age of 25 and have held a full licence for more than 1 year. Check with your Corfu Car hire company what are their requirements. Additional items like child seats can also be figured into your car hire package. There is usually an extra charge for car seats but this should be no more than an extra three or four euros per day.

4. Insurance

It’s a good idea to make sure you know what sort of cover you have for your Corfu car hire. Collision Damage Waver is about the minimum these days though so people choose to pay more to avoid any excess charges should you need to claim on your car hire policy. Always make a check and if you are not sure ask the hirer to explain. It's their job to be helpful and informative.

5. Collection, delivery and return

It’s a good idea to have a mobile phone with you if you are picking up a car at the Corfu airport, in Corfu Town or having it delivered to your apartment or villa. Don’t forget to take the telephone number of the car hire company on Corfu with you and this might sound obvious but if you are waiting for a delivery, don’t forget to switch your phone on! This way it’s easy to arrange its delivery or collection. Most hiring staff for all of Corfu’s car hire companies will speak good English. Make sure you know if the delivery and collection are included in the price. Sometimes it’s cheaper to collect and drop of your car hire from Corfu airport. If you are returning a car late, find out where to leave the car keys.

6. Inspection

When you hire a car on Corfu remember when picking up the car to give it a thorough inspection first. This way you can note down any damage that was done before you collected it. Make sure your hirer marks down any damage to the hire car. Also know how to return the tank on your car hire. Do you need to return it full or just at the same level as when you picked it up?

7. Right-hand drive

Remember that Greece, like the rest of Europe, drives on the right. This might be strange at first so take your time and avoid built up areas until you feel more comfortable. Hiring a car can seem intimidating but many of the roads on Corfu and quiet and easy to manage. Do not feel pressured by drivers behind you but take your time – safety first!

8. Traffic regulations

Most of the road signs will be familiar. What will be less familiar are one-way systems. Corfu Town and Alikes now have a one system to regulate traffic so you won’t be able to take your hire car in whatever direction you like. Corfu Town has a one-system and is also partly pedestrianised at night. When you hire a car on Corfu don’t make your first trip straight into town.

9. Petrol stations

Garages on Corfu will often have pump attendant. Just tell them how much you want, passing over the keys for you hire car so they can open and fill the tank. Modern small engine hire cars on Corfu are very fuel economic. You’ll be surprised how far you can go on a single 10-euro note. If you fail to make yourself understood, simple hand over the appropriate size note to the attendant and he’ll fill your hire car up.

10. Maintenance

It’s a good idea to check over your hire car on Corfu every couple of days. Have a quick look at the tyres and make sure you have some water to wash dusty windscreens. Cars can also get very hot inside so you might like to consider hiring a car on Corfu with air conditioning. If you head off into the wilds of Corfu in your car, make sure that your car is ready for the journey.

11. Unmade roads

Most car hire companies on Corfu will not insure for damage to the underside of your vehicle. Make sure you do not take your car hire off-road onto unmade roads unless it is a jeep hire that’s up to the job. If it is only taking your car off road for a few metres, say near a beach, then do so carefully and take your time. Be aware any damage is not likely to be cover with standard car hire.

12. Itinerary

All too often visitors hire a car on Corfu and then spend the entire day driving around and around in circles. Not only is it a waste of petrol and rather un-green, but it is also a waste of the car hire itself. A little forward planning can make a real difference. It will also get you out of your hire car so you can enjoy Corfu to the full. All Corfu car hire come with a free map and DVD/CD Explorer pack, packed with loads of ideas to make the most out of your car hire. Click here for a great deal on Corfu car hire.