Category B car licence required
IDP for US & Canada · 150cc+ to ride
The most common misconception is that a quad needs a motorcycle licence. It doesn't. Greek law treats ATVs, quads and buggies like cars, so the document you legally need is a full Category B car licence, carried as the original physical card — not a photo, not a photocopy. The real legal trap isn't the licence type; it's that sub-125 to 150cc quads are banned from paved roads, so you must rent at least 150cc to ride legally.
For non-EU visitors there's a second document. Because the US and Canada aren't party to the 1968 Vienna Convention (only the 1949 Geneva Convention), American and Canadian drivers should carry a Geneva International Driving Permit alongside their licence — without it you may be unlicensed under Greek law and your insurance void. Rental shops add their own rules too, usually a minimum age of 21 and a licence held for at least a year. The checklist below sorts it by nationality.
While you check your licence situation, it's also worth browsing other Santorini activities. Many visitors pair an ATV rental day with a catamaran BBQ cruise around the caldera, a guided tour of Akrotiri's Minoan ruins, or a wine tasting in the Megalochori and Pyrgos vineyards.
What the law and the rental shops require — in plain terms, with the numbers.
Quads are legally cars in Greece, so a standard car licence is what you need — not a motorcycle licence. Carry the original physical card; digital or photocopied licences aren't accepted by shops or police.
EU and EEA licences are valid as-is. US and Canadian drivers need a Geneva (1949) International Driving Permit because their countries aren't in the 1968 Vienna Convention. UK and Australian drivers may not strictly need one, but carrying an IDP is strongly advised as enforcement tightens.
A 2018 law bans sub-125 to 150cc quads from paved roads, with fines reported up to €1,000. Rent 150cc or larger — and 300cc-plus if two of you ride the hills, since underpowered quads struggle and are less safe.
Rental shops typically require drivers to be at least 21, above the legal driving age, and to have held the licence for at least a year. On guided tours, under-21s must be accompanied by an adult and children ride only on the back seat.
Wearing the helmet is a legal requirement, not a suggestion, and reputable operators provide one. Wear it even on short hops; it's the single biggest safety factor on the island's roads.
Confirm full insurance — ideally collision damage waiver (CDW), not just third-party — and that the operator's annual rental road licence is current, as many lapse. Without the right licence and IDP, your insurance can be voided after an incident.
The documents each visitor should carry to legally drive a quad, buggy or car.
| Where you're from | What you need to drive a quad |
|---|---|
| EU / EEA | Your national full Category B car licence — valid as-is, no IDP needed |
| United Kingdom | Full car licence; IDP not strictly required but recommended to carry |
| United States | Full car licence plus a Geneva (1949) IDP — carry both |
| Canada | Full car licence plus a Geneva (1949) IDP — carry both |
| Australia | Full car licence (recognised as equivalent since Nov 2021); IDP recommended |
| Other non-EU | Full car licence plus an IDP — carry both and check before booking |
Short version: everyone needs a full car licence carried as the original card. EU/EEA visitors are set; US and Canadian visitors must add a Geneva IDP; UK and Australian visitors should carry one to be safe. Whatever you ride, rent 150cc or larger.
Bring your physical licence to ride — the tour handles everything else. Check live dates on the right.
Why we recommend it: you still bring your Category B licence to drive, but this guided tour handles training, routing, fuel, helmet and pickup — the highest-reviewed on the island (4.9 from 200+ reviews), in small groups on road-legal 450/550cc quads.
You ride the south-island loop from Perissa: Emporio's Venetian Kasteli, the windmills and vineyards of Megalochori with a wine-cellar tasting, a caldera viewpoint, a hidden cave chapel and an off-road descent to Vlychada. Guides "Alex" and "Pablo" are named again and again in reviews for keeping nervous riders relaxed.
Morning and late-afternoon departures; cruise passengers meet in front of McDonald's in Fira. Check live dates and book on the right.
Recent verified reviews from travellers who booked the featured tour.
"One of my favorite experiences in Santorini! Hotel pickup, ATV training, and an incredible route through beaches, villages, vineyards and scenic dirt roads. Our guides, Alex and Pablo, were knowledgeable and patient."Jacqueline · United States · June 2026
"I loved the scenery, and how patient and helpful the guides are. This tour is a fantastic way to see the island before exploring on your own. 10/10 recommend!"Latrina · United States · June 2026
"What an amazing tour with wonderful hosts. One of the main guides, Alex, went above and beyond when we got into a traffic concern. The whole tour was perfectly orchestrated as they worked as a team."Gary W · United States · June 2026
"Had a great day, would definitely recommend. The guys were fun and professional, with safety at the forefront throughout. A nice little stop off for snacks and a drink at a local cafe."Jacqueline · United Kingdom · June 2026
Rating reflects 229 verified GetYourGuide reviews of the featured ATV-Quad Experience Tour as of June 2026.
What's tightening, what's still a proposal, and the caveats behind the licence rules.
Per GreekReporter, officials have proposed requiring drivers to have held a licence for at least five years before renting a quad — a big jump from the current one-year norm — plus mandatory helmet provision by rental firms. As of mid-2026 it's a proposal, not law; verify before you travel.
Police and rental shops increasingly check for the IDP and the right documents, especially for non-EU visitors. The safest assumption is to carry your original licence plus an IDP if you're from outside the EU.
Sources cite the paved-road ban as either 125cc or 150cc depending on the report. To be safe under either reading, rent 150cc or larger — it's also what you want for the hills.
If you ride without the licence the law requires, an insurer can refuse a claim after an accident — and Santorini's medical facilities are basic, with serious cases evacuated to Crete or Athens. Get the paperwork right before you turn a key.
Booking a guided tour doesn't exempt you from needing a licence to drive — you still bring your physical Category B card (and IDP if non-EU). What the tour removes is the rental admin, route-planning and fuel, not the legal requirement.
Rules, ages and document requirements vary by shop and can change between seasons. Confirm the current requirements with your operator when you book, especially if the 2026 proposal is enacted.
Licence type, the IDP, engine size, age and the 2026 changes.
Yes. Greek law treats quads and ATVs like cars, so you need a full Category B car licence (not a motorcycle licence), carried as the original physical card. Non-EU visitors, especially from the US and Canada, should also carry an International Driving Permit.
Yes. The US and Canada are not party to the 1968 Vienna Convention, only the 1949 Geneva Convention, so US and Canadian drivers should carry a Geneva IDP plus their original licence. Without it you may be unlicensed under Greek law and your insurance can be void.
No motorcycle licence is required — and on its own it isn't what the law asks for. Quads are treated like cars, so a full Category B car licence is the correct document. A motorcycle licence is only relevant for renting a scooter.
Sub-125 to 150cc quads are banned from paved roads, so rent at least 150cc. For two people on the hills choose 300cc or larger. Riding a banned small quad on the road can bring fines reported up to €1,000.
Rental shops typically set a minimum age of 21, above the legal driving age, and often require the licence to have been held for at least a year. On guided tours, riders under 21 must be accompanied by an adult and children ride only as passengers.
Yes, wearing the helmet is required by law and reputable operators provide one. Wear it even for short journeys; it's both a legal requirement and the single most important safety measure on Santorini's roads.
Greek officials have proposed requiring drivers to have held a licence for at least five years before renting a quad, up from the current one-year norm, plus mandatory helmet provision by rental firms. As of mid-2026 these are proposals, not enacted law, so verify before you travel.
Yes, if you want to drive. On a guided tour you still need your physical Category B licence to ride, and US and Canadian drivers should carry an IDP. The difference is the tour handles training, routing, fuel and helmet for you.
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