Category B car license required
IDP for US & Canada · 150cc+ to ride
The most common misconception is that a quad needs a motorcycle license. It doesn't. A quad has handlebars and you straddle it like a bike, but Greek law classes it as a quadricycle, in the same licensing family as small cars, so the document you need is a full Category B car license, carried as the original physical card. Police and reputable shops don't accept a phone photo or a photocopy. The real legal trap is engine size: small quads are banned from paved roads, so rent at least 150cc to ride legally.
American and Canadian visitors should pack a second document, an International Driving Permit. A 2021 Greek law recognises their licenses for short visits, but the US State Department still tells Americans that Greek law requires an IDP, and island rental shops often ask for one whatever the law says. Shops add their own rules too, usually a minimum age of 21 and a license held for at least a year. And since the 2025 Traffic Code, a missing helmet is reported to cost €350 and a 30-day license withdrawal. The checklist below sorts it by nationality.
While you check your license 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 license is what you need — not a motorcycle license. Carry the original physical card; digital or photocopied licenses aren't accepted by shops or police.
EU and EEA licenses are valid as they are, and so are UK photocard licenses. US and Canadian drivers should carry an International Driving Permit alongside their license; the section below explains why, even though a 2021 Greek law recognises their licenses. Australian licenses are recognised too, but some shops still ask for an IDP.
A 2018 amendment to the Road Traffic Code bans small quads from paved roads. Sources disagree on whether the cut-off is under 125cc or under 150cc, and enforcement has been patchy, so rent 150cc or larger to be legal under either reading. Fines are reported up to €1,000. For two riders on the steep caldera roads, 300cc-plus is the safer choice anyway.
The legal minimum to drive a quad over 50cc is 18, but most Santorini shops require 21, and some 22 or 23 for larger ATVs and buggies, because their insurers set it. Most also want the license held for at least a year. Some operators set a minimum passenger age of 16, and on guided tours under-21s usually ride only as back-seat passengers.
Both of you must wear one, and reputable operators provide them. The UK government's travel advice warns that Greek police can fine you and take your license for riding without 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 license is current, as many lapse. Without the documents the shop asked for, your insurance can be voided after an incident.
A quad is easier to rent legally than a scooter for most visitors, who hold only a car license.
Buggies, the side-by-sides with a steering wheel and pedals, are even more plainly car-like than quads and are driven on the same Category B license. Two-wheelers work differently. A car license on its own never covers a scooter or motorcycle bigger than 50cc in Greece, so if you hold only a car license, a quad or a buggy is the vehicle you can rent.
| Vehicle | License you need in Greece |
|---|---|
| Quad / ATV (150cc+) | Category B car license |
| Buggy (side-by-side) | Category B car license |
| 50cc moped | Category AM, or a car license |
| 51–125cc scooter | Category A1 motorcycle license |
| Larger motorcycle | Category A2 or A |
Short version: if your home license lets you drive a normal car, it covers a Santorini quad or buggy. It does not cover a 125cc scooter.
Greek law, the official travel advice and the rental counter don't quite agree. Here's how to avoid getting caught between them.
Greek Law 4850/2021 recognises valid national licenses from the EU and EEA, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, and specifically from the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia and Gibraltar, for driving during short visits without an IDP, as long as the license is valid and printed in the Latin alphabet. The Australian Embassy in Athens confirms that Australian licenses have been recognised since 5 November 2021, and the Government of Canada's travel advice says a valid Canadian license is enough to drive as a tourist.
The rental counter is another matter. The US State Department's Greece page still says Greek law requires Americans to carry an IDP with their US license, even if the rental company doesn't ask to see it, and many island shops ask non-EU customers for one regardless of the 2021 law. If a shop requires an IDP and you don't have one, expect a refused rental, usually with no refund on a prepaid booking, and possibly voided insurance after an accident and a police fine. So the plain advice for US and Canadian drivers is to carry one: it costs little and settles the question at the counter.
| Country | Who issues the IDP | Cost (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| United States | AAA or AATA; same day in person, valid one year, minimum age 18 | $20 fee plus photos |
| Canada | CAA only | $32 CAD (raised December 2025) |
| United Kingdom | Post Office; photocard holders don't need one for Greece | Around £5.50 |
| Australia | State motoring clubs (AAA-affiliated) | Around $49–$55 AUD |
Scam warning: only these official national bodies issue real IDPs. Websites selling "international driver's licenses", especially digital-only permits, ones "valid" for several years, or ones that never ask for your real license, are scams.
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 license, nothing extra |
| United Kingdom | Photocard car license, no IDP needed; holders of an old paper license should also carry a 1968 IDP. Rental firms may add their own conditions |
| United States | Full car license plus an IDP (the State Department says Greek law requires it); age 21+ at most shops |
| Canada | Full car license plus an IDP from CAA ($32 CAD), because shops often ask for one |
| Australia | Full car license, recognised since November 2021 under Law 4850/2021; carry an IDP to be safe |
| New Zealand | Full car license plus an IDP; New Zealand is not on the 2021 recognition list |
| Other non-EU | Full car license plus an IDP; check with the shop before booking |
Short version: everyone needs a full car license carried as the original card. EU, EEA and UK photocard holders are set; US and Canadian visitors should add an IDP; Australians and New Zealanders should carry one too. Whatever you ride, rent 150cc or larger.
Bring your physical license to ride — the tour handles everything else. Check live dates on the right.
Why we recommend it: you still bring your Category B license to drive, but this guided tour handles training, routing, fuel, helmet and pickup — the highest-reviewed on the island (4.9 from 329 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 travelers 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 329 verified GetYourGuide reviews of the featured ATV-Quad Experience Tour as of October 2026.
Law 5209/2025 is enacted and enforced. The figures below are as reported in the Greek press; check the official text for your case.
Law 5209/2025 came fully into force on 13 September 2025, the biggest overhaul of Greek traffic law in about 20 years. Its defining feature is that penalties for repeat violations within five years now stack instead of being offset. The penalties that matter most on a quad, as reported by Greek outlets including To Vima and iefimerida:
| Offence | Reported penalty |
|---|---|
| No helmet (driver or passenger) | €350 fine plus a 30-day license withdrawal; the driver is fined even when wearing a helmet if the passenger isn't |
| Driving without a valid license | €1,000 fine, a one-year suspension and up to two years' imprisonment |
| Alcohol over 0.50 g/l | From €350 plus a 30-day suspension, rising to €1,200, impoundment and imprisonment above 1.10 g/l |
| Speeding | From €700 plus a 60-day suspension |
Tourists are not exempt. Helmet checks on ATV and quad riders are part of a nationwide "Zero Tolerance" police campaign, with hundreds of riders cited in single weeks of summer 2025. Greece has used automated digital enforcement since September 2025, and cross-border cooperation means some fines can follow you home.
What's tightening, what's still a proposal, and the caveats behind the license rules.
On 3 June 2026 Deputy Transport Minister Konstantinos Kyranakis announced a package that would require drivers to have held a license for at least five years before renting a quad, up from the usual one year, and would bar rental firms from handing over a vehicle without a helmet. The draft went to public consultation, rental businesses pushed back hard over thousands of summer bookings already made, and as of October 2026 there is no report of it passing. Plan the 2026 season around the rules in force (Category B license, 150cc or more, helmets, an IDP if you're from outside the EU and UK, age 21 or over) and treat the five-year rule as a possible change to confirm with your operator.
Rental shops check the IDP and the rest of your documents, especially for non-EU visitors. If you're from the US or Canada, carry your original license plus an IDP and the question never comes up.
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 license 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 license to drive — you still bring your physical Category B card (and an IDP if from the US or Canada). 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. Rental-company rules on age, license duration and deposits are private policy set by insurers, and often stricter than the law. Confirm the current requirements with your operator when you book. This page is general information, not legal advice; for a definitive ruling, check current official Greek sources.
If one required document is missing, the rental won't go ahead, and a prepaid booking is usually forfeited.
That your license category and name match your passport, how long you've held the license, and that you meet their minimum age. Then they take the deposit, brief you on the vehicle and hand over a helmet.
License 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 license, not a motorcycle license, carried as the original physical card. US and Canadian visitors should also carry an International Driving Permit.
Carry one. A 2021 Greek law (4850/2021) recognises US and Canadian licenses for short visits, but the US State Department still says Greek law requires Americans to carry an IDP with their license, and rental shops and police may ask for it. The Government of Canada says a valid Canadian license is enough to drive as a tourist, yet many island shops still ask non-EU riders for an IDP. A shop that requires one can refuse the rental, often with no refund on a prepaid booking.
In the US, AAA or AATA issue one for a $20 fee plus photos, valid for a year. In Canada only CAA issues it, for $32 CAD. In the UK the Post Office issues one for around £5.50, though photocard holders don't need it for Greece. In Australia, state motoring clubs charge around $49 to $55 AUD. Websites selling digital-only or multi-year international licenses are scams.
You don't need one. Quads are classed as quadricycles and treated like cars, so a full Category B car license is the correct document. A motorcycle license matters only for a scooter: a car license alone covers at most a 50cc moped in Greece, never a larger scooter or motorcycle, which makes a quad easier to rent legally than a scooter for most visitors.
A 2018 change to the Greek Road Traffic Code bans small quads from paved roads, and sources disagree on whether the cut-off is 125cc or 150cc, so rent at least 150cc to be legal under either reading. 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.
The legal minimum to drive a quad over 50cc in Greece is 18, but most Santorini shops require 21, and some 22 or 23 for larger ATVs and buggies, because of their insurance. Most also want the license held for at least a year. Some set a minimum passenger age of 16, and on guided tours under-21s usually ride only as back-seat passengers.
Yes, for the driver and the passenger, and reputable operators provide one. The UK government's travel advice warns that police can fine you and take your license if you ride without one. Greek press reports put the fine under the 2025 Traffic Code at €350 plus a 30-day license withdrawal.
Yes. Police fine visitors on the spot, Greece has added automated camera enforcement since September 2025, and cross-border cooperation means some fines can follow you home. Helmet checks on quad riders are a regular summer police campaign.
On 3 June 2026 Deputy Transport Minister Konstantinos Kyranakis announced plans to require five years of license holding before renting a quad, up from the usual one year, and to bar rental firms from handing over a vehicle without a helmet. As of October 2026 there is no report of the bill being passed, so it is a proposal, not law. Check with your operator before you travel.
Yes, if you want to drive. On a guided tour you still need your physical Category B license to drive a quad, and US and Canadian drivers should carry an IDP. Under-21s usually ride as back-seat passengers. The difference is the tour handles training, routing, fuel and helmet for you.
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