We're not a broker, a franchise, or an aggregator. We're a Cretan family that has been putting visitors behind the wheel since 1984. The second generation runs the operation today. When you book, you speak to us directly.
Caravel Rent a Car was founded in 1984 as a family enterprise in Heraklion, Crete. After many years of steady upward development, the company evolved into a joint-stock company — driven by rapid growth not only in vehicles and offices, but in personnel, service quality and infrastructure.
Today Caravel is one of the largest independent car rental companies on the island, with 440 vehicles spread across six main stations. But the ownership structure hasn't changed: it's still the same family. The second generation now runs day-to-day operations, bringing with it a deep knowledge of the island and a direct commitment to every customer.
Most car hire companies in Crete are either global franchise operators who don't know the island, or aggregator listings that take a cut and pass you to a third party. We are neither. When you book with Hire Cars Crete, you deal with the people who own the cars, maintain the cars, and meet you at the airport.
Our fleet of latest-model vehicles is renewed on a rolling basis — with vehicles rarely older than 18 months. Every car is maintained by our own workshop team, not outsourced. That matters when you're on a mountain road above Balos and need to know your vehicle is genuinely fit for purpose.
Caravel is a fully licensed tourism enterprise, registered with the Greek Tourism Organisation (EOT) under registration number 1039E81000111200. Our services include:
We accept payment on collection only — cash, debit card, Visa, Mastercard and American Express. No credit card deposit required. No amount is blocked or pre-authorised on your card.
Check availability in 2 minutes. No account required, no deposit.
Check Availability → 💬 Ask us on WhatsAppWe built our offer around the things travellers complain about most: hidden excess charges, blocked deposits, surprise fees at return. Every Hire Cars Crete booking includes full insurance, zero excess and free extras — published clearly, not buried in a PDF.
When something goes wrong on a mountain road at midnight, you don't want a call centre in another country. You want Giorgos, who knows Crete from Chania to Sitia and can reach you within 45 minutes — anywhere on the island.
Our repeat booking rate is 42% — not because of a loyalty programme, but because people come back to the same faces. Angeliki at Heraklion Airport. Emanuela on WhatsApp. Ermis, the owner, who personally responds to every critical review.
From a single office in Heraklion to ten stations across the island.
A small family car rental enterprise starts with a handful of vehicles and one office at 39, 25th August Street, Heraklion city centre. The first airport delivery is made in the same year.
Rising international tourism drives rapid fleet expansion. Caravel opens dedicated stations at Heraklion Airport and Chania Airport, establishing a presence at both of the island's main arrival points.
Stations open in Hersonissos and Stalis to serve the north-coast resort corridor. Hotel delivery service expands to cover the entire island — from Agia Pelagia to Elounda, from Matala to Sitia.
The second generation of the family takes over day-to-day management, bringing with it a digital-first approach, a restructured fleet policy (all vehicles renewed within 18 months), and the zero-excess insurance model that defines the brand today.
440 vehicles. 10+ stations. 25 team members. EOT-certified. Rated 4.8+ on Google. No brokers, no franchises, no call centres. Still family-owned — and still handing over the keys in person at the airport.
No temporary staff. No rotating faces. You'll know your contact after the first booking — and they'll still be there next year.
12 years with the team. Meets you in person at the airport, knows every mountain road on the island.
First response on emails and WhatsApp. Resolves questions concretely — usually within an hour.
On the road from Chania to Sitia. Average response time: 45 minutes — anywhere on the island.
Directly reachable when something isn't right. Personally responds to every critical review.