DiscoverCars vs EconomyBookings for Car Rental in Crete (2026)
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Quick answer
For car rental in Crete we would start with DiscoverCars: its Full Coverage reimburses up to €5,000, against €1,700 at EconomyBookings. Neither removes the supplier's card deposit, so if you want no deposit at all, a local all-inclusive company is the other route; Rental Center Crete lists about €219 for 7 days in late October, per its own site. Disclosure: we may earn a commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you.
- DiscoverCars' Full Coverage pays up to €5,000 in total; EconomyBookings' pays up to €1,700 (official help pages).
- Neither broker's excess-reimbursement product removes the rental company's security deposit, which stays on your card.
- Both products work the same way: you pay the supplier for damage first, then claim the excess back from the broker.
- The exclusion lists differ in content, not just length: DiscoverCars lists misfuelling as covered, while EconomyBookings excludes wrong fuel, off-road driving, negligence and extras.
- Rental Center Crete (a local company, not a broker) lists a Hyundai i10 at €31.29/day, about €219 for 7 days from Heraklion airport, 24 to 31 October 2026, with no deposit, per its own site.
- On the same local price list, a VW Polo automatic costs €11.43/day (about 31%) more than the manual.
- All prices in this article are in euros. Your card's exchange rate on the day sets the dollar amount.
Our picks
Higher payout cap: €5,000
DiscoverCars
Best for: Travelers who accept a supplier deposit and want the higher excess-reimbursement cap
DiscoverCars is a broker, not a rental company. It compares suppliers and sells an optional Full Coverage product that reimburses the excess after you pay the supplier. Its payout limit is €5,000 in total, nearly three times EconomyBookings' limit. Not for you if you want a no-deposit rental, since the supplier's card hold still applies.
Pros
- Payout limit of €5,000 in total, against €1,700 at EconomyBookings
- Lists misfuelling as covered, which EconomyBookings excludes
- Its terms state plainly that Full Coverage does not exempt you from the security deposit, so you know what to plan for
Cons
- You pay the supplier first and claim later, and the deposit is still held
- Interior damage is excluded unless it results directly from a collision
- Theft of individual parts, hit-and-run cases with traffic violations, wrong-parking assistance costs and traffic-fine admin fees are also excluded
- The Full Coverage price is not on the official help page; check it during booking for your dates
Price: Neither broker publishes a flat Full Coverage price on its help pages; check the price during booking for your dates and confirm it at checkout.
Worth a second quote
EconomyBookings
Best for: Travelers who want to price the same dates on a second broker before booking
EconomyBookings is also a broker and sells its own Full Coverage product. It reimburses the excess up to €1,700, and the deposit stays blocked on your credit card. Run it next to DiscoverCars for the same dates and car class. Not for you if you want a high payout cap or a no-deposit rental.
Pros
- Separate help pages explain Full Coverage and the deposit in plain terms
- A second search on the same dates and car class is quick and free
- Reimbursement mechanics are the same as DiscoverCars, so quotes are easy to compare
Cons
- The €1,700 cap may sit below the excess on some cars, so check your car class
- Excludes off-road driving, negligence, wrong fuel, interior damage and extras
- The bank fee on a refund is split with you, and exchange-rate differences are not covered
- The deposit is held on a credit card
Price: Neither broker publishes a flat Full Coverage price on its help pages; check the price during booking for your dates and confirm it at checkout.
Comparison at a glance
| Broker | Payout cap | Supplier deposit | Not covered (examples) |
|---|---|---|---|
| DiscoverCars | €5,000 | Still held on your card | Interior damage unless from a collision; theft of individual parts; hit-and-run with traffic violations; wrong-parking assistance costs; traffic-fine admin fees |
| EconomyBookings | €1,700 | Still held on your credit card | Off-road driving, negligence, wrong fuel, interior damage, extras, bank fees and exchange-rate differences |
Which is better for Crete: DiscoverCars or EconomyBookings?
Both are brokers. They list cars from rental companies and sell an optional Full Coverage product that reimburses the excess after the fact. The sourced difference sits in that product: DiscoverCars pays up to €5,000 in total, EconomyBookings up to €1,700.
Our ranking rests on those coverage terms only. We do not have same-date price quotes from both brokers, so we cannot tell you which one is cheaper for your trip. The quote on your dates decides the total.
For that reason we would run your Crete dates on DiscoverCars first and then price the same car class on EconomyBookings. If you want the full picture on the first one, see our DiscoverCars breakdown for US renters.
How does Full Coverage work, and what does it leave out?
Full Coverage is an excess-reimbursement product, not a waiver sold at the rental desk. You pay the rental company for any eligible damage first, then claim the excess back from the broker. The supplier's security deposit stays on your card either way.
DiscoverCars
- Pays up to €5,000 in total.
- Interior damage is excluded unless it results directly from a collision.
- Also excluded: theft of individual parts, hit-and-run cases with traffic violations, wrong-parking assistance costs and traffic-fine admin fees.
- Misfuelling is listed as covered.
- Its terms say Full Coverage does not exempt you from the security deposit.
EconomyBookings
- Pays up to €1,700.
- Not covered: off-road driving, negligence, wrong fuel, interior damage, extras, and bank fees or exchange-rate differences on a refund.
- The deposit is still held on your credit card.
The two exclusion lists cover different items, so they cannot be ranked by length. Before you add either product, compare its cap with the excess listed for your car class. Neither broker publishes a flat Full Coverage price on its help pages; check the price during booking for your dates and confirm it at checkout. Treat this as a reading guide for the terms, not a recommendation to buy.
What does an all-inclusive local rental cost in Crete?
A local company is a different kind of product from a broker: you book and pay one company directly. Rental Center Crete shows final prices for 7 days, Saturday 24 to Saturday 31 October 2026, with pickup at Heraklion airport (page checked October 2026). Totals are our arithmetic, in euros.
- Hyundai i10, manual: €31.29/day, about €219
- VW Polo, manual: €37.00/day, about €259
- Toyota Corolla, manual: €45.00/day, about €315
- VW Polo, automatic: €48.43/day, about €339
- Skoda Kamiq (family car), manual: €52.71/day, about €369
- Peugeot 2008 SUV, automatic: €69.86/day, about €489
The company says the price includes damage cover with no excess, tires and glass, one extra driver, a baby seat, unlimited mileage, 24/7 roadside assistance and free cancellation up to 48 hours before pickup. Per its no-credit-card page, you can pay by debit card or cash and nothing is blocked on a card.
The Polo automatic costs €11.43/day more than the manual, about 31%. The company's own seasonal figures put small cars at €25 to €40/day in low season and €65 in August; it does not state how it calculated them.
These are the company's own claims. Read the exclusions in writing and check recent Google and Trustpilot reviews before paying.
Use this as a yardstick. A broker's real total is the base rate, plus Full Coverage if you add it, plus a deposit still held on your card. Compare that with a local all-inclusive total where the deposit is €0.
Heraklion or Chania: where should you pick up?
Pick the airport nearest to where you will sleep. Crete is a long island, and places like the Messara plain sit in south-central Crete, so check the map for your base before choosing Heraklion (HER) or Chania (CHQ).
For a loop trip, return to the same airport. A one-way rental between the two may carry a fee, which should show up in the quote. Our Heraklion airport rental guide covers HER in more detail.
Hertz's own site lists a Heraklion Airport desk open 24 hours, run by an independent licensee, plus a city office on 25th August Street. Ask for its price, deposit and terms before comparing it with the options above, and confirm the desk hours on your booking if your flight lands late.
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Crete?
Carry both: your valid US driver's license and an International Driving Permit (IDP). The simplest check is to ask your rental company what it requires before you book.
Get the IDP before you leave home, from the issuer you choose, and confirm the current fee on its site. Bring the original US license too, since the permit does not replace it. This is general information, not legal advice.
How do you book and pick up without surprises?
- Choose HER or CHQ based on where you will stay, and avoid one-way trips.
- Run the same dates and car class on both brokers, and ask a local company for a written all-in price.
- Check the deposit size and card rules for the supplier, and make sure your card limit covers the hold.
- Compare the Full Coverage cap with your car's excess.
- Read the contract for unpaved-road and ferry clauses, especially if Balos or Elafonisi is on your list. Off-road damage is excluded from EconomyBookings' product.
- At pickup, take timestamped photos and a video of every panel, the wheels, windshield and interior, and get existing damage marked on the paperwork.
- At return, photograph the fuel gauge and the car, and ask for a signed return receipt.
- Keep an eye on your card statement until the deposit is released.
FAQ
Can you rent a car in Crete without a credit card?
At a broker, usually not: EconomyBookings says the deposit is blocked on a credit card. Some local companies say they take debit or cash with no deposit, Rental Center Crete among them. Get that promise and the exclusions in writing before you pay.
Does Full Coverage remove the security deposit?
No. DiscoverCars' terms and EconomyBookings' help pages both say their product reimburses the excess after you pay the supplier. The supplier's deposit is still held on your card, so check your card limit before you travel.
How much more does an automatic cost in Crete?
On Rental Center Crete's late-October price list, a VW Polo automatic is €11.43/day more than the manual, about 31%. That is one company's list, not a market average. Filter for automatics when you search and compare the same dates on each platform.
How do I compare a broker quote with a local price?
Add the broker's daily rate, the Full Coverage price from your booking and any extras, then note the deposit separately as a card hold. Compare that total with the local company's all-inclusive price for the same dates, car class and gearbox.
How much does Full Coverage cost?
Neither broker publishes a flat Full Coverage price on its help pages. Check the price during booking for your dates and confirm it at checkout, then compare the amount with the payout cap and your car's excess.
Sources & fact-check
How this guide was made: we compared official pricing, documentation and independent reviews (sources below). We have not tested the products ourselves unless stated. Prices change — confirm before you buy.
Facts checked: October 17, 2026 · 24 ✓
- DiscoverCars Help: what Full Coverage covers
- DiscoverCars Terms and Conditions
- EconomyBookings Help Center: more about Full Coverage
- EconomyBookings Help Center: deposit and Full Coverage
- Rental Center Crete (company site)
- Rental Center Crete: car rental without credit card (company site)
- Hertz: Crete locations