You can take your own electric car to a Greek island without much trouble. The ferry has one rule that catches people out: the battery has to be no more than 40% full when you board. Plan for that and the rest is easy.

The 40% rule

Since 16 April 2024 a circular from the Greek Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy has set a limit for electric cars and plug-in hybrids on ferries: the battery may hold at most 40% of its capacity. It was still in force in 2026, and the large operators, including Blue Star Ferries, Seajets, Minoan Lines and ANEK, apply it on their Greek routes.

Two more rules come with it:

  • No charging on board, as a rule. Expect the car to stay unplugged for the whole crossing. This depends on the operator and the ship, so check your operator's conditions rather than counting on a charge at sea.
  • No damaged batteries. A car with a fault in its battery or charging system is not loaded, and the crew may inspect the car before boarding.

Keeping the battery at 40% or less is the driver's job. Checks at the port vary, but a car over the limit can be refused, and the next ferry may be the next day.

Booking the ferry

When you book, say that the car is electric. Blue Star Ferries' conditions require you to declare it when you book or issue the ticket, and booking sites ask the same. Check the operator's own conditions before you travel, since each company words the rules slightly differently.

Arriving at the port with 40%

You want enough to reach a charger on the island, but no more than 40%.

  • Charge before the last stretch, not at the port. If you're coming from Bulgaria, top up somewhere like Thessaloniki or Lamia, then let the last part of the drive bring the battery down. See Sofia to Thessaloniki for the first part of the road.
  • Find a charger near the arrival port before you sail. If you land at night, pick one that's open around the clock.

Charging on the islands

Charging is much better on the big islands than on the small ones.

  • Crete has the most chargers of any Greek island, mostly around Heraklion, Chania and Rethymno.
  • Rhodes has most of its chargers in the north, in and around Rhodes Town and along the coasts nearby. The south has fewer and they're further apart, so charge before you head down there.
  • Corfu has about half its chargers in and around Corfu Town. The rest are spread across the island, mostly in the resorts.
  • The Cyclades are patchier. Some islands have only a handful of chargers. Nearby Astypalea, in the Dodecanese, is different: a project with Volkswagen has put public chargers across the island.

On a small island the distances are short, so a slow charger overnight is often enough. If you need one at your hotel, ask before you book. The networks on the islands are mostly the same as on the mainland, such as DEI blue, so set up their apps before you leave. More in how to pay at chargers.

How PlugNest helps

PlugNest shows the chargers on the islands and near the ports, with their power and plugs. A red pin means the charger is out of service or a driver has reported it broken in the last 14 days, and a small check mark means a driver confirmed it working in the last 30 days. If you find a broken charger on holiday, report it in one tap for the next driver.