The yes story

The Story of yes rent a car Samos

In 1994, I came to Samos from the Netherlands. I got to know the tourism industry — and met my wife Britt. We travelled a lot and saw many places, but after nine years (in 2003), I started feeling a growing excitement inside me. An idea that had been in my mind for a long time began to take shape: to start my own car rental company on Samos. The plan was clear – the focus should be on the airport, and bookings should be possible via the internet, something that was still quite new for local businesses at the time.

In 2004, things really got started. After a mountain of paperwork, we finally managed to officially establish the company. Our friends Jannis and Ulrike Taleporou were a tremendous help in the process.
Finding the right name was a real challenge. I thought long and hard and tried countless names… until I returned to a word I had been using for years whenever something succeeded: yes. Three simple letters – with a strong message. That’s how yes rent a car samos was born.

Internet & website


From the very beginning, it was clear: everything should be handled through our own website. Of course, the major providers were already active on Samos and working with online bookings. But a truly local company with its own website – that was rare. Luckily, I had a digital background and could create websites myself – so I built our yes rent a car site right from the start – with great success.

Family and friends

We started small, with just ten cars. Family and friends helped wherever they could: washing cars, preparing contracts, picking up guests at the airport, delivering vehicles across the island, and collecting them again at night. For a short time, even my friend Michael came over from Mallorca to help – a huge support during those intense early days.

Team

Kordula Kühn started at yes in 2008. We had known each other since 1994 and were a strong team for many years. Kordula supported us for a long time (14 years) with great dedication and commitment, for which I am still very grateful to her today.

As the number of guests grew, so did our fleet. We needed reinforcements, and we found them in Brigitte Stern, who made sure our cars always looked perfect. She did her job so well that we soon gave her the title of “Head of the yes rent a car Beauty Salon.”
Over time, Brigitte took on more and more responsibilities – today, she is my right hand. She manages all the planning, and thanks to her Swiss punctuality and eye for detail, everything runs like clockwork.

Expand

yes rent a car continued to grow. With more cars came more tasks. That’s when Nicos Apostolou joined us – our Greek all-rounder. Whether it’s logistics, customer service, or emergencies – Nicos is always there when needed. Later, Kosta joined our team, adding even more strength to the yes rent a car.

We have always invested locally in our fleet. Of course, cars need to be well maintained, and for that, we have Jorgos and his workshop – a true professional who has been keeping all our vehicles in top condition and handling the maintenance for the past 20 years. Reliable and skilled – his knowledge is priceless.

Travel forums & sponsorship

Over the years, our website has, of course, evolved. Today, yes rent a car samos can be found everywhere, and we are recommended on many websites and travel platforms. In 2024, we achieved something we are especially proud of: as the only local car rental company on Samos, we received over 700 five-star Google reviews from our guests – a big thank you for that!

But our work doesn’t stop with business. We have always tried to give something back to the community on Samos. That’s why we support local clubs and initiatives: youth football, volleyball, beach volleyball, Animal Care Samos, Die Vergessenen Hunde von Samos, and the Streetcats of Samos – organizations that work with heart and soul for people and animals on the island. We also support for 18 years the largest music festival in the region – the Ireon Music Festival.

Future

In 2025, we also opened our parking facility at the airport. There is now a new, clearly visible meeting point for guests picking up their cars – easy to find and clearly marked, with a kiosk for added convenience.
We will continue to work on maintaining our high level of service in the future and always be there for our guests, so they can explore Samos in a mobile and flexible way, because our slogan remains:

Thanks

Behind the scenes, yes has always been and will always remain a true family business. The support of my wife Britt and my son Leon has been indispensable from the very beginning – their help, trust, and dedication are the quiet engine behind our success.

A huge thank you to all the wonderful guests I have had the pleasure of meeting over the past 20 years. Thank you for placing your trust in yes rent a car – it means a lot to me!

From a dream in 2003 to a leading local business on Samos.
yes rent a car is built on hard work, trust, friendship, and a deep love for the island of Samos – and above all, on that one word that started it all:

Sandy R. Nieuwenhof