Italy Car Rental Tips

Navigation inside of a rental car Italy during a roadtrip.
Car Rental Locations In Italy
  • Rome (98 Car Rental Locations)
  • Florence (76 Car Rental Locations)
  • Venice (9 Car Rental Locations)
  • Milan (94 Car Rental Locations)
  • Sorrento (9 Car Rental Locations)
  • Catania (76 Car Rental Locations)
  • Naples (69 Car Rental Locations)
  • Siracusa (12 Car Rental Locations)
  • Ostuni (4 Car Rental Locations)
  • Turin (73 Car Rental Locations)
  • La Spezia (8 Car Rental Locations)
AVIS, Budget and Maggiore car rental offices next to each other in a parking lot in Italy.

Renting a car in Italy as an American Citizen:

You can rent a car with your US or Canadian driver’s license.

Car rental companies will not ask you to show an International Driving Permit. In rare cases, if you are stopped by police, police may ask for International Driving Permit (IDP).

While it is not likely that police will pull you over, you may get an International Driving Permit (IDP) from either AAA or the National Automobile Club. Price for International Driving Permit (IDP) is $15-$20.

Should I rent a car in Italy?

Short answer is yes! Compared to carrying heavy bags from stop to stop, researching train schedules, renting a car in Italy is a great idea. Renting a car in Italy allows you to explore the country, set your own schedule and enjoy the low rates of car rental.

What is the advantage of renting a car?

  • Renting a car is cheaper compared to European trains and taxis.
  • You can explore more.
  • You can set your own schedule.
  • You can store your luggage in the trunk. So there is no need to look for lockers in train stations or leaving your luggage in the hotel reception.
  • You are prone to strikes. It is common that there are public transport strikes in Italy.

Is renting a car cheaper than train?

Yes. One way cost of a train ticket is around €30. For 2 persons, total price will be €120 for a round trip while car rental prices start from €14 per day.

Italy Car Rental Tips

Book the right rental car category: Book an intermediate or standard size car. Economy cars are always cheaper but car rental companies always have economy cars in stock and you will get what you pay for. On the other hand, intermediate and standard car inventory is limited and it is likely that you will get a free upgrade. What will you get with a free upgrade? Built in GPS, diesel, automatic transmission. Again it is most likely that if you book a standard size car VW Passat for instance you will most probably get BMW 4 Series Automatic transmission with GPS.

Key of a BMW rented on Carla App in Italy.

Use Carla app to save: Use Carla Car Rental app to compare all car rental companies for you to get best prices. Carla works with all the major and local car rental companies in Italy to ensure best value deals. You can search all companies at once and book your rental car at a glance. Booking 4-6 weeks in advance will get you a lower rate. If you are not planning ahead, there are also last minute deals on Carla.

Don’t worry about ZTL: Internet is full of frustrating reviews about Zona Traffico Limitato ZTL. When you park your car at your hotel or in a garage, hotel or garage registers your plate with authorities and you can freely drive your car in ZTL.

Parking prices are average: Again, you will read a lot of reviews about expensive parking prices in Italy. Reality is parking prices are similar in all over Europe. Parking in a garage is €20 per day in most of the cities in Europe. In Italy the same rate applies. In Florence and Venice, parking can be a little bit higher at €25 per day.

Tolls: Some of the roads are paid in Italy. You can get a ticket at the entrance of the toll and pay at the exit. Paying with credit card, cash are possible. Some tolls are self service working with coins and banknotes.

Gas: You can prefer diesel cars to save on fuel consumption. Gasoline is €1.6 per liter and diesel is €1.5 per liter. Most of the gas stations are self service. You first fill up the tank and then go inside to pay. On Sundays, some stations only work on automated machines.

A parking ticket machine in Italy.
A speed limit sign in Italy.

Speed limit in Italy: 130 km/h on highway, 110 km/h on 2 lane roads. Note that speed limit is reduced by 20 km/h when it rains. It will be 110 km/h. There will be signs showing that speed limit is reduced.

Traffic cameras in Italy: There are signs on highways that there is a radar calculating your average speed between two points. The system is called as Speed Tutor. Recently, SPEED TUTOR machines have been turned off on Italian highways. The removal of this system was based on an Italian court decision following a lawsuit for patent infringement brought to court against the Freeway operating company by the inventor of the system. As a result the Autovelox fixed machines to register the speed only as you pass them. However, the information provided here is not a guarantee that the system will not work. So it is always better to obey rules.

Highway road in Italy with police signs.
Driver in a highway in Italy passing by the signs for Milano and Bologna.

Drive on Sundays: If you are planning to drive a long way on highway, try to schedule your trip on Sundays. On Sunday, there are few cars on the road and no trucks at all. Italy having a strong industry has an active goods transportation with trucks. On Sundays, truck drivers are not working - leaving the whole highway to cars.

Recently Published

How To Rent A SUVCar Rental Requirements 2024Valentines Day 2024 Car RentalCar Rental With Debit Card 2024Car Rental Insurance In 2024Electric Vehicle Car Rental - Deals In EVsCar Rental In 2024: Tips and TricksHow Much Is Car Rental Deposit In 2024Car Rental Promo Code For New Years EvesCar Rental Tips For New DriversChristmas 2024 Car Rental - Book Your Rental In AdvanceCan I Rent A Car With Cash?Thanksgiving Car Rental Promo CodeElectric VS Gas Car RentalOne-Way Car RentalBest Cars To Rent In Winter 2023Hotel Deals In Seattle, WAHotel Booking In Houston, TexasBook Your Hotel: New York GuideBest and Cheapest Hotels In Las Vegas: Ultimate GuideCar Rental In DubaiCar Rental In Columbus Day 2023Age Limitations of Car Rental CompaniesCheapest Places to Travel Labor Day Weekend 2023PayPal Car RentalPay Later Car Rental With KlarnaWhen Is The Best Time For Booking Hotel?Tips For Finding a Cheap Hotel Near YouHow To Rent A Car In Turkey? Check Out Before You RentHow To Chance Tire? Roadside Assistance with CarlaHow To Skip The Line In Car Rental OfficeTricks That Help You To Find Cheapest Flight TicketsFind the BEST Car Rental Promo Codes For 4th of JulyCar Rental Requirements In EuropeFrance bans short-haul domestic flights: It’s great time to rent a car!Rent Your Tesla Through Carla Step-by-Step Plan Your Next Holiday Best Memorial Day Weekend Getaways 2023Buy Now Pay Later Car Rental In 2024Cheapest Rental Cars In Orlando AirportHow to Rent a Car in USA as a ChineseStep by Step Car Rental Process in Taiwan for Foreigners 2023Luxury Rental Cars Near You l Find The Best Deals5 Easy Car Rental Tips and Tricks in 2023Tips for Stress-Free Family TravelIs Fox Car Rental Good?Your Ultimate Guide to Airport Rental Car ReturnCar Rental Las Vegas: Ultimate Guide to Exploring Sin City with a Rental Car Long Term Car Rental: The Benefits and Things to ConsiderThe Ultimate Guide to Luxury Car Rental 2023Rental Car Return: Tips and TricksShould you rent your car from the airport? Pros and cons of airport car rentalGreen Motion Car Rental: Eco-friendly ChoiceLeonardo da Vinci International Airport Car RentalBest Rental Cars in 2023Plan Your Trip To Los Angles with CarlaHow Much Car Rental Deposit In 2023?Best Travel Destinations In 2023 Affordable Car Rental Options In Italy Contactless Car Renting With Carla Cheapest Rental Cars For Uber Amazon Flex Car Rental Deals Celebrate Valentines Day With A Romantic Getaway How To Find Rental Car CentersFind the Jeep Rentals Near You!Catch The Best Weekly Car Rental DealsBest Places To Travel For New YearsCheap Rental Cars Near MeHow To Rent A Car For Uber: Everything You Need To KnowBest Car Rental Deals In Bilbao 2022Now Rent Your Convertible Car With Discounted Amounts!Renting A Car In Europe As An AmericanSpokane Airport Car Rental DealsGuess the Final in Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022, Get $100 Carla Cash!How Old Can Rent A Car?Catch the best deals on ChristmasRenting a car for Lyft: Start ridesharing now!Everything You Need To Know About CarlaHow to Get Around in Qatar During the World Cup?Catch The Best Deals On Cyber MondayEverything About Rental Car InsuranceBlack Friday Car Rental DealsHow to Travel for Cheap Around Thanksgiving?Best Thanksgiving Travel TipsIs Renting a Car for your Gig Work a Good Idea?Best Getaway Ideas for Columbus WeekendTravel Now, Pay Over Time with CarlaExclusive Tips for the 4th of JulyCan You Pay for Trip Later? | BNPL with CarlaDrive for Amazon Flex, Instacart, DoorDash, Uber Eats and Lyft with Carla!How to get a refund if you cannot pick up your car at the counter?Are European Countries Open for Qatar Travellers?Are European Countries Open for KSA Travellers?Are European Countries Open for UAE Travellers?Which Countries are Open for Kuwaiti Travellers?Plan Your Labor Day Trip with CarlaCar Rental Shortage and How to Avoid ItCarla CareersCreating Journeys That MatterRenting A Car With A Debit Card Is Not A Dream!Better Than Car SharingHow to Rent Out Your Car?How to Rent a Car? (For First-Timers)Road Trip In California Is A Bucket List Journey!Everything You Need To Know About TLC Car RentalsCar Rental Curbside Delivery Provides Contactless Experience For Our CustomersHow to Book a One-Way Car Rental5 Top Roadtrips to take on 4th of July WeekendHow to rent a car on the July 4th 2023 weekend getaway#blacklivesmatterPartner with Carla car rentalLast Minute Cheap Car Rental for Memorial Day 2023Can you rent a car amid the pandemic?Renting a Car for InstacartCar Rental Near MeIs Renting a Car Long-Term Better?Contactless RentExtra fees at the counterUpgrade your reservation for FREE!Can you Rent a Car with Debit Card?Trip Cancellation CoverageThanksgiving Travel TipsHow to save at least €500 on your trip to FlorenceTop 10 Cool Things to do in BerlinTravel Tips in ParisCar Rental at Port of MiamiSimilar Concept in Car Rental IndustryHow to Travel for Super Bowl LIIIHow to Avoid Cross-Border Fees in Car Rental"Must-Known" Traffic Rules in the USAHow to Save Money and Time on Your Christmas TripTop 5 Destinations for Thanksgiving HolidayTop USA Destinations for a Great AdventureCar Rental in the UKHow to Rent a Car with a Debit CardLow Cost Car Rental - Keddy by EuropcarCar Hire with Cross BorderUseful Tips for a Better Car Rental Experience for Your Summer Holiday!Drive Your Dream Car: Lamborghini Huracan for Less Than You ImagineThe Best Destinations for Easter HolidayHow to Travel for Super Bowl WeekendHow to Avoid Additional Driver Fees for Your Rental CarHow to Rent a Car with Keddy?How to Find a Car Rental Near Me and Get the Best DealPort of MiamiCar Rental Deposit and Debit Card PolicyHow to Rent a Car Avoiding Under 25 Fee (for USA) - 2023How to Rent a Car Avoiding Under 25 Fee (for Europe and UK)Car Rental 101Car Rental Tips from CarlaRental Cars for Any BudgetAdvantages of Renting a Car
Download Carla to get car rental deals