Ultimate Guide to Renting a Car in Italy
Renting a car in another country can be super overwhelming, what are the driving rules? Are there restrictions/requirements for rentals? Do I even need a car where I’m going? The questions are endless and having a car when you don’t need one can be a hassle, expensive and super overwhelming, while not having a car when you need one can ruin a trip and your ability to see and do everything you want to do.
I was super nervous to rent a car in Italy and I had told myself from my first trip to Italy when I was 20 that I would never drive in Italy – the roads seemed crazy, and they are in some places. But having now visited Italy extensively and driven through various parts of the country I can safely say that
1. it’s not that bad, if you rent a car in the right places
2. you absolutely do not need a car to visit certain areas of the country
3. having a car allows you to explore some of the most beautiful areas of Italy that are not as well connected by public transport as the major cities
Jump to:
- Should I rent a Car in Italy?
- Tips for renting a car in Italy
- Tips for Driving in Italy
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See my full Italy Travel Guide here.
Major Cities – Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, Naples
If you’re asking yourself should I rent a car in Rome? Should I rent a car in Florence? Should I rent a car in any major Italian city. My answer is almost always a no. Driving in these major cities is chaotic, unnecessary, there is very little parking, and all of these major cities have ZTL zones where traffic is closed to the general public most of the time. Accidentally driving in a ZTL zone when it’s restricted can result in expensive tickets.
If you’re staying in any of the major cities listed above, you definitely don’t need a car during your stay. They’re also all connected to each other and many other smaller Italian cities by Italy’s expansive railway system.
You may want to consider renting a car for day trips from these major cities, but most of the day trips you’d want to take can be reached via public transport or guided tour.
Should I rent a car in Rome?
Like I said above, generally I’d say you absolutely do not need a car in Rome. There are some areas in Tuscany that you may want to visit from Rome where it could be beneficial to rent a car. Although generally, I’d recommend public transport or a guided day tour, especially if you want to visit some wineries!
Should I rent a car in Florence?
Same as with Rome, you definitely do not need a car in Florence, and most of the areas around Florence, like Tuscany, Pisa & Cinque Terre can be reached via public transport or guided tour.
Should I rent a car in Venice?
Most of Venice is pedestrian-only, so there is almost no scenario where you would want a car in Venice. From Venice, you can easily use public transport to get to Verona, Burano & more.
Should I rent a car in Milan?
Milan is another place I don’t recommend having a car. You may consider renting a car to visit Lake Como, but you can also take the train directly from Milan to Como and avoid the hassle of driving in the city!
Should I rent a car in Naples?
Driving in Naples is so chaotic! I’d try to avoid having a car there at all costs. From Naples, it is popular to visit Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast. Both can be reached by public transport – there are also guided day trips from Naples to both that are super convenient.
Should I rent a car in Tuscany?
Probably! If you’re planning to stay in one of the more remote areas of Tuscany (which are most of them) and if you want to visit a series of Tuscan towns, you’ll likely want a car, as the smaller towns are less well connected by public transport, and public transport will get you to the town centers, but many hotels are in the countryside and not walkable.
How is driving in Tuscany?
I didn’t find driving in Tuscany too bad! The roads are very narrow and windy, but they weren’t particularly crowded. I would recommend downloading your route ahead of time, because service can be spotty. I’d also avoid driving at night as there aren’t street lights in most areas.
Should I rent a car in the Amalfi Coast?
No. I absolutely do not recommend driving in this area. The roads are absolutely tiny, windy and on the edge of giant cliffs. The roads also are incredibly busy, have large busses flying in both directions that can barely fit on the road, and once you reach your final destination there likely will be no parking.
Should I rent a car in the Dolomites?
Yes. The Dolomites are a large, remote mountain region. Without a car it is hard to navigate to all of the highlights of the area!
How is driving in the Dolomites?
The driving in this region isn’t bad, although there are a lot of switchback mountain roads where you’ll want to take it slow and I can imagine the winter is a bit tougher (I was there in the spring!)
Should I rent a car in Puglia?
Yes. For exploring the Puglia region, which includes Bari, Alberobello, Polignano a Mare, Monopoli & Matera (although Matera is technically not in Puglia it’s often combined with a Puglia itinerary as it’s right in nearby Basililcata) you’ll likely want a car. This region of Italy is not as well connected by trains and having a car gives you a lot more flexibility in your itinerary.
How is the driving in Puglia?
Driving in Puglia was mostly ok! The major cities are mostly connected by highways, which were easy to drive. The backroads were also not too hard to navigate.
Should I rent a car in Lake Como?
Maybe, but I would opt not to. You could consider renting a car in Lake Como to get around, but if you choose to stay in one of the many cities, like Varenna, Belaggio, or Como, they are easy to navigate without a car, and it’s easier to navigate around the Lake via ferry than by car.
Tips for Renting a Car in Italy
- I like to use Booking.com to compare car rental prices and options across different companies
- Book your car in advance, so you don’t risk them not having a car available when you get there
- Most cars in Europe are standard, you need to request an automatic if you want one (it costs more)
- Make sure to confirm whether your car takes gas or diesel at the time of rental – diesel cars are more common in Europe than the US. Also diesel is called “gasolio” in Italy, regular petrol gas in benzina
- You technically need an international drivers license to rent a car in Italy (you can get one at AAA before your trip for $20) but I never once had mine checked when I was there. Still seems worth having in case they try to enforce it!
Tips for Driving in Italy
- You drive on the right side of the road
- If you’re driving in a major city beware of ZTL zones, these are zones not open to regular cars during certain times of the day
- I noticed Italian drivers tend to pass really close by on the highway, if it scares you just stay to the right
- Have cash on your for tolls
- You cannot take a right on red lights in Italy
I am thinking about renting a car in tuscany, Saturnia area. Where would you recommend picking up the car?
Depends on where you are coming from, but I’d recommend one of the bigger cities like Rome or Florence!