If you plan to spend some time in the boot country, renting a car in Italy is a great option. It gives you the freedom and flexibility to travel how and when you want and also allows you to visit parts of this fantastic country that are difficult to reach. We’ve rented a car in Italy a few times and loved being able to explore. The stunning Italian countryside and mountains make driving in Italy an enjoyable experience, as does the ability to explore many of the country’s charming small towns and villages. What must you know if you’re considering renting a car in Italy?
What Do You Need Before Renting a Car in Italy? You need a standard driver’s license to rent a car in Italy. If your license is not in English or Italian, have a translation. You should be prepared to hand over your passport. You are supposed to have an International Driver’s Permit, which can be obtained in your home country. This is very easy for Americans to get at AAA for $20. We have never been asked to provide proof of our IDP from the rental car agency, but if you get pulled over, they may ask you for it. You could get a hefty fine if you don’t have one and catch the Polizia on a bad day. If pulled over, you may be required to pay the fine on the spot, so it’s best to have cash in hand. The driving age in Italy is 18, but many car rental companies will require you to be 21. If you are under 25, you may face additional charges. It’s best to read all the fine print of your booking before you get to Italy.
You Need a Credit Card to Rent a Car in Italy You cannot pay for your Italian rental car with cash, so plan on using your credit card. Some rental agencies will allow you to use a debit card, but it requires a hefty deposit, often well over a thousand Euros. We always recommend that everyone use a credit card for rental cars as it adds purchase protection and may include some form of rental insurance. Expect a Hold Charge on Your Credit Card The other reason you need a credit card is the excess charge – or hold a charge. Every one of our forty or so rental cars has put a hold on our credit card for the rental period. Holds can range anywhere from a few hundred bucks to $1000+ in some countries. The “excess charge,” as it is called, is typically stated in your reservation details, but it is easy to miss. We know they must put this hold on our card, but it can be a huge shocker if you are unsuspecting and exceed your credit card limit. These excess charges are for scenarios where you disappear with the car and are never seen again or get in a crash and refuse to pay—stuff like that.
Car Rental Insurance in Italy Do you need to add car insurance to your rental? Many Italian car rental companies will try to convince you to do so, and if you want to be safe and have peace of mind, it’s not a terrible idea. However, as mentioned above, if you have a US credit card or equivalent in another country, you may already have CDW (collision damage waiver) insurance for rental car coverage. It’s worth checking your documentation and calling your credit card company. It may even be worth signing up for a new credit card that offers this so you don’t have to pay for ridiculous car rental insurance. This brings me to my next point—credit cards with primary rental insurance. Our favorite travel credit cards are the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Ink Business Preferred. Both cards include primary rental car insurance, which is a tremendous perk. We suggest you read the fine print of your credit card benefits before renting, as they often require you to decline the rental agency’s insurance. Car rental companies in Italy love to scare customers and upsell you to their insurance packages. You need to make sure if you need it or not before falling victim to their trap. It may be worth adding to your package if you don’t have a credit card covering rental car insurance. That way, you won’t be stuck paying for a car hire out of pocket if there is an accident — roads can be incredibly narrow by North American standards.
The Cost of Renting a Car in Italy It’s now so easy to compare rental car prices online. Most of the big rental car companies have rates close to one another as they monitor their competitors’ prices. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do a little shopping around. Be careful when looking online, as rental companies use tricks to make prices look lower than they are. The main way they do this is by using a ‘from’ price, with the actual amount you’ll pay only revealed when you’re further into the booking process, and they reckon you won’t bother giving up and going elsewhere. Another trick they use is to show the price excluding tax, which means you’ll have something in the region of 20% to add to the headline price on the show. You can save on rental costs with smaller cars and manual transmissions and avoid add-ons such as an extra driver, GPS, etc. We will talk more about this later in this article. My favorites to look at are: Booking a Rental Car in Italy Nowadays, booking a rental car in Italy is easy before you arrive in the country. We think the benefits of doing this are huge. Not only are you ‘guaranteed’ the vehicle you’ve opted for, reducing stress levels, but you’ll be charged less for renting that same vehicle simply because you’ve pre-booked. Walking up and trying to book a car is one of the worst things you can do for your wallet. If, for whatever reason, you are unable to pre-book, don’t worry! Rental agencies rarely run out of vehicles (and if they do, you can just pop next door to a competitor). However, it might mean there’s less choice – something worth bearing in mind if you have specific requirements, such as an automatic. You’ll also be charged a higher rate for exactly the same vehicle, and you’ll end up spending more time at the desk of the rental company rather than enjoying the start of your vacation. I always warn people to book a car rental at least 24 hours in advance. You can see all my additional tips on renting a car abroad here. Where to Pick Up Your Rental Car in Italy If you’re flying straight into Italy on a direct flight rather than crossing in from a neighboring country, it may be easiest to grab your car at the airport. Rome Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa have good car rental facilities, and all the main companies are represented. This is the best place to pick up your vehicle because it saves you the time and expense of getting into the city center without your transport (and probably some heavy luggage). Even if there is an airport surcharge from the rental agency, renting from there can still be worth it. City center offices are also a good option to explore Italy on a self-drive vacation. Opt for a Return Trip Rental One-way rentals almost always cost more, even in the same city. You should pick up and drop off your car at the same location to save money. Choose the Right Italian Rental Car Size You’ll want to opt for a smaller car when renting a car in Italy. Why’s that? Italian roads are narrow, and most cars are tiny, too. In some places, routes are even narrowed down to a single lane for both directions of traffic. In this case, you’ll find ‘passing places to pass each other. Plus, the old towns and villages around Italy can have very narrow roads that are tight even for a single car. Style Another thing you should consider when deciding on what rental car type to opt for is how many people and how much luggage you’ll have. Nippy two-door cars are great for getting about (and…
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