Cheap car rental in Italy

Decided on a Car Rental in Italy? Here’s All You Need to Know:

Italy is a lot of beautiful cities and sights, the Mediterranean coast, the Alpine and Apennine mountains with amazing views, picturesque lakes and lost villages. There are a lot of interesting places in Italy, and it is most convenient to get acquainted with it in a car trip.

Although it’s better not to even try to drive all of Italy at once from north to south: it’s worth choosing a part of it and exploring it without haste. It is advisable to have two weeks in reserve - this is enough for a relaxing trip, which will allow you to get a lot of pleasure and not miss anything remarkable along the way.

To create a route, you can simply select the cities you want to visit first and see where else it is convenient to look along the way. There will certainly be a lot of interesting things nearby. For example, if you have at least a week (two is better) and you want to drive through the central and northern parts of Italy, you can create a very busy travel itinerary from Amalfi to Milan.

Amalfi and its neighboring towns on the Tyrrhenian Sea are perfect for a beach rest - here you can spend 2-3 days swimming, walking around and enjoying the atmosphere. The best time to relax here is the beginning of autumn, when it is still warm, but there are already fewer tourists. If you have two weeks to travel, it's worth visiting Naples for a day - an old and very interesting city, it has a special southern charm.

The road continues to Rome - it is better to give him at least a couple of days or even three. The local sights can be listed for a long time, but they are too famous for this. If earlier the road ran along the coast, then after Rome it will be time to go into the depths of the Apennine Peninsula - to Florence, the city of the Renaissance. There's plenty to see here too, from the Uffizi Gallery and Santa Maria del Fiore.

Then the road leads to Venice - you can stop at Bologna, Ferrara and Padua, these cities are also very interesting. Venice is, first of all, Piazza San Marco, you can walk around the city and ride gondolas for a long time, so it’s better to set aside a couple for Venice days. Then, via Verona and Brescia, to Milan.

This great itinerary is for those who want to see as many of the most important Italian cities as possible at once.

Another beautiful path runs through the Dolomites - these are pink mountains, many lakes and castles. The road is winding, with elevation changes, not easy - but all the more interesting. It is also very beautiful in Sicily - for example, when driving along the S115 highway, you will see the coast, quiet villages and forests in the depths of the island, a beautiful city Ragusa with baroque architecture, the Valley of the Temples - ancient Greek ruins, and many more interesting things. There are many similar routes, while the southern part of the country is very different from the central and especially the northern.

Ultimate Road Trip Itineraries in Italy

Italy, with its rich history, stunning landscapes, and mouthwatering cuisine, is the perfect destination for an unforgettable road trip. Exploring the country by a rented car allows you to discover hidden gems and experience the diverse beauty of each region at your own pace. Here are some of the most captivating road trip itineraries to consider for your Italian adventure:

1. The Classic Tuscan Tour

Begin your journey in Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, and wind your way through the picturesque Tuscan countryside. Visit charming hilltop towns like Siena, San Gimignano, and Volterra, while savoring world-class wines in Chianti. Don't miss the iconic leaning tower of Pisa before concluding your trip in the walled city of Lucca.

2. The Amalfi Coast Drive

Start in Naples and head south along the breathtaking Amalfi Coast. This scenic route offers stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea, colorful cliffside villages, and winding roads that will test your driving skills. Make stops in Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello, and consider a detour to the ruins of Pompeii.

3. The Northern Italian Lakes

Embark on a journey through the Italian Lake District, starting at Lake Como. Drive around its shores, visiting elegant villas and charming towns like Bellagio and Varenna. Continue to Lake Maggiore and Lake Garda, enjoying the alpine scenery and quaint lakeside villages along the way.

4. The Sicilian Circuit

Explore the largest Mediterranean island by circling Sicily in your rental car. Begin in Palermo and make your way to the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, the baroque towns of the Val di Noto, and the bustling port city of Catania. Don't forget to visit Mount Etna and the charming seaside town of Taormina.

5. The Dolomites Adventure

For a mix of stunning mountain scenery and cultural experiences, head to the Dolomites in northern Italy. Start in Bolzano and drive through picturesque alpine villages, tackle winding mountain passes, and enjoy outdoor activities in the summer or skiing in the winter.

Before embarking on your Italian road trip adventure, consider the following tips:

• Familiarize yourself with Italian driving laws and road signs
• Be prepared for narrow streets in historic town centers
• Book accommodations in advance, especially during peak seasons
• Consider purchasing an International Driving Permit
• Don't forget to indulge in local cuisine and wines (responsibly, of course!)

With these itineraries and tips in mind, you're ready to embark on an unforgettable Italian road trip. Buon viaggio!

About roads and traffic rules in Italy

Free roads in Italy are not very good, but asphalt is almost everywhere. Problems can arise primarily on mountain roads - to prevent this from happening, you should choose a car with a more powerful engine, its volume should be from 1.5 liters. At the same time, cities abound with narrow and winding streets, so the more compact the car, the easier it will be to move around them. It should be borne in mind that the movement along such streets is often one-way, so it will not work to turn around.

Speed ​​limits:

• within built-up areas - 50 km/h;
• beyond them - 90 km/ h;
• 110 km/h on a free motorway;
• 130 km/h on paid motorways

Another important detail: rectangular signs with a white circle inside a red line indicate areas that require a special pass to enter. There may be an explanation on the sign in which cases you can enter.

There are many toll roads in Italy, and you will have to pay for travel through most tunnels.

Another important topic is parking. There are different types of parking lots, you can identify them by the color of the markings:

• White - free places, often they are limited in time to an hour or two, details should be on the sign next to it. If there is a restriction. you need a parking disc to mark the time of the stop.
• Blue - paid places, usually inexpensive, from 1 to 3 euros per hour. Payment at the parking meter, the ticket from it must be attached to the windshield.
• Yellow - preferential places not for tourists.
• Green - you can park only on weekdays and at certain times, usually from 16 before 9:30 am.
• Black and yellow - parking is prohibited.

Renting an electric car

Like other countries in the European Union, Italy encourages the use of electric cars. Their replacement of cars with an internal combustion engine is gradually taking place, but the lack of infrastructure development still hinders. Most charging stations are in the northern part of the country, so traveling by electric car is quite convenient. If you are going to drive through Italy from north to south, this is also possible, but you should think over the route in advance.

Gradually, the infrastructure develops and makes electric cars more attractive - for example, in 2021 on the A35 motorway between Milan and Brescia the "Arena of the Future" (Arena del Futuro) appeared - a road that allows you to charge an electric car right during the trip.

Almost all the largest rental companies provide electric car rental services, the choice is widest among international ones, such as Sixt or Avis. Of course, in any case, there are fewer electric car models available than cars with internal combustion engines, but renting is cheaper, and charging is often free.

This is an important factor: for example, when traveling around Sicily in an electric car rented from Sicily by Car, you can charge for free either at stations owned by this company or at Enel stations - a special card is valid for them. Gasoline, on the other hand, will have to be bought at a price of about 2 euros per liter: with a fuel consumption of 5 liters per 100 km, for a trip of 1,000 km you will save 100 euros - not bad. You can learn more about Italy on the website of the National Tourism Agency - www.enit.it.

Good to know

Monthly price chart. Approximate prices for 7 days rental

The most popular cars in Italy

Fiat 500

Fiat 500

4x

2x

€13 / Day

Citroen C1

Citroen C1

4x

2x

€14 / Day

Ford Fiesta

Ford Fiesta

4x

2x

€18 / Day

Ford Focus

Ford Focus

5x

3x

€23 / Day

Opel Astra Estate

Opel Astra Estate

5x

4x

€28 / Day

Audi A4

Audi A4

5x

3x

€32 / Day

BMW X1

BMW X1

4x

3x

€33 / Day

Ford Foxus Estate

Ford Foxus Estate

5x

4x

€33 / Day

Mercedes C Class

Mercedes C Class

5x

3x

€43 / Day

BMW 5 series

BMW 5 series

4x

3x

€45 / Day

Ford Tourneo

Ford Tourneo

8x

4x

€55 / Day

BMW 4 Cabrio

BMW 4 Cabrio

4x

2x

€65 / Day

Audi A6

Audi A6

5x

3x

€70 / Day

Audi A5 Cabrio

Audi A5 Cabrio

4x

3x

€75 / Day

Mercedes Vito

Mercedes Vito

9x

4x

€80 / Day

Documents required for car rental

Driving license

Credit card

Voucher

Passport

Top 10 Tips You Should Know