Italy Car Hire Guide

Compare prices for car rental in Italy using CarRentals comparison search engine. We will find you the cheapest prices for a range of car types from dozens of car rental suppliers.

There is a lot to see in Italy, from historic cities such as Rome, Pisa and Florence with their beautiful architecture and museums, to the romantic and unique city of Venice. Visit the agricultural back-bone of the country, the Tuscany region and the Chianti wine region, or fashionable Milan, alternatively head for the beautiful beaches and mountain resorts. Because Italy is geographically lengthy, the best option is to look for cheap one-way driving rentals, where you can pick up a rental vehicle at one airport or city and drop it off at another. This allows visitors to see the best of this beautiful country.

Car hire driving tips in Italy

Driving in Italy is easy, although it can be somewhat chaotic in the cities – locals drive erratically and often ignore traffic rules so visitors need to take care. Don’t expect drivers to give right of way or stop at red lights. The motorway network is well-maintained and sign-posted, making this the way to go in many cases. The historic cities have criss-crossing streets and one-way systems, with many areas off-limits to vehicles. Book cheap car hire in Italy with CarRentals and get a vehicle with GPS to help you navigate these areas. From Italy, it is easy to drive to neighbouring Slovenia, Austria, Switzerland or France.

Italy car hire depots will mainly be located in the country's large towns and cities, including popular suppliers like Avis, Hertz, Europcar, National, Sixt, Thrifty and many more. A popular choice for the Italians and internationals is Maggiore car rental in Italy.

Need to know essentials

Driving licences: EU, including UK, driving licenses are accepted in Italy; travellers from other nations will have to obtain an International Driving License prior to arrival.

Which side does Italy drive on: the right.

Speed limits:

Highways and dual carriageways (outside urban areas): 130kph

National or provincial roads: 110kph

Open roads: 90kph

Urban roads: 50kph

Alcohol limits: 0.05 per cent or 0.5mg of alcohol per millilitre of blood. This is lower than the UK’s 0.8mg limit. Drink driving is strictly enforced via breathalysers, especially in the cities. Drivers are subject to steep on-the-spot fines or in the worst case, imprisonment, if caught driving over the limit.

Driving age: 18 years (21 years if you wish to hire a car).

Compulsory items: children under 12 years of age must use a car seat or booster seat and may not sit in the front of the vehicle. It is mandatory to carry a warning triangle and a reflective vest. Snow chains are mandatory if driving in the north between October and April. If you are driving a vehicle from the UK, then headlamp converters are compulsory. Drivers must carry their license with them at all times along with vehicle registration and insurance documents. Rent a car in Italy through us and get snow chains as an additional item when you book.

Seatbelts: seat belts are mandatory for both front-seat and rear-seat passengers. This regulation is enforced by the police and fines are issued on-the-spot for failure to comply.

Mobile phones and GPS: mobile phone usage while driving is prohibited. Offenders of this rule are subject to an on-the-spot fine. Hands-free devices are allowed. GPS devices should be programmed while stationery. Reserve your Italian car hire with us today and we will offer you GPS an an added extra to your order.

Cost of fuel in Italy: leaded petrol is no longer available. Petrol (benzina), diesel (gasolio) and LPG (liquid petroleum gas) are readily available at all petrol stations. Prices are in line with those in the UK.

Car hire and fuel payment: drivers must hold a valid credit card to book and hire cars. The name on the credit card should match the name on your passport and driving license of the hirer. Most petrol stations accept credit and debit cards; some out-of-way places only accept cash. Most petrol stations are serviced during business hours (when you cannot pump gas yourself) and switch to automatic pumps at night or between noon and 15:00 (siesta time). Payments can be made by credit card right at the fuel pump.

Insurance: small accidents, particularly in the cities, are a usual occurrence in Italy. Therefore visitors are urged to buy comprehensive insurance when obtaining a hire car in Italy. Instances of small damage to vehicles, with drivers leaving the scene, are common.

Traffic and parking: parking is only allowed on the right side of the street. To park in the city, drivers must obtain a parking disk. These are available from hotels, tourist offices or petrol stations. Simply move the arrow to the time you leave your car and leave the disk on the dashboard on the driver’s side. Maximum parking with a parking disk is one hour.

Our travel editor’s recommended drives

Dolomites – the SS48 or Grande Strada delle Dolomiti is a must-drive. The winding mountain road provides excellent views of the Dolomite Mountains. The scenery on this route is simply breathtaking, but care needs to be taken when driving along these winding roads.

Florence to Siena – this route takes drivers through traditional Italian rural villages where little modernity has touched daily life. Being at the centre of the wine making region makes this a very popular daytrip. It is possible to take motorway or local roads from Florence to Siena.

Italian Riviera – the Italian Riviera is one of the world’s most scenically beautiful must-drives. It is possible to do both short and long trips along the coast, both west towards France and east towards the tip of Italy. Must-stops include Portofino, Ventimiglia and San Remo.

Amalfi Coast – another beautiful coastal drive is along the Amalfi Coast on the SS163 highway. This road literally hugs the craggy coastline and offers spectacular views. This drive is not for the weak-hearted though!

Italy travel tips

Italy is a popular vacation destination, primarily because it offers a range of attractions. Most visitors have a great time in Italy and travel without incident. Although generally safe, Italy suffers from petty theft. But this can be easily avoided by being vigilant and using common sense. If something is too good to be true, then it probably is. Avoid wearing flashy or expensive-looking jewellery and never leave valuables or bags in plain view in vehicles. Purse-snatching is rampant, so avoid carrying a purse or use one you can wear discreetly.

Italy weather and tourist seasons

Italy’s climate can range from coastal Mediterranean to mountain weather. The southern part of Italy experiences temperatures of between 23°C and 29°C during the peak summer months from June to August. Even during the winter months, the mercury rarely goes below 12°C in the south. Northern Italy is cooler, with the mountainous regions seeing heavy snow during the winter months when temperatures can go as low as -3°C, while summer temperatures here hover between 13°C to 28°C. Peak tourist season is from July to August, when most of Europe heads to the coast for sun and surf. In the north, December to March is when the ski resorts are in full operation.

Italy contact numbers (+39)

Police – 112

Ambulance – 118

Fire Department - 115

British Consulate in Milan – 39 2 723 001

British Embassy – 39 6 4220 0001

US Embassy in Rome – 39 6 46741

US Consulate in Florence – 39 55 266951

Irish Embassy in Rome – 39 6 697 9121

Irish Consulate in Milan – 39 2 551 88848

Canadian Embassy in Rome – 39 6 85 444 2911

Canadian Consulate in Naples – 39 81 401 338

Australian Embassy in Rome – 39 6 852 721

Australian Consulate in Milan – 39 2 777 041

Holidays and festivals

Italy’s holidays range from national to local. The local religious festivals can be beautiful, with some attracting visitors from all over the world. Major national holidays include: Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Easter Monday and Labour Day. Other important national holidays are: Epiphany (6 January), Liberation Day (25 April), Anniversary of the Republic (2 June), Assumption Day (15 August), All Saints’ Day (1 November), Immaculate Conception Day (8 December) and St Stephen’s Day (26 December).

Money matters

Italy is part of the Eurozone, making the euro its currency. Money can easily be exchanged at airports and in cities and hotels – currency exchange offices are easily recognisable by the sign ‘cambio’. ATMs are also readily available and are connected to Cirrus and MAC networks. Italy has a 20 per cent sales tax known as IVA. For non-EU residents, it is possible to reclaim this tax upon departure. Look for shops that display the ‘tax free’ sign and ask for a tax refund form when shopping.

Health and safety

No specific vaccinations are required for travel to Italy. European visitors can access Italian health-care services by producing their European Health Insurance Card. Other nationals will need to have their own travel insurance or pay out-of-pocket. Generally, water is safe to drink. Most places will post an ‘acqua non potable’ sign to indicate when tap water cannot be drunk.

Fitting in…

Appearance is very important in Italy, and visitors will quickly be judged by what they are wearing and treated accordingly. Italians call this ‘bellafigura’, so dressing sloppily is not a good choice in Italy if you want to be taken seriously. Catholicism is the main religion in Italy, and religion still plays an important role in every day life. Visitors should therefore respect places of worship and dress conservatively when visiting churches. Italians are noted for being emotional, and a sudden fuss and outburst is often over within minutes and forgotten.

Visas for Italy

Italy is part of the Schengen system. EU nationals do not need a visa to travel to Italy and can enter the country simply with their national ID card instead of a passport. Travellers from the UK, the USA, Australia and Canada do not need a visa either, but must hold a passport that is valid for at least three months. There is no requirement to have a return ticket.

Electricity

The voltage in Italy is 220-230 Volts, 50 Hertz - the same as in the rest of Europe. The plugs in Italy tend to feature two round prongs. If you have a plug with two flat prongs or three prongs, then simply obtain an adaptor. Those travelling from North America will need a converter.

Business hours
Italy is like many other Mediterranean countries in that many businesses close after lunch and re-open again in the afternoon. This break is known as siesta time. Regular business hours tend to run from 08:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 19:00. Some shops may open through lunch, but those that do tend to close early in the evening. Banks tend to be open Monday through Friday from 08:30 to 13:30 and then again in the afternoon from 15:00 to 16:00. Most banks are closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

Helpful phrases

Ciao – Hello

Buongiorno – Good morning

Grazie – Thank you

Prego – You are welcome

Buona sera – Good evening

Arrivederci – Good bye

Si/no – Yes/no

Buonanotte – Good night

Scusami– Sorry

Non capisco– I don’t understand

Parlainglese? – Do you speak English?