Renting a car in Italy

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What you Need to Know About Renting a Car in Italy

 

In general, our experience is that renting a car for use in any major Italian city is not recommended. Trains and taxis are efficient and frankly, staying off the highways or narrow Italian streets is a way to not age or turn prematurely gray while on vacation. When we first traveled to Italy we rented a car on arrival at Malpensa airport in Milan and drove to Florence, about 3 1/2 hours. It was memorable, even for a New Yorker raised on the Cross Bronx Expressway. My memory is of lights flashing at me and horns honking from cars behind me while they drove up so close to the trunk of the car I could have sworn they were trying to get into the trunk to examine our belongings. 

 

But, if you are going to hill towns in Tuscany, or small cities or more ancient cities, like Matera, then a car is needed. This is a wonderful article that is chock-a-block with great information you will want to focus on before you arrive at the rental car office.

 

Renting a car in Italy

Highlights include…………..

 

If you are renting the car on your own (vs. having us rent the car for you) use your American Express card to make the rental and do not accept the insurance from the rental car company. American Express will cover you for CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) and theft insurance.

 

You will need an International Driving Permit (see separate post)

 

It’s true, Italian drivers take traffic rules and regulations as “suggestions”.

 

Theft of rental cars is a real thing; lock your car and don’t leave any valuable exposed.

 

All the major rental car companies are present in Italy.