Car hires in Italy

When you rent a car in Italy, the first term you need to become familiar with is Zona Traffico Limitato, usually displayed on road signs as ZTL. These are no-parking zones that cover the old central districts of all of Italy’s major cities. These areas are monitored by cameras 24/7, so don’t take any chances, as you are guaranteed to receive a ticket at a later point. Despite what you may have heard about fast and reckless driving in the country, the Italian police enforce speed limits strictly, and fines for serious offences after dark are 30% higher . Stick to the limits and watch out for signposted changes. There’s a further drawback to incurring traffic fines, as your car hire company may require you to pay an additional administration fee when you return your car. There are also legal restrictions on hooting – drivers are only allowed to use their horns in an emergency, which can feel like a bit of an adjustment when driving rental cars.

Booking rental cars in Italy comes with a few legal and administrative requirements. You will need to be 18 years or older and must present your valid UK driving licence as well as an international driving permit and a second form of ID – for which you can use your passport. It’s also a good idea to do a car hire comparison, as some car hire providers will charge an additional fee if the intended driver is under 25. You must also take out insurance, which can be arranged when you make your booking. Make sure to collect the relevant documentation when you pick up your car rental. It’s a legal requirement that you carry proof of insurance in your car at all times, and the Italian police are known to carry out random vehicle checks.

The busiest roads in Italy are in the regions around its major cities, and these are located all across the country. If you’re taking the car hire option and will be driving yourself, the Lazio region is the most congested of all, as it contains Italy’s famously busy capital, Rome. Not far behind is the Lombardy region, where Milan is situated. If you add the Italian island of Sicily to the mix, the region around Palermo is the third busiest in the country. The central region of Umbria has another city that experiences heavy traffic, Perugia. Lastly, the far north-east region of Piedmont contains Turin, another city where you need to try and avoid traffic build-up. You’ll also have to park outside of the older central districts of most of these cities due to the ZTL laws. Instead, you can park and walk, as these areas are fully pedestrianised.

Outside of the busy built-up areas, rental cars are an excellent way of travelling in Italy. You’ll be able to take advantage of the most scenic routes the country has to offer. Driving the Stelvio Pass is virtually a must if you want to experience some of the best Alpine views in the country. On the way, you can stop at the quaint traditional villages of Northern Italy, like Bolzano and Livigno. The Amalfi Coast drive is also quite breath-taking, starting in Naples and curving around the Sorrento Peninsula to Salerno. The world-famous region of Tuscany is possibly the most scenic of them all as you make your way through the Casentino Valley. You can enjoy local cuisine during rest stops. These road trips alone are reason enough to book car hire in Italy.

In Italy, drivers are required to drive on the right at all times. Not doing so can result in traffic violation tickets.

The road network in Italy has been scored 4.4 for its quality (1 lowest, 7 highest). This puts it at 49 in the world out of 137 other countries. Roads will vary significantly within the country’s different regions, so use scores as a rough guide or reference for comparison.

2.38 mg/l is the maximum Blood Alcohol Concentration you can have to legally drive a car in Italy. Both residents and visitors of Italy can face legal penalties for having a BAC higher than this amount. Keep in mind that you must also be at least 18 years of age to consume alcoholic beverages, and it is not recommended to operate a motor vehicle under the influence.

Last week, the price of petrol in Italy was £1.61 per litre on average. This is subject to change based the city you visit, time of year, and the country’s current economy. According to our data, Italy has neither the most expensive nor the cheapest petrol prices in the world. Kuwait currently has the least expensive at £0.28 per litre, while Hong Kong has the most expensive at £2.47 per litre. Keep in mind that petrol prices change regularly and may be different during your travel dates.

Prices for cars in Italy were last updated today.

As of November 2023, there are 6,040 operators available to choose from for cars in Italy.

Among different countries, including Italy, the minimum age for drivers varies. In numerous EU countries, drivers must be 18 years old. To hire a car overseas, you'll generally need to be at least 21, and if you're under 25, a young driver surcharge may be imposed. It's recommended that you review the policy of the rental company you're considering before booking.

To rent a car in Italy, all drivers must present a valid full driving license. If the license is written in a language other than the language of the country of rental, an International Driving Permit may be required to avoid the risk of potential fines. If you're renting a car abroad, you may also need to provide evidence of your return travel and accommodation information during your stay. We always recommend that you verify with the specific rental company you're booking with.

Booking a car hire in Italy via momondo could save you time and money. momondo provides you with a wide selection of options and cars as we search thousands of car hire websites and locations to enable you to make the best choice for your trip.

momondo enables you to find the best car hire deal in Italy by providing useful filters to narrow your search. Filters include, but are not limited to: price, body type, rental company and specific policies that you may want.

Free cancellation is a policy that can be filtered on momondo car hire searches for Italy and all other locations. Availability may vary by location.

Yes, simply select the fair fuel policy filter after performing a search for hire cars in Italy on momondo.

Enhanced cleaning services can be found on all car hire locations on momondo including Italy.

Yes, unlimited mileage options can be found on car hire in Italy on momondo.