Renting a car in Italy
Last updated on May 3rd, 2026.
Renting a car in Italy is something that can go one of two ways.
Your experience with car rental in Italy could be stress free or it could be the complete opposite.
In this post, I’ll be listing everything you need to know about how to rent a car in Italy. I'll provide advice on car rental in Italy and the Italy car rental agencies that I'd personally go with.
Renting a car in Italy is an integral part when planning a trip to the country. Use this guide to help make the right choices on hiring a rental car in Italy.
Why rent a car in Italy?
Renting a car in Italy won’t apply to everyone. Getting an Italy car rental is a great idea if you plan on doing something like an Italy road trip.
Hiring an Italy rental car can also be useful for making day trips from somewhere like Milan to Lake Como.
The basics of renting a car in Italy
How to say car rental agency in Italian?
Agenzia di noleggio auto
At what age can you rent a car in Italy?
The legal age to drive in Italy is 18 years old. However, there’s a minimum age of 21 for renting a car in Italy. Companies will add additional insurance costs for drivers under 25 or over 70.
Drivers must have had their driver’s license for at least 1 year before being able to rent a car.
Which driving licenses are accepted in Italy?
Citizens from the European Economic Area (EEA) can use their driver’s license as standard when driving in Italy.
For residents outside the EEA, they must have their national driver’s license and/or an International Driving License (IDP). There is limited validity of 1 year.
This applies to:
- US citizens: if renting a car in Italy as an American, citizens can use their US driver’s license in Italy.
- UK citizens: citizens can use their driver’s license in Italy. They must convert their national license to an Italian one if living in the country for 1 year.
- Other non-EEA citizens: license holders must either have an IDP or a certified translation of their national driving license.
Is car rental insurance mandatory in Italy?
Taking out car rental insurance isn’t mandatory in Italy. However, the law requires that drivers must have certain types of insurance when renting a car. This includes collision damage waiver (CDW) and theft protection.
Saying this, I’d recommend taking out full insurance when renting a car in Italy. Granted it will cost more, but you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you’re fully insured for your trip.
The ZTL mistake costs Italian visitors hundreds of euros every year
Before you drive anywhere in Italy, read mistake no.12 in my Italy trip planning mistakes guide. It explains exactly how restricted traffic zones work, what the fines are and how to avoid them entirely.
Jump to:
How to rent a car in Italy
Online
A good starting point for looking for rental cars in Italy is online.
Discover Cars is a site that breaks down the choice of rental cars according to the airport/city and date entered.
It lists some of the most globally recognized car rental companies such as:
- Hertz Italy
- Sixt
- Europcar
- AVIS Italy
- Enterprise
- Budget
- Auto Europe Italy
Discover Cars also lists rental car companies that you’ll only find in Italy. Some of the more recognized names include:
What is the best car rental in Italy?
There’s no easy answer to what the best car rental in Italy is.
Personally, I prefer to go with well-known brands. While the price may be higher, I’ve more confidence in their customer service.
On top of this, should you encounter any problems, there are several ways to reach out. They’re more likely to have decent social media channels, 24/7 customer service and will be able to speak English.
This isn’t to say that the service will be perfect. But you’ve a higher chance of getting your issue resolved.
Lesson learned
I wish we’d booked our rental car for our south Sardinia road trip with a known company like Sixt.
Instead, we went with a local company in Cagliari and ended up paying an extra €250 ($273/£215).
We had no avenue to make a complaint and had already paid the online deposit. It was an expensive lesson learned.
At the airport
Many airports in Italy have help desks from which you can rent a car. They usually represent the global names that are listed above plus one or two local companies.
Personally, I prefer to book online first and then collect the car at the airport. Based on our own experience, we’ve always had to wait around an hour before being able to collect our car.
At the train station
Some larger train stations are another option to consider when renting a car in Italy. Roma Termini and Milano Centrale are just two stations that have car rental desks in, or, close to, the building.
Getting an Italy car rental from the train station can be ideal for arranging a day trip. For example, it would be useful for renting a car in Rome to travel to Florence for the day.
Where should you rent a car in Italy?
Renting a car in Milan
Ask any Milanese person and they’ll likely tell you that driving and finding parking in the center can be stressful. Instead, use public transport like the metro, trams and buses to get around Milan’s city center.
I’d only recommend renting a car in Milan if planning to visit other areas in Lombardy like Lake Como.
Renting a car in Rome
It’s not necessary to rent a car to visit Rome. Like Milan, parking is difficult to find and there’s plenty of public transport to get around the city.
Renting a car in Florence
Renting a car in Florence is only necessary if planning to visit other parts of Tuscany. The entire historic center of Florence is defined as a ZTL so only cars with permits can enter.
Renting a car in Venice
As a local living nearby, I’d only recommend renting a car in Venice for taking day trips around the region. The island city is only accessible by vaporetto (water bus), water taxi, gondola or on foot.
Surrounding islands in Venice like Lido di Venezia are accessible for motor vehicles. But for the main island of Venice there are no roads.
Electric car rentals in Italy
Electric cars are slowly becoming popular in Italy. However, they’re not yet at the level that you might see in other western countries.
Because of this, renting an electric car in Italy may limit your options when searching online.
Another thing to be aware of is the number of charging stations for electric cars in Italy. While there will be no issue finding charging stations in larger cities, it’ll likely be a different story in smaller towns.
This map is a helpful resource that shows the different charging stations across Italy. Another local tip is to look for Esselunga supermarkets. They usually have charging stations at their stores.
The downside however of Esselunga, is that the Milan-based chain is mainly located in northern Italy. At present, Bologna is the city ‘furthest south’ that has several Esselunga stores.
Automatic cars in Italy
In Italy, most of the cars are manual drive and not automatic. This is something to note especially for US visitors visiting Italy that may be used to automatic cars.
This isn’t to say that you won’t find automatic rental cars in Italy, but they may not be as prevalent.
Map of Italy
The alternatives to renting a car in Italy
If you’re not planning on renting a car in Italy but want to visit other places there are other alternatives.
Train travel
Taking trains in Italy is one such option. They’re efficient (most of the time), cost effective and connect many larger cities to smaller towns across the country.
⏩️ See: 10 days in Italy by train itinerary
Bus and coach
The same applies to taking buses or coaches in Italy. While the transport time may be longer than taking the train or driving, they can be a cheaper alternative.
One of the most popular low-cost coach services in Italy is Flixbus. It serves many popular routes and is worth checking if you plan on traveling to other places across Italy.
Taxi or private driver
Taking a taxi or hiring a driver in Italy are other viable, though expensive options.
The ride-sharing app Uber doesn’t operate in the same way in Italy as it does in other countries.
Uber is only available in Rome and Milan and comes in 3 different options. They are Uber Black, Uber Lux and Uber Van.
A similar ride-sharing app is Freenow. At present, it appears to only operate in Milan, Rome and Turin.* Essentially, the app works in the same way as Uber. Hiring a taxi or a motorbike are other available options.
There are other taxi apps in Italy that are also worth taking a closer look.
Joining a tour
The last alternative to renting a car in Italy is to book a tour. Tours provide everything from a local, knowledgeable guide to transportation for the day. On top of this, prices are fixed so there are no hidden surprises when it comes to the tour day.
Some of the most popular tours include:
Fiat 500 tours
No car is more iconic in Italy than the classic Fiat 500. And should the idea of driving in one around the hills of Tuscany or around the landmarks of Rome, one of these tours may peak your interest.
- Vintage Fiat 500 tour in Milan
- Private photo tour on the Amalfi Coast with Fiat 500
- Vintage Fiat 500 tour of Rome's hidden sights
- Classic Chianti Hills (Tuscany) Fiat 500 tour
Tips on driving in Italy
Be aware of the ZTL
The Zona Traffico Limitato (ZTL) is something that confuses a lot of visitors. Essentially, it’s an area of many city centers in Italy that’s prohibited to cars without the appropriate permit. Should you enter the ZTL without a permit, you’ll incur a fine. The amount will vary depending on the city and region.
In hilltop towns like Taormina in Sicily, many hotels sit within the ZTL. Because of this, it’s imperative to inform the hotel beforehand if arriving by car. They’ll be able to provide a permit and the rental car will be exempt.
I cover this topic, and other Italy travel tips, in more detail in ‘what not to do in Italy.’
Check for the right gas type
Make sure to ask the rental company whether the car uses gas (benzina) or diesel.
It’s important to know this when filling up at the gas station. The two nozzles have different sizes and colors, and one won’t fit into the opening made for the other fuel.
Take evidence
We always take photos or a video of the rental car upon pickup. This is to ensure that there are no visible scratches or minor damage that already existed.
What are your thoughts on this guide on renting a car on Italy? Did it answer all your questions on driving in Italy? Let me know in the comments below.
*information correct at the time of publishing
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that I’ve recommended. Thank you for your support.
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I've only ever taken trains within Italy but I can imagine it would be fun to hire a car to get to different places.
The trains are good here but cars are more convenient for longer trips
Renting a car is a good idea when visiting a new place as cost of transportation can be high.
Yes it can be very practical
This blog post serves as a valuable guide for anyone considering renting a car in Italy. The author sets the tone by acknowledging the potential for both stress-free and challenging experiences with car rentals in the country. By promising to cover everything one needs to know about renting a car in Italy, including personal recommendations for reputable car rental agencies, the post appears to be a helpful resource for travelers.
Thank you so much! I tried to put as much detail and helpful information into this
This is interesting as it isn't something I've done yet. It's important to use a reputable company. My sister hired a car in Italy and they tried to charge her for damage that was already on the car when she was given it.
I'm not surprised to hear that. It's so important to take photos or videos of the car before you leave the lot.
An Italian road trip sounds like soo much fun! I think its a great option too if you're visiting multiple places at once. Thanks for sharing all this great info.
It's my favorite way to see the country! I'm glad you enjoyed it
I definitely lean way more towards renting than constantly spending money on transportation! These were some nice tips!
Thank you! It's a great way to see the country 🙂
Ooh! Thank you for this great idea. I feel like renting a car in Italy was more convenient.
You're welcome 🙂 It can be very helpful if planning a few day trips or a road trip
Thank you as always for sharing your knowledge with us. It is so good to have all the information in one place. We have rented a car once before and my husband drove us around - it was great to be able to explore at our own pace.
You are welcome! It makes a big difference to any trip so I am glad you found this helpful.
Such a comprehensive guide on renting a car in Italy. I like the fact that you are recommending a car rental only when someone is either going for An Italy road trip or traveling from one city to another. In that situation, renting a car makes complete sense. Awesome read!
Thank you so much. Yes it isn't necessary for everyone but it's helpful to know these tips
Great information in this article on renting cars in Italy. I enjoy the freedom a car offers while we are traveling so I'll keep all these tips in mind.
Thank you so much, I'm glad you found it helpful
I feel like renting a car would make a lot of sense if you're planning to take an extended trip to see as much of the country as possible. Thanks for the tips!
It really does! Glad this was helpful