Car hire in Italy - discover la dolce vita

To hire a car in Italy you need to be at least 18 years of age and to have held your driving licence for a minimum of 1 year. Please be aware that a Young Driver Surcharge might be payable for drivers aged 21, although the same rule might apply to any driver under the age of 26, depending on the supplier. More detailed information and full T&Cs concerning the rules affecting young drivers can be found by clicking on the blue and white info icon (i) in the Auto Europe search results. Click here for more information about age restrictions for people planning to drive in Italy.

Yes, you can. One-way rentals mean that you can pick up and drop off your car at different locations both inside and outside Italy, with fees and terms varying from supplier to supplier. Auto Europe offers one-way car hire for domestic or international travel - both of which are subject to an additional charge.

It's easy to book a one-way trip in Italy and beyond; just check the ‘Drop-off at a different location?' box at the top of the booking engine and select your dates and pick-up/drop-off locations. When you click on the price of your preferred supplier, an estimate of the one-way fee will appear. It's as easy as that.

Please note that Auto Europe will include details of the fee with the confirmation voucher. The rates shown are inclusive of the known drop-off fees (including VAT). In most cases these fees will be paid locally and the full rate details are shown once your car has been selected.

In any case, it is essential that you inform Auto Europe about your travel plans at the time of booking, especially if you are intending to take the vehicle outside Italy, which will require our confirmation prior to completing the reservation process.

The rules for driving from Italy to other countries also depend on the local supplier, with the fee determined according to the selected car category, rental period and chosen location. Travel to other western European countries like Germany, France, Spain etc. is normally accepted, whereas entering eastern European countries can be a bit more restricted, with some exceptions.

Yes, the main driver will need a credit card in their name to pick up the car because the local supplier will freeze an amount as a security bond for the duration of the rental period, which is refunded shortly afterwards if the vehicle is returned intact.

Please note that in the case of luxury cars, because of the high value of such vehicles, two major credit cards in the name of the main driver must be provided at the time of rental. Full credit card details can easily be accessed by clicking on the blue and white info icon (i) after making a quick search in our booking engine.

When driving in Italy you'll need to keep to the right-hand side of the road and overtake on the left. Be aware that the wearing of seatbelts is compulsory in the back as well as the front, and you should never drink and drive or use a mobile phone whilst in control of the vehicle. Please also make sure that you adhere to Italy's speed limits, which are 130kph on motorways, 110kph on main roads in rural areas (90kph on minor roads) and 50kph in and around cities, towns and villages.

When you rent a car in Italy there are several other rules and regulations you'll need to be aware of in order to ensure a safe and satisfying road-trip for yourself and your fellow passengers. For instance, you must be over 18 years of age, although some rental companies might require you to be older, so it's best to check before booking or give our rental specialists a call because an additional fee might be payable when you arrive at your destination.

Please also note that headlights must be dipped on dual-carriageways and you should be aware that trams have right of way when driving in Italian cities. In case of emergency, the local numbers are 113 (police), 115 (fire) and 118 (ambulance) and high-visibility jackets must be worn if you happen to break down or you are involved in an accident. Petrol stations are plentiful in Italy, particularly in towns and cities and on main roads and motorways, the latter being open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information, please visit our driving in Italy page.

Yes, the majority of the country's extensive motorways (known locally as the autostrade, indicated with green signs) are tolled and the amount you pay depends on the distance you have travelled. Most tolls are payable by credit card, but always make sure you have a sufficient amount of cash in the car with you in case your card is refused for some reason.

A useful tip is to subscribe to one of the toll services such as Telepass, which offers a transponder system and operates its own toll booths for quick access and automatic payment. Other popular choices are Carte (which also has its own toll booths) and the pre-paid Viacard system. Click here for more information on Italy's toll system.

The good news when booking a car hire in Italy with Auto Europe is that you are automatically covered because all our rates include Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), theft protection, fire insurance and third-party liability.

Please note that CDW does not cover any damage to tyres, glass, exterior mirrors, underside, interior, roof, engine, damage to the locks and loss of the vehicle's keys. Having CDW insurance means that the car rental supplier waives the right to take money from you if the car is damaged. Importantly, it covers most of the car if you are in a collision and significantly reduces the deductibles in the case of an accident or if the car is stolen.

With CDW insurance, you only have to pay a significantly reduced excess amount, plus you have the option of purchasing personal accident insurance with Full Damage & Theft Protection as well as personal effects insurance either at the time of booking or when picking up the car. The local supplier is likely to offer personal accident coverage and extra protection for the windshield, chassis and tyres, but always remember that you are not obliged to purchase it and are free to choose whether or not to accept it.

It's easy to access the car insurance information when making your booking. Just click on the blue and white info icon (i) on the search results where it is possible to access data relating to the amount of CDW deductible, theft insurance deductible and liability insurance, with prices subject to location, rental duration, car category and supplier.

Please also note that the local supplier may charge double the amount of excess in the event of partial or total theft of vehicles in the Campania, Catania and Puglia regions.

Yes, you can rent a car and drive in Italy with a UK driving licence. Note that some local suppliers might require an International Driving Permit (IDP) in addition to your UK driving licence. Please check the terms and conditions by clicking on the (i) --> Coverage --> General Terms tabs at the time of making the booking.

International Driving Permits are easy to obtain and can be quickly and easily purchased at post offices throughout the UK. Drivers holding a UK licence might also be requested by the car hire supplier to provide a DVLA code in order to check the driver's licence record, along with a printed copy of the driving licence record, which can be downloaded at the DVLA website 21 days prior to pick-up.

Yes, you can add an additional driver when you pick up your car hire in Italy, which is normally subject to an extra charge known as an ‘additional driver's fee'. Nevertheless, you can avoid this extra cost by looking out for the green-coloured Free: Additional Driver message when making your reservation on the Auto Europe website.

On a road-trip, it's nice to be able to share the driving with someone, especially in a country like Italy where the scenery is so spectacular. If a friend or family member is not properly signed on as an additional driver then the rental supplier will void them from all insurance coverage, making them liable for the total amount of any damages caused in the event of a collision or theft, so please make sure you authorise all extra drivers before heading out on the road.

With Auto Europe you can book ahead and make substantial savings with our Free Additional Driver Deals, meaning that you won't have to worry about any extra costs when picking up your car. For more information, please check out our free additional driver promotions page to see the offers of our selected suppliers in destinations all over the world, including Italy.

Many Italian towns and cities, particularly the larger ones, have one or more ZTLs (Zona a Traffico Limitato, which literally means Restricted Traffic Zone). Normally located in historic quarters (hence the need to protect the local area), you'll find them in cities like Bergamo, Pisa, Milan, Rome and Palermo where the traffic is often intense.

ZTLs have a large sign with a big red circle indicating the time of the restriction. It's important to remember that any unauthorised vehicles entering the zone will be subject to a fine, which will be sent to your car hire supplier and eventually charged to your credit card.

If your hotel or other type of accommodation happens to be situated inside this zone, you can ask the receptionist to get your number plate registered with the local authorities for a nominal fee, after which you'll be able to enter the ZTL unhindered.

Very often the car hire staff will warn you about the existence of ZTLs when you pick up your vehicle, but the law states that it is the driver's responsibility to know the rules and regulations of the country in which they are travelling, so it's best to always keep your eyes peeled for ZTL signs when entering cities and large towns in Italy.

For more information about ZTLs and the consequence of accidentally driving into one, please consult our Zona a Traffico Limitato (ZTL) blog post to find out what they are, why they exist and how to avoid paying a fine.