Cheap Car Hire in Italy from £5

For anyone looking at car hire in Italy, you’ll need to have a full valid driving licence and you will need to have held it for at least a year. Many hire cars carry a surcharge if you’re under 25, and there is sometimes a cut off age of 70-75, depending on the company. A credit card and passport are also usually required for car hire in Italy. Hire cars are widely available, with all the major companies such as Sixt, Europcar, Hertz and others having a presence in most airports and major cities. You’ll also find lots of local companies to choose from.

If you’re using car hire in Italy, you should note that you’ll be driving on the right-hand side of the road, and you should always signal when exiting a roundabout. Drivers should be aware of not driving in areas with signs indicating Zona Traffico Limitato (ZTL, meaning a limited traffic zone) or pedestrian zones, called Area Pedonale, as you can be fined for this. On motorways, the speed limit is 130 kph (80 mph), and in towns, it’s generally 60 kph (37 mph). While car hire is relatively cheap, there are lots of toll roads, so it’s best to keep change with you whilst driving. It’s also advisable to check with each city’s or region’s department of motor vehicles for any recent law changes.

For travellers using car hire in Italy, the car you choose to hire will depend entirely on your needs and where you plan to go. If you’re planning on travelling alone or with one other person and spending lots of time in cities, an economy car may be best. For longer trips with friends or family, you might want to opt for a mid-size car or SUV. Italy also has lots of mountainous areas, including the Alps, so you may want to consider a four by four for these regions. Whilst the major roads and motorways are generally very good across the country, and particularly in cities, be aware that you cannot bring your hire car into certain old town centres, such as Florence. And in other cities like Rome, traffic can be heavy and many of the key attractions are only accessible by foot. However, for visiting places in the countryside or outside cities, a car will be very helpful. You’ll find plenty of cheap car hire options in Italy, covering all types of cars, including electric car hire, economy car hire and luxury car hire.

When hiring a car in Italy, the most popular provider of hire cars among Cheapflights users is Sixt, and with prices around £92/day, it’s easy to understand why. The most popular car type from Sixt is CONVERTIBLE, which starts as low as £24/day.

When visiting Italy, it is typically cheapest to hire your car in Ciampino where rental cars typically will cost around £23/day (33% less than the country average). The absolute cheapest car hire price in Italy was found in Lamezia Terme for just £11/day.

Cars in Italy are to be driven on the right side of the road.