A Guide to Renting a Car in Italy and Planning a Road Trip That Actually Works

Italy is characterised by challenging and treacherous roads, and is certainly a nightmare for new and unprepared drivers. Understanding how rentals work and where driving around makes better sense helps rationalise cost and optimise experience.

Renting a car in Italy is less about convenience and more about access. Trains handle major city connections well, but the moment a trip involves hill towns, coastal villages, rural accommodation, or meetings outside metropolitan centres, public transport becomes inefficient. 

Most international travellers rent from airport locations, and for good reason. Availability is better, prices are often lower, and airport pick-up avoids restricted traffic zones that dominate city centres.

How Car Rentals Work in Italy

In Italy, a driver must be at least 21 years old to borrow a car from a rental company. Those younger than 25 years incur additional daily surcharge. The driver must be either an EU or International driver’s license holder.

Although automatic transmission and electric cars are becoming more common, most car rentals in Italy still lend out manual transmission vehicles. Travellers need to book well in advance if either an automatic or electric vehicle is preferred.

Rental car charges often include insurance coverage which often vary in extent. Review the plan thoroughly for any excess inclusions for added coverage.

Driving Conditions and Practical Rules

Roads in Italy are a mix of modern and traditional. Major road networks in Italy typically run on a toll way system. Travellers may pay either in cash or card.

Heading out to Tuscany, Umbria, or the Amalfi Coast will lead to secondary roads. These routes make up older road network systems and are typically narrow and traffic moves much more slowly. Nonetheless, speed cameras are consistently monitored and traffic regulations are strictly enforced.

Planning a Road Trip That Makes Sense

Many parts of Italy can only be experienced to the fullest extent behind the wheel. Road trips across Italy reward travellers who come prepared. The most important thing to remember is that experiencing Italy cannot be rushed. Travellers must take the time to patiently immerse themselves with locals and the local culture.

A north-to-south route offers the best balance between distance, variety, and road quality. The ideal period is about three weeks to see Italy’s different regions. Add and exclude any routes depending on travel priorities.

Below is a guide to help travellers navigate Italy for a two- to three-week period.

Start in Milan and Northern Italy

Milan will be a good place to start on an adventure road trip across Italy. Fly into Milan’s international airport from overseas. Renting a car in the city should also be relatively painless and options are endless.

After site seeing around packed historic centers around Milan, drive by Lake Como and Lake Garda from Milan.

Lake Como is located just about an hour’s drive away from Milan. Head to Bellagio, the most popular town overlooking Lake Como. Enjoy lakeside walks and ferry rides.

Lake Garda is larger than Lake Como and more tourist-friendly with the availability of more parking spaces and larger open spaces. Sirmione offers an interesting old world charm, and is best-known for its lakeside fortress and Roman ruins. Malcesine also offers travellers with a remarkable view of Mount Baldo onboard a cable car.

East of Milan is Bergamo. It’s one of the most well-preserved medieval centres in Northern Italy. Beneath the modern center lies an old city that can be reached by either driving through a narrow pass or taking a funicular. Highlights include the Venetian walls, Piazza Vecchia, and views across the Lombardy plains.

Dolomites and Emilia-Romagna

After touring the lakes and nearby lakeside towns, Dolomites offers a more peaceful view alongside a mountain driving experience. Road conditions are of good quality but the drive becomes more challenging as elevation increases and depending on weather conditions.

On the southern side, a flatter terrain and less challenging drive awaits travellers headed for Emilia-Romagna. Time-challenged travellers who want to see more for a shorter period of time should head towards the adjacent towns of Bologna, Modena, and Parma. Road conditions between these towns are good and driving conditions are fairly predictable.

Tuscany and Umbria by Car

Tuscany is best explored by car, as majority of must-see sights in this region are located far from major transport hubs and can only be reached by taking land trips across narrow local roads where traffic can be painfully slow.

Florence offers the best starting or ending point. This old town is home to the Duomo, Uffizi, and Oltrarno. Next, take the road to Siena and stop by the vineyards in Chianti, and see quaint sceneries in Greve and Castellina. In Siena, rever in the city walls’ old world charm and make sure to visit the Piazza del Campo.

Head towards San Gimignano to see towers beaming with Medieval character. Revel at the sight of rolling hills on the way to Val d’Orcia to experience old towns that include Pienza and Montalcino. From there, travellers should make their way to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the cathedral complex. Lucca also offers a good home base to explore the best Tuscany has to offer.

Rome as a Transition Point

Rome is best treated as a pause rather than a driving destination. Many travellers return their car before entering the city or stay outside the centre and use public transport. A vehicle is useful again once leaving Rome, particularly for reaching smaller towns or coastal areas in Lazio.

Southern Italy Options

From Rome, travellers can continue south to Naples, where driving becomes more demanding. The Amalfi Coast is manageable for experienced drivers, but traffic, road width, and seasonal congestion should be factored into planning.

An alternative is Puglia, which offers simpler driving conditions, flatter roads, and good-value accommodation. Sicily is suitable for longer trips, with less congestion outside major cities and clearly marked routes.

When Renting a Car Is the Right Choice

A rental car allows travellers to choose accommodation outside city centres, control schedules, and reach areas that public transport does not serve efficiently. For business travellers extending a stay, this flexibility often results in better use of time and lower accommodation costs.

In Italy, the difference between a good trip and a frustrating one often comes down to logistics. Renting the right car, collecting it from the right location, and planning a realistic route turns driving from a risk into an advantage.