Whether heading to the country to explore the plethora of historical attractions or to experience the Mediterranean coast, car hire in Italy is the preferred way of getting around, saving you time and money.
You'll find various SIXT car hire offices around Italy, including in all the main cities. Some of the top branches in Italy are at the major airports, like Milan Airport Malpensa T1, Sardinia Cagliari Airport, and Pisa Airport. A vast fleet ensures you'll find what you're looking for.
When you rent a car in Italy, make sure you keep these laws in mind while driving around.
-Autostrade: These are the Italian motorways and you should expect tolls. You will notice them by the 'A' that is followed by a number and signals.
-Headlights: You'll need to use headlights during rain, fog, or snow, and of course, at night and early morning when visibility is low.
-Manual Transmission is Standard: The default car rental in Italy comes with a manual transmission. If you're more comfortable driving an automatic, request one when booking your car hire.
-Overtaking: You are only allowed to overtake others on the left-hand side of the road.
-Zona Traffico Limitato (ZTL) Zones: Many Italian cities, especially historic centres, have ZTLs - areas where vehicle access is restricted to authorised vehicles only, such as local residents or delivery vehicles.
Check out more of our tips for driving in Italy for a more in-depth understanding.
Italy is a treasure trove of natural and historical wonders, so choosing the best place to visit isn't always easy.
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*Our Customer Excitement Score is based on a survey sent to all customers who booked in Italy. The score is an average of all customer responses.
Yes, as well as credit cards, you are also able to pay for your car hire with all major debit cards in Italy.
While Italy in general has a good rail coverage, it can be really valuable to have your own hire car. Especially when you want to explore more rural areas in Tuscany or Sicily, or heading to more mountainous regions. With your own hire car you are free to explore the country at your will.
You need to be at least 18 years old and have held your licence for at least a year to hire a car in Italy. Once you've selected your branch in Italy you can filter the available car categories by age. All drivers under the age of 25 are required to pay a young driver surcharge.
Yes you are able to drive your hire car across the border in France as well as the majority of countries in Europe. Please use our rental information page for more detailed information about using your hire car outside of Italy.
UK driving licences continue to be valid in Italy. With other non-EU licences you must provide a passport and it's suggested you carry an International Driving Permit. If in Europe for more than 6 months then an EU licence is required.
One-way car hire bookings are possible in Italy. Simply select your pick-up branch and then a different return branch in Italy to check availability. One-way bookings are perfect if you are flying in and out of different airports in Italy.