Finding the best car rental Italy deal is easier than you think and renting a car is the single best way to discover the parts of Italy that most tourists never see. While trains connect Italy’s major cities brilliantly, the real Italy the rural Tuscan villages, the Amalfi Coast clifftop roads, the volcanic landscapes of Sicily, the trulli houses of Puglia is only accessible by car.
Car rental Italy prices start from as little as €15-20 per day for economy vehicles booked in advance, making it one of the most affordable ways to explore the country at your own pace.
Use our car rental Italy search tool below to compare prices across all major Italian cities and find the best deal for your trip.
Compare Car Rental Italy Prices by City
Find the best car rental Italy prices in your destination city. All prices include local insurance and are from verified local rental companies.
🚗 Rome Car Rental
Rome is Italy’s most popular car rental pickup location. Pick up your car at Fiumicino Airport or Rome Termini station and head straight out to explore Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast or the Italian countryside
🚗 Milan Car Rental
Milan is the perfect base for exploring northern Italy by car — Lake Como, the Italian Lakes, the Dolomites and the Piedmont wine country are all within easy driving distance.
🚗 Florence Car Rental
Florence is the ideal starting point for a Tuscany road trip — Siena, San Gimignano, the Chianti wine region and the coastal towns of the Maremma are all accessible within an hour’s drive.
🚗 Naples Car Rental
Naples gives you access to some of the most spectacular driving in Italy — the Amalfi Coast road, the Sorrentine Peninsula and the archaeological sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum are all within easy reach.
🚗 Venice Car Rental
Pick up your Venice car rental at Marco Polo Airport or Venezia Mestre station — note that cars cannot enter Venice island itself, but the surrounding Veneto region offers spectacular driving.
🚗 Bologna Car Rental
Bologna is perfectly positioned for exploring Emilia-Romagna by car — the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, the Apennine mountains and the Adriatic coast are all within easy reach.
🚗 Turin Car Rental
Turin is the gateway to the Italian Alps and the Piedmont wine country — the Valle d’Aosta, the Langhe hills and the ski resorts of the Western Alps are all accessible by car from Turin.
🚗 Verona Car Rental
Verona gives you access to Lake Garda — Italy’s largest lake — as well as the Valpolicella wine region and the beautiful Venetian countryside.
🚗 Pisa Car Rental
Pisa airport is one of Tuscany’s main entry points — pick up your car here and drive straight into the Tuscan countryside without stopping in Florence first.
🚗 Genoa Car Rental
Genoa gives you access to the Italian Riviera and the Cinque Terre by car — though note that the Cinque Terre villages themselves are car-free, the surrounding area is best explored with your own transport.
🚗 Palermo Car Rental
Sicily is best explored by car — the island’s archaeological sites, volcanic landscapes, and remote coastal towns are spread across a large area that public transport simply cannot connect efficiently.
🚗 Catania Car Rental
Catania Airport is Sicily’s busiest airport — pick up your car here and head straight to Mount Etna, the baroque towns of the Val di Noto, or the stunning beaches of the eastern Sicilian coast.
🚗 Bari Car Rental
Puglia is one of the best regions in Italy to explore by car — Alberobello’s trulli houses, Lecce’s baroque old town, Matera’s cave dwellings and the Adriatic coastline are all best reached by car.
🚗 Amalfi Car Rental
The Amalfi Coast is one of the most spectacular drives in the world — pick up a car rental in the Amalfi area and explore the clifftop villages at your own pace.
🚗 Cinque Terre Car Rental
The villages of Cinque Terre are car-free, but a rental car gives you the freedom to explore the wider Ligurian coast, the Portofino peninsula and the inland hills at your own pace.
🚗 Siena Car Rental
Siena is the perfect base for a Tuscan road trip — the Chianti wine region, the Val d’Orcia, and the medieval hilltop towns of southern Tuscany are all within easy driving distance.
🚗 Padua Car Rental
Padua gives you excellent access to the Veneto region by car — the Euganean Hills, the Brenta Riviera and the Prosecco hills are all within easy reach.
🚗 Rimini Car Rental
Rimini is a great base for exploring the Adriatic Riviera by car — the Republic of San Marino, the hilltop towns of Montefeltro and the beaches of the Romagna coast are all accessible.
🚗 Lecce Car Rental
Lecce is the gateway to the Salento peninsula — the most southerly part of Puglia — with its remarkable baroque architecture, crystal-clear Adriatic beaches and authentic local food culture.
Tips for Car Rental Italy
- Book as early as possible:Car rental Italy prices increase significantly as your travel date approaches. Booking 4-8 weeks ahead can save 30-50% compared to last-minute prices.
- Book automatic transmission early:Most Italian rental cars are manual. If you need an automatic, book 3-4 months ahead for summer travel — they sell out fast and cost €10-20 more per day.
- Avoid driving in city centres:Italian city centres have ZTL zones (Zona a Traffico Limitato) — restricted traffic areas where only residents can drive. Entering accidentally generates automatic fines of €100-200. Park outside the city and use public transport.
- Get an International Driving Permit:Non-EU drivers need an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence. Get this before you travel.
- Check your insurance carefully:Basic car rental Italy insurance covers damage but often excludes theft and tyres. Consider additional cover for peace of mind.
For more travel tips read our complete guide tohow to get around Italy cheaplyand ourItaly travel tips for first timers.
Compare All Car Rental Italy Prices
🚗 Compare All Italy Car Rental Prices
For more ways to save money on your Italian holiday explore our guides tocheap hotels in Italy,cheap flights to Italyandcheap train tickets in Italy.