Italy is a stunning country that is popular with tourists all over the world for its rich history, culture, art, fashion and incredible food!
With all the sights so spread out, having your own vehicle is by far the best way to explore the country, and if you aren't planning on renting a motorhome in Italy for your visit, hiring a car is the next best option.
With driving around Italy being on so many people’s bucket lists, there are a huge number of car rental companies in Italy to choose from, so many in fact that it can be hard to decide which is the best option for you.
That's why we have created this run-down of the best car rentals in Italy for all budgets.
As well as how to most quickly find deals and book (in fact, the exact site we used to book for our trip to Italy!)
So whether you are city-hopping Rome, Florence and Pisa or heading to the beautiful beaches down south, there will be a rental company that meets your needs.
Let's get into it!
Firstly you might be wondering how to go about booking your chosen rental in Italy? Whether you are flying into Rome or arriving by ferry into Naples, we would always recommend using Rentalcars.
They are a website that allows you to compare a huge amount of rental cars available from your desired pick-up spot in Italy. Allowing you to filter by things like:
By booking through Rentalcars you can put your mind at ease by knowing they have been tried and tested by millions of customers, have excellent insurance coverage, no hidden fees, flexible cancellation policies and a price match guarantee so you can be sure you are getting the best price possible.
It's who we have used in many of the best destinations across Europe and continue to use to this day.
Pick up/drop off locations: Milan, Rome, Genoa, Venice, Bologna, Torino, Naples and all across the country
Price range: $$
Best suited for: Everyone!
Availability: Check here
The best option for car rental in Italy has to be Sixt, they operate in over 100 different countries across the world. They have been running now for over 100 years and in that time have built up a glowing reputation for their outstanding customer service and top quality vehicles.
Sixt specialise in their flexible booking options including short-term rentals for as little as a few hours and long-term one-way rentals if you are planning a big Italian road trip!
Their handy Sixt app means you can book vehicles fuss-free while on the go and have your chosen car ready in only 30 minutes!
Sixt has a huge range of vehicles in its fleet so you won't struggle to find one that suits your needs and taste!
They have everything from compact Minis, saloons, estates, SUVs, 4x4s, people carriers and vans so whether you are on a business trip and just trying to get from A to B or road-tripping around Italy, they will have a vehicle for you.
Pick up/drop off locations: All across Italy
Price range: $-$$
Best suited for: Frequent renters
Availability: Check here
Europcar is one of the highest rated car rental services in Italy so by booking through them you can relax knowing they have been tried and tested by endless customers.
With pick-up locations all across Italy especially near airports, they are a convenient option for all kinds of renters and with their price match guarantee you can be sure you are getting the best bang for your buck.
Europcar’s loyalty programme is unbeatable when it comes to rental companies so if you are a frequent car renter in Europe, they are definitely a company to check out in order to get those extra discounts and rewards!
Europcar have a vast fleet on offer including basic vehicles, luxury cars, 4X4s and vans so you won't struggle to find the perfect car rental for you!
Their handy filters on the Eurocar website allow you to filter by transmission type, emission level, door number, size, SUV and family cars, prestige vehicles, and top sellers making it so much easier to narrow down your search.
Europcar glowing reviews show that all of their cars come at a high standard with good mileage levels, making them an ideal car rental choice in Italy.
Pick up/drop off locations: All across major airports and cities across the country
Price range: $$-$$$
Best suited for: City rentals
Availability: Check here
Locauto is a 100% Italian-owned car rental service that has been running since 1979, with its headquarters being in Rome with more than 90 depots all over the country!
They are passionate about customer service and smooth booking systems and were actually one of the first companies to offer a digital self-service rental service through their booking app. Allowing their customers to book their cars quickly and conveniently with as little stress to their journey as possible.
Locauto has a lot of special offers so it is always worth double checking their website to see what extra deals you can get, including hourly rental, no deposit schemes, rental delivery to your home and extra coverage for novice drivers.
Locauto has a large range of cars on offer for you to choose from all split into different categories, electric, economy, hybrid, compact, premium, cross-over, SUVs, minivans, station wagons and luxury cars.
All of their fleet are of a high standard, have great mileage and are with the Euro 6 standard for driving in restricted traffic areas in the cities.
Pick up/drop off locations: Bologna, Catania, Florence, Genoa, Milan, Pisa, Rome and Turin
Price range: $
Best suited for: Budget travellers
Availability: Check here
If you are looking for an affordable car rental company in Italy, Budget might be just the option for you!
Budget is an industry leader for cheap car rentals all across the world with locations in over 120 countries. Many of those locations are based in Italy making them one of the best picks for longer road trips and one-way rentals so you can explore all that the Italian countryside has to offer without worrying about returning to your original pick-up spot.
Budget are also passionate about having no hidden fees meaning their full packages come complete with 24/7 roadside assistance and accident and breakdown cover.
Despite their affordable prices, Budget have a huge range of high-quality cars on offer! From 7-seater people carriers to sporty models to compact 3 door cars, there is a car suited to every customer.
You will find that they have fewer automatic vehicles available than they do manual so this is something to double check if you only have experience driving automatic transmission cars.
Pick up/drop off locations: All over Italy!
Price range: $$
Best suited for: Everyone
Availability: Check here
Maggiore was the first independent car rental company to ever open in Italy! They have been around since 1947 so they really know their stuff when it comes to providing a great service.
They have since expanded to 140 different agencies across Italy including all of the notable airports and train stations. They are part of the Avis Group so even if you have never heard of Maggiore, Avis is a world leader in car rental which helped elevate Maggiore to world standard.
It is worth noting that the different classes of rental cars they have available are limited to certain age groups and there is a young driver's charge to anyone under the age of 25, so if you are a younger driver, they might not be the best rental company for you.
No matter what kind of car you are looking to rent in Italy, Maggiore will have one for you! They have a large selection of vehicles available some of which are electric or hybrid models, smaller vehicles and larger SUVs if you are renting as a family or have lots of luggage.
Their vehicles are in different bands for pricing, quality and age requirements for rental.
Pick up/drop off locations: All over Italy!
Price range: $$$
Best suited for: Environmentally conscious renters
Availability: Check here
Ecovia is a car rental service in Italy that are passionate about being environmentally friendly and reducing the carbon footprint of rental cars.
With locations all over Italy, whether you reside in the country or are arriving by train or plane, there will be a nearby pick-up location for you.
One of their main values as a business is to take away the hassle and provide a simple, convenient and comfortable rental process with their transparent fees and easy check-in process, so you as a renter only have to worry about driving.
Ecovia’s fleet has a wide range of vehicles on offer, all of which are fuel efficient and emit low levels of CO2. From economy cars, family cars, luxury vehicles and vans, you can be certain with Ecovia that you are getting a comfortable, safe and reliable car hire.
If anything does go wrong on the road, Ecovia is known for its excellent customer service and 24/7 support. While their car rental rates are on the pricier end this shines through in their quality and environmental efforts.
Pick up/drop off locations: 90 locations across Italy including Rome, Milan, Genoa, Perugia, Bari and Naples.
Price range: $$$
Best suited for: Business trips and shorter rentals
Availability: Check here
If you are looking for simple car hire in Italy, you really can't go wrong with Drivalia. For starters, they have over 90 locations across the country to choose from so no matter where you want to start your rental, there will be a Drivalia option nearby!
Drivalia’s handy app allows you to book any kind of motor service you could need including rentals, ride-sharing and innovative car subscriptions, making them very popular with short-time renters and businesses in Italy.
They pride themselves on their premium customer service, customisable insurance and rental options and high-quality vehicles on offer.
Drivalia has a large fleet available, all of which are new models with low emissions and have the options of both hybrid and electric car models.
Their premium price comes with the premium service, with unbeatable security, insurance options, transparent pricing, high-standard cars, and free airport pick-up service.
Pick up/drop off locations: All across Italy
Price range: $$
Best suited for: everyone!
Availability: Check here
What started out in Sicily in 1964 with only 4 vehicles has since expanded to a huge car rental service in Italy, with now over 60 offices across the country and a whopping 20,000 cars in its fleet!
Whether you are looking for short-term car hire, commercial vehicles, vans, electric cars or even boats, Sicily by Car is an excellent choice!
They have transparent fees with their rental prices including unlimited mileage and VAT theft and damage penalty reductions.
However, it is worth noting that their cars are strictly forbidden to drive on any unpaved roads so be sure to check your itinerary if you are planning on an exploration of the Italian countryside.
Like a lot of the rental companies on this list, Sicily by Car have a great selection of vehicles available for hire, including electric models, a range of sizes including family-sized cars, minivans, trucks, and even Cabriolets for those who want to see the sights in style!
Pick up/drop off locations: All across Italy including Sardinia, Puglia, Calabria and Sicily
Price range: $$
Best suited for: Holidaymakers
Availability: Check here
If you are looking for car rentals in Italy just for your holidays, you can't get any better than Noleggiare!
Noleggiare understands that every customer has their own set of needs so offers flexible booking options. While they do have all kinds of customers, they mainly cater towards holidaymakers by having pick-up and drop-off locations at all their airports and cities of the prime vacation spots, so you can explore the beauty of the country as you please.
Noleggaire believe that premium service doesn't have to come with a hefty price tag so aim to have top-quality vehicles and customer care, at an affordable price.
Noleggiare has heaps of cars to choose from, depending on where you choose to start your journey, ranging from nippy little Fiat 500s all the way to Citroen Space Tourers which seat up to 9 people.
They have great offers and discounts running on their website including 30% off if you opt for a hybrid or fully electric car to help reduce your eco footprint.
Pick up/drop off locations: every major airport, ferry terminal and train station in Italy
Price range: $$
Best suited for: Everyone
Availability: Check here
When finding any kind of rental vehicle in Europe, Avis is the company that usually springs to mind! They have had many years in the game and are a trusted option in Italy and all over the globe.
If you are renting a car in Italy as an American or from other countries in the world, you might prefer to go for a familiar name as opposed to a more local car rental service so Avis is undoubtedly a great choice.
Luckily, Avis has one of the most amounts of pick-up locations across Italy, especially in airports and larger cities, so no matter how you arrive in the country, you can drive away quickly and conveniently.
Unsurprisingly, Avis has a huge fleet for you to choose from so you won't struggle to find a rental that meets your needs. Whether you are after a compact city car or a large people carrier for your family vacation, Avis will undoubtedly have one for you at your chosen pick-up location.
All of their vehicles are new and to a high cleanliness standard and they are even extending their eco fleet if you are looking for a hybrid or electric car for your visit.
The cost of renting a car in Italy depends on so many factors including, your time of visiting, the location you pick up in, the type of vehicle and the rental company you choose.
In general, you should expect to pay anywhere from $35-$70 for a small car and between $70-$200 for a larger vehicle.
To keep costs down as much as possible, renting away from the major airports and tourist hotspots in Italy does tend to be cheaper.
In Italy, you need to be over the age of 18 to drive, but you will find that most rental companies will only rent to those 21 and over, with a lot of companies charging a young driver's fee to those under 25.
Absolutely! Italy has so much to see outside of the main cities of Rome, Turin, Milan and Venice and hiring your own car and getting off the beaten track is the best way to experience the country!
While the rail system in Italy is an incredible way of getting around, hiring a car in Italy allows you to go at your own pace without sticking to train timetables and routes.
That being said, if you are planning on visiting Italy just to explore the bigger cities, renting a car might be more of a nuisance than it is beneficial! Cities like Rome, Genoa, Venice and Florence are mainly walkable, have great public transport systems and limited car parking spaces.
We highly recommend using your car hire to visit the lesser-known areas of Italy after you have completed your top tourist sites in the main cities.
Other Italy guides you might be interested in:
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