With its jaw-dropping coastline, delicious food, and historic sites, Italy is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit in Europe.
Although Rome and Venice often steal the spotlight, Pisa certainly holds its own. This city is famous for its incredible architecture, with the Leaning Tower of Pisa being a highlight.
In fact, truly believe it's the ideal place to start a week long Italy road trip ...
Whic is exactly what we did in 2023!
We hired a car and spent a solid week discovering the stunning western coast of Italy, and you can read more about that in other guides.
But for now, below is the exact company we used to book with (and how to find them).
And the exact steps you can use to get such a good deal as well on your rental from Pisa.
Let's get straight into it ...
When it comes to renting a car in Pisa we highly recommend checking out Discover Cars.
This easy-to-use platform compares rental deals from all over the world, within 145+ countries and 10,000+ locations. By checking out the deals on this website, you can save up to 70% on car hire!
To search on Discover Cars, simply input your key information such as pick-up/drop-off location, trip dates, age, and country of origin. You’ll then be given numerous rental options, which you can easily filter to find the perfect vehicle for you.
Whether you’re a large family after a spacious minivan or a budget traveller looking for the cheapest hire car available, there’s something for everyone!
Other great reasons to book a vehicle with Discover Cars include:
If you’re looking for car hire in Pisa then Centauro is undoubtedly one of the best options!
This all-inclusive car rental offers a fantastic hire package, with affordable prices, free cancellation, no deposit, and full coverage with no excess.
With Centauro, you’ll also have unlimited mileage, 24/7 roadside assistance, and an additional driver included.
If you still weren’t convinced, this company offers a service called SmartKey, where you can pick up your rental without heading to the counter.
Centauro offers a wide variety of rental vehicles, ranging from a Fiat 500 to a Volkswagen Tiguan, and everything in between.
This rental company also offers van rental, where you can hire a spacious vehicle that seats up to 9 people - perfect for those travelling as a group.
No matter what you’re after, Centauro has something for everyone!
Next up is Locauto, another great option if you’re after car hire at Pisa Airport.
With this car rental company, even new drivers can hire a vehicle. Locauto Young is a new service that’s dedicated to novice drivers, who will still benefit from theft and full damage coverage.
For added convenience, this company offers hourly rental rates and smart check-in. No deposit is required and they’ll even deliver the rental to you!
The most affordable vehicles with Locauto fall within the economy section and include the Fiat Panda, Opel Corsa, and Toyota Aygo (or something comparable).
Those after something larger can go for an SUV such as the Peugeot 3008, or a luxurious vehicle like the Audi A6 Avant. You could even opt for a VW Caravelle which seats 9 people.
Whether you’re a digital nomad looking to settle down in Pisa or you’re simply spending a European summer in Italy, Sicily By Car may be your best option!
This rental company offers short-term and long-term rentals, as well as multi-monthly rentals, where you can hire a vehicle for up to 12 months.
If you’re after short-term hire, Sicily By Car offers unlimited mileage and free cancellation (within 72 hours of pick-up).
They also have a key box service so you can even return the vehicle out of opening hours.
At Sicily By Car, you’ll have a variety of vehicles to choose from.
The cheapest models on offer include the Fiat Panda and Peugeot 208 (or something similar).
Alternatively, you can opt for something more expensive such as the Peugeot 308 STW, Opel Grandland, or Fiat 500X.
Enterprise is one of the world's most popular rental companies, with over 9,500 locations worldwide.
With a handy branch location at Pisa Airport (also known as Galileo Galilei Airport), helpful staff, and plenty of vehicle options, you’re in good hands with this rental company.
They also offer the Enterprise Plus Program where you can earn points towards free rental days. Not only that, but Enterprise offers specific business rentals.
As Enterprise is such a large rental company, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Those after something affordable should opt for the Fiat Panda, Toyota Aygo, or Opel Corsa (or something comparable).
If you don’t mind splashing the cash, you can go for something more spacious, such as the Volkswagen T-Roc, Peugeot 3008, or Volkswagen Caravelle (the latter has 9 seats).
Like Enterprise, Alamo is another popular rental company across the world.
They offer an accelerated check-in service where you can skip the counter completely. So as soon as you land at the airport, you can head straight to your vehicle and head straight out on your road trip!
Just be aware this service isn’t available at all branches so you’ll need to check this in advance.
Car models at Alamo include the Opel Corsa, VW Golf, and the Toyota Aygo, all of which are relatively compact options - perfect for first-time hires.
Those after something more spacious can opt for the Jeep Renegade or Volkswagen T-Cross. Alternatively, you can go for a luxurious vehicle such as the Audi A4 STW.
Both manual and automatic transmission vehicles are available with Alamo, so there’s something for everyone!
If you’re after cheap car hire in Pisa, RentSmart24 should be one of your top options!
With this rental company, you can hire a vehicle for as little as £4.50 a day. Better yet, many rental deals include unlimited mileage and €0 damage excess so you get a lot for your money.
As the name suggests, RentSmart24 is open 24/7 for added convenience. They also have a free shuttle service that will pick you up from the airport.
RentSmart24 even offers monthly and long-term rentals and they pride themselves on having no hidden fees.
With RentSmart24, you can opt for an economy vehicle or something larger like an SUV.
If you’re after a small car, the Ford Fiesta is a great choice and seats 5. Those after more space can check out the Kia Sportage.
There’s also the Citroen Spaceturer which seats 9 people making it perfect for large groups and families travelling together!
Target Rent is located all across the country and has 50 rental stations.
They offer a new fleet which is renewed every year and allow cross-border travel into other countries for an additional €10 per day (including VAT). Permitted countries include Austria, Croatia, France, Germany, Slovenia, and Switzerland.
Just be aware that the minimum hire age is 21 while 75 is the maximum. Those aged 21-25 or 75-80 can still hire with Target Rent but they'll need to pay a surcharge fee.
Target Rent offers a variety of vehicles, ranging from small cars to spacious vans.
Smaller vehicles include the Volkswagen Up, Fiat Panda, and Ford Fiesta (or something comparable). Alternatively, you can go for something bigger such as the Ford Focus STW.
Families and groups can opt for the Seat Alhambra which seats 7 people or the larger Fiat Ducato which seats 9.
EasyCarHire is who we chose for our recent trip to Italy.
Although it’s not the most popular rental company in Pisa, it certainly served us well for our trip, thanks to its affordable prices, variety of vehicles, and easy pick-up.
You can book EasyCarHire through Discover Cars, where you’ll benefit from unlimited mileage and fantastic rental deals.
With ECH, you can opt for a small vehicle or something that’s more suitable for families.
Budget travellers can enjoy very low rates by opting for the Fiat Panda (or something comparable), while those after more space can go for the Dacia Jogger which seats 7.
Just be aware that many of the vehicles are manual, so you’ll need to check this in advance.
Sixt is another well-known rental company with over 2,000 locations worldwide.
With Sixt, you can hire a car in Pisa at just 18 years of age as long as you have a valid licence. Just be aware that an underage surcharge may apply and some vehicle categories will be off-limits.
This company also offers flexible 24-hour vehicle return and business rentals.
With Sixt, you’ve got a variety of vehicles on offer.
Models such as the Opel Mokka and VW T-Cross are the most affordable, while the Peugeot 408 and Skoda Octavia Estate are great for those after a larger vehicle.
Sixt is perfect for travellers after a more luxurious vehicle too, with models like the BMW 4 Series Coupé and BMW 5 series being available for hire.
Finally, we have RentalPlus, another popular car hire company.
This is a great option for those after long-term rentals, with RentalPlus offering car hire from just £143 a month (VAT excluded).
Although the branch is located at Pisa Airport, this company also offers delivery, where the vehicle will be delivered to an address of your choice.
Just be aware that if you’re aged 19-23, you’ll need to pay a young driver fee and vehicle availability will be more limited.
Smaller models at RentalPlus include the Fiat 500, Fiat Panda, and Fiat 500X (or something similar).
You can also opt for an Opel Mokka or Volkswagen T-Roc among others.
Alternatively, there are more luxurious vehicles available including the Maserati Ghibli which seats 5 people.
RentalPlus also offers electric vehicles so there’s something for everyone.
The cost of hiring a car in Pisa depends on several factors, including the company you choose, the type of vehicle you go for, and the time of year.
In Pisa, you can expect to pay anywhere between £20-£40 per day for a standard vehicle. In some cases, you can pick up a rental for as little as £4.50 a day.
To rent a car in Pisa, you need to be at least 18 years of age. However, some rental companies will only hire to those 21 years or over (even 25+ in some cases).
If you’re under the age of 25, some companies will require you to pay a young driver’s surcharge fee. This differs depending on the company so ensure you check this in advance.
At Pisa Airport, you’ll find plenty of rental companies to choose from. These include Locauto, Sicily By Car, Sixt, and RentalPlus among others.
EasyCarHire is also located at Pisa Airport which is who we used on our recent trip to Italy. For the best rental prices, we’d recommend checking out Discover Cars.
If you’re only planning to explore the city of Pisa then you don’t need a car. Public buses will allow you to get around and there are some great tour options.
However, if you want to head out of Pisa and explore more of Tuscany, then we’d certainly recommend hiring a car. Nearby destinations include Florence, Lucca, and Cortona.
Pisa offers the perfect starting point for an epic road trip.
Whether you’re looking to explore historical sites, indulge in traditional pizza, or relax on the beach, this beautiful country has so much to offer, and exploring by car is the best way to get around.
From Pisa, you can also carry on your trip throughout Italy, where you can relax along the Amalfi coast, stay in a luxury hotel in the Dolomites, and explore the beautiful Verona. Those wanting to travel further afield can opt for a rental that allows onward travel to other European countries.
To make the most of your visit, check out our in-depth Europe packing list! This guide covers everything you’ll need to bring along with you for an epic trip.
If you’re planning a trip to Europe, here are some other guides you may find helpful:
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