Car rental in Florence

Where to pick up: Florence or Pisa

Florence airport, Peretola (FLR), is a few kilometers from the center. It's small, and the rental companies aren't in the terminal: they're in a nearby car rental area. Outside, take the free shuttle bus, which runs frequently from a stop by the terminal car park, then sign your contract and collect the car there.

Many flights to Tuscany land at Pisa (PSA), roughly an hour's drive from Florence. It's a good option if you're starting your trip in Pisa, Lucca or on the coast. Your voucher shows where your rental company's desk is and how to get there.

A question we get often: we don't offer meet-and-greet at the terminal door. We only work with official rental companies, which is what guarantees the car is there, the contract is right and you have support if something happens.

What you need to pick up the car

There are three things, and all three are mandatory. Without any of them the rental company won't hand over the car.

A credit card in the main driver's name. The rental company blocks the security deposit on it. Debit cards, cash and someone else's card are not accepted.

A physical, valid driver's license. A license on your phone, photos or copies won't work. It has to be the card itself, valid for the whole rental.

A valid passport. The minimum age is usually 19, though it can vary by rental company or category, and drivers under 25 pay a young driver fee. There is no maximum age. That's why we ask your age before quoting.

International Driving Permit: in Italy it may be mandatory. If the rental company asks for it and you don't have it, they may refuse to hand over the car. Get it in your home country before you travel and carry it with your license.

Florence's ZTL: the most expensive mistake

Almost all of Florence's historic center is a ZTL, a limited traffic zone: the Duomo, Santa Croce, the Santa Maria Novella area and much of the Oltrarno. Rental cars are not allowed in, and every entrance has a camera that reads your plate.

At the entrance you'll see a sign saying "varco attivo": the camera is on and, if you drive through, you get a fine. Your GPS won't always warn you, so watch the signs.

The fine reaches the rental company months later, once you're back home, and they charge it to your card with an admin fee. If you pass several cameras, you can get one fine per entry.

If your hotel is inside the ZTL, ask ahead whether it has a garage and can register your plate so you can reach it. If you pick up at a city office, ask at the desk for a route out that doesn't cross any camera.

And it's not just Florence: Siena, Pisa, Lucca, San Gimignano and many Tuscan villages have a ZTL in their center too. The usual approach is to leave the car in the car park at the entrance and walk in.

Manual or automatic, and why a small car works best

Most rental cars in Italy are manual. Automatics exist, but there are few, they cost more and they sell out first, especially in spring and summer. If you don't drive stick, ask for an automatic from your first message and book early: the desk can't switch you if none are left.

Tuscan roads are winding and hilly, and village streets are narrow. For two people, a mini or a compact is the most comfortable choice. For four with large suitcases, go for an intermediate or a station wagon: small European cars have smaller trunks than people expect.

We guarantee the category, not the exact model: the rental company assigns that at pickup.

Highways and tolls in Italy

The autostrade, marked with the letter A and green signs, are toll roads. You take a ticket, the biglietto, when you get on and pay when you get off, based on the distance. Keep it safe: if you lose it, you're charged for the longest possible trip.

When paying, pick the right lane. Lanes signed for cards or cash are the ones for you. The yellow Telepass lane is only for cars with that device: if you go through without one, a charge follows later.

Parking in Florence and in the villages

The color of the lines tells you what you can do. Blue lines: paid parking, at the meter or with an app. White lines: generally free, sometimes with a time limit. Yellow lines: reserved for residents, disabled drivers or loading. Never park there.

In Florence, the easiest option is a covered car park outside the ZTL or your hotel's garage, then getting around on foot or by tram. In villages, use the signed car parks at the entrance.

Driving in Italy: what to know

Fuel: pumps say benzina (unleaded petrol) or gasolio, which is diesel. Check the fuel cap before filling up.

Self or servito: many stations have two sections. At self you fill up yourself and it's cheaper; at servito an attendant does it and each liter costs more. At night and on Sundays many stations are self-service only, with a payment machine that doesn't always take every card. In the countryside stations are fewer: don't wait until the tank is empty.

Dipped headlights on outside towns, even during the day. And stick to the limits: there are many speed cameras, and on highways some measure your average speed between two points.

Exploring Tuscany by car

Florence is the gateway to Tuscany, and a car is the best way to see it. In a day you can visit the Chianti, with its vineyards and villages like Greve or Radda, Siena or San Gimignano.

Further south is the Val d'Orcia, with Pienza, Montepulciano and Montalcino: it's worth spending a night or two there. To the west, Lucca and Pisa.

If you want to end your trip in Rome or another city, you can drop the car off there. The rental company charges a one-way fee, higher if it's in another country, and we include it in your quote. To cross into another country, tell us when you book.

The most expensive mistakes

Returning the car without a full tank. The rental company charges missing fuel at a much higher price than a gas station. Fill up before reaching the airport and keep the receipt.

Signing without reading. Extras are offered at the desk, such as roadside assistance, GPS, a toll pass or a child seat. They're paid there and are non-refundable. If something doesn't match your booking, message us before you sign.