Car rental in Rome

Picking up your car at Fiumicino and Ciampino

Most international flights land at Fiumicino (FCO), Leonardo da Vinci airport. The rental desks are not inside the terminal: they're in an office building linked to the terminals by pedestrian walkways. From arrivals, follow the Autonoleggio / Car rental signs, sign your contract and collect the car in the multi-storey car park next door. You return it to that same car park.

Ciampino (CIA) is the smaller airport, southeast of the city, mostly used by low-cost flights within Europe. The rental companies are a short walk from the terminal. Your voucher shows where your company's desk is.

If you're spending a few days in Rome before hitting the road, you don't need the car the moment you land. You can pick it up in the city, for example near Termini station, on the day you leave. You save rental days, parking and the downtown traffic.

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.

The ZTL: the most expensive mistake in Rome

Rome's historic center is a ZTL, a limited traffic zone. Only residents and authorized vehicles may enter, and rental cars are not authorized. Every entrance has a camera that reads your plate.

At the entrance you'll see a sign saying "varco attivo": it means the camera is on and, if you drive through, you get a fine. Some neighborhoods, such as Trastevere, also have night-time restrictions.

The fine doesn't come right away. It 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.

The safest move is not to drive into the center at all. See Rome on foot, by metro or by taxi, and use the car to leave the city. If your hotel is inside the ZTL, ask ahead whether it has a garage and can register your plate so you can reach it.

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 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.

Village streets are narrow and parking spaces are small. 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 Rome 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.

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.

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.

Day trips and road trips from Rome

In a day you can visit Tivoli and its villas, the Castelli Romani, Orvieto or Civita di Bagnoregio, and be back in Rome to sleep.

Heading south, a few hours' drive takes you to Naples and Pompeii, and from there to the Amalfi Coast. The coast road is narrow and winding, and in high season it has heavy traffic and little parking: many people leave the car in one town and get around by ferry or bus.

To the north lies Tuscany. If you want to end your trip in Florence 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 near 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.