Driving in Italy? 7 Things to Know Before Renting a Car

Planning on driving in Italy? I’ve planned my fair share of successful Italian road trips and, I have to say, I love exploring Italy by car.

With a rental car, you can dive deep into Italian culture, access off-beat vineyards, hiking trails, beaches, and hot springs, and visit lesser-known towns that arenโ€™t connected by public transportation. In epic road-tripping regions like Puglia, Tuscany, Umbria, and the Dolomites, youโ€™ll be so happy you decided to rent a car.

Maddy posing by her rental car in an olive grove in Puglia on a sunny day

Yet, driving in Italy isn’t always all rolling hills, olive groves, and sunflower fields… It can also be stressful and confusing – and, not to mention, the source of plenty of expensive tickets if you’re not careful!

So, before you rent a car in Italy, there are some things you need to know. In this guide, you’ll find seven must-know tips to help you have a seamless Italian self-driving adventure. Buon viaggio!

7 Things You Need to Know Before Driving in Italy

A vintage red car on a terrace parking spot in the Amalfi Coast with the sea and mountains in the background

1. You need an international driverโ€™s license.

In Italy, you are legally required to carry an international driverโ€™s license/permit. Rental car companies usually donโ€™t ask for it when you pick up your car, but youโ€™ll receive a large fine if you get pulled over.

In the Dolomites, we were pulled over at a checkpoint and fined โ‚ฌ282 (in cash, on the spot!) just for not having an international driverโ€™s license. Super annoying!

In the US, you can get an international driving permit from the American Automobile Association (AAA) for $20.

Cars driving down a road in the town of Locorotondo in Italy on a sunny day

2. You must be aware of โ€œZTLโ€ zones.

In Italy’s historic city and town centers, driving is typically restricted by ZTL (Zona a Traffico Limitato or Limited Traffic Zone) signs. Usually, this means that only residents are allowed to drive within the zone – either 100% of the time, or during certain hours when the ZTL is active (attiva). That’s because tourist areas are mainly pedestrian-only.

If you enter an active ZTL, you will likely receive a large fine in the mail when you get home. There are ticketing cameras everywhere! If the ZTL sign says itโ€™s inactive (non-attiva), then you can usually enter.

But, to avoid stress, confusion, and tickets, I simply recommend not driving into the Centro Storico (historic center) of any city or town at any time.

I have seen videos online of travelers arriving home to dozens of tickets in the mail (totaling thousands of euros!) for driving in ZTLs, so be very careful!

Cars parked on a road alongside the sea on the island of Ischia

3. You should plan where to park in advance.

If you’re driving to a city or town, I highly recommend having a parking plan before hitting the road. Between ZTLs, traffic, and one-way streets, having a solid plan will save you a lot of stress!

In your Google Maps app, I recommend searching for parcheggio (parking lot) or parcheggio gratuito (free parking lot), then โ€œsavingโ€ the lot’s location for your arrival. 

If you find available street parking, note the color of the parking lines:

  • White lines = free
  • Blue lines = paid (so you’ll need to find the parking meter nearby to pay)
  • Yellow lines = reserved for those with permits (i.e. residents or disabled people)

Also, when booking hotels, try to choose places that include free overnight parking. It’ll make your life so much easier!

A beautiful view of the island of Ischia by the blue ocean waters

4. There are speed cameras everywhere.

Compared to the US, there are speed traps (speed cameras) everywhere in Italy.

The decent thing is that warning signs are always clearly posted ahead of the cameras. As you drive, look out for signs that say controllo elettronico della velocitร  – usually alongside a symbol of a policeman.

Navigation apps like Google Maps and Waze often indicate where speed cameras are located along your route, too.

Rainbow going across the lush countryside in San Gimignano during a storm

5. Make sure you have the right insurance.

I’m no legal expert, but before I drive out of the rental car lot, I always make sure that I have third-party insurance, first-party insurance (โ€œcollision damage waiverโ€), and travel insurance.

  • My understanding is that basic third-party insurance – covering othersโ€™ vehicles and injuries – is included with all Italian rental cars. However, itโ€™s up to you to confirm this with your rental car company.
  • I get my first-party insurance – covering my rental car for collision damage and theft – by paying for the rental with one of my travel credit cards.
  • For personal medical emergencies, I have an affordable travel insurance policy which I pay for on a monthly subscription. In my opinion, you should never travel internationally without travel insurance.

Do your due diligence and make sure you’re properly insured before you rent a car in Italy.

6. Driving in Italy can be (very) stressful.

This may be the most important point. Can you keep your cool under pressure? If not, driving in Italy may not be for you…

Personally, I don’t like driving in Italy; I find it too stressful. But, lucky for me, my husband is a great driver and is always cool as a cucumber. Plus, he loves driving.

Between local driversโ€™ unpredictable maneuvers and extreme tailgating, narrow country lanes, bumpy dirt roads, old cobblestone streets, scary cliffside roads, limited parking, and ZTL zones, driving in Italy can be pretty challenging. Be ready for it!

Side note: Please, donโ€™t even think about driving along the Amalfi Coast. This is the worst idea ever – for so many reasons!

A quiet street in a small town in Puglia on a sunny day

7. Know where to find the best deals.

I recommend using this website to find the best deals on rental cars in Italy. It aggregates many of the rental car companies’ rates so you can compare prices and perks. Usually, this site offers free cancellation too, – just in case.

Click here to book your rental car.

View of the town of Locorotondo surrounded by lush greenery on a sunny day

Best Italian Regions for Road Tripping

Italy’s public transportation system is pretty great, especially if you’re planning to city-hop between main tourist hubs like Rome, Florence, Verona, Venice, Milan, and Bologna. Plus, thanks to pedestrian-friendly streets, trains, trams, buses, and taxis, you’ll never need a car in a big city.

Self-driving really shines when you’re planning to visit smaller towns and explore the countryside, islands, or mountainous areas; these places are harder to reach without a car.

Maddy smiling at the camera with a beautiful view of mountains in the background - taken during a road trip in Italy

If you’re looking for some Italian road trip inspiration, consider these areas:

  • Tuscany: You can visit towns and small cities like San Gimignano, Volterra, Siena, Lucca, Cortona, Montepulciano, Montalcino, and Monteriggioni, while stopping by countless family-run wineries, agriturismos, hot springs, and more.
  • Umbria: Countless organic vineyards like this one and ancient towns like Spello, Assisi, Spoleto, and Gubbio await.
  • Puglia: Seaside towns like Polignano a Mare, Gallipoli, and Otranto, vineyards like this one, cheese factories like this one, beautiful baroque cities like Lecce, and whitewashed hilltop villages like Ostuni and Locorotondo are perfect destinations in Puglia for road-tripping.
  • The Dolomites (Italian Alps): This may be the world’s most beautiful road-tripping destination! You need a car to easily access different lakes, hiking trailheads, scenic restaurants, and small towns.
  • Ischia: Ischia is probably my favorite place in Italy. To properly explore this island, you need a rental car!
  • Sicily: Outside of the cities like Palermo and Catania, public transportation across Sicily is pretty terrible. If you want to get off the beaten path (trust me, you do!), you should rent a car. From spending one day in Taormina, lapping up the beaches in Cefalรน, hiking Mt. Etna, and driving through the Agrigento Valley, you’re in for an epic trip.

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Planning on driving in Italy? I've planned plenty of Italian road trips and, I have to say, I love to travel Italy by car. In epic road-tripping regions like Puglia, Tuscany, Umbria, and the Dolomites, youโ€™ll be so happy you rented a car. Yet, driving in Italy isn't always all rolling hills, olive groves, and sunflower fields. It can also be stressful and confusing. Before you rent a car in Italy, read this guide for some must-know tips that'll help you have an amazing Italian road trip.

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