Bari car rental.

I highly recommend Sixt. The staff at BRI are wonderful. Take all insurances and no deductible if that fits your budget. That way, no one checks the car when you return it, for scratches and other damage.

I rented thru Hertz at Bari Airport. The car rental lot was a short walk from the main terminal and pricing was significantly cheaper than Sixt. Vehicle I rented was practically brand new.

If you're spending anytime in Bari before/after your trip, I would highly recommend not to drive in Bari city limits. We spent 14 days in Puglia, with the first 12 exploring the region. On day 12, we returned our rental car to the airport and then took the train from Bari Airport to Bari Centrale and spent the last two days car-free.

Had no problems with Hertz at airport or their location near train station in Bari (outside ztl).

October, 2025 we rented from europcar, through AutoEurope. We stayed in Bari for a few nights then took the local train from Bari Centrale to the Airport (very easy) to pickup the rental car. We took all insurance, including zero deductible directly from europcar. We traveled throughout Puglia for 6 days before returning the car back to the airport, taking the train back to the center. A few notes:

• AutoEurope has changed ownership and no longer offers zero deductible directly from the car rental agencies. They now offer their own zero deductible coverage (you have to call to get it, or try booking through kemwel, their subsidiary) HOWEVER their coverage is a reimbursement plan, meaning you still have to pay the car rental agency for any damage beyond the mandatory CDW coverage ($2000-$5000?) read the fine print carefully
• Having zero deductible directly through the car rental agency is very expensive (~$50/day or more) but for true peace of mind, you walk away from the car at drop off. Last year the car definitely bottomed out twice on very steep driveways/parking lots, but that is all covered. If you don't get zero deductible directly through the car rental agency take lots of pictures at pick up and if anything happens document everything yourself, including pictures and make sure you report it as required.
• Last year I filled the gas tank probably about 15 miles from the airport. I thought it was close enough to the airport when I stopped at a station. I find using gas stations in Italy a little daunting so was happy to find one with easy on/off the road. At drop off the car rental attendant turned on the ignition to check gas level and the needle was just below full. It was probably only a gallon below, but it cost me ~$50, because I didn't realize not only is there a fee for the amount of gas they add, but also a penalty of ~$40.
• I'm renting again next month, in Sicily for 8 days. I've done a lot of price checking and will likely use Avis. I have a reservation for a mid size crossover hybrid, with no extra insurance for $266. At the counter I will pay for zero deductible and a full tank of gas. I can't get the price for those yet (I called Avis in Catania and they said they couldn't tell me) but I expect it to be an additional $500-$600 for the 8 days. I know that might sound like wasted money but for me, the peace of mind of just dropping the car and not worrying about having to chase any paperwork for reimbursement is worth it.

The Bari return can be an aggressive experience. We had a dented front fender and upon returning the car, the young lady clasped her face and exclaimed "this is a major problem." Upon showing her the video I took at the car rental space at the beginning of the trip
with the dent, she smiled and asked "you give me a good rating?" Gotta stay one step ahead!

I had the exact opposite experience in BRI, but that was because I took full insurance from Sixt, and no deductible, which made it more pricey than other options.

sanomh, -- thanks for the heads up on Auto Europe! This is who I have ALWAYS booked through. I know you mentioned Kemwel (sister company to AE) but when I did further research it appears that they too are following Auto Europe's new policy. I may decide to deal direct rather than going with a broker. Also, I did learn of another broker out of the UK that is well thought of "Zest Car Rental". I might check them out they have a 4.7 Google rating for what that's worth.

Have you checked Sixt?

Check with your credit card for the coverage of the deductible.

The change of ownership (and change in insurance policy) with AutoEurope happened in December 2025.

I rented through them in July 2026 (Hertz was the actual car rental) and purchased the extra zero deductible full coverage (including windshields and undercarriage) from AutoEurope for about $10/day extra, but I was on the phone with them and told me that now the coverage is a "refundable excess" coverage, meaning that if you have damage you still have to pay the deductible to the agency (up to 2,000€ generally) then file a claim with AutoEurope after submitting the documentation. Fortunately I didn't have any damage so I didn't actually have to experience the process.

As explained above, purchasing the extra zero deductible coverage at the agency when you pick up (a.k.a. "Kasko" insurance coverage in Italian) is much more expensive than $10/day. I looked into it in the Italian website of the various companies, and it's considerably more than that. For example I tried a random weekly rental with Avis at Florence airport for the end of this month, and choosing the so called "Super Cover" extra coverage option, costs 40€ extra a day.

So the choice is yours, but 40€ a day extra is stiff, basically it almost doubles the price of the rental. You can take a chance with AutoEurope new coverage option, or see if you can cover it with your credit card, but once again it's a "refundable excess", i.e. you pay the deductible to the agency first, then you get reimbursed later.

One thing nobody has mentioned yet, if you have a US license: Italian law (Article 135 of the Highway Code) says you must carry an International Driving Permit or an official Italian translation together with your license. Driving without one can mean a fine of 408 to 1,634 euros, and some rental desks ask for it. You can only get the IDP at home, from AAA or AATA, so do it before you fly.

And on the ZTL point above: entering an active ZTL without a permit is a fine of 83 to 332 euros, and the rental company usually adds its own admin fee on top. Easiest is to park outside the old center and walk in.