Best spot to rent car in Rome and head to Umbria/Tuscanny

The best place to rent a car is at Hertz in Orvieto. They are across the street from the rail station--70 minutes north of Rome Termini by a local train. The roads out of there are fantastic and not congested.

Quick taxi ride (5-15 min dependent on lodging location) to Tiburtina Station Hertz, Europecar and maybe Avis. Easy access to the Autostrada.

Check Autoeurope or Kemwel, sister companies but sometimes different pricing.

For Hertz in Orvieto, you need to book direct with Hertz.

Thanks for your help!

ron,

One other detail to mention. I assume you're aware that you'll require the compulsory International Driver's Permit for driving in Italy, which are used in conjunction with your home D.L. These are easily obtained at any AAA / CAA office for a small fee, and are valid for one year.

You'll also have to be extremely vigilant to avoid the ZTL (limited traffic) areas which exist in many Italian towns (hefty fines for passing through them).

I second taking a train to Orvieto and picking up a car there. Just make sure your air conditioning works, as well as the GPS. We learned the hard way.

If you are in Chicago and need to drive to Cleveland, OH, would you
1. rent the car in Chicago and drive to Cleveland?
or
2. take Amtrak to South Bend, IN, pick up the rental car in South Bend to drive to Cleveland?

I bet 99.99% would choose option 1, yet when it comes to advising people in Rome, some people suggest Orvieto, which is the equivalent of suggesting option 2 above.

Whatever!