Car Rental

You need an International Driver's Permit to carry with your driver's license. It can be obtained cheaply at any AAA office. It essentially translates your license into foreign languages so officials can get your information if they need to.

Although I drove a pretty good swath through Italy without a scratch. I wouldn't suggest driving without full CDW insurance. The chance of theft, car prowling and/or an accident is always greater when you are traveling in unfamiliar areas but seems to be very high in Italy.

Finally, bring a GPS with European maps. I use a TomTom 920. You need one because street signs are rare and even the autostrada doesn't have logical signage. It's better to bring one from home so you know how to use it rather than trying to learn one while traveling.

Thanks for the great info Brad. I really appreciate it.

Great advice Brad!
Lois, here's more info on the IDP:
IDP Questions. I'd also recommend reading this section of Slow Travel Italy as they go a good job talking about driving here, although some of the mateial is a tad dated: Driving in Italy .

Thanks Ron, I checked it and good advice.

If you are looking for a GPS, I just bought a Garmin Nuvi 270 from Amazon for $145 after shipping. I haven't used it yet, but nearly all of the hundreds of reviews I read are positive, and this is the only inexpensive model with European and US road maps. I have used other Garmin models in the past and been very pleased. The 270 has been discontinued, so the price was dramatically lowered. I guess I will not be able to update the maps in the future, but I'm not too worried about that. As far as renting a car, I used Avis.com and it was very straight-forward. Get all of the insurance that you can just to be safe (it only adds about $30/day). Be careful because some of the rental offices in smaller cities may be closed early afternoon (12 -3). Good luck.

We used Sixti.com and 99% of their cars have GPS installed.

Brad and Ron have given you the full scoop on the IDP. You also asked about insurance. Liability insurance is provided by the rental car agency. Collision Damage Waiver insurance is required by law in Italy. In France, for example, I would be allowed to decline CDW (just like I do in the US) because the credit card I use to rent the car covers me (just like in the US). If I were to rent a car in Italy, I would be obligated to buy CDW coverage.

Here's a quote from the Auto Europe Web site: "All of Auto Europe's rates include third party liability and fire insurance. Collision Damage Waiver is included in all of Auto Europe's 'Inclusive' rates. 'Inclusive' rates will also include Theft insurance in most cases. Collision Damage Waiver and theft insurance releases the client from full financial responsibility for the vehicle in case of an accident or theft. In most cases, the client will still be responsible for a deductible of some sort when collision and theft are purchased. Most car rental suppliers will offer insurance locally which can reduce the collision and theft deductible if the client wishes to do so. With the exception of Italy, CDW is optional and a client always has the right to refuse it."