I saw a similar question and am desiring and asking for more help. We’ll be traveling into Florence via train from Milan with our ultimate destination being Montepulciano. I’d like to rent a car outside of the city of Florence by taking the train past Florence to a smaller Tuscan town. What are the best places to rent a car right where the pickup location is right at the train station? Appreciate your help!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16230 posts
You can rent at Chiusi-Chianciano, but only Avis-Budget has an agency there. That would be close to Montepulciano, albeit would require a slight backtracking.
Another option is to rent in Arezzo (before Chiusi, coming from Florence). The Avis-Budget agency is across the station.
There are also a Hertz agency and a Europcar franchise (a gas station), but not exactly at the station, therefore you'd need a taxi.
A third alternative is to go to Siena. There is Avis-Budget, Europcar, Hertz, not too far from the Siena station (but not really walking distance).
Be aware that all of the above are small agencies that operate Mon-Fri with a lunch break of about 2 hours, Saturday mornings. Sat. afternoons and Sundays they are closed. Since they are small offices their fleet is small and may or may not include cars with auto transmission, which are not very popular in Europe, except for the larger car models.
All car rentals downtown Florence now use the underground garage under the S.M.Novella train station, although I don't know if the actual agency is at the station. Hertz and Sixt for sure are there, Avis-Budget and Europcar might be still on Borgo Ognissanti, about 10-15 min walk from the station. Florence would have the best options.
Check www.autoeurope.com
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8371 posts
The most popular car rental next to a train station is in Orvieto--Hertz. It is just about 100 yrds to their front door. From Rome Termini, a local train takes you there in 70 minutes.
The controlled access highway going from Rome to Florence is right there too.
You can return the car to the Florence airport when you get through touring the countryside.
The roads are well paved in Umbria and Tuscany but a little crooked. But they are well marked and easy to drive.
Posted by
138 posts
We picked up in Florence (Europcar) rather than closer to our destination in Montalcino because of the later pick up hours in Florence vs. the smaller towns (as Roberto mentioned), the automatic transmission, and because we could then drop it off at the airport in Rome vs. going back to Florence. But if the times work for you to pick up in one of the other locations, it will decrease the likelihood of hitting traffic out of Florence and decrease your travel time.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA area (USA)
118 posts
I think picking up at the underground garage at S.M.N. would be fine. You should be able to drive out of town without violating ZTL rules. Just check the ZTL map and use Google Maps to plan a route going away from the city center. Good luck!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16230 posts
If you pick up a car at a small franchise and intend to return at a different location, make sure you check if you can actually do a one way rental with drop off at a different location, and what the drop off fee would be.
If you rent a car just for the Montepulciano area it may not be a bad idea to pick up the car at Chiusi-Chianciano (Avis-Budget only) and return it there at the same location as well. That way you would minimize driving in cities and Chiusi is really close to Montepulciano. The agency is walking distance from the Chiusi-Chianciano train station from which you can take trains to Florence or Rome.
Just be aware of their opening hours and, if you absolutely need an automatic car, the availability of your requested car.
Orvieto is not as good unless you plan to visit Orvieto as well, because, coming from the north, it would require substantial backtracking to Montepulciano.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thx to all!! Appreciate the quick help!!
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7339 posts
Where are you going after Montepulciano? Where would you like to drop off car?
Another option not mentioned and no worries about agency hours, availability of auto transmission etc is to take tram or taxi from Florence train station to the Florence airport (15-20 min) and pick up your car there. It's just a bit in the wrong direction but you'll get the car you need and those agencies are open every day, including mid day hours.
However picking up in Florence at the station is not that difficult or complicated.
We always book thru autoeruope.com. They are having a big sale right now as well.
Make sure all drivers have an IDP.