Car Rental from Milan

First of all I recommend you assess if you really need a car.
A train is much faster, more convenient, and cheaper.
Cars can't float, so you will have to keep it parked at one of the parking structures when you arrive. So in addition to the rental charges, you need to pay 30 euro a day for parking in Venice.
If you need a rental car, after you visit Venice, it's best to rent one AFTER Venice. All rental car companies are at the parking structure on Piazzale Roma.
To rent cars in Italy I use consolidators:
www.autoeurope.com
www.kemwel.com
(both are part of the same company but prices may differ)
The work primarily with AVIS-Budget, Hertz, Europcar. But they get lower prices than going directly with them.

If you drive, then the purpose of that should be to avoid the main highway/rail corridor, for instance, exploring the lakes and mountains to the north.

geri,

I "second" the suggestions from Roberto. Unless you need a car to get to small places not well served by public transit, the train is a better method.

A few other things to keep in mind......

• Travel by train will be much faster and more efficient, as the high speed trains travel at up to 300 kmH.
• In addition to the charges for parking, you'll be paying high fuel prices and tolls on the motorways.
• For driving in Italy, each driver will require the compulsory International Driver's Permit, which is used in conjunction with your home D.L.
• You'll have to be vigilant to avoid the dreaded ZTL (limited traffic areas) which exist in many towns and cities. If you pass through these, hefty fines will follow which you may not know about until several months after you return home.
• You'll also have to be vigilant to keep your speed within limits, in order to avoid being nicked by the Traffic Tutor system.

Happy travels!

I agree with the above posters. If you are going to Venice you won't be driving around the Venetian streets. It's costly to park and you will still be paying the daily rate. The train is much better option and it will deposit you inside Venice proper in the sestieri (district) Canneregio.

Buon viaggio,

I rented a car at Malpensa and drove to Bolzano. There were four of us and the car was cheaper than the train. I believe that we used Avis. Be sure that you inspect the vehicle very carefully when you pick it up for any little scratch or dent. The attendant in Bolzano found a tiny scratch that wasn't noticed in Milan. It cost me $90.00.
Have fun.

Thanks for the good information. But I think we do need a car, as we will be leaving Milan for the Lakes area (Como and Garda), then on to Verona and ending our trip in Venice where we will drop off the car at VCE before our stay there, the rest of our trip being by train. I'm just wondering if there is a car rental agency that is recommended.

If you roam around places between Milan and Venice, then a car may make sense, especially for the lakes and Dolomites. A car within cities is never needed.
If you drop the car in Venice upon arrival, I recommend you return the car at PIAZZALE ROMA. All rental agencies are inside the huge city parking structure as you arrive from across the bridge. Driving there is just as easy as going to the airport, but you save the money of the taxi from the airport to piazzale Roma (that is where either a taxi or airport bus will drop you anyhow).
To rent a car go to:
www.kemwel.com or www.autoeurope.com
Select the
dates and time
Pick Up location (you can select Milan Airport(s), Train station, City location(s). Not sure where you want to pick up. Airport is more expensive)
Drop off location (in your case select Venice-Piazzale Roma)
You will receive several choices for each car category. Select the car and price you like.
I generally call them and do the arrangements via phone after selecting my choice. First I ask their offer via phone (sometimes it's different than online). If it's less (never happened before), I take it, if it's more (always been the case) I tell them I want the deal that I see on the screen (and they give it to me).
The offers wlll be through these companies, in most cases:
Europcar, Hertz, Avis.
Europcar is the largest of the 3 in Europe.
Europcar or Hertz usually give the best prices.
I always choose coverage with NO INSURANCE EXCESS (no deductible).
You can't refuse insurance in Italy. They choice is between having it with no deductible or with deductible (about 1000 euro). If your credit card covers the deductible, you can probably do without and save a few dollars. Inquire with credit card as many do not cover Italy (and a few more countries). Your US car insurance will probably not cover you there either.