Car rental in Italy - automatic transmission

Given that it is a year away, I would hold off and check back every few months or so. Many people swear by AutoEurope, but I did not find them any cheaper than Hertz.
Where to pick up would depend on your itinerary--there are often offices even in small towns. Also, if you check a company website like Hertz you can compare locations. I have never had difficult getting an automatic even when not picking up at an airport, but sometimes i have had to put in a request and await confirmation.

You are probably looking to soon. We are looking at car rentals for next June at nearly 600$ for a week for a mini car with manual transmission. Including full coverage. We will do train’s and buses instead. If you are a AAA member they have the best rates I’ve seen.

We arrange our cars by calling up Autoeurope, others using the web site; get zero-deductible collision. The FLR complex is at Via Palagio degli Spini, reached by taxi. There is also Avis in Arezzo, La Spezia and Chiusi [all closed on Sunday]. Multiple agencies at the Pisa Airport and Siena by the train station. Rome I would prefer one of the agencies on Via Sardegna. One needs to be cognizant of ZTL issues and have an IDP.

Those seeking bargains need to get reviews:

https://www.apathtolunch.com/2014/12/car-rental-company-reviews-for-italy.html

We alway use AutoEurope and yes! this year rates are exceptionally high. Hopefully things will settle down next year.
You might sign up for AutoEurope emails- they do run sales/specials now and then.

Do some searches here on the forum for car rental in Florence- there are dozens of threads and lots of suggestions for pick up/drop off, etc.

This August I paid $1250 for 3 days- mid-size SUV auto. Rented with Budget, at Venice airport.

that was the lowest price. AutoEurope and Sixt were even more expensive.

But the car was brand new. pick up and drop off was easy.

Between now and a year from now you could learn to drive a manual transmission and that might save you some money.

What Rachele said. With a year you can master a manual, millions of Europeans drive stick shifts daily.. It will save money and simplify car rentals

Great advice, if you have access to a manual.

Neither myself nor my husband have driven a manual in 30 some years. I do wish we had access to one to re-learn, but we don't. And we don't want to re-learn driving a stick while in Italy.

Catherine, it's really too early to get accurate rates on rental a year from now. Research for sure.

That is why I buy only manual transmission cars in the US, no matter how limited my choice of models is nowadays. I don’t want to forget how to drive one. Renting an automatic car in Europe can cost up to 50% more than a manual one.

The price you listed is however excessive even for an automatic car. The reason is that you are looking too far ahead. Check the price now for the next month or so, to get an idea, then make your reservations about 1 to 3 months ahead of the time of travel. I checked now on www.AutoEurope.com for the week of Christmas and prices for an automatic compact are about $650-$750 a week. It is much higher than pre-Covid, but these are the prices nowadays. Hopefully the shortage of cars will end a year from now.

This is how to check. Go to www.AutoEurope.com
- Select FLORENCE ALL LOCATIONS as your pickup and drop off locations.
- Select NO DEDUCTIBLE under coverage options (if you don’t the deductibles can be stiff, about €1,000)
- Select AUTOMATIC under the transmission options
- Choose a date in the next month or so to check prices. Then go back when it’s closer to the time of travel.

Really? You think one forgets? I think it’s like riding a bicycle - it all comes back.

So, a bit like making love with your wife?

Regards Ron

I would recommend taking the trains as much as possible. Also, check on local tours for Tuscany. You can take the train from Florence to Sienna and other towns.

Roberto, get ready for a topsy-turvy world of transmissions. The new Nissan Frontier pickup in the US doesn't have a manual transmission option, just a 9 speed automatic. In Europe, the 2023 Peugeot short-term lease program only offers diesel cars with automatic transmissions. Part of the reason is that automatics now offer better fuel mileage than manual transmissions.

You might also research autoeurope.eu. We've sometimes found better rates there versus on autoeurope.com.
On our most recent trip to Italy (pre Covid) we collected our car at the airport in Pisa which made everything pretty easy.
Renting a car is really the only way to explore rural Tuscany.
I have a lot of experience driving manuals, but for driving around the Tuscan hills I was very glad to have sprung for an automatic. It really is worth the extra cost.

I know Mike. But I’m old school. I like to drive the stick. One of my cars is almost 15 years old, and soon it will need to be replaced. Hopefully there are still some manuals around.
Rachele I don’t know if one can forget, because I rarely drive an automatic, except for when I rent on an American vacation, and that is generally for no more than two weeks. But based on what I read here where many posters said they forgot, I presume it’s not like riding a bike.

Recent article says only 2.4% of cars sold in US (I forget the recent year) were stick shift. With some manufacturers phasing out by 2030, along with switch to electric. Time to buy a couple of spares.

I rented an automatic with Sixt last month and had a great experience. They weren't as pricy as Europcar

I highly recommend springing for 0 deductible insurance regardless of who you go with. Cars in italy seem to get messed up lol

Roberto - It is hard to believe that something like that could be forgotten, but maybe I should find a manual so I can refresh my skills. My current car is an automatic but all the rest have been stick. Sad that they are being phased out.

Avoid Avis at the Florence Airport. That said, we have used Sixt a number of time and have been VERY happy with their prices and customer service. Once I didn’t pay attention in Avignon and got a standard transmission reservation. The folks there switched it out with a automatic Merceds station wagon at no extra charge. My fault but they fixed it.

A search on expedia for random dates in Sept produced AT options starting at $73 day, ( $0 deductible add $11 per day)

Avis, Hertz, Alamo, ERAC among ohters

We had a very good experience at Florence airport Avis this past May
YMMV

If the entire world phases out internal combustion vehicles, then it won't be a problem renting an automatic in Europe because their cars will also be all automatic. But I just don't think it will happen in the next 15 years.

If you do book with Autoeurope now and the prices go lower, they will rebook you to the lower price. I have done that in the past. But you have to keep checking then call when/if that happens.

We've always gotten excellent rates using gemut.com

In September we rented for 13 days, an automatic, and paid $669 total. This was through Avis.