Car Rental in Rome

There are lots of rental companies in and around Rome. And every of them has different locations. So maybe have a look if any rental station is near your hotel. But you also should have a close look to any ZTL (zona traffico limitato) which are all around in every city-center and for sure also near your hotel.
The other problem is finding a car-rental-company which offers these one-way trip for a suitable price.
And depending on your Nationality you maybe would need an IDP.

If you can, choose a car rental agency near the Tiburtina Rail station. Being near major arteries, it will be the route out of Rome with the least city driving. You might want to check using highly recommended AutoEurope to find a rental in that vicinity. Since credit cards don’t cover auto insurance in Italy, I always recommend renting a car and paying for the $0 deductible. And, yes, don’t forget a required International Driver Permit.

The offices near Tiburtina are the easiest to reach the freeway.
This is the Tiburtina location of some major companies. Note that they are all near one another.

Europcar: https://maps.app.goo.gl/91LV7SjhknYTq1tv6
Avis-Budget: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZEsQx6YLWVcePWvk8
Hertz: https://maps.app.goo.gl/p2R2a42FdpXjuBeYA
Sixt: https://maps.app.goo.gl/p2R2a42FdpXjuBeYA

When I pick up at Tiburtina, I set the navigator to take me to this freeway service area first:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/QLMYAHzQkSNu5qrD8

Then, after taking my daily espresso shot at the Autogrill at that station, I proceed toward my home in Tuscany. In your case you would set your navigator for your intended destination in Umbria or Tuscany.

You can also take the Circonvallazione Salaria (which is generally shorter), if it's not to trafficked when you pick up, but requires a longer trek on city streets before you get to the freeway. I'm sure that if you set up the navigator to your Tuscan destination from Tiburtina, GoogleMaps will send you to the Circonvallazione Salaria.

I've also picked up at Via Sardegna (near the Spanish steps). I've never picked up at the Termini station (but I have returned the car there more than once). Via Sardegna and Termini are outside the ZTL, however getting to the freeway from those locations requires a longer trek on city surface streets (again on Via Salaria) going north to the Roma Nord entrance on the A1. If you pick up at either via Sardegna or Termini, set the navigator directly to Tuscany and take the Via Salaria.

My suggestion is to check pricing with the major companies on www.autoeurope.com (a broker I use and many here use). Then I see where they have the best deal for pick up. I can tell you that the most expensive place to pick up is almost always the airport, the second most expensive is almost always the Termini station. All other locations, including Tiburtina or even Via Sardegna, are generally all the same. If you have a choice between via Sardegna or Tiburtina and they are at the same price, pick up at Tiburtina. Then take the route I suggested above. Tiburtina is really close to the A24 freeway. It's a bit longer route compared to the Via Salaria, but not by much in terms of time of travel.

Thank you. That is valuable information. We have driven in Italy many times, but strangely, we have never rented a car in Italy. We've driven from Provence to Venice and from , Amsterdam and Frankfurt to Rome and back. Never drinking to Rome, but Orvieto where we park at the train station parking lot and take the train into and out of Rome.

We always Auto Europe as they always offer CDW,

You might consider renting the car in Orvieto. The rental is very convenient to the train station and there is excellent highway and rural road access there. There are some very reasonable places to get a wonderful carbonara nearby.

I don't know where exactly you are going in Tuscany/Umbria but these are some locations in smaller cities in Umbria and Tuscany:

Orvieto: Hertz only
Chiusi: Avis-Budget only
Spoleto: Avis or Hertz
Perugia: many companies

Be aware that the Hertz in Orvieto does not generally offer cars with automatic transmission. I just checked with www.autoeurope.com (they now work with that Hertz office) and the automatic transmission option did not come up on any of the dates I tried, only manual transmission was available. If you need automatic, your best chance is of course Rome or Perugia.

Thank you all for the information. Greatly appreciated.

This site could benefit from a thumbs up emoji for such thorough and helpful information as has been provided by Roberto. It never occurred to me that an auto shift would be something that people might want. I am forever trying to rent manual shift cars; a reason I have enjoyed renting in Europe. Here in the states, they are almost unheard of.

The standard shift never bothered me and it is less expensive.. Although driving in the UK is a little awkward with six forward speeds and you’re shifting with your left hand. But you get used to it, except for occasionally confusing 3rd and 5th.

Again, thanks everyone. I think Tiburtina will do nicely, then andiamo Cortona, Siena, Florence, and Venice. Ciao!