Car Rental in Trastevere

Google Maps would show you car rental locations, but I see no reason to not do this by train.

As I'm sure you know, Trastevere is very much central Rome, and you're a braver person that I if you are comfortable driving in Central Rome. If it were me, I would train, but if you want to rent, I would at least train to somewhere on the outskirts and rent from there.

If it were me I would probably rent from Ostia or Ciampino Airport.

Any particular reason that you want to drive to Naples and Pompei? Most people here would soundly discourage driving at all in Naples, and both destinations are easily reached by rail.

Editing to add:
I've just seen your other post - where you say you will "most likely" travel by train, and will be staying in Naples 3 nights - so now I'm confused. Can you clarify?

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/where-to-stay-in-naples-pompeii

Thank you. I’ve driven in Rome several times but I do like the idea of picking up the car outside of the city. Five years ago I had rented in Munich & dropped off my Budget car somewhere near the Vatican & that was convenient. As long as it’s easy to catch a cab or Uber to get around Naples, I don’t mind being without a car. Over the years I’ve been ripped off by cabbies in Rome partly due to my youth & inexperience, but I’m much more savvy these days. Naples has never been the safest of places to visit & I’ve been scammed there as well.

Do you know of any accommodations in or around Naples that are exceptional & safe for a couple of elderly ladies traveling alone? Thanks!

Kathy, what part confused you? I’m simply in the preliminary planning stages today. We have 3 nights to explore the area & if a train is convenient to what we need to do, I’ll gladly skip the drive.
I’ve driven to Naples a couple times & found it’s not that unnerving & no more so than other major cities if you just take it slow. I don’t zip around like the local drivers & I get plenty of “finger salutes” but that doesn’t deter me.
I like to have the flexibility of a car & that’s my only reason for not taking the train. If I take the train, I’ll have to taxi around to restaurants & the museums.
We don’t have a base yet & Im hoping someone will give us some good suggestions on where to stay that’s convenient to getting from place to place without a car. Do you know the area or have any suggestions on an exceptional weekend in the area? I’m thinking along the lines of a really awesome B&B. In Rome, we’re staying at the Hotel Santa Maria which is an oasis in the middle of a chaotic city. That’s the kind of place I’d like to find in or around Naples/Pompeii

Check your TA post, you already have six places to check out.

The high speed train will get you to Naples in less than 1/3 of the time necessary by car and without the hassle. The train will be cheaper too unless you are in a group of at least 3 people.

High speed train=70 min
Car rental pick up and drive= at least 3.5 hours, when everything is said and done.

From Naples Central Station, you can take the Circumvesuviana to Pompeii, Sorrento, or wherever. You can also take the ferries to the islands (Capri, Procida, Ischia, and even Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast).

I would like to add that having a car in a big city like Naples does not add any convenience. You will still need to use taxis and/or buses (or walk) to go to museums and restaurants. Naples has areas that are closed to non resident traffic and parking is not plentiful either.

In other words a car is not at all needed while in Naples.

But if you insist in renting a car because you like stress and inconvenience, Avis-Budget has an office next to the Trastevere train station. It's outside the ZTL, so you don't even risk getting fined (unless you get lost or drive on a bus lane)

Thank you for the information! I’m leaning toward taking the train after all the helpful comments!! You are all really wonderful to respond as you have! I love it.
Leaving on Friday afternoon , May 19th…do I catch the train near Trastevere or the main terminal?
Does the train go into the center of Naples? What’s the best area to find really nice B&Bs?

Going by car, I can drive out into the countryside & stay in farmsteads or unusual & interesting places off the beaten track. Do you know of any places you can suggest to stay 3 nights & still be close to Pompeii & the archaeological museum? If I can have a nice experience without driving, I will most certainly take the train. Thanks to all who’ve given me fresh ideas!!

You are talking about two very different trips, so it is hard to say. I think most of us would use the train, stay in Naples, visit Pompeii as a day trip.
If you want to do a rural trip, you could search agriturismi in the outskirts, but it muddies the waters considerably for a Pompeii-Naples focused trip!

You catch the high speed train to Naples at Rome's main station, which is called ROMA TERMINI.
From Trastevere you can use the bus or a taxi (which I recommend if you have luggage).
The station where the train drops you off in Naples is NAPOLI CENTRALE, which, as the name suggests, it's in the center of town on Piazza Garibaldi.
Where you want to stay is up to you. It really depends on what you want to visit. If you are interested in visiting Naples and Pompeii, then the city center of Naples is best. I recommend the Chiaia area, near the Piazza del Plebiscito. Plenty of hotels and B&B everywhere.
Others prefer to stay in Sorrento, which is smaller and not chaotic like a big city, and is convenient to visit not only Pompeii, but also the Amalfi Coast (by bus, taxi, or boat) and Capri.
I don't find the route between Rome and Naples particularly appealing. Maybe one could go via the longer coastal route, but overall the best is near Naples itself, so I would stick to the train.

Kathy, what part confused you? I’m simply in the preliminary planning
stages today. We have 3 nights to explore the area & if a train is
convenient to what we need to do, I’ll gladly skip the drive.

Berry, you hadn't told us up front that you'd already driven in/dealt with parking in Naples and Rome. That was a pretty big detail to leave out. For all I knew, you'd had no experience at all with road trips in Italy.

As well, train is so convenient for trips between Rome > Naples and Naples > Pompeii than I'm a bit surprised that you didn't know that from former experience in the region. No matter; now you know!

There are around 35 direct trains every day from Roma Trastevere to Roma Termini . A railway travel can begin from the closest station, not necessarily from the biggest one.

All the info given above by Roberto are correct, but trains stop inside the tracks area at Roma Termini and not outside the station like buses and cabs.

Out of curiosity, do you know what a ZTL is?

We rented a car from Avis Autoloneggio in Trastevere up the hill on the Tram 3 line from the Trastevere train station. Driving out of the city was slow, but not bad. We’ve mainly rented from Europcar from the Roma Tiburtina station. We got there via a local train from Trastevere station to Roma Tiburtina station. The car rental offices were short walks from the station. The entrance to a highway is close and easy to access.

Hi Berry

I saw you mention "a couple of elderly ladies". I don't exactly know what that means (my wife turns 75 in a couple of months and we're just starting to think of elderly, but not quite) but it might be worth checking with the rental offices for any age limits or outrageous insurance costs. I understand that is sometimes an issue as we age.

You mention getting ripped off by Rome taxis due to your "youth and inexperience". That must have been a few years ago?

As you are so well travelled it would be great to hear trip reports from your point of view.

I love southern and central Italy in the spring. Happy travels...