car rental insurance in sicily

Car rentals in southern Italy are quite expensive and have been for years. Back in 2018 when we went to Sicily it was said the daily cost would be $75. The total cost, after 12 days was €1400 which is insanely expensive and excessive. It was pretty much similar on our 2022 trip to Puglia, but not as bad. One of the things I learned was to NOT use an American car rental company since they’re totally independent of their parent companies. I usually use autoeuropa or some such company. I always sign the CDW and never use their insurance my auto insurance from the USA covers it but check yours to see if it does. I wouldn’t rely on your Visa card to give you coverage because they’re notoriously bad at following up and actually giving you coverage when something untoward happens.

Hi Renee,

We will be heading to Sicily this Spring and are also renting a car for a few days. Based on everything I have read and RS’s recommendations, I am adding all of the extra coverage to our car. We also have protection through our credit card, but I have heard that can be very complex. I believe someone else paired on the forum that additional coverage may be mandatory to a point. For the extra cost, I figured it was not having to worry about potentially aggressive driving. Depending on how long you will have the car, $20/day seems worth it to reduce the stress. We are renting through Avis so I can’t speak to pricing.

Safe travels!

Check with Alamo, but with some companies unless you get basic CDW through it (what your credit card covers) you may not be able to get additional CDW/zero deductible at the counter.

What coverage you get is up to you, how much risk you’re willing to take, and what you can afford. Essentially, what’s your comfort level with the coverage your card covers. Read carefully what it does cover and what is excluded. That may help you make your decision. For example, you may want additional coverage if the card doesn’t cover tires or windshield damage, or personal injury protection.

For piece of mind, we always get the zero deductible, road hazard, and windshield protection so we don’t need to worry about dings, damaging a tire on a curb, etc. As already pointed out and what you’ve noticed is zero deductible comes at a cost that significantly increases the overall cost of the rental.

On our 2018 Sicily trip we drove completely around the island, mostly on rural roads and in small towns. We had no damage to the rental. When we went into Palermo and Catania we parked at our lodging and took the bus into the cities. On that trip we rented through Avis at Catania airport.

Yes, take the insurance without any deductable. Only this would protect you for beeing charged for every scratch at the car.
You know, you'd need an IDP for driving in Italy. Even if the rental company doesn't ask about, it is the law and could come very expensive if you are cought without it.

My Sicilian friend when he heard we were not gonna opt for the expensive insurance...

"Nooooo Chris, you HAVE to get the full insurance when driving in Sicily. No question!"

So we bit the bullet and did. In an ironic twist, the (brand new Mercedes) was damaged by the rental agent who drove it into a garage pillar when we picked it up.

We will have some protection for insurance through our Visa card.

Be very sure of this. Most cc do not cover Italy.

We always use AutoEurope.com to book our cars- a US based consolidator with excellent customer service. They work with all the major agencies- Europcar, Hertz, Avis, Sixt etc. As said above don't expect Alamo in Sicily to be like Alamo here in US.

I would check AutoEurope rates and offers. They are usually the best.

We always get No Deductible, Full Insurance = peace of mind. Just drop the car and walk away. You might be careful drivers, etc but if your car is dinged while parked or anything at all- it happens-you will not be covered.

If you decide to forego insurance then be sure to take pics of the vehicle- all sides, front back, etc- anywhere your camera can get a shot.

the rental agent who drove it into a garage pillar when we picked it
up.

This made me laugh but it happens all the time. Parking garages and lots are always tight, narrow, stressful.

I gave you all the necessary tools for an informed decision on rental car and insurance in the thread below.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/car-rental-company-at-pmo

I tested on AutoEurope.com for a week rental at the beginning of September 2026, which I believe is when you are going to Sicily. Avis has the best deal for that period for a small SUV (Jeep Renegade or VW T-Cross or similar). The cost for a week is $336, so less than $50 a day. The basic insurance (Liability, CDW, Theft) is included, but if you want to have zero deductible then it’s an extra $4,32/day. If you want to have absolutely everything covered (like undercarriage, windshield, which are generally not covered) with zero deductible, then it’s an extra $12,32/day.

So with absolutely the best coverage possible you can have an SUV for about $60 day with full coverage and absolutely no worry for you. I don’t know how people consider those outrageous prices. I can’t find these deals in the US anymore, even after declining insurance.

As many others have said here-- "buy the full coverage." Time is money. Only dupes buy insurance, right?

When we returned our car in Spain, we just dropped it off-- no problem. We returned it with no issues we could see. Our rental cost $100 for our days, the insurance was $120. Everytime we took the car out I didn't worry. Narrow streets, blind spots, bikes, scooters, other cars, parking lots-- all potential hazzards--a ding, a broken mirror, a dent, etc. All waiting to happen by the insurance gods.

When returning the car, the rental car rep looked the car over and sent us on our way. However, the car behind us most likely didn't have insurance. They began to argue, but the rental car rep continued to point out something amiss. Not happy campers. I don't know exactly what happened just that it became a scene. I would never want to go through that. We felt very smart paying double for our car just so we would never have to deal with that kind of hassle.

Ok, so I have decided to go through autoeurope to book my car and will take out full no-deductible insurance. I see there are some rental companies with prices half those of others on this website (autoeurope). Are those companies to be trusted? Why are they half the rate? Or is it best to stick with the ones I have heard of?

I see there are some rental companies with prices half those of others on this website (autoeurope). Are those companies to be trusted? Why are they half the rate? Or is it best to stick with the ones I have heard of?

Who/what are the suppliers.

I doubt anyone here knows which rental car companies you have heard of, and which you find suspect.

I generally would select the major International and well established operators in Italy, such as:
Avis-Budget (incl. Maggiore, an Italian brand now part of Avis)
Europcar
Hertz
Sixt
SicilyByCar (they are big in Sicily, where they were founded)
Enterprise (incl. their brand National, Alamo)
There is also Locauto, which is an Italian brand that is highly rated that is independently owned but affiliated with Enterprise.

There are a variety of fairly new outfits, such as Noleggiare, Drivalia, Ecovia, etc. which I don’t know and I’m not sure if they are good or not. Check their reviews. But for the beginning of September in Palermo I see that Avis may have the best rates. I didn’t see anything half price of what Avis has. Maybe it depends on the specific dates.

I have heard of Europcar, Avis and Sixt. Have never heard of Nolezziare, Viaggiare or Italy car rent.

I have heard of Europcar, Avis and Sixt. Have never heard of Nolezziare, Viaggiare or Italy car rent. Also sicily by car

The companies you mentioned are Italian companies that sprung up in the past 5 to 10 years. So they are fairly new. Drivalia is a Spanish company born about 15 years ago which entered the Italian market in the past 2 or 3 years. I’m not familiar with them either.

The other companies I mentioned are well established companies often American based. Sixt of course is the oldest in the world (born in Germany at the beginning of the 1900s), while Europcar was founded in France right after WW2.

SicilybyCar is a well established company that has been around for over 60 years. It’s just not present in the US market. SicilybyCar is really big in Sicily more than anywhere else. I rented from them twice, once in Sicily. I have no complaints.

That doesn’t mean that the newer outfits are bad, but I have never tried them.

September is a long way off
I would monitor rates for a while and see if they come down-although the rate Roberto found is pretty darn good

With AutoEurope you will pay upfront but can always cancel and rebook if you see a better rate

They have a toll free number and are extremely helpful and knowledgeable so if you have questions-call them

Sign up for their email list-they do offer member discounts and have Flash Sales thru the year

Just received an email from AutoEurope
They are having a Flash Sale now
10-15% off

Thanks, Christine!

Booked my car! I hope I am ok on this. I found a great price on Kayak on my phone as opposed to my laptop. Booking was through AutoEurope with Avis. Took out full coverage too. I did receive confirmation through AutoEurope with a printable voucher.