Car rental thought in Italy, Rome, Umbria, FCO airport

We rented at FCO and went north from Rome. Driving out of FCO was not an issue. Similar to any other airport anywhere with Italian driving caveats understood. Driving from Termini seemed like it might be a lot more difficult. Getting in and out of Rome to FCO by train was easy.

Don't drive out of Termini. Either of your other options would be OK. I'd probably choose to get the car in Orvieto after my visit there had ended, if I wanted to spend a few days in Orvieto first, as the cit is quite walkable and you wouldn't need the car there. Then I'd pick it up to travel around Umbria and encpcirons, returning the car to FCO. If you return it to Orvieto and train back to Rome you will need to take a train to FCO from Termini, which would be unnecessary if you drive back to the airport directly to turn the car in there.

No point to A. B is ok with a return to FCO. It is fairly easy and direct to get to the expressway from Termini without any of the dreaded TL zones. C works also with a return to FCO. FCO is easy to find and it is well marked for car returns. Just like any US airport. Double check to make sure the is no drop fee or a small one.

I would definitely take no. 2.

But I learned to drive in an Italian city for many years and now drive in San Francisco. I have often driven in Manhattan and Chicago on business trips too. I have no problems driving in that type of chaotic urban environments (my father was a city bus driver in Italy so I had a good teacher too)

But what is your comfort level driving in a large city? If you don't feel comfortable driving in cities like NYC or San Francisco or Chicago, then driving within the city of Rome may not be for you. In that case renting and returning outside of the city center may be better.

I would do C (modified). No need to worry with a car until you're done with Orvieto. Then simply drive back to FCO when you're done. That's what we did and it worked out great.

Don't backtrack out to FCO from the city just to pick up a car. A waste of time and money.

Hello Martin, I have rented a car from FCO on three separate occasions. The process for pick up and drop off at the airport is quite simple. The only issue is dealing with FCO traffic, especially on return. Good Luck. Joe

When we are in Roma we always rent from Autoeurope and pick up the cat at Stazione Termini then drop it off at FCO before we fly home. I've driven in Italy for years, so I'm comfortable with this solution.

The Orvieto suggestion is a cogent strategy because it's a small town without the big city traffic.

Buon viaggio,

We have picked up cars in Rome( not at Termini) and at FCO. FCO puts you right on the Autostrada so very easy.

But why in the world would the OP go OUT to the airport when they are already IN Rome -- just to pick up a car? Spend that train time progressing towards Orvieto instead of just going out to FCO.

The Tiburtina station is near the entrance to the freeway TANGENZIALE EST.
Not sure what the big deal is about driving out of there.

Take the metro to Tibertina station, 7 minutes. Rent the car and head to Orvieto.

Thanks for all the thoughts and suggestions. Seems like nobody is suggesting go out to FCO just to rent a car. I've done that in other places just to return car in same place as pickup and avoid drop off fees. But for Rome it is indeed the wrong direction.

Many car rental companies in Itsly don't charge a drop fee if you rent for 3+ days.