Driving in Italy

This trip, I am being advised to rent a car in Rome.

Can you provide some more detail as to the rationale? What sites (near Rome I presume) are you looking to see which would necessitate a car? Rome itself is best without one.

Curious who is advising to rent a car in Rome. If you mean renting one on the way out out Rome - then you can pick up the car on the outskirts or the airport - but certainly no need for one in the city.

I only drive to leave Rome. If that is what you are doing, great, but bring a GPS. They are invaluable. Ideally you will rent your car somewhere outside of the center where it is easy to escape to the Autostrada.

We once rented a car in Rome, when we were heading out. The agent gave us explicit instructions (pre-gps days), and we were on the ramp to the ring road in a few minutes. No problem. The only advice I would give is that, if possible, rent from an office that is close to such an entrance. It's true that you really don't want to have to traverse the city.

There is a lot of Rome, most of the centre, where you cannot drive without expecting a very large fine. ZTL is the term to research.

Almost all of Rome's roads are extremely bumpy due to their being made of stone blocks similar to cobblestones, and traffic is extremely heavy, and then you add in the motorinos. Parking on the street is nearly impossible and car silos are very expensive.

I drive my car to Italy most years. I drive all over the north and central and southern areas but there are two cities where I leave my car parked for the full duration - Napoli and Roma.

Follow the advice above.

Why are you being advised to rent a car in Rome? It would help us understand. I'm sure that there is a good reason. Is your visit for business and the company needs lots of heavy things moved around, and can get you out of the fines?

I always rent cars when traveling, but try to schedule the trip so I won't have one ion the bigger cities. Last summer we ended our trip in Rome. I dropped the car on arrival and was very glad I did. I'm not at all adverse to having a car when traveling, but I can't see any benefit to having one in Rome. I can't imagine anyone recommending having a car, why did the suggest that, are you planning day trips outside of Rome? If you're going anywhere in addition to Rome, I'd look at starting or finishing in Rome and getting the car when you leave the city, or dropping it off on arrival.

As others have told me......do not rent a car to drive in Rome. Driving in Rome is close to insanity. Rent a car to drive when you are leaving Rome. We are spending a few days in Rome then renting a car at the Rome Termini station to drive to Tuscany. From the termini station it is a short drive to get to the major highways to get you out of town.

Don't keep a car in Rome. Not necessary

Lorieann

We drove into Rome on a Friday afternoon at 5:00, I was terrified at the possibility, but the traffic was not that bad. We parked and left the car until we left Rome- not the most efficient use of the rental time, but it worked for us and our trip. We left on (I think) a Tuesday morning, and again, the traffic wasn't that bad.

The only reason to rent a car in Rome is to leave Rome. Even so, trains can be much better options depending on where you're off to next and how much you're actually going to use the vehicle.

Who is advising you to rent, and why?

Sorry, I did a poor job of explaining. We will be renting the car as we leave Rome, and head to Assisi.
I usually train out of Rome, to Chiusi, or Orvieto, and rent a car there. Since we are going to Assisi, a friend there suggested renting in Rome and driving up. After a few days in Umbria, we will be heading to La Spezia, where we will drop the car, and use the train from there. My concern was getting out of Rome, but after reading these posts, I think we will have no problem.

Thanks to all!

Any suggestions on which agency to use, and where? Considering that we will be headed to Assisi?

Jeff