Driving out of Rome

I would rent at the airport; it's on the outskirts of Rome and an easy shot to Tuscany.
Termini is in the city so you'll get a taste of driving in the Rome Grande Prix! I guess it's in how adventurous one feels!

We've done it both ways. DEFINITELY pick up your rental car at the airport.

We rented a car at Ciampino and it was very easy and would do so again. Our destination was Montalcino and driving took a bit longer than we expected. We met others who drove out of the Termini and said they would never try it again.

Thanks guys, Can anyone recommend a good rental car company that is somewhat affordable from Rome airport? Thank you again for your responses. Jaks

Agree that you should avoid driving for the first time from Termini. After a week of driving in Italy, your skills may be better, but your first day there is no time to go pro. Check out Autoeurope.com for numerous rental options. They are a consolidator for several rental car agencies and they have a 24/7 office in Maine to handle your questions.

Jaks, we are planning to do the same thing...to rent a car from Termini Station and then drive up to Tuscany, but we'll be in the middle of our trip. (We're getting the car at the end of our week's stay in Rome.) If you're planning to drive straight to Tuscany after you arrive in Italy, I'd definitely get the car at the airport. After reading all the comments here, I'm wondering if we should take the train to Orvieto and rent the car there! It doesn't make sense for us to get it at the airport.

we rented our car at Villa Borghese. It was straightforward driving out of Rome. I also brought along my GPS which helped. Driving in Italy is no great challenge, driving in Rome is no great mistake.

The Villa Borghese location is not far off of the Autostrada, and it's not in a ZTL. Call AutoEurope and they will match the best price you can find.

what is a ZTL? Thanks for the responses again...will try autoeurope.

Jaks. If you decide to take the train rather than leave from Rome, Orvieto is a great place. In fact, you may want to stay the night! Also, as I remember, it is an hour from Rome and the trains run hourly. Bobbie

Thanks Bobbie!!
We actually have two nights booked in San Gimignano after Rome but thinking of cancelling them and thinking of winging our two nights while driving in Tuscany. Orvieto sounds like a nice place. So for sure we will see. Thanks again for the advice. Jaks

Jaks, in answer to your question about the ZTL - these areas in several Italian cities, most notably Florence, are areas of limited traffic - taxis, buses, police and emergency, etc. They are monitored by camera, and each time you pass a camera, it's a $100 ticket. Friends who had a big group, therefore 2 rental cars, got lost in Florence, and drove around the block 7 times looking for their destination - $1400 in traffic tickets arrived in the mail when they got home! Check out any cities you are driving in for ZTL's and avoid at all costs.

The Villa Bourgesee is an great spot to pick up your car, and it very easy to acess the frewway from there. We have piked up car there and at the airport, and both locations were great. Autoeurope and Gemut Are two awesome brokers that handle car rentals in the EU. Go to the AE website and fidle with pick-up locations. You will notice that if your pick up at an airport or train station the price will be much higher. Bring yuour GPS and a small Michelin fold out map of Italy, and you will be ready to go!

< What's a ZTL?> Jaks, here's an article on everything you wanted (and did not want) to know about ZTL's in Rome. If you're headed directly out of town, you should be able to avoid these. There are many car rental options in Rome, depending on your vendor. You might look at this posting on Car Rental Locations in Rome. It has a map you can use to locate your car rental agency. Once you get out of the city (Rome) and into Tuscany, you'll enjoy driving in Italy.

Thank you so much for that info Ron. I'll definitely be on the lookout for ZTL's.
Amazingly helpful. Really appreciate all the info here. Thank you again, Jaks

Hi, We're doing the same thing because we've rented a house in Tuscany but are flying into Rome. Since our flight arrives at noon, the outlying rental places are not open when we would arrive to pick up a car, leaving us no option but to pick it up late in the day and end up driving to our rental in the dark. Then on the return, we'd have to return the car very early and again the outlying rental places are not open. So renting and driving from the airport are our only options. Hope you're driving goes well:)

Hi Debbie, Yes, for sure the airport does seem like the better option. This way we don't have to stress so much about time. Have a great time in Italy:) Jaks

For sure the airport. Just like leaving airport in any large city in US.
Make a couple of turns and you are on the interstate heading toward your destination.