I am renting a Budget car (through Auto Europe) at the downtown office. VIA BORGOGNISSANTI 128 R, where other car rental agencies are also located. I am finding conflicting information on driving in and out of the city (pick and return only - we are not driving in Florence).
1) Is VIA BORGOGNISSANTI 128 R in the ZTL zone on a Saturday at noon?
2) If yes do I need anything special (like permit) to drive without being ticketed?
3) I am looking for a gas station close to rental car office to fill up before return (from the south- San Gimimangio area) that is on the route if anyone has any suggestions. I've learned the hardway to find this on google maps prior to my returning the car.
Any help is appreciated.
Thank you
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15161 posts
1) Yes.
2) You can exit without fear, since camera enforcement is only on exit. I posted how to exit in the post below (look for my last reply).
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/car-rental-in-florence-airport-vs-train-station
To enter you don't need a permit, but you need to enter through the permitted route. I will post the route to re-enter later when I have time.
3. I will post the gas station options later. They are not exactly near Borgo Ognissanti, but close enough to still show a full tank.
Posted by
Colorado Springs
2822 posts
Where are you heading once you collect the car?
Depending on the rest of your itinerary it might be easier to rent the vehicle at your first stop after a short bus or train ride to get there. Siena for example has several rental car offices within a short distance of the train station.
On a trip a few years ago we elected to pick up our car in Pisa - mainly because getting on the road towards Chianti from the airport lot was a snap, ie no worries about restricted driving zones.
Likewise, returning the vehicle in one of the smaller towns and taking the train or bus back into Florence would preclude a lot of headaches.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15161 posts
INSTRUCTIONS FOR CAR RENTAL RETURN TO BORGO OGNISSANTI
Using Google Maps enter this linked location below. The location is Piazza Taddeo Gaddi across the river Arno and outside the ZTL. You will need to reach this piazza (a piazza with a large roundabout circle) to go to Borgo Ognissanti safely.
So no matter where you come from from the south of Florence set this piazza as your first destination before crossing the bridge and going to the car rental return.
https://goo.gl/maps/wiXJCPCWfpxPrWscA
Once you are on Piazza Taddeo Gaddi, the location below is the garage (Interparking Europa Garage) where you will be returning the car (that is also where you picked up the car previously). Google Maps gives you two routes to get there, both are permitted routes.
https://goo.gl/maps/vWFBWXhu6FVv2xAE7
Use the "street view" option to see what the route looks like as you drive there.
GAS STATIONS
To reach Piazza Taddeo Gaddi from the freeway there are two routes depending on whether you exit the freeway at FIRENZE IMPRUNETA EXIT (coming from Siena this is the most logical exit) or the FIRENZE SCANDICCI EXIT (this is an alternate route that the navigator may send you depending on traffic). In any case near the freeway, on the way to PIazza Taddeo Gaddi shortly after the freeway exits (no matter which one) there will be several gas stations. Stop at the first one you see available, as there are few options as you get closer to the city center. From the freeway to the Borgo Ognissanti rental return there are no more than 4 miles, therefore if you fill the tank right after you exit the freeway, the tank will certainly show full at the garage where you return.
PS: Regarding the previous comment, you don't have many options for Budget outside of Borgo Ognissanti. It's either Borgo Ognissanti or the Airport (which is not convenient coming from San Gimignano). There is no Budget car rental anywhere near San Gimignano, and I just checked the Budget Italian website and there is no office in Siena (which is 40 min south of San Gimignano).
Posted by
OP
Tacoma, WA, USA
518 posts
Thank you Roberto for thaking the time to post all of this helpful information. We really appreciate it.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15161 posts
When you leave the car rental place after pick up, shortly after exiting the garage at one point you will be on a street called VIA DELLA SCALA. (refer to my old post with the photos linked on my top comment above). Although you won't be in danger of entering the ZTL however BE AWARE OF THE BUS LANE on VIA DELLA SCALA.
As you turn left on via della Scala (in front of the church), stay on the LEFT LANE ONLY.
The RIGHT LANE IS BUS LANE ONLY.
https://goo.gl/maps/G8wSA5qABg4Ur7vg7
This is already mentioned in my post that I linked on my top comment above, but you must be very cautious because there is a camera right after the church which is used to enforce the bus lane violations. STAY ON THE LEFT LANE on via della Scala.
Posted by
Seattle
64 posts
I found the staff at the Avis/Budget office to be really helpful in pointing out the route to avoid the ZTL as well. In our case, they marked the recommended directions on the map they gave us. It's only been four months, but so far no surprise tickets in the mail!
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7295 posts
Hey Renee, this is such a good thread, may I respectfully suggest that you try to edit your subject line and text so that "ZTL" is spelled correctly? I just want it to show up if someone searches for "Florence ZTL". Even if you can't change the subject line, changing the text will be enough. Edit This Post is what I think the link says. Thanks.
Posted by
OP
Tacoma, WA, USA
518 posts
Done! Thank you for pointing that out
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15161 posts
The airport is not convenient coming from Volterra.
Just go to PIAZZA TADDEO GADDI, then from PIAZZA TADDEO GADDI to the Interpark garage Europa on Borgo Ognissanti where all rental returns are.
Instructions in the replies below.
No ZTL worries.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15161 posts
INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE FREEWAY IMPRUNETA EXIT (Coming from Siena freeway) TO PIAZZA TADDEO GADDI (Option 1 via Galluzzo):
INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE FREEWAY IMPRUNETA EXIT (Coming from Siena freeway) TO PIAZZA TADDEO GADDI (Option 2 via A1 freeway to Scandicci Exit):
Posted by
San Diego, CA
45 posts
I'm curious who you and others are making your reservations through. I am looking at AutoEurope and seeing quotes for $3000 for 5 days!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15161 posts
I'm renting from Europcar through AutoEurope starting June 30 at over $100 a day for 2 weeks (compact manual car). I made reservations a month ago. That is almost 3 times what I used to spend before Covid. What you were quoted looks however excessive. I know that there is a big jump in prices in July but $600 a day is excessive. Try their sister company www.kemwel.com. But I know it's terrible to rent cars these days. Last month I wanted to drive one way from SF to LA with a rental car and I was quoted $500 for a day rental with drop off in LA, since I didn't need to keep the car in LA.
Posted by
1 posts
This is a very helpful thread, thank you! Can someone confirm that the linked route from P.za Taddeo Gaddi to the Europa garage is permissible and the best route to take to avoid ZTL fines? TIA!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15161 posts
Yes it’s safe.
Make sure you turn left before the cameras, which are located here at the start of Lungarno Vespucci at the corner with piazza Vittorio Veneto:
https://goo.gl/maps/ToZq7idjSRzrQyBu7
and here, still on Lungarno Vespucci, after the Vespucci Bridge (make sure you turn left on Via di Melegnano).
https://goo.gl/maps/2VvH1ph3NHkN8oRc8