Picking up a car in Rome?

My wife and I were in Italy in 2000. We nearly divorced because of the traffic in Northern Italy! From everything I have heard, it is worse around Rome. Get to Florence or Siena and rent a car there. Check out the Antico Poggio in Tuscany near Montepulciano. Best restaurant we have ever been to. Excellent Brunello winery too.

I'll offer my experience that driving in most areas of Italy is easy - with the notable exception of going into the large cities and Florence. From Rome, you might take the train to Orvieto and pick up the rental car there. The airport would be easy enough as well. I wouldn't pick up at a city location in Rome.

Poke around the Autoeurope site. You'll see what your options are.

Definetly get OUT OF ROME BEFORE YOU RENT A CAR. Don't try driving out of Rome. The previous 2 response offer you good advice. Decide if you want to see something between Rome and Tuscany this trip (and if your have time to explore) That should help you decide which suggestions you will want to use as places to pick up you rental car. Please don't pick it up in Rome itself..... "Crash, Bang, Honk, Screeeeeech, ... Oh, no!!!!!.... No, I won't pick up my rental car in Rome!"

Pick the car up in Chiusi or Orvieto.

Linda, in September we picked up our Avis car down the street from our hotel on Via Cavour. It was really not that big a deal driving OUT of Rome, especially mid-morning, after the worst of the rush was over. Six years ago we drove INTO Rome, and that was rather trying. With a good map and a navigator, driving out was actually pretty easy. So, if you would really rather not train to some distant location to get your car, I'd give it a try. Say hi to my friend Lou in Vero.

Linda, Termini station in Rome is centrally located. So take the train out of Rome to where you want to start your driving trip and pick up the car there.