Rental cars northern Italy

Just wanted to add that this trip will be mid September if that makes any difference.

Are you looking to drop the car off and pick up a new one after the three days or just park it? You'd have to compare the costs to see what worked out better. If you had not booked everything already, I would have suggested switching CT and Tuscany to have the car contiguously. There are lots in La Spezia where you could leave the car.

Google maps will show you rental office locations in La Spezia. Everyone raves about AutoEurope. I finally called them this year (when prices are through the roof), and they were no cheaper than Hertz (who would have provided the car), who I went with.
They urge you to get the insurance info from your CC in writing so no one at the counter can influence you. In the past, credit card was not applicable in Italy, but I gather that may have changed.

Your plan sounds good, you just need to pinpoint the details. I would drop in Florence vs the airport -- you'll be practiced in avoiding ZTL by that point in the trip and can obtain detailed driving directions in advance.

Most of the big name rental operations will have offices only in the larger Italian cities.

I usually use Hertz because I have a 20+ year Gold Card that came from my company--a fleet user of rental cars. But I've also used AutoEurope a few times and had good luck with them.

You might want to check out the locations of the rental offices and Google Maps can show far they are from the train stations.

LaSpezia would be the place to drop a car, and then catch a slow, local train into the C/T. It might be as cheap to keep the car if you're going to use it for a full week--and just park it in a commercial lot outside of the Cinque Terre.

No credit card's CDW insurance is accepted in Italy (or Ireland.) Government regulations require you to purchase their CDW, but the good news is that it's far cheaper than CDW in other places.

Thank you for your response.

I was actually hoping we wouldn't encounter too many ZLTs in the areas we are in but we will watch for them. I guess I didn't think the car thing through when I chose CT and then Tuscany. I only looked at the geography on the map. But we'll do what we need to and I'll compare the cost of leaving the car for 3 days (although that makes me nervous that there might be problems with it unattended so long) and just rebooking.

I was just hoping someone at Autoeurope would be able to give me more information and help with locations if I talked to them on the phone. And also that's why I'm on this forum with these questions.

Was hoping someone would know about the car rental locations in Venice. And at LaSpezia can we just walk to the train to Monterossa? I really didn't want to drive into Florence but was hoping we could drop the car somewhere close and just train in. I emailed the hotel but they never responded to my question.

Anybody else have some information?

Thank you again.

Lastly, I have a Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card and they tout their Auto Rental CDW insurance

Most credit cards EXCLUDE Italy from coverage. Be sure to check if your card is an exception.

You might have better luck with AutoEurope than I did--the rep condescendingly told me he was not an insurance rep when i said I had Chase Sapphire and would be declining CDW (this was in Spain and not Italy though). Call Chase to find out definitively about coverage in Italy.
What I typically do is search on a map for rental car offices in the location I want them--that is more reliable than any forum input. I would certainly ask for advice here on good locations to pick up in Venice (I'm not experienced there), but otherwise none of these locations are difficult, but you are definitely going to have to be aware of ZTL driving in Tuscany and i imagine elsewhere (not experienced in Dolomites or lakes either). All you need to do is recognize the ZTL sign so you don't drive into one.
You just need to do legwork now. You can go to Hertz or Autoeurope (and any others you like) websites and plug in your dates and all possibilities, and the website can show you office locations as well. Pay special attention to hours, weekend hours especially.

1. Piazzale Roma at the City parking structure is correct. That is where the rental car offices are. I don't think the rental offices are at the Tronchetto parking structure.
2. The rental car offices at La Spezia are near the Cruise port. From there you need to take a taxi to the train station (about 15 min taxi ride). Trains are super frequent and cheap since they are regional commuter trains. As mentioned above, if you need the car again 3 days later, it might make sense to bite the bullet and park the car at Monterosso for those 3 days (there are two parking lots in Monterosso one at the Fegina district and one near the historic center) instead of booking 2 separate rental periods. Unless returning the car and renting it again later saves you a lot of money, I would save myself the hassle. I don't know what your daily rental fee saved would be. Parking in Monterosso costs Euro 20/day.
3. Yes you definitely should have a car in Tuscany. I don't know how you could survive without one at an agriturismo. You should also drive the car to Florence and return it in Florence. Returning it at Pisa Airport (60 miles away from Florence) and then taking the people mover to Pisa station and the then the train makes no sense to me. From Volterra to Florence is about the same distance as from Volterra to Pisa (just over one hour drive to either place).

The usual rental locations in/near Venice are the airport and Piazzale Roma. We have rented from and returned to both locations, with Hertz.

However, I just checked AutoEurope for Venice rental locations and they offered airport, Mestre, and Ferrovia (the train station). Now there is no way to get a car anywhere near the Ferrovia, so I figured they meant Piazzale Roma across the canal, but the map made it appear more toward the cruise ship docks. Maybe that is Tronchetto.

The disappointing thing was that the only company the offered is EuropCar. But have noticed that Hertz has been dropping their presence in a lot of areas. Or maybe only EuropCar will allow a one-way drive to La Spezia.

Do check your Chase card for Italy coverage—-I know it is excluded on my AmEx card. CDW is mandatory in Italy and the rental car office won’t let you drive away without proof you have it. My understanding is that Italy does not recognize “outside” insurance for this coverage, so you must take what is offered with the rental. But it is not expensive.

Rental car insurance via a credit card perk is an American thing, not common worldwide. So Its not necessarily something foreign rental staff have knowledge of. Even if accepted, it likely doesn't work the same over there, if you do have damages.

Thank you all for your replies. I've thought about it a bit and feel like it would be easier to bite the bullet and pay for parking in Monterosso and the extra three days car rental than drop and pick up a car in LaSpezia. It looks like there's a parking garage really close to our hotel that isn't through the roof pricing. I think we will plan to pick up a car at Piazalle Roma in Venice and keep it continuously until we get to Florence.

I will definitely call Chase and see if they offer CDW for Italy. If not I'll just buy it. Any particular rental car agency that you like? I also was thinking of contacting AARP. In the past they've had some good car rental prices but not sure if that's true anymore.

So the last question I have is where I should drop the car in Florence. I agree that it seems unproductive to drive to Pisa and then take a train to Florence. But at the same time I don't want to drive in Florence any farther than we have to. I don't know about being experienced with ZLT but I'm hoping we can avoid that. We won't be in a lot of cities, but maybe even smaller towns have those areas.

We are coming from the area of Volterra and staying in Residenza Il Villino in Florence. Anybody know the best place to drop a car before we go there. Don't mind walking a bit or taking a train in. Not sure what would be most convenient. Maybe I should start another thread for that?

Any thoughts or advice for my plans?

Thanks again.

Return your car in Florence at the Interpark Europa parking structure on Borgo Ognissanti. That is where all rental car returns are. Instructions on how to get there are in the thread below (check 3rd reply).

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/florence-car-rental-zlt-zone

From there take a taxi to your accommodations, which are located in a very car restricted area (so don’t attempt to drive there).

Can you cancel the agriturismo? If so, you could stay in Tuscany and use public transportation, maybe with a private guide/driver instead.

If you do have a car in Tuscany, you could drop it at the Florence airport and then take the tram to the city center. Cheap and easy.

Small towns have ZTL, be sure you understand the implications of this. It's not hard, but you need to be aware.

We are using Sixt in July, so I can't tell you how it went yet, but just to share our plans: We are doing similar things as after staying in Venice, we are driving up to the Alpe di Suisi for a few days and then going back to Milan. Because of our situation with the return and getting a better rate, we are taking a train from Venice to Verona and renting at the train station there (Sixt has an office in the station). That way we have a shorter drive back and a shorter train to Milan after. We are not messing around with coverage, unlike when I rent in the states, I got EVERY coverage and extra imaginable (liability, roadside assistance, GPS, tires, if they offered it, I got it). I figured I don't drive internationally very often and I am willing to pay the extra to not have to worry about any of that stuff.

Finally, make sure you get your international driving permit. You are supposed to have it even though the rental company will probably not require it.

The two drivers are definitely going to get an international driving permit. I will also purchase the CDW insurance from the car rental place. I don't want to take any chances on that.

We definitely want to have a car in the Tuscany region so I'm fine with returning it in Florence if we can avoid the ZTL zones. It sounds a little complicated though if we go to the Borgo Ognissanti car rental place? I emailed the hotel and they suggested dropping the car at the airport and then taking a taxi or tramvia? Is that some sort of train? So I'm a little confused on what to do about that.

I looked at the other thread and I'll print it out and think about a little more before I contact the rental agencies.

Thanks!

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CAR RENTAL RETURN FROM PIAZZA TADDEO GADDI TO BORGO OGNISSANTI GARAGE EUROPA

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).

Thank you for the detailed information on car rental returns in Florence. That is very helpful. Can't wait to go!

You've gotten some great advice. We've driven in Tuscany and it is easy and enjoyable.

Before you leave, use the internet resources to familiarize yourself with the signage and rules of the road in Italy. As in other European countries, there's no allowance for exceeding the speed limit. They also use automated speed checking, so just because you don't see a policeman doesn't mean you won't get a ticket.

ZTLs are clearly marked and easily avoided. Err on the side of caution and assume the central area of small towns are ZTLs, especially anywhere within the walls. San Gimignano and Volterra are clearly marked.

We avoid driving in larger cities in Europe and Florence is no exception. We find cars a hindrance instead of an asset. When we were in Tuscany, we took the bus into Florence when we visited. It turned out to be a cultural experience since there were no other tourists on board.

Nice to have a cultural experience! We will study up[ on signage for Europe. Also I suppose an international driver's license will cover some of that. I will tell our drivers about the speed limits being strictly enforced. I think we will be fine. My husband drives in St. Thomas which has windy narrow hilly roads and they drive on the left-hand side. And we will be on the lookout for ZLT zones.

In any event it will be a wonderful experience and really looking forward to it. Thanks again.

Also I suppose an international driver's license will cover some of that.

It is actually an international driving permit, not a license. It has little more than a translation of some generic information into several common languages.

As far as cultural experiences go, we have discovered our money separates us from having them. We like to stay in clean but modest accommodations, including Airbnbs and agriturismos. It sounds like you are on the right track. Also, I missed the mention of exchange students. That's great! My son's family hosted French exchange students during the summers our grandsons were in high school. That led to one of them spending two years in France at university. The first year was in Paris and the second in Tours. Unfortunately Covid cut short his year in Tours. However, we did get to spend a week visiting him when he lived in Loches over the summer.

I think I have a book that has some of the signs in them. They will have to study up :)

We really enjoyed the exchange student experience and have been to Europe several times to visit. They have been here as well, but now they are having families so it makes it more difficult for them to travel. We, however, are unencumbered and only restricted by our cat sitters and the money we have to travel.

Enjoy and thanks again