Renting a Car From Rome to Venice

What are you putting as your drop off and pick up times? Sometimes I am putting times in searches when the offices are closed (lunch time or weekends or too early/late) and they don't show the results for those given offices at all.

All car rentals are extremely high this year

Recent thread on same topic

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/auto-rental-ef3ce273-1232-482d-bb1a-29d47a4b9744

What is your price range? $$$ doesn't mean much. I am seeing Hertz from Fiumicino airport to Venice Airport for 8 days at about 100 EUR/day for a compact with a manual transmission. And of course, that is before insurance.

Yes, airport to airport. Pick up in Rome (FCO) in on a Tuesday, but drop off was for a Sunday. That may be the problem. Maybe I'll drop it off in Bologna on that Friday instead and see if that helps. I am hoping a train from Bologna/Moderna to Venice will be easy peasy.

Also, would love to keep it under $500. Nothing pulls up for less than $600 r/n.

Most car agencies are closed on Sunday, except airport locations
Airport locations are always a higher rate
Most other locations are closed mid day, and close by 12/1 on Saturday
$100 a day has been the average for at least 6 months
You do need to add insurance and a drop off fee, automatic transmission will always cost more

Train from Bologna or Modena to Venice is easy peasy

Only rent the car for days you really need a car
In your case that may only be the days you are in Tuscany small towns not easily accessed by train
Take the train anywhere else

You got a lot of good advice here:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/renting-a-car-in-rome-returning-in-florence

Don’t forget to get your IDP ( all drivers must have by law)
Agency will ask for it along with your US drivers license

After the pandemic prices went through the roof, in Europe and the US alike. I’m paying about $100+ a day for my upcoming trip to Italy, which is three times the rate I paid before Covid. Paid even more in Hawaii this winter, also 3 times what I paid before Covid during my previous Hawaiian winter pilgrimages (every year before 2020).
Go to www.AutoEurope.com and also their affiliate www.Kemwel.com (same company after a merger years ago, but they retained both websites).
When you select the pick up point, do not select ROME AIRPORT or ROME TERMINI station, but rather select ROME ALL LOCATIONS. your return (drop off location will be Venice Piazzale Roma. There will be no savings if your return it in Bologna or Padova, what drives the price is the pick up location, that is why you must select ROME ALL LOCATIONS. Once all the deals come up, get the one at the price you want. You will notice that the cheapest option is certainly not at the airport, and likely not at the train station either (TERMINI or TIBURTINA stations). Whichever cheapest option comes up, take it. Getting out of Rome city center is not that difficult. Just use Google Maps on your phone and you will be fine. Or, once you choose the location, get back here and I’ll tell you the best route to get you to Tuscany from any location in Rome.

In addition to the compulsory International Driver's Permits for each driver (you'll need to pack your home DL's too), be sure to also do some research on ZTL (limited traffic) zones. These exist in many towns and cities in Italy, and each pass through one will result in hefty fines, which you may not know about until several months after you return home. You'll also have to deal with automated speed cameras, tolls, parking costs and high fuel costs.

It might be beneficial to work out the Tuscany itinerary first--many small cities have plenty of car rental offices, so you do not need to limit yourself to Rome and Venice airport. A more targeted plan could likely save you time and money.

If your goal is to tour around Tuscany it probably makes more sense to rent the car in e.g. Florence.

Renting the car in Florence may not save you any money, because rental rates are likely just as high, and you would also need to add the cost of the train ticket.

The base (=full price) high speed train fare in Standard Class is €50 per person, although one can buy restricted non reimbursable tickets for half that) and, if you have luggage, probably the taxi from the Florence station to the rental agency (there are no rental agency at the Florence station and it's a 15 min walk to Borgo Ognissanti where rental agencies are).

Also, if you plan to visit the Val D'Orcia, or many of the famous towns south of Siena, from Florence you would need to backtrack south toward Rome (That area of Tuscany is between Florence and Rome). Therefore, renting in Rome is probably the most sensible thing to do, unless you can save a bundle by renting a car in Orvieto (Hertz only) or Chiusi (Europcar, Avis-Budget), which are located between Rome and Florence (really close to the areas you will be visiting) and are connected to Rome by cheap Regional trains.

PS: The drop off location of Venice Piazzale Roma may not be open on Sundays, so you may need to drop the car to the far away Marco Polo Airport (VCE). However there is no difference in dropping the car at the airport or Piazzale Roma. The driving force in the price is if you pick up at Fiumicino airport in Rome. Picking up in a city location in Rome will certainly save you money.

Thank you all so much!! There is a lot of helpful information here. Our itinerary is already kinda set as I've made all of my Airbnb reservations. We'll be doing a "circuit tour" of Italy starting in Venice, then to Bari (Puglia and agriturismo), Naples, Amalfi, Rome, then north up through Tuscany. After that east to Bologna and Moderna, ending back in Venice. 2 1/2 weeks. I've done ALL of my own bookings, research, etc.... including customized walking tours, so don't want to veer too far off the plan.

I will use the advice of searching all Rome pickup points and likely drop off in Bologna as we won't really need a car beyond that. I will have to work on my IDP (my daughter, 20) is too young to drive. How do I best avoid those Zonas so I don't get nailed? Are they marked somehow? Towns like Siena and Collodi are going to have them? Montepulciano, etc...?

Also, did some more Googling this evening and keep coming back to Sixt that has decent rates. I'm a confident driver and can handle a manual, but am starting to wonder if I'm getting into trouble with picking up the car in Rome. I've done the search at other place NOT at the airport to save money, but kinda freaking out about insane driving getting out of the city. I can't seem to find a specific location to plug in for someplace just north of Rome outside of the perimeter road. I type in "Rome" and it says "No location found". #frustrated

All Italian settlements have one or more ZTLs. For obvious reasons, in Venice it's in the mainland district of Mestre.

If they weren't marked, people couldn't avoid entering and the goal of not driving&polluting in historic districts would be missed.

Without mentioning that any Judge would cancel fines given out in lack of a sign placed according to the Law.

• Bologna: https://images.app.goo.gl/Eebq1YeDHaYdV9RB8
• Firenze: https://images.app.goo.gl/N16fsThFbwTPoZL78
• Roma: https://images.app.goo.gl/gsbu4Ak3n9XheffK7

We rented a car in Rome at a Tiburtina location (Europcar). We dropped of in Bologna. The train to Venice was direct from Bologna. I would definitely avoid having a car in cities if possible. Several shorter rentals for the countryside may make the most sense, the the price may not be less overall.

The ZTL (Zona Traffico Limitato), basically a restricted traffic zones where only authorized vehicles with permit can enter (residents, taxi, transit, emergency vehicles, delivery trucks with permit). The sign indicating a no motor vehicle zone is a round sign with a red border circle ⭕️ as shown by Dario. Basically every town with a historical ancient core will have those. If you are planning to stay in Florence before going to Bologna you can drop the car in Florence. You won’t need a car in Florence, Bologna, Modena, or Venice. North of Florence you can proceed by train. Try www.AutoEurope.com or www.Kemwel.com for rental cars and see what prices they have.

Towns like Siena and Collodi are going to have them? Montepulciano,
etc...?

Yes, assume all towns have them. You won't be driving IN Siena, Montepulciano, etc. At least you shouldn't be! You'll be parking outside the walls. Be sure to have your luggage well hidden, and do that before you pull into parking lot. Don't leave anything valuable in your vehicle.

When comparing rental rates be sure you are comparing same products.
For example- Does the rate you see with Sixt include insurance? Does it include the drop off fee?
We ALWAYS get FULL insurance.

TBH- I'd only book thru a well known vendor like www.AutoEurope or kemwel. They are known for their excellent customer service. They both are US consolidators, have toll free numbers.
You can call them now and ask them for advice on pick up/drop off- they won't steer you wrong, very knowledgeable.

Roberto has mentioned Orvieto and Chiusi as good pick up spots above, I concur. Take the cheap/short train ride from Rome then pick up your car closer to Tuscany.
Be sure to check the open/close hours at the agencies.

You definitely don't need or want a car in Modena or Bologna. Drop it in Tuscany- that could be Siena or Florence or Lucca, etc.
(Don't know where you are planning to visit) and take the train.

Good info here:
http://driventoit.blogspot.com/2015/01/driving-in-italy-including-dreaded-ztls.html

and here:
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation

then to Bari (Puglia and agriturismo),

How are you getting around here? Also rental car?

Adding to Christine’s question, how are you traveling between Venice an Bari? Flight?

My worry is you seem to have too many locations for 2 1/2 weeks.

Edit: how many nights in each location do you have?

Consider the price of gas, too. In May, in France, it was the equivalent of $8-9 gallon.

We picked up a rental car in Rome on Via Veneto on a Sunday morning and it wasn’t difficult driving out of the city.
How are you getting to Bari in Puglia? Your itinerary seems difficult to complete in only two and a half weeks.

Hertz should be in business, and their Gold Club members (free) get discounted fares. You can sign onto Expedia to compare 4-5 different car rental rates, and the cheapest comes to the top.

Orvieto Hertz is a very popular pickup/drop off point, and the office is across the parking lot from the train station. It's just over 1 hr. from Rome Termini up there, and you don't have to deal with Rome traffic. The up charges come from picking up vehicles in airports and train stations--not dropping them off there.

Let me warn you about the radar-cameras in center cities in Italy. They don't give you 1 mph leeway. You'll get a ticket in the mail up to a year later demanding payment in Euros to the city's checking account. They got me on the causeway going out to Venice a few years ago. The rental car company will charge you something like 40 Euros for telling the police your name and address.

Government regulations in Italy require renters to purchase CDF Waivers through the rental company, however the rates are very reasonable. Where the rental car company will get you is by upcharging you for a zero deductible--a ripoff you don't have to accept. They will also throw a theft insurance for your personal belongings which is also not required and a ripoff.

Let me just say that because a car rental company goes by a famous name in the U.S. doesn't mean they operate the same in Europe. Some are franchises of American companies, and they are not so well run. I usually get Hertz cars or go through AutoEurope.com who's a consolidator of rental cars and accommodations.

I agree with Gerri--you are attempting to cover a huge amount of territory and apparently planning to change hotels awfully frequently for a 2-1/2 week trip. I'm afraid you haven't accounted for the time it takes to move from place to place, get settled in a new hotel and then pack up when it's time to move on. I fear you'll have very little time left over for sightseeing.

They don't give you 1 mph leeway.

Once more, this is not true. They give you a 5 kph leeway when the speed limit is up to 100 kph. The leeway is 5% of the posted speed limit when it's over 100 kph.

The speed limit on the Venice Causeways is 70 kph, so you were going at least at 76 to make automatic cameras shoot. Repeating the opposite any time you can won't make a wrong info true.