Should we rent a car In Sorrento, Italy or take public transportation?

The train in this case is faster than a car. The drive is pretty boring too.

Upon arrival at Napoli Centrale , head downstairs to the Circumvesuvian. Take either the regular train or the Campania Express.
Sorrento is a great transportation base. Busses, ferries and afore mentioned train.

Thank you for advising the train would be best to take from Rome to Sorrento. Once we are in Naples/Sorrento, do you recommend renting a car there? My husband has a disability placard as he had knee surgery and his knee is still a bit sore. So, so we thought it might be easier to get around in car by ourselves. Then again, there is the question if they honor U.S. these placards. Ive read mixed reviews on this.

No need for a car. Plus, you may not take rental cars on ferries..so it would not be allowed on Ischia, or Capri ( cars are useless on Capri) I recommend 1.5 hr fast train to Naples...check into a hotel for a night, see Herculaneum & archeological museum from here. if you are into that....then go to Sorrento in the morning, use it as a base for your ferry travel to islands. Get back to Rome the night before your flight, you could alternatively see Naples & archeological sites on day you depart for Rome, just lock up your luggage in the train station ( Garibaldi). Just a recommendation..that is a ton of ferries...and they add up, why not stay on Ischia or Capri for a couple of nights, then ferry from Capri to Positano and head back up the coast to Naples...finally Rome. It is a lot in 6 days ( nights) you may want to knock off one of the places. Enjoy!

Bring your handicap card AND print the card at the bottom of this page.

http://www.disabledmotorists.eu/en/world_map/europe/italy.htm

Be sure to read all requirements.

Have you driven in Italy before? The drive along the coast is pleasant in the off season, but can be harrowing in high season. Be prepared to pay high amounts for parking.

You might be better off driving from Rome, as there are many steps (30-40) down to the circumvesuvian if the escalator is not working. Then maybe 20 from the Sorrento station.
Decide if you want to drive along the coast after you've driven to Sorrento.

IMHO - I always use public transportation. Get to chat with the locals ( or even sharing a smile)
Yes, sometimes it takes a bit longer..... but I love it.
Happy Travels...

We just traveled on the Amalfi Coast with a handicap placard and a paper in Italian (we printed from the web) explaining that Italy accepts US handicap placards. We especially liked staying in Sorrento and Minori as that they have areas that aren't too hilly. Be aware, though, that if you do enter a ZTL you need to call the phone number on the ZTL sign and report your license number so that you won't get a ticket. Also, handicap spaces are quite limited, especially in weekends. In most towns, you don't need to pay for parking if you are in a handicap parking place, but you need to pay in most orher spaces, even with the placard.

Take the bus and ferry. A car won't get you to Capri or Ischia. Driving along the coast is challenging. I'm quite used to driving winding, hilly, coastal roads and I did it in February when there's hardly any traffic (very few tourists). It was the most difficult driving I've done. And parking was hard to find even then.

You'll want to be in the center of town, near the train/bus station and elevator down to the ferries. With a car, you may have to stay outside the center and then have a problem getting to the ferry/train/bus.