Renting a car for 6 adults (1 with wheelchair) for Zurich, Interlaken, Milan, Pisa

ALL drivers will require an International Drivers Permit in addition to their regular drivers license.

You aren't going to find a car that will hold 6 people, a wheelchair, and that much luggage. You'll need a large passenger van. Have a look at Auto Europe. They compare rates from the different rental companies in each city. Expect the cost for a large van to be quite expensive.

For add on costs (Gas, tolls) look at via Michelin maps https://www.viamichelin.com/web/Routes

For 6 adults, plus luggage, plus a wheelchair you need a minibus.
In both Switzerland and Italy there are many places you can't drive, even more you can't park, and hotels in towns do not necessarily have parking. With a minibus, it is taller than a normal car, and may not fit in some parking places (height limit 1.85 metres). Expect to pay for parking.

All drivers with non-EU licences will need an International Driving Permit for driving in Italy.
A car hired in Switzerland will already have the "vignette" which pays for Swiss Autobahn (motorways), nothing extra to pay. You will have to pay tolls for Italian autostrada (motorways).
The Viamichelin site is good because as well as routes, it gives you driving times (assuming no stops, add 10-25%), and costs (fuel and tolls).

"Are there any other things we need to keep in mind for driving in Europe?" - yes, learn the driving rules and road-signs for both countries. They are enforced. Note the meaning of "ZTL" (=restricted traffic zone), residents only, if you drive into one of these it will cost.

In the US, you can obtain International Drivers Permits at AAA.

Driving to Milan and Pisa sound like pretty long drives to have just short stays in two cities that have lots of traffic and one-way streets and are also not high on my sightseeing priorities. You could see more variety in Switzerland with less drive time (and less expense for gas and tolls).

You definitely need a large van. I would call Auto Europe with your exact dates, as with those requirements I would take a chance on any "OR SIMILAR" class vehicles and get a too small car when renting and be in a real bind.

If you will be driving into any countries I would tell them that, since your car class being unique may have more restrictions than a typical rental.

Your Italy plan no offense sounds bad.... cities that are not good for driving into and destinations that if you could pick any 2 would not be so high for me.
Pisa would be an over 6 hour drive each way, so definitely no day trip. And for 6 people no thank you. Nor is a place even worthy of such an excursion, nice and all if you are close but not something to make that trip for when there is so much else to see.

If you want to see Italy take a trip to one of the lakes instead which are closer. Como (Bellagio) , Maggiore (Stressa), etc...

Thanks, everyone for your input! We did get an international driving license from AAA and will be renting a minivan soon as well. Thanks!

I'm glad to hear that your plans are moving onwards. Congratulations.

Please don't underestimate the difficulty of finding parking in Milan and Pisa.

Is it the Field of Miracles with the Baptistry and Leaning Tower you are going to in Pisa or something else?

What do you hope to visit in Milan?

Your family will not fit into a "minivan". You will need a "miniBUS". You will be sadly disappointed if you rent a minivan and upon arrival you can't fit your family and belongings into it.

Yes, I did mean the "minibus" - something like "SEAT ALHAMBRA 7 PAX OR SIMILAR | FULL SIZE CLASS" as I see on the autoeurope.com website

We are debating between the "SEAT ALHAMBRA 7 PAX" vs the "VOLKSWAGEN SHARAN 7 PAX" car when looking to book online. Does anyone have idea of a comparison of the boot space of each of these models to see if it would fit 2 Big Suitcases + 3 Small Suitcases + 1 wheelchair? (Remember 1 seat will be folded out of the 7 seats because we are 6 adults)

Those both look like minivans - you won't be able to seat everyone AND their luggage. It just won't fit. Both of those vehicles hold only 3 small suitcases + 2 large suit cases.

You're going to need something like this: VW Transporter 9 pax

It's better to have too much space than to have too little.

Thanks, Tim. I understand what you are trying to say, but, we will have 2 checking bags & 3 carry on bags, which should fit in the trunk of one of these 7-seaters, correct? What remains is a wheelchair which I was hoping to use the space for the folded 7th seat (since we are 6 people). Am I missing something? My only hesitation on using one of these 9 seater minibus is i. the parking restrictions with a big vehicle clearance-wise ii. Driving a 9 seater in the small streets of Italy, III. Super high cost of renting it plus gas etc. If you think a 7 seater will really not work, an alternative we could consider is 2 sedans (not ideal with respect to co-ordination plus being together with family on a trip) but, would be more practical. Thoughts?

I know you want to save money and space but trying to fit what you have in the smaller vehicle is unlikely to work for you. Is the wheelchair a particularly tiny one which folds very very small? There aren't many of those around, and the back row of seats is pretty narrow and not much depth.

I think it would be difficult for you at the rental place with everybody standing around (maybe your mother sitting in the car) while all of you try to maneuver everything around but being frustrated because it just doesn't go.

How many of your group want their suitcases in their laps for the duration of Zurich to Pisa, and back?

You should never have luggage in the passenger compartment - it isn't safe. In an emergency stop or crash the luggage will fly forward into passengers like a missle and cause injury or worse.

You have come all this way. You won't want to be sardines will you?

Cannot imagine having a wheel chair fit in a seat--- better solution is to pile luggage in the 7th seat space and put wheel chair in the storage area behind the last row of seats with the remaining luggage.

Pricing out a small and medium size car vs one large van may be worthwhile

Milano and Pisa are odd choices for a relatively short trip originating and ending in Zurich and that also includes the Berner Oberland. The itinerary you describe has more than 15 hours of driving over 5 days.

If the primary purpose of Milano and Pisa is to get a taste of Italian culture, you can get that in Locarno or Lugano, without leaving Switzerland and save significant travel time and cost for such a short trip. Or, the Como area, if you are absolutely determined to set foot in Italy. Keep in mind that it's likely 7-8 hours of driving one way from Pisa to Zurich. That's not a day trip.

If it's your first time to Switzerland, I suggest you stick to 3 nights in Lauterbrunnen Valley and 2 nights in Luzern. If a taste of Italian culture is a deal-breaker, spend 2 nights in Locarno or Lugano and visit Luzern on your way to Interlaken/Lauterbrunnen from Zurich or on the way back to Zurich from the Italian Ticino region (or both).

Also - a 7-passenger minivan would be fine for 6 adults and the luggage you describe. But, the wheelchair makes it more difficult. Tell everyone to pack as light as possible and consider to have more smaller suitcases that can be shifted around to open spaces, rather than 2 bulky suitcases plus the wheelchair.

Thank you, everyone for your input and recommendations! We debated between 7-seater and 2 sedans a lot and then, decided to go with 2 sedans to not risk fitting luggage + wheelchair that we have. This car booking is cancellable, so, I would also want to explore once in Zurich, checking in person if a 7-seater van is available and if yes, if it fits us and our luggage + wheelchair and book it in person. I know this is a long shot and if it works, great, if not, we already have the 2 sedans booked. (Only cons: Co-ordination between two cars and folks not traveling together on a Family trip :)

@Nigel We also considered the feedback on huge driving distances and removed Pisa from the plan for now. We will instead spend 2 days in Milan and get a taste of Italy culture. If you guys have recommendations on must-see things to get a taste of Italian culture, please do recommend. This is our first time visiting Europe as a family and we really really appreciate all your inputs in helping us plan this trip! :)

Since you will be driving you may want to consider a visit to the Certosa di Pavia which is quite close to Milan but in a smaller town. I have a link here: https://www.solosophie.com/certosa-di-pavia/

Usually if I provide a link it is for the official website of a somewhere. Sophie has done such a fabulous job of describing the place, in such clear language and with such beautiful photos I have linked to her report instead.