Many visitors hire a car to discover the hidden delights of Italy and there are certainly numerous scenic journeys around the country to captivate holidaymakers.

With Carhire3000 you can organise your hire car in Italy before you leave the UK, giving you complete peace of mind.  Getting around Italy is fairly straight forward with a modern motorway network, although driving through the major cities is not for the faint-hearted!

Driving in Italy

• Drive on the right
• Do not drink and drive - Italy has strict laws on driving under the influence
• Seat belts should be worn, front and rear
• Watch your speed - speed cameras and radar traps are commonplace and offenders can face heavy on the spot fines
• Be aware that speed restrictions on motorways can change on public holidays and busy holiday periods
• Children under 4 years must always use an appropriate restraint system and children between 4 and 12 years can only sit in the front with an appropriate restraint system
• Headlights should be used at times of poor visibility and through tunnels
• Headlights should now be used on the motorways at all times
• Do not use your mobile phone when driving unless you have a hands-free set or earpiece
• Always carry your EU driving licence and rental agreement with you when driving.  It is advisable to carry your passport also as an additional form of identification
• Visibility vests should be worn if you break down and need to get out of your car
• Most of the motorways (autostrada) are toll roads and can be recognised by the green direction signs. Payment can usually made by credit card but not always so it is advisable to carry some cash with you in case of emergencies. For more information about the motorway network, please follow this link
• The outer lane on the motorway is for passing only.  Pull out (carefully) if you need to overtake slower moving traffic and then pull back in again or you may find the irate driver behind you flashing his headlights.
• Traffic coming from the right at a crossroads has right of way, unless marked with Give Way or Stop signs
• Give way to pedestrians at zebra crossings
• Remember to park on the same side of the road as the flow of traffic
• Parking in a Blue Zone is for a limited time period only and vehicles must display the appropriate parking disk (available from tourist information offices and petrol stations)
• Some of the larger cities (such as Rome and Florence) have strict parking restrictions in the city centre during the working week
• Petrol stations usually still close one day a week and for a couple of hours in the middle of the day.  Be aware that the pay-at-pump machines do not always accept UK credit cards
• Unleaded petrol is “senza piombo” or “benzina verde” and diesel is “gasolio”
• Some roads in rural villages can be extremely narrow and not particularly suitable for cars.  Don’t be surprised if the way is blocked by a vehicle unloading or parked or if you have to reverse back up the road for an oncoming vehicle.

Hiring a car with Carhire3000 allows you to discover the beautiful countryside around Italy. From the scenic Italian Lakes to the chic Italian Riviera, a hire car gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace. Stop for a cappuccino whenever the fancy takes you and watch the world go by or spend your day taking in historical sites and stunning scenery. With Carhire3000 you can pick up a car from numerous locations across Italy including:

Car hire in Rome
Car hire in Florence
Car hire in Pisa
Car hire in Naples
Car hire in Bergamo
Car hire in Milan
Car hire in Venice
Car hire in Sardinia
Car hire in Sicily
Car hire in Bologna
More car hire locations in Italy