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Home / Tips & Things To Do /

Renting a Car in Rome – All You Need to Know

Written by: Artur Jakucewicz

Renting a Car in Rome

Renting a car at the airport upon arrival in Rome is a great idea only if the primary purpose of your trip is to explore the small towns in the surroundings.

Moving between Rome’s sights by car is not recommended and will lead to fines and unpleasant consequences.

Let’s understand all the features of car rental in Rome.

Contents

Toggle
  • FAQ about renting a car in Rome, Italy
    • Why is it a bad idea to rent a car to explore the sights of Rome?
    • In which case can I need a rental car at Rome Airport?
    • Do you need to rent a car in Rome?
    • Is driving in Rome difficult?
    • How to drive in Rome?
    • How to get around Rome without a car?
    • Where to stay in Rome with a car?
    • Where to park your car in Rome?
    • What size car is best for driving around Italy?
    • Which cities and places near Rome make sense to visit by car?
    • Is it cheaper to rent cars at the airport?
    • How much are rental cars at the Rome airport?
    • What is the best car rental in Rome Fiumicino airport?
    • Where to rent a car in Rome City Center?
    • What’s the speed limit in Rome?
    • Can I rent an automatic car in Rome?
  • What is the Best Way to Rent a car in Rome, Italy?
    • How Often do Rental Car Rates Change?
    • Pay Attention to the Number of Reviews
    • Important Deal Information
  • Speeding Fines in Italy
  • Tips for Driving in Rome

FAQ about renting a car in Rome, Italy

Why is it a bad idea to rent a car to explore the sights of Rome?

The main sights of Rome are located in the historical center, which belongs to the restricted traffic zone. Therefore, in addition to a fine for each entry into the Limited Traffic Zone (Zona Traffico Limitato = ZTL), you will encounter a lack of parking spaces and narrow streets.

In which case can I need a rental car at Rome Airport?

You need to rent a car at Rome airport to see rural Italy. For example, to go to small towns in the regions of Lazio, Umbria, Abruzzo, Tuscany, and Campania. Traveling from Rome to big and famous Italian cities such as Venice, Florence, Milan, or Naples is cheaper and faster by high-speed trains.

Do you need to rent a car in Rome?

No. Renting a car at Rome airport is only necessary if your trip's primary purpose is to explore Italy's regions. For example, you can rent a car at Fiumicino Airport and immediately go on a 1-2 week trip to Tuscany, Umbria, Abruzzo, the Amalfi Coast, Puglia, or even Sicily.

Is driving in Rome difficult?

Driving in Rome can be stressful even for an experienced driver. Chaos reigns on the streets, there are often no markings, and traffic rules are observed only formally.

How to drive in Rome?

In Rome, you need to drive very carefully and at a low speed. Therefore, you will need at least a few weeks to get used to the local traffic patterns.

How to get around Rome without a car?

Moving inside the historical center of Rome between the main attractions on foot is the most convenient. However, you can use a taxi, metro, or bus if you need to get to more distant attractions. To get to nearby cities, you can travel by bus or train. See tips on how to get to Tivoli, Ostia, and other Italian cities on your own in this section.

Where to stay in Rome with a car?

If you are coming to Rome by car, you must stay in a hotel outside the restricted traffic zone. I recommend the Monteverde Vecchio area, excellently located near the historic center.

Where to park your car in Rome?

Guests of the city can park for a fee on the blue line and free of charge on the white line.

What size car is best for driving around Italy?

The smaller the car, the easier it will be for you to find parking. Your vehicle must be no longer than 4 meters. A good choice would be Fiat Panda, Fiat 500, Citroen C1, BMW 2 Series, or Audi A3. However, finding a free parking space can still be challenging.

Which cities and places near Rome make sense to visit by car?

Cities near Rome that are convenient for a one-day car trip are Ariccia, Nemi, Ostia, Tivoli, Cerveteri, and Viterbo.

Is it cheaper to rent cars at the airport?

Yes, renting a car at the airport is usually 20-40% cheaper than in the city center due to business competition between many companies at the airport.

How much are rental cars at the Rome airport?

The average car rental cost in Rome is 80 euros per day. The price is affected by high/low season, automatic and manual transmission, and the type of vehicle.

What is the best car rental in Rome Fiumicino airport?

The best car hire companies at Fiumicino Airport, according to traveler reviews, are: Alamo 8.5, Drivalia 8.1, Locauto 8.6, Enterprise 8.6, Sixt 8.0, Hertz 8.1, Sicily By Car 8.0

Where to rent a car in Rome City Center?

The offices of car rental companies in Rome are located in the building of Termini Central Station, next to the Vatican City and Villa Borghese.

What’s the speed limit in Rome?

Speed limits in Rome and other cities in Italy, unless otherwise noted, are:

  1. 31 mph (50 km/h) in residential areas.

  2. 68 mph (110 km/h) on rural roads.

  3. 80 mph (130 km/h) on highways.


Highly recommend always obeying the speed limit as the Italian police enforce the speed limit very strictly, and the fines can be high, up to 3000 euros. Speed cameras are also widely used in Italy.

Can I rent an automatic car in Rome?

Yes, automatic transmission cars are available from most car rental companies in Rome. However, vehicles with a manual transmission are more common in Italy, so you will have to pay an additional fee to rent a car with an automatic transmission.

What is the Best Way to Rent a car in Rome, Italy?

It is most advantageous to rent a car in advance online and pick it up immediately upon arrival at one of the airports in Rome – Fiumicino  (FCO) or Ciampino (CIA).

For traveling in Italy, I recommend small cars with automatic transmissions.

If you are not a regular customer of any car rental company, it is a great idea to use the Rentalcars.com service to compare prices from different suppliers.

How Often do Rental Car Rates Change?

The cost of renting a car in Rome depends very much on the time of year. For example, during the summer (high season), renting a crossover car with an automatic transmission will cost about 700 euros; in the low season, renting will cost you only about 100 euros.

comparison of the cost of renting a car in Rome in the low and high season

And, of course, the price of renting a car is greatly influenced by how much in advance you make a reservation. At the last moment, or a few days before the trip, prices will rise several times. On the other hand, many companies allow free cancellation, so reserving a car as soon as you buy your plane tickets makes sense.

Pay Attention to the Number of Reviews

When choosing a car for rent in Italy, the first thing you should pay attention to is the number of reviews and the average rating of the supplier’s company according to the reviews of tourists. I advise you to choose car suppliers with a score of at least 8 and more than 100 reviews.
choice of car rental in Rome according to reviews

I usually turn on the filter for the best companies. Just check the boxes next to the companies with the highest rating (Alamo, Locauto).

Be sure to look at the manufacturer’s official website for the specification of the car’s trunk that you like.

For example, a Toyota Yaris Hybrid trunk can fit 4 hand luggage suitcases, but not a large luggage suitcase.

Important Deal Information

Be sure to check out the Important Deal Information section:

  • Driver & license requirements
  • Security Deposit, usually from €200 to €500.00, which the main driver will leave at pick-up.
  • Accepted cards. For example, MasterCard or Visa.
  • Damage Excess.
  • Fuel Policy
  • Mileage. Usually, Your rental includes unlimited free kilometers.

car rental in Rome important deal Information

You should also scroll down the window and click on the Full Rental Terms section.
Full Car Rental in Rome Terms section

To be sure and not worry about anything, it makes sense to take additional insurance, which costs about 10 euros per day (70 euros per week).

cost and terms of insurance when renting a car in Rome

At the final step, to complete the car booking, it is enough to enter your first name, last name, email, contact phone number, country of residence, and credit card details.

Speeding Fines in Italy

When driving a car on the roads of Italy, you can get a fine if you exceed the speed limit by 10 km / h. The amount of the penalty starts from 42 euros and can reach 3389 euros.

The table below shows the size of the fine and the number of demerit points for various speeding.

ExceedingPenalty €Penalty points
more than 10 km/hfrom 42 to 1730
from 10 to 40 km/hfrom 173 to 6953
from 40 to 60 km/hfrom 544 to 2,1746
over 60 km/hfrom 847 to 338910 & suspension of the licence

If you violate the speed limit while driving a rental car, the fine can be deducted from your credit card even after a few months.
I strongly recommend respecting the speed limit, even if you notice that local drivers are violating it.

Tips for Driving in Rome

  1. Never leave things inside the car, even in the trunk, when parking.
  2. Pay close attention to the signs and do not enter the restricted traffic zone.
  3. Watch local drivers and learn from them – that is the only way you will have a chance to avoid accidents.
  4. Look very carefully in the mirror. There are a lot of mopeds and scooters on the roads of Rome, and they can suddenly appear and start overtaking you both on the right and the left side.

If you have any questions about booking a car rental in Rome, you can ask them in the comments. I will also be happy to help you plan your holidays in Rome and other Italian cities.

Author: Artur Jakucewicz

Artur Jakucewicz

I have lived in Rome for over 10 years and am glad to share my experience and knowledge. I love ancient history and architecture — author of travel guides in Italy for independent travelers.

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About us ROME.US Authors Kate Zusmann and Artur Jakucewicz
2025.We're Kate and Artur, a duo bound by our shared fascination with the Eternal City – Rome. Our paths, driven by a mutual passion for its timeless stories and architectural marvels, converged in a way we had never imagined.

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