Since I visited Italy several times, it seems very comfortable and familiar to me. Until we get into the car. Then suddenly, it is clear that we are in another country. A place where road standards are not the same and the designation of “road” can be used in a fairly generous way. Driving in Italy in some parts is not a joke.
Admittedly, I led to Ireland and it was more difficult, where I had to face the two narrow roads And Drive on the opposite side. So driving in Italy is not terrible, But you have to be alert and keep some tips in mind.
We have chased from Naples and Rome through Tuscany and Florence (with a change of stick nevertheless!), As well as around Pimonte And Como lake. Although we both refuse to drive on the Amalfi coast, because passing buses on narrow roads that hang on the side of the cliffs and sailing on parking in overcrowded cities is simply not fun.
These experiences have definitely taught me about driving in Italy that I wanted to share.
Tips for driving in Italy
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- Buy full insurance coverage with your automatic rental. I generally use Auto Europe To find the best offers from several suppliers.
- Make sure you reserve your rental for a few months in advance, especially if you want an automatic! The inventory is limited, in particular larger automatic cars in high season and you will see prices increase spectacular as it comes close to your arrival. (See others Tips for renting a car in Italy.)
- If you use Europcar or Hertz, see if you can save yourself online before pickup. Otherwise, expect to spend at least 30 minutes with the starting process. I don’t know why it takes so long, but each time we have picked up cars in Italy, it was.
- Do not presume that you can upgrade or change your car on site. Maybe if you rent at Rome airport, but all city offices and small airports in the city have limited stocks and other cars are allocated. For example, you may not be able to recover an automatic in certain offices or you may have to drop it off in a certain place so that they can return it to the next customer.
- THE US Embassy Recommend you to obtain an international driving license before leaving to help the translation if you are arrested on the road. You can get one in most AAA offices.
- Get a car on the outskirts of a city or at the airport when possible, driving in the city centers can be a nightmare and many have limited areas that are only allowed, at least at certain periods. After leaving Rome and Naples, and deposited on the outskirts of Florence, I can assure you that unless you are very confident to drive in town and have a good browser, driving in the city will not take your vacation. Major stress until you reach the open highway !!
- Be ready to spend much more to rent a car with an automatic transmission. Unless you drive a stick every day on the hills and in urban traffic, you will be more comfortable in a foreign location with an automatic.
- Pay attention to the amount of luggage in the car when you decide the size for rent! Break is your best bet if you have big bags. For a family of four people, plan to pack the packaging only because the trunks are simply not large enough to adapt to four large bags.
- When you go on the highway, do not expect people to stay in their tracks. I don’t do it. It made my husband crazy for days. But people do not stay well in their ways. Get used to it.
- It is useful to learn a few basic Italian words (as Uscita means to go out). You can find these definitions and many signaling definitions in a good travel guide.
- Large highways like the A1 will have tolls. Unless your rental understands a toll, search for the signed white tracks where they take money or a credit card. Note that many of them are unmanned and that you will have to pay by credit card in a machine and they do not take cards like American Express, so bring a visa or a mastercard.
- When you drive on the highway, you will notice panels with cameras. Yes, this means that the roads are patrolled by traffic cameras, so watch your speed! Believe me, I obtained tickets by mail / email in Iceland and Martinique and the car rental company can also hit you with additional costs. Not fun!
- If you visit some of the cities of Hill in Italy, such as Siena, Assisi, Orvieto, Pienza, etc., it is easier to park outside the city walls. Public car parks are quite well marked. You will have to pay to park and some cities have larger land with a cashier or a kiosk that takes a credit card. However, others have smaller land with a parking station that only takes parts. So save your parts because you will need it. At these lots, you will have to pay a certain time, then put the receipt on your dashboard. In the biggest prizes, you pay when you leave for how long you are there.
- It is always useful to have a paper card at hand. When we driven around Tuscany a few years ago, a road was closed and Google sent us a quarrel and on a mountain on an increasingly small road. I was convinced that we were going to be blocked somewhere, but we had no other choice than to continue to follow Google because we did not know where we were and no cell coverage, so if we deactivate it, we could not recover it before our return to the cover.
- When you stay in the country or visit a vineyard or agriturism, it does not hurt to ask for instructions instead of simply counting on Google Maps. There was once in Tuscany when we ended up at the rear door of an agriturism without anyone to open it. Going to the front entrance would mean descending the mountain, around him and the other side. We had no idea because we just followed Google.
- Do not be surprised in the countryside when the road turns into a narrow ground track with a single place for a single car. This does not mean that you are on the wrong track, in fact it is quite normal. Go slowly and if one car comes in the other direction, one of you must look for a point wide enough to withdraw and leave the other past.
- When you drive on narrow roads with strict and blind curves, Klaxon when you get around the turn to let drivers know in the opposite direction you are there.
- Take advantage of the view! The right thing about people who are not on these small roads is that you can admire incredible views without anyone hearing you to drive faster. Use these little pulls to stop and take photos. In addition, you never know what you might encounter on the road (like donkeys!)
- Do not plan to lead to Rome, Florence, Naples or on the Amalfi coast unless you are very confident and very courageous (with a large navigator and a thick skin!) We have always hired a driver or a taxi for the Amalfi coast because these roads are so narrow and congested, with steep drops and not. Even the dolomite roads are quite crazy.
- See also these tips if you visit Sicily by car.
- Know who to call when something is wrong. After picking up our car in Naples, we only driven five minutes before the low tire pressure light lights up. We have managed to panic with people who shouted for having blocked the gas station. We called Hertz’s office but we had already signed on the car, so we were alone. Our choices were to change it ourselves or call their line of assistance on the roadside and wait for them to go out and help us (while people crisis in Italian to move and there is not where to stop in the crazy and lively streets of Naples.) We were really lucky to get the tire in your mouth for a little 10 euro and 30 minutes. Keep the assistance number by the roadside at hand!
- If you drop off in Florence, plan to deposit at the airport or at the station. Keep in mind that the deposit of the rental car at Florence airport is not well marked, so be sure to get the address and put it in your GPS / Google cards.
- If you drop off in Rome and invade yourself the next day, we found extremely practical to stay at Hilton at Rome Airport. You can put your bags, then drop the car and return to the hotel. Then in the morning, there is an Airbridge which connects to the airport at an easy walk from five to ten minutes. If you put the car, then go to the city center, you can drop off in the city center or it may be easier to drop off at the airport and take a taxi or train in the city center.
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Tamara Gruber is the founder and publisher of We3Travel. Former director of marketing and travel advisor, Tamara is a award -winning and expert travel writer recognized in family trips. Tamara is a member of Satw, Natja, Ifwtwa and Adventure Travel Trade Association, and headquarters to the Board of Directors of the Family Travel Association. She is also the publisher of YourTimeTofly.com and the co-host of the Mavens Travel Podcast Podcast.