Renting in Italy

gb153

Just looking for advice on renting in Italy as its been a long time since I've rented a car on holiday. Main query is regarding insurance - are there any do's or don'ts?

I'm seeing a basic cover option which doesn't include
"Damage and theft excess refund",
"Tyres, windows, mirrors & wheels",
"Key cover and personnel possessions".
All this is included if I choose Premium cover for an extra 12.58 per day. Is it recommended to go with this additional cover? Also anyone have experience with 3rd party insurance companies that will cover for cheaper or maybe some way of linking to your own cover at home?

Henry Ford III

I'd advise insuring the excess with a decent 3rd party insurer. Costs about €3 a day short term.

dudara

Italy is one country where I'd really consider taking all insurance. Depending where you are, cars can be thrown around the place, dinged like crazy etc. Full insurance just gives you peace of mind that you can just hand back the keys with no worries

thebiglad

gb153 wrote: »

Just looking for advice on renting in Italy as its been a long time since I've rented a car on holiday. Main query is regarding insurance - are there any do's or don'ts?

I'm seeing a basic cover option which doesn't include
"Damage and theft excess refund",
"Tyres, windows, mirrors & wheels",
"Key cover and personnel possessions".
All this is included if I choose Premium cover for an extra 12.58 per day. Is it recommended to go with this additional cover? Also anyone have experience with 3rd party insurance companies that will cover for cheaper or maybe some way of linking to your own cover at home?

Carhireexcess.ie will cover you at €2.99 per day - check their website for exact alignment of cover but...

- You will have to pay any claim or excess to the Hire Company and recover it later.
- Hire company will place a large holding deposit on your credit card (maybe €1,000) - the money will not be taken if you return the car undamaged etc but unless you have a decent amount of credit available this may cause you an issue
- Depending on number of days hire it is way less hassle to take the bundled product from the hire company (pretty much whatever you do, just return the car and walk away).

Do not purchase personal possessions or personal accident - just look at the 'benefits and restrictions' of such cover and you will see it is not worth it.

Apart from your personal possessions (if you have declared them to home insurer) nothing will be covered by them. Travel insurance may cover.

If you do not take the bundled insurance check the car very carefully and ensure all damages are recorded on your rental document - including the alloy wheels - when you return the car they will check it thoroughly!

rubberdungeon

Familiarise yourself with Limited Traffic Zones, or Zona Traffico Limitato in Italian, abbreviated to ZTL. Many historical centers of Italian cities have set up these limited traffic zones in order to reduce congestion and pollution, and there are significant fines for driving into one of these zones unauthorised.

Redderneck

Photograph with datestamp EVERY single panel of the hirecar at the time you take the keys and be seen by the staff to be doing so. Be blatant about it. Make damn sure every screed of a ding or blemish is recorded on the documents before you drive off. When you are handing it back; repeat the photography effort. Hold onto the photos for at least 3 months.

oscar2

Rent off mainstream companies like Europcar, Hertz etc. Auto Europe (NOT Auto Europa) are a good broker to deal with. Avoid companies like Firefly,Sicily etc.

As said get your cdw insurance off a third party insurer.

Watch your speed they are strict in Italy and speed limits vary on the Autostradas. They have timed speed radar as well so can catch you on your overall speed over a stretch. The Italians will break the limits but they know where the speed traps are. Don't expect anyone to indicate apart from tourists.

Don't drive in cities its simpler to park and get taxis buses etc. Watch where you park. Rules vary and local residents may be entitled to park but you may not.

http://www.car-parking.eu/italy

TrailerBob

Don't be too put off by it, but of the dozen or so European countries I've driven around, the Italians are by far the worst. Tailgating seems mandatory.. I called it towbar licking some of them were so close.. in fact a Lancia Ypsilon did bump into the back of me at a roundabout.. cracked his bumper, and took a smidge of grease off my towbar (not a rental)
mopeds, mopeds, and mopeds, on both sides of you at junctions, no indicators, and plenty of hand gestures if you get it wrong. Expensive for fuel compared to others too.
Keep your wits about you and you'll be fine. I recommend europcar, have had good dealings with them before.

thebiglad

oscar2 wrote: »

Rent off mainstream companies like Europcar, Hertz etc. Auto Europe (NOT Auto Europa) are a good broker to deal with. Avoid companies like Firefly,Sicily etc.

Firefly is the budget brand of Hertz...

gb153

Great stuff. Thanks to all for the detailed responses. I think we'll go with the all-in insurance package. A bit of extra cash but its split across 4 people and sounds like a lot less hassle.

Have heard a lot about Italian drivers but have only experienced them from the passenger side until this trip. Should be interesting!

Alanstrainor

gb153 wrote: »

Great stuff. Thanks to all for the detailed responses. I think we'll go with the all-in insurance package. A bit of extra cash but its split across 4 people and sounds like a lot less hassle.

Have heard a lot about Italian drivers but have only experienced them from the passenger side until this trip. Should be interesting!

Drove in Sicily in June with Firefly. Didn't have a single issue. Bought my car hire excess insurance with AIG for reasonable money. It's worth noting that these policies typically cover you for the year, so you can use it if you make any more trips.

I took pictures of the car before I left, and noted any damage that wasn't already marked. Tbh, they didn't give a fook about the marks I mentioned to them. Most cars I saw were fairly battered, but perhaps that is more of a Sicily thing.

sbs2010

I've hired and driven in Italy four times and never had a problem with the car hire.

As for the other drivers - they were fine. Everyone experiences something different bit I never had a problem on motorsways, town centres - Bologna and Roma or countryside. All grand.

Ron Scott

Use car parks instead of on street parking where possible, photograph the car parked and keep the ticket/receipt. In many areas, especially the South, if the car gets nicked and you can't prove you had parked it in a proper location, you will be liable.
Also, if you are unlucky like me and need to get a tow truck & 2 new tyres (!), get invoices not receipts if you want to be paid back by insurance.

chicorytip

Alanstrainor wrote:

Drove in Sicily in June with Firefly. Didn't have a single issue. Bought my car hire excess insurance with AIG for reasonable money. It's worth noting that these policies typically cover you for the year, so you can use it if you make any more trips.

Do you know what forms of payment - apart from major credit cards - they accept and is an Irish drivers license acceptable as a form of I.D?