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The Complete Italy Driving and Rental Guide

Its excellent road conditions and highway network makes Italy an ideal country to discover by car. Here is a brief guide we have prepared to help you ease your trip.

  • Speed Limit and Traffic Signs
  • Seatbelt and Child Safety
  • Parking, Fuel and Toll
  • Traffic Violation
  • Driving Licence and Age Requirements

Speed Limit and Traffic Signs

Driving in Italy is on the right-hand side of the road and you should overtake from the left. Horns must be used in moderation, and honking is prohibited in built-up areas unless there is an emergency. Dipped headlights must be used on two-lane motorways at all times.

Speed Limit

Speed limits for cars and motorbikes (vehicles with engine size over 150 cc) depend on the types of roads, and are of:


- 50 km/h (31 mph) in urban areas


- 90 km/h (56 mph) on minor out-of-town roads


- 110 km/h (68 mph) on major out-of-town roads


- 130 km/h (81 mph) on motorways. 


In the event of rain on snow, the limit is lowered to 110 km/h on motorways and 90 km/h on trunk roads.

Traffic Signs

Traffic signs in Italy follow the general European conventions and can be basically sorted into four types: regulatory signs, warning signs, information signs and direction signs.


Regulatory Signs

Italian regulatory signs mostly feature a circular shape, with some exceptions.

Italy_Traffic_Sign_Give_WayGive WayItaly_Traffic_Sign_Stop_and_Give_WayStop and Give WayItaly_Traffic_Sign_Stop_Pay_TollStop, Pay TollItaly_Traffic_Sign_Stop_Police_RoadblockStop, Police RoadblockItaly_Traffic_Sign_No_U_TurnNo U-turnItaly_Traffic_Sign_No_OvertakingNo OvertakingItaly_Traffic_Sign_Maximum_Speed_30_km_hMaximum Speed 30 km/h

Warning signs 

In Italy, warning signs are in regular triangular shape with red border and white background. 

Italy_Traffic_Sign_Uneven_RoadUneven RoadItaly_Traffic_Sign_Pedestrian_Crossing_AheadPedestrian Crossing AheadItaly_Traffic_Sign_Wild_AnimalsWild AnimalsItaly_Traffic_Sign_Level_Crossing_with_Barrier_or_Gate_AheadLevel Crossing With Barriers or Gates AheadItaly_Traffic_Sign_Level_Crossing_without_Barrier_or_Gate_AheadLevel Crossing Without Barriers or Gates Ahead

Information Signs 

Italian information signs are usually rectangular with blue or brown background.  

Italy_Traffic_Sign_TunnelTunnelItaly_Traffic_Sign_HospitalHospitalItaly_Traffic_Sign_First_AidFirst AidItaly_Traffic_Sign_Youth_HostelYouth Hostel

Direction Signs 

Direction signs in Italy feature a rectangular shape with different background colors to indicate the type of road that is being directed to, which is: green for motorways, white for urban roads and blue for the others. 

Italy_Traffic_Sign_Motorway_DirectionMotorway DirectionItaly_Traffic_Sign_Primary_or_Secondary_Road_DirectionPrimary or Secondary Road DirectionItaly_Traffic_Sign_Urban_Area_DirectionUrban Area Direction
*Please be aware that rules are subject to change. QEEQ.COM will try the best to maintain the accuracy of this information.

Seatbelt and Child Safety

Seatbelt Laws

All passengers both in front and rear seats are required to wear a seat belt in Italy. Failure to do will result in a fine from €40 to €70.

Booster Seat Laws

Regardless of the weight or age of the children, all children under 150cm must use a UN R44/R129 approved child car seat. 

*Please be aware that rules are subject to change. QEEQ.COM will try the best to maintain the accuracy of this information.

Parking, Fuel and Toll

Parking

· Permitted Parking


Parking spots in large cities in Italy can be difficult to find. Try to look for paid parking signs and parking metres to pay and park properly.

Italy Street Parking Sign


White lines on the parking lots mean free parking. In many towns, free parking is allowed in certain time frames and is indicated by a parking sign nearby. You will need to display a parking disc behind the windshield. However, in big cities like Florence, free parking spots are for residents only. In Rome and Milan, such parking lots may be free and open to both residents and tourists as long as you follow the instructions of the parking signs.

Italy Parking White Lines(Image from cinqueterreinsider.com)


Parking in yellow zones is only permitted for taxis, official vehicles or disabled people who have a disabled permit or a European Blue Card.

Italy Parking Yellow Lines (for Disabled only)


Parking places with pink lines or a pink parking sign are used to serve expectant mothers and women with infants for both residents and short-term visitors. Although local police cannot really check whether these parking spots are taken by particular drivers, most Italians still respect the rules and will not take up these spots unless there is an emergency.

Italy Pink Parking Sign



· Paid Parking


In most Italian cities and towns, blue lines indicate paid street parking. Follow the parking signs to pay and park within the permitted time frame. If no dispenser machines can be found near the parking areas, try asking the tobacco shop or news stands nearby.

Italy Parking Blue Lines(Image from arizaisaretleri.com) 


· Forbidden Parking


In Italy, parking signs feature some words telling you when and where to park.


Accompanied Italian wordings -- “Passo Carrabile” means you are not allowed to park at all times.

Italy_Traffic_Sign_No_Parking_at_all_Times


Otherwise, certain time frames will be provided together with the “No Parking” and parking signs to indicate prohibited and permitted parking time.

Italy_Traffic_Sign_Parking_Prohibited_at_Certain_Times


Parking illegally in Italy will result in a car clamping or towing away as well as a fine.

Fuel Prices

The average price for gasoline price in Italy was 1.57 Euros per litre in January 2018, while diesel was 1.44.

Toll

Tolls are only required when driving on most of the highways. Highways in Italy are marked with the letter A followed by a number in a green octagon.Italy_Traffic_Sign_Motorway_Number_Sign_A


When entering a toll road, you will receive a ticket from a machine with a sign “Bigliette” standing nearby. Keep this ticket carefully when you are on the highway.


When you reach the exit, lanes marked by different colours mean that there are different ways to pay, namely: Telepass, credit card or cash.

Italy Highway Entrance(Image from euractiv.com)


Telepass is an electronic toll device connected to your Italian bank account, allowing you to pass through without stopping and serving very much alike with the Electronic Tolling System you may find in other countries. It most suits the local drivers. 


To pay by credit card, you should provide the ticket you have collected at the entrance and insert it into the auto-collecting machine and then pay with your credit card.


Have a look at this local highway site to calculate the toll fees you may be charged with in Italy.


Note that if you fail to pay the toll in Italy while driving a rented car, the authorities will pass on the infringement information to the car hire company, which will usually add some management fees. However, as not every car hire company can pay your unpaid tolls on your behalf, you are sometimes required to pay for it on your own on the local highway website by entering the notice number. And you are always welcomed to contact QEEQ’ 24/7 customer support team to assist you with this matter.

*Please be aware that rules are subject to change. QEEQ.COM will try the best to maintain the accuracy of this information.

Traffic Violation

DUI Laws

In Italy, drink driving will be treated as severe infringement. The BAC for regular drivers is 0.05% (50mg per 100ml). Breaching 50mg and to 80mg per 100ml will result in a fine between €500 and €2,000 as well as a 3 to 6 months' licence suspension. From 80mg to 150mg, the fine will goes up and from €800 to €3,200, with 6 to 12 months’ licence suspension, or even up to 6 months imprisonment in extreme circumstances.

Traffic Fines

Receiving a speeding ticket can be quite often especially for international travellers or short-term visiting drivers. Speed cameras are set up in many places, in big cities as well as small towns, and it is very easy to miss the notice that you have entered into a 50km per hour zone.


Speeding fines in Italy depend on the amount you are over the speed limit, ranging from €41 up for 10km/h to €828 for more than 60km/h. Paying within 5 days after the citation is issued can result in a 30 percent discount.


Note that if you are renting a vehicle in Italy, the unpaid speeding infringement information will be passed onto the car hire company by the authority. In this case, the car hire company will charge you for an additional administrative fee if it is eligible to collect on behalf of the authority.


· The Limited Traffic Zones


Most of the central areas in major Italian cities and towns have Limited Traffic Zones (called Zona Traffico Limitato or ZTL in Italian) for which entrances are usually marked with no vehicle traffic signs and supplementary signs explaining the times of the ban and which categories are excluded. The entrances of the ZTLs are mostly located at crossings, traffic lights or roundabouts and monitored by cameras that register the transiting vehicles.

Italy ZTL Sign(Image from internationalgarage.com)


Use the above sign as an instance. This sign indicates you are not allowed to drive into this area between 7:30 to 19:30 from Monday to Saturday. The crossed hammers on the sign mean these restrictions do not apply on Sunday and holidays. Driving and acting on a safe side is always recommended if you are sure about what exactly the sign indicates.


Fines will be incurred when failing to follow the regulations of the ZTLs and the amount of fine can range from 50 to 150 Euros, varying by city.


To avoid ticketing from the ZTLs, we would recommend the following measures:


- Park your car outside the historical centre of Italian cities and use the public transportation to get there. 


- Get a passing certificate from a grocery store and send your plate number and identification number of the passing certificate to the Provincial Office of Motor Vehicles (Ufficio Provinciale della Motorizzazione Civile, UMC) via mobile messages. Each passing certificate costs €5 and is valid for one day


- Find the “ZTL Parking” lot after entering the ZTL within 20 minutes and your plate number will be taken off the record automatically or manually (note the parking fee is costly). 


- Go to the hotel’s front desk and ask them to help to take off your record from the policy if you are staying in a hotel within a ZTL. 


- Or just simply avoid the ZTLs by using Google Map or any other navigation soft wares. 

*Please be aware that rules are subject to change. QEEQ.COM will try the best to maintain the accuracy of this information.

Driving Licence and Age Requirements

To rent a car in Italy, the driver need to be in possession of a valid driving license and generally be held for at least 2 years


All licences issued by the European Union (and Switzerland) are accepted. 


Driving licences from non-EU countries are accepted if you have not been in Europe for longer than 6 months. If your domestic driving licence is not in English, an International Driving Permit (IDP/IDL) or an official translation in English is required together with your original driving licence. 


The minimum age generally to rent a vehicle in Italy is 18 years old (age may vary by car categories and suppliers). 


*IMPORTANT NOTE: Each car hire company has its own requirements. Please check Terms and Conditions of your hire car during the booking process. 

*Please be aware that rules are subject to change. QEEQ.COM will try the best to maintain the accuracy of this information.

Guest reviews

1 /
Bruce Hood

August 5, 2025

Destination: Milan

10Excellent

The red logo.

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Tiffany Emma

August 5, 2025

Destination: Milan

4Average

Average

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Otis Joe

August 5, 2025

Destination: Ravenna

10Excellent

Very satisfied.

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Lorraine Lewis

August 5, 2025

Destination: Rome

8Very good

Pretty good. They recommended insurance, but once they knew we had already purchased the highest coverage, they didn't insist. The pick-up and drop-off process was straightforward, without any hassle.

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Rita Galsworthy

August 4, 2025

Destination: Florence

6Average

There was no queue when picking up the car, but since I bought insurance through Zuzuche, a deposit of 500 euros was held during pickup. Fortunately, it was refunded to my card two days after returning the car. The car interior wasn't very clean and seemed to lack proper cleaning.

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Quentin Beerbohm

August 4, 2025

Destination: Milan

10Excellent

Convenient and fast.

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Xaviera Swift

August 4, 2025

Destination: Palermo

10Excellent

Very satisfied

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Sampson Noyes

August 4, 2025

Destination: Milan

10Excellent

The car is relatively new and easy to drive.

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Cornelius Gill

August 3, 2025

Destination: Catania

10Excellent

Very satisfied with the service, the car pickup process was efficient.

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Christian Kingsley

August 3, 2025

Destination: Milan

10Excellent

Very satisfied

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Olive Baker

August 2, 2025

Destination: Milan

8Very good

The upselling was a bit excessive. They recommended this BMW electric car to us for 30 euros per day. We rented it for 3 days and didn't need to recharge it. The car rental staff assured us that we didn’t need to return it fully charged and that parking outside was free. It had a range of over 360 kilometers at pickup, and we returned it with over 200 kilometers of range remaining.

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Zara Hodgson

August 2, 2025

Destination: Milan

10Excellent

I was very satisfied with the entire rental process this time. It's much better than the previous experience with Hertz, which randomly charged extra fees. The car return process was also promptly inspected in person!

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Sid Lindsay

August 2, 2025

Destination: Rome

10Excellent

The service attitude of the rental company is absolutely the best I have encountered in Europe, very nice.

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Leopold Chapman

August 1, 2025

Destination: Rome

8Very good

It's okay.

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Godfery Wheatley

August 1, 2025

Destination: Milan

10Excellent

Very satisfied, will choose this brand again next time.

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Erica Grant

July 31, 2025

Destination: Naples

10Excellent

Before going, I checked Google Maps and saw low ratings, which made me feel uneasy. However, everything went smoothly from car pick-up to the car exchange. Apart from being offered optional insurance at the store for 40 euros per day—which they didn't push further after I declined—everything else was great.

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Kay Pound

July 31, 2025

Destination: Turin

10Excellent

Good, a big company with a large fleet of vehicles.

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Sid Lindsay

July 31, 2025

Destination: Milan

10Excellent

Very satisfied.

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Adam Bloomfield

July 31, 2025

Destination: Florence

4Average

When picking up the car, the staff, a foreign lady, seemed disdainful and said she wouldn't accept the international driver's license translation provided by Zuzuche, insisting on a notarized document instead. Eventually, she reluctantly agreed. While the customer before me, another foreigner, received enthusiastic explanations about how to return the car and avoid restricted areas, she didn’t mention any of this to me. I rented a Mercedes A but was given a small Opel instead.

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Meredith Flynn

July 31, 2025

Destination: Milan

2Poor

Terrible company, they forced me to buy some package and pushed me to purchase insurance by claiming my authorization was insufficient. Communicating with them was useless. If I hadn't been in a rush, I wouldn't have rented it. The car they provided also had scratches and dents.

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Dennis Hope

July 31, 2025

Destination: Rome

4Average

The main issue is that the car model didn’t match the reservation. It was an old, unidentified car in poor condition, completely inconsistent with the booked model.

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Harold Kellogg

July 30, 2025

Destination: Milan

10Excellent

Overall service was good, and there was no forced consumption.

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Devin Gunther

July 30, 2025

Destination: Milan

10Excellent

The service was excellent. Convenient and efficient.

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Diana Coverdale

July 30, 2025

Destination: Venice

6Average

The car provided was not what I expected. The staff saw I had a lot of luggage and forcibly changed it to a 308SW, with additional charges applied. The experience was terrible. Picking up and dropping off the car was relatively easy and quick, and didn’t affect my flight schedule.

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Frank Milton

July 30, 2025

Destination: Milan

10Excellent

They provided a brand-new nine-seater car with a spacious trunk and third-row seating! Very satisfied! Remember to purchase full insurance so that if minor incidents like scratches occur to the car, you won't need to contact the police or report to the rental company. You can simply mention it when returning the car.

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Ronald Augustus

July 30, 2025

Destination: Bologna

10Excellent

Very satisfied.

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June MacMillan

July 29, 2025

Destination: Rome

10Excellent

Overall satisfied, but the originally booked Volkswagen was replaced with a Fiat.

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Nina Patrick

July 29, 2025

Destination: Bolzano

10Excellent

The car rental process was very simple, and there was no extra charge for adding an additional driver. The service staff was very friendly. The pre-authorization fee was also refunded promptly after the car was returned.

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Agatha MacDonald

July 29, 2025

Destination: Milan

6Average

Not very reliable, much worse than my previous three European self-driving experiences.

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Dean Humphr(e)y

July 28, 2025

Destination: Milan

10Excellent

The store is easy to locate, but the car pickup process is slow.

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Bradley Commons

July 28, 2025

Destination: Milan

10Excellent

Very convenient.

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Phyllis Morgan

July 28, 2025

Destination: Florence

6Average

The process of renting the car was very slow. There was only one staff member manually entering information into the system, and the underground parking lot entrance was full of mosquitoes.

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Tom Cotton

July 28, 2025

Destination: Milan

10Excellent

Satisfied

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Uriah Hemingway

July 28, 2025

Destination: Milan

10Excellent

Very satisfied

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Hannah Laurie

July 28, 2025

Destination: Milan

10Excellent

Very satisfied

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Prudence Kennan

July 27, 2025

Destination: Rome

6Average

Overall service was fine, but they tried to sell me insurance, switching between English and Italian.

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Uriah More

July 27, 2025

Destination: Milan

10Excellent

The service was great, the staff were very friendly, and the return process was efficient.

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Adair Romeo

July 27, 2025

Destination: Rome

6Average

We rented a T-Cross but were given the smaller Taigo instead. The full insurance from the rental company cost 820 euros, which was a bit expensive, but everything else was fine.

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Elijah Belloc

July 27, 2025

Destination: Rome

2Poor

The service is decent, though there are hidden charges. The vehicle condition is acceptable.

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Berg Onions

July 27, 2025

Destination: Milan

2Poor

1. They made various excuses to refuse handing over the car, only to finally reveal that we were forced to buy their full insurance. Beware! Beware! Beware! 2. Booked a FIAT 500X or equivalent, but couldn’t find a single one in the entire depot. The first car they gave us was an Opel Mokka with visible collision dents all over, and the right front wheel arch was even damaged to the point of leaking air. How am I supposed to trust this car for long trips? 3. After switching to another Mokka in slightly better condition, they rented the same car to someone who arrived an hour later right in front of us... Are you kidding me? Who else should I complain about if not you? 4. This is a 100% shady business. If the rental platform continues to allow this company to deceive future customers, it might as well prepare to shut down for good.

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Penny Senior

July 25, 2025

Destination: Florence

10Excellent

Not bad, QEEQ is always responsive to inquiries.

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Joan Hardy

July 24, 2025

Destination: Milan

8Very good

Overall service was satisfactory.

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Rosalind Wilmot(t)

July 24, 2025

Destination: Milan

10Excellent

The service attitude was excellent, and they actively resolved issues and helped find solutions.

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Flora Bess

July 24, 2025

Destination: Treviso

10Excellent

Very satisfied.

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Fitch Euphemia

July 23, 2025

Destination: Milan

10Excellent

During the busy summer season, AVIS showed no cars available, but we managed to find one here, which wasn’t easy. Before leaving Milan Airport, we contacted the rental company by phone, and they kindly sent a car to pick us up and take us to the rental location, saving us the trouble of carrying our luggage ourselves. Once we arrived, we found that AUTOONE and SURPRICE shared the same location. Later, when we received a confirmation email, it was under AUTOONE’s name, so they’re probably sister companies. There were two staff members processing rentals on site, and we only waited about ten minutes before it was our turn. After confirming the addition of full insurance and cross-border usage fees at the counter, we were given a car slightly larger than the one we had booked. It was a white SEAT Arona. The entire process took about ten minutes. (Unfortunately, in the later selection options, we couldn’t choose the actual car model we received.) When returning the car, we had full insurance, so as long as the fuel tank was full, they quickly checked and completed the return process.

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Nicholas Yule

July 23, 2025

Destination: Milan

10Excellent

During the peak summer season, AVIS showed no available cars for rent, but we managed to find one here, which wasn’t easy. Before leaving Milan Airport, we contacted the rental company, and they said they would send a car to pick us up and take us to the rental point, saving us the hassle of dragging our big bags there ourselves. At the pickup point, we discovered that AUTOONE and SURPRICE were operating together. When we later received the confirmation email, it was under AUTOONE’s header, so I guess they are sister companies. There were two staff members handling the procedures on-site. We waited about ten minutes before it was our turn to process the rental. After adding full insurance and paying for cross-border driving at the counter, we received a car slightly larger than the one we had reserved—a white SEAT Arona. The whole pickup process took about ten minutes. (Unfortunately, the later survey options didn’t allow us to select the actual car we got.) For the return, since we had full insurance, as long as the tank was full, they quickly verified the vehicle and completed the return process.

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Penny Senior

July 23, 2025

Destination: Milan

8Very good

Fluent English, highly efficient, and ample vehicles available.

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Cliff Connie

July 23, 2025

Destination: Milan

10Excellent

The staff at this store are very efficient and focused throughout the process. Not bad.

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Erica Grant

July 23, 2025

Destination: Milan

10Excellent

Satisfied

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Zebulon Abraham

July 22, 2025

Destination: Bari

10Excellent

Satisfied

View more

Best car rental deals in Italy

Best rates found by QEEQ users in the last 30 days.

Frequently asked questions

Q1.What is an insurance excess?

The excess is the amount you'll only be liable for in case of damage(under Collision Damage Waiver) or theft(under Theft Protection) of the vehicle.
Information about the excess will be clearly stated in the price inclusion when you reserve a car on QEEQ.

Q2. How can I add an addtional driver?

You are advised to make a request upon your arrival at the rental counter. Additional charge per day will incur unless '1 Additional Driver Included' is stipulated on the rental.
Please note that the same licence and age requirement applys to the additonal driver. The addtional driver is supposed to present the required licence document along with the main driver at pickup.

Q3.What if I want to pick up or drop off my rental car out of office hours?

QEEQ will show you the car offers available at your chosen time on the search results.
However, pick-up or drop-off out of general opening hours may subject to an extra fee unless self-service pick-up or drop-off is available.
After you reserve a car on QEEQ, we will inform you of specific policy of the car hire company by email.

Q4. Can I take the hired car to another country or cross border?

If you want to pick up your car in one country and drop it in another, your search results will show you cars you can do that with.
If you're planning to cross any borders during your trip, bear in mind:
1. You may have to pay more.
There are often extra fees, taxes or additional cover you'll pay at the car hire counter.
2.It may not be allowed.
Depending on where you're hiring, you may not be able to take your car to another country.
Please email us if you want to take your hire car into a different country during your trip, and we'll talk you through your options.

Q5. Can I pick up my car at one location and return it at different location?

Yes. You can pick up the vehicle in one place and drop it off in another. An ‘one-way fee’ will incur. Whether it is inclued in the rental price or what additional cost may arise will be clearly stated at the time of booking on QEEQ.
Please inform the car hire company of your drop-off location when you pick up the vehicle or contact them directly during your trip. You will find a phone number on the rental agreement you signed at pickup.

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