Rome Hire Car Tips, Experiences & Comparison

Exploring Rome by Hire Car

Rome, the eternal city, offers millennial culture, a vibrant city life, excellent restaurants and very good hotels.

Many tourists spend weeks here and never leave Rome once during that time. Although you could probably spend months sightseeing in antiquity, there are plenty of exciting things to discover in the surrounding countryside too.

The best way to explore the region is to take an extended side trip in a hire car. We have put together a few tips for renting and driving.

Choosing the right station

Many people shy away from the turbulent traffic in the Roman capital. If you are not a very experienced driver, we recommend that you prefer to book the hire car at a station in one of the suburbs or directly at the airport. The advantage at the airport is that you do not have to search for a long time for the rental station and you can receive the key directly after arrival. After that, you decide when the journey begins. The car is safe in the airport garage, even if you want to take a look at Rome first.

Finding the car at the airport

Most passengers arrive in Rome via Leonardo da Vinci airport. The hire car station is located at Torre Uffici 2. From the entrance hall, all you have to do is follow the signs to the hire car station. However, make sure that your rental company is also located in the hire car station. There are also providers whose office is only close to the airport. Then you have to wait for the shuttle and lose valuable time.

Choosing the right car

Not for nothing do most Romans choose a small car. A compact and manoeuvrable car is the best way to get through the city bustle and find a parking space more easily.

Insuring the car properly

Small traffic accidents are not the exception in Rome, but the rule. You are best insured if you take out comprehensive insurance without excess. With the liability you should pay attention to the sum insured. It should be at least one million euros. This offers you protection if several vehicles are involved in an accident or even people are injured.

Hire car prices

For the most part, you can get a hire car very cheaply in Rome. However, during peak season, there can be a shortage of vehicles. And that’s when the prices go up. You can usually get the cheapest deals if you book well in advance and use our handy price comparison.

hire car price comparison Rome

age limit

When renting your hire car, also keep in mind the age limit that is drawn by most rental companies. Almost no driver gets a car under the age of 21. And most providers charge drivers under 25 a fee. Check with your rental company’s terms and conditions before renting the car.

Language barrier

Even in Rome, it can happen that an employee at a rental station speaks poor English. In this case, it can be helpful to have the phone number of the Italian headquarters of the rental company saved in your mobile phone. There you can ask for translation help in case of need.

Free kilometers

If you only want to explore Rome and the surrounding area, you can book a hire car with limited kilometres at cheaper rates. But if you want to go further afield, we recommend booking a hire car with unlimited kilometres. Then you don’t have to keep an eye on the mileage indicator during the journey, but can enjoy the beautiful Italian countryside without any worries.

Customer Review Hire Car

Many customers complain that they were sold additional insurances in the hire car stations in Rome, which will not have been necessary at all. Make sure that the car has sufficient insurance coverage already when you reserve the car. And then on the spot, consistently refuse to take out any additional insurance.

Safety vehicles

Most hire cars in Rome are roadworthy. However, they often have lots of scratches and dents. Make sure you have all the damage confirmed in a fault log, so you don’t get held liable on return for a dent you didn’t even cause. And before you drive off, check all of the vehicle’s lights and do a brake test in the hire car company’s parking lot.

Bail

Some rental companies deduct the deposit from your credit card and delay paying you back after you return the car. Rather rent from a rental company that just blocks the amount and then releases it.

Coming to the city from the airport

If you want to take the gamble of driving your hire car straight from the airport to the city, make sure you choose a car with a navigation system. You will have your hands full taking care of the traffic. That’s when you shouldn’t waste your energy searching for street names and signs.

Reserve accessories in time

Should your hire car not have a built-in navigation system, many rental companies offer the possibility to book a mobile “Navi”. It is quickly installed in the car, but should always be taken with you when you leave the car. Mobile navigation systems are highly sought after by thieves. Also remember to book your desired accessories well in advance so that they are actually available on the day of rental.

Find the special hotel

Rome offers a wide variety of hotels. Many are not worth the visit. To spend pleasant nights here you should look at the customer reviews on one of the major hotel comparison portals. Here travelers say how they really liked the stay. And that often differs significantly from the messages that the advertising brochures of the houses proclaim.

We also have a special tip. Spend your days in Rome luxuriously and stay at the Hotel Rome Cavalieri. The house leaves nothing to be desired and you have the opportunity to dine with the alleged best chef in the city. Bavarian Heinz Beck is the head chef at Rome’s only restaurant to be awarded three Michelin stars. Or perhaps you’d rather stroll the streets and discover a trattoria or two, which the locals also prefer on balmy evenings. Here you can be sure to be familiar with the authentic cuisine of Rome.

Sights in Rome

Vatican Museums: Gigantic Art Exhibition
You can spend several days in the Vatican Museums and still not have seen everything. From antiquities from the Orient to classical antiquity and the Renaissance to contemporary art, the exhibition ranges. Accordingly, the museums are in great demand and the visitor queues in front of the ticket office are very long. You can save yourself many hours of waiting by reserving tickets online via the Vatican Museums website.

Colosseum: Experience Ancient Rome
Another must-do of a first stay in Rome is a visit to the Colosseum. The huge amphitheater was built between 72 and 80 AD. You will also find long lines of tourists outside the Colosseum. For an additional fee, guides offer a tour that will take you past the tourist lines and right inside. But often, after paying the fee, you have to wait for a long time until the tour starts and endure long-winded explanations of the guide in front of the amphitheatre. Rather practice patience and join the queue. It will save you money.

Spanish Steps: Exciting Recreation Point
At the end of a first stroll through the city, you will be glad to settle down on the Spanish Steps. It was built between 1723 and 1725 and is now a meeting point for tourists from all over the world. From the top you can enjoy a great view over the city and the hustle and bustle on the shopping street Via dei Condotti.

Sights in the surrounding area

Lido di Ostia: Relaxation at the sea
Drive with the hire car but first to the sea to Lido di Ostia. With quiet traffic you are there in half an hour. Since in Rome but almost always the traffic chaos rages, you should love a whole hour. In Lido di Ostia you can enjoy long beaches and excellent restaurants with surprisingly affordable prices.

Palestrina: Trip to the Ancient World
Next stop on the tour is Palestrina, which you will reach in about an hour and a half. In Palestrina, the Museo Nazionale Archeologico Prenestiono awaits you to tell you about the history of the town and the surrounding area in ancient times.

Anagni: Magnificent Cathedral
Before you now steer the hire car back to Rome, you can make a stop in Anagni. The drive will take you about half an hour. In Anagni, you can visit the imposing cathedral. It was built from the 11th century onwards and is a prime example of the Lombard-Romanesque architectural style. Now only an hour’s drive separates you from Rome, where you can review the experiences of the tour.

conclusion

Rome, the eternal city, is best explored without a hire car, but the surrounding area offers so many sights that you won’t be able to do without a car. And with our hire car price comparison, you’ll always find a great deal and a vehicle to suit.