You will be able to book cars at every international airport, but we would recommend that you only use this as a pick up point. Cars are often in great demand especially in peak season and one may not be available or the correct type of car. The smaller airports, such as Bergamo have been known to run out of cars quite frequently!

Car Hire is well known as an International business and is well suited to global organisation. Many Italian rental agencies are affiliated with the likes of Hertz, Avis, Budget etc. The differences apply to the local car styling, the local insurance and hire agreements. This will not however make a great deal of difference to you when booking. Prices can vary between airports but tend to be similar to other European destinations.  When booking you will need to make sure of several elements to ensure the price is as quoted and it covers all eventualities.
The price you pay includes all elements of hire:

• VAT (Value Added Tax)
• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW). This may not be optional.
• Drop-off charges
• Surcharges for automatics, child seats etc
• Fuel surcharges (these can be more expensive if you do not fill the car for its return and will be charged to your card).
• NOTE: The price does not include Tolls

On this last note, in Italy they speak Italian and all signs and instructions are in Italian so:
Gasolio' is diesel fuel.  For a diesel car do not 'benzina' (Petrol). Fuel prices vary across Europe and can be expected to hover around EU1 per litre. This may come a shock to residents of the USA or the Middle East!
Autostrade (motorways) charge for use and you will have to pay toll. More information on Autostrade can be found by visiting the following page: clicking here.

Rules of the Road
You are in Italy, home of the Ferrari, Maserati and Bugatti!  If you are nervous driver then initially you may feel slightly fazed.  Despite appearances Italians do have control of their cars, but this is used to get from point A to B as quickly as possible and with full use of the road…..
So be aware and watch for the following:

• They get very close, especially from behind when travelling at speed, will flash lights and expect you to move over, even if there is a queue in front of you! If there is a gap then fill it, if you don’t somebody will!
• It is the driver’s responsibility to avoid pedestrians, so do not be surprised that instead of slowing down they take alternative measure to manoeuvre around them!
• Parking! Italians love their cars and most people have a mid range or mid size car. You will not see many top of the range luxury cars for various financial and fiscal reasons. More Fiat than BMW’s as opposed to Germany where the reverse is clear.  Italians will park anywhere and in cities, parking on the pavements and grassed areas outside buildings is the norm.  So instead of allowing safe pedestrian passage along pavements the government pays a warden to collect a parking fee from those on the sidewalk.
• Autostrade driving is often the most daunting. You may see a Golf GTi driven at dusk by an individual wearing dark glasses come quickly up behind you in the outside lane and keep flashing his lights. Simply move over as quickly as you can, they will undertake given a chance and that pasta his mother cooked is going cold. He or she will invariably move onto the next car and perform the same exercise.  Be very aware as most are two lane highways, not terribly wide and exits can come up very quickly. In addition filtering onto an Autostrade can also be dangerous as filter roads can be short and no-one gives way!
• Many people worry about getting lost and no surprise as all signs are in Italian. If you are at all techy then get a SatNav, these can often be hired through the car hire company. Otherwise get a TomTom type portable device or even and Apple iPhone. Alternatively get a map! A good map is worth its weight in gold. Also allow enough time for a few mistakes. No harm will befall you in Italy, just some bemused locals! If one person drives and the other navigates and they are still speaking at the end of the trip, they could consider a long term relationship!

• If you get lost then try asking a local, we have provided a few words to help ask the right questions:

• a nord: to the north
• a sud: to the south
• a est : to the east
• a ovest : to the west
• a sinistra: to the left:
• a destra: to the right

Numbers

1. uno
2. due
3. tre
4. quattro
5. cinque
6. sei
7. sette
8. otto
9. nove
10. dieci

Other Suggestions:
The A.C.I. (Italian Auto Club) has a nationwide roadside help number with English speaking staff. Call 116 on any phone, for medical emergencies call 113.
In terms of finding fuel, remember that this is not a 24/7 & 24/24 culture Petrol stations are often closed between12:30 & 3:00 P.M and Sundays and sometimes ½ day weekdays. Many of these have self-serve pumps but often they dispense small amounts of fuel and you will need a good supply of EU10 notes.
Check the holiday seasons carefully. August sees mass migration by Europeans to the coast and bank holidays can see parades and local functions with closed roads and long delays. Car hire can be sparse in many towns across the Italian lakes as they do not provide sufficient business.

We provide also car rental or information on travelling around the area on several of our sites, Bellagio for example, on Lake Como.