sarge56

I'm taking my 22-year-old nephew with me to Italy. I'd like to rent a car in Florence one day. A manual is so much cheaper than an automatic. My nephew drives cars for a living and so drives a manual all the time. I cannot drive a manual (oh, I could get you to the hospital in an emergency, but I might leave your transmission somewhere along the way).

So, I'd love to rent a manual, but then my nephew would have to drive.

Is there a minimum age to drive a rental car in Italy? Is it 21? 25?

Also, since I will no longer have a car in the US, I will not have US auto insurance. What am I required to take for coverage in Italy? If my nephew were allowed to drive, but I was renting the car, would his coverage at home (US) on his car cover him in Italy?

Sorry for all the dumb questions. My nephew works for the company that owns Volkswagen/Audi, etc. and I want to surprise him by taking a day trip from Florence to the Lamborghini factory. (That's another thread. )

Any/all input appreciated! Thank you!

If you also have recommendation for which car company and/or pickup location in Florence, I'd appreciate that input, also. We are staying city center, but I suspect it will be easier to pick up and drop off the car out of city center. THX!

janisj

I don't know the age requirement so others will have to help w/ that. Maybe check autoeurope - they'll know for sure. They are a broker that works w/ all the major companies.

but >>Also, since I will no longer have a car in the US, I will not have US auto insurance. <<

Your/nephew's personal car insurance will not cover you in Europe. You'll need to get a rental quote that includes insurance.

Rastaguytoday

Go to forums, type in Italy Car Rental. There's a plethora of information that's recent.

Don't forget the Ferrari factory near Modena.

nytraveler

I have never seen US car insurance that covered you in europe. You credit card you use for rental typically covers you in many countries - but usually not Italy. In Italy the agencies require you [ay for coverage from them - if you want to buy additional (to cover deductible or coverage on the two of you) that would typically be extra. Don;t know th elower limit - you will have to check the various agencies - but if he is the only driver - or secondary driver - you have to tell them so - since it might change your rates. If you don;t tell them and he has an accident your insurance will be invalid and you will owe everything out of pocket.

Check online now - Hertz, Avid and Autoeurope - and any other majors - with all these specifics, to determine costs, Be sure the insurance you want is included. Also youand he will need International Driver;s Permits (translation of your license) or they won;t rent you a car at all. You can get these from AAA.

Also, understand that for many towns the center is pedestrian only - and you have to leave the car outside the walls - or away from the center - and walk to get public transit it. Being caught in the pedestrian zone with a car will be a fine (there are cameras everywhere) of a couple of hundred euros each time.

sarge56

ny- I already have my Int'l Drivers License. I told him to go get his (in hopes he can drive in Italy).

I know about pedestrian centers, which is why I asked about best place to pickup/dropoff <i>outside</i> of city center.

Thanks all. I did do a search for minimum age italy car rental and got nothing on these forums. fyi.

bobthenavigator

1-888-223-5555

newtome

if you just google minimum age for italy car rental hundreds of sites come up. still a hefty surcharge if under 25

sarge56

OK, I'm also finding "3-day mimimum rental" on sites. Is this standard? I only want the car for one day.

Jean

sarge, is this car only for getting to the Lambo factory? It may be faster and would definitely be cheaper to go by public trans. (And I see the Lambo tour tickets are 40 euros each!)

http://www.lamborghini.com/en/about/...w-to-reach-us/

kybourbon

If you are using a booking site like AutoEurope or Kemwel, they have a 3 day minimum. A 3 day rental is often about the same as a one day rental.

You can look at booking directly with one of the European car rental companies (Sixt, Maggiore, etc.) or directly with Avis, Hertz, etc. Hertz does DCC (it's in their contract) and the only way to avoid it is prepay.

As others have explained, US insurance is for the US and does not cover in Europe. The majority of credit cards that provide coverage as a benefit exclude Italy (and Ireland). There are some Visa credit cards that do cover Italy. YOu would have to check your own card coverage to see.

If you look at the airport website, they have a list of rental companies. Similar agencies should be around the train station.

http://www.aeroporto.firenze.it/en/p...ar-rental.html

Sixt says their age restriction is 21. You can check the others.

sarge56

thanks all. ky- it was funny. Kemwel site brought me up a Hertz car where terms say 21 min age. Around E19 for young driver surcharge. But Hertz site directly lists min age as 24. Very confusing.

Though the Kemwel site terms said minimum rental 3 days, it looked like it was going to let me continue with a one-day rental. Which was a fantastic rate, either way. I just want it clear that the driver is 22- I don't want any surprises when I show up to get my vehicle.

Jean, thanks for that link. I considered public transportation. But I really think my nephew would love to drive.

Thanks again for all replies!

Rastaguytoday

nytraveler - I have a Citibank Anex card that says I'm 100% covered in ANY country in the world.

kybourbon

Kemwel and Autoeurope are brokers, not rental car companies. I would think you have to go by the actual companies rules for age, not theirs. The Italian website of the company might say something a bit different than the US version. They both used to have a 3 day minimum (they are essentially the same company aren't they?) so I'm surprised about the one day booking.
The Italian Hertz website (rates are often cheaper on Italian websites than through the US websites), says this about age:

Minimum age is 25 years old
Can be rented from 23 years old with a young driver surcharge of EUR 19.96 (including tax) per day with a maximum charge of EUR 199.65 (including tax)

***Effective 8 April through 21 April 2013, the young driver surcharge will be EUR 9.98 (including tax) per day with a maximum charge of EUR 99.83 (including tax)***

If you look at the Sixt website, you'll see info about needing to be 21 and having a license for at least one year. Nowhere in the booking process did they ask the age. If you look at the Italian version of Sixt (sixt.it), you get a slightly different version. From Google translator:

Young Drivers:
The minimum age of the driver is 21 years old, valid driver's license for at least one year and another valid ID. For ages between 21 and 24 years will be charged an additional fee of € 10.00 per day

>>>nytraveler - I have a Citibank Anex card that says I'm 100% covered in ANY country in the world.<<<

I assume that card has a fee?

As for Visa card coverage, I think the Cap One Visa Signature card covers Italy.

sarge56

Re coverage in Ital- I just got a Chase Sapphire Visa and it DOES state it covers me in Italy for car rentals with the card. I called to verify and they confirmed.

Thanks all!