car rental in Italy
 

We are renting a car in Livorno, Italy. I am from the US. Do we need a special license to drive??? If so, do we get it before we leave the states of when we get there. Also, we willl be on a cruise ship port and will only need the car for one day (7am- 5 or 6 pm) I think I read somewhere that an extra charge will be added for less than a full day. We reserved with Avis. Thanks, Kim

We just got back from Italy and we rented a car in Florence and all they needed was our drivers license. We rented from Hertz.

Italy requires an International Driving Permit. It costs $10 at AAA if you have your own passport-size photos. If not, they will take the photos for an additional charge.

Your car rental agency probably won't ask for it. You'll only need it if stopped by the police for some reason. It's even possible that if you are stopped, the individual policeman won't ask for it. But if they do ask for it and you don't have it, there's an additional fine.

Hi A,

Mind if I ask what you're planning to do with a one-day rental.

It will cost almost as much as 3 days.

((I))

Just to note in Italy it is mandatory to take the insurance offered by the car rental agents. It doesn't matter if your credit card or home insurance covers it. Also consider asking for GPS this can save you from getting lost. We just had our canadian driver's license.

ttt

You might find it cheaper and much more convenient to rent a minibus and driver for the day, especially since a licensed driver can take you right into the centre of Florence. Giovanni Sirabella specialises in Livorno cruise ship shore excursions. I know him very well and can recommend him. He has a web site at www.sunflower-tours.com

I think it's sort of funny that so many posters here often rave that the only way to see the countryside is to drive and have total freedom. Yet here is someone who has already explained they only have one day off the ship and want to rent a car for that day. Makes perfect sense to me. I'm not sure the the poster was asking if there was a cheaper way to do the trip, maybe that is totally not important.

Incidentally I have twice done single day rentals, once in the UK and once in Paris. Each cost something like $40 US. The trick was not to prebook them through my beloved AutoEurope. One was direct with Avis and one was direct with Hertz, and they did not cost any more than 1/3 of a three day rental! I'm assuming since you say you already reserved with Avis, then you know what it is costing, right?

Yes, ashleylogan, you are REQUIRED BY LAW to have an International Driver's Permit in Italy. Whether you NEED one depends on how much you want to gamble, and whether or not you'll end up getting stopped by the police.