Florence, Italy: Dropping Off Rental Car Within the ZTL
Apr 26th, 2010, 03:28 PM
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Florence, Italy: Dropping Off Rental Car Within the ZTL
So, we are one of those travellers who received a "surprise" in the mail months after returning from our holiday in Italy --- a ticket for driving through Florence's restricted traffic zone without authorization! Actually, what we were doing was dropping off our rental car at the Avis office located on Via Borgo Ognissanti, within the ZTL! That said, there's no disputing that we contravened the Italian Highway Code. The fine will be paid.
I contacted Avis Canada & learned that it has no local information about driving restrictions within Florence so they are not in a position to alert us nor advise us how to arrive at its city office. The advice we received was to telephone Avis Florence directly for information. Were we supposed to know this?
The question is: How do we avoid this situation on our next trip to Florence?
Has anyone successfully made arrangements to drop a rental car at an office within the ZTL? What was required?
We're thinking that this must be a "cash cow" for the local economy!!!
I contacted Avis Canada & learned that it has no local information about driving restrictions within Florence so they are not in a position to alert us nor advise us how to arrive at its city office. The advice we received was to telephone Avis Florence directly for information. Were we supposed to know this?
The question is: How do we avoid this situation on our next trip to Florence?
Has anyone successfully made arrangements to drop a rental car at an office within the ZTL? What was required?
We're thinking that this must be a "cash cow" for the local economy!!!
Apr 26th, 2010, 03:56 PM
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It's my understanding the you are allowed to drive on Via Borgo Ognissanti itself. https://ztl.comune.fi.it/tzi/index.jsp. - see yellow colored streets "itinerari transiti consentito" = transit routes allowed
It may be like navigating a mine field to get there.
Since I'm 100 euro poorer after my last trip to Florence I'm going to stick to the renting/returning at the airport in the future.
How does one know beforehand? Lurk on Fodors for a while I guess.
It may be like navigating a mine field to get there.
Since I'm 100 euro poorer after my last trip to Florence I'm going to stick to the renting/returning at the airport in the future.
How does one know beforehand? Lurk on Fodors for a while I guess.
Apr 26th, 2010, 05:33 PM
#3
http://news.comune.fi.it/muoversi/se...ervizi=Servizi
Zoom in a several times to see the zone/streets better. Click autovelox on the left to see where the cameras are located (not all cameras are for ZTL). If you click "area ztl" it will highlight the area you can't drive in blue. You will see the train station is not ztl. I would ask the car rental for directions.
Zoom in a several times to see the zone/streets better. Click autovelox on the left to see where the cameras are located (not all cameras are for ZTL). If you click "area ztl" it will highlight the area you can't drive in blue. You will see the train station is not ztl. I would ask the car rental for directions.
Apr 26th, 2010, 08:58 PM
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The maps are very clear to show the areas where driving is limited.
According to info on www.slowtrav.com, it is permissible to drive to a hotel within restricted areas or to a parking garage if the hotel or garage call in your license plate number to the police.
So, here's a rhetorical question: Why don't car rental offices automatically provide the police with license plate numbers of vehicles being returned each day thus allowing us tourists & others to drive through ZTL to return cars?
Perhaps the wise answer lays in J62's solution of renting/returning rental cars at the airport!
According to info on www.slowtrav.com, it is permissible to drive to a hotel within restricted areas or to a parking garage if the hotel or garage call in your license plate number to the police.
So, here's a rhetorical question: Why don't car rental offices automatically provide the police with license plate numbers of vehicles being returned each day thus allowing us tourists & others to drive through ZTL to return cars?
Perhaps the wise answer lays in J62's solution of renting/returning rental cars at the airport!
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