Does it matter where you pick up or drop off a rental car in Florence? It seems that there is alot more availability in the city then at the airport...and it's cheaper as well. Is there a reason for that, that I should know about? We are needing our car for a week in Tuscany. Thanks!

Hi S,

It is cheaper to pick up the car in the city because all rental companies charge extra for airport pickup.

Hi Ira! I know it's cheaper, but I am wondering about the traffic. Is it less insane driving to and from Tuscany from the airport, or is it no big whoop either way. Thanks again for all your help!

The Autoeurope location at Borgo Ognassanti[sp] is easy to use if you are heading south from there.

For sure pick up at the airport. Why pay for transport into the city if you are only going to pick up a car? Is the price difference that great that it is worth the time and expense of taking a taxi from the airport to the agency to get the car? And is the in-town agency open all day long without lunch break?

Driving all over Italy (except for Rome and Florence and of course Venice where no one drives due to lack of streets) is easy as pie. We had a hard time driving in Florence but if you are only picking up a car there and driving out of the city, I would assume they will give you good instructions. As a matter of fact, I think after walking around Florence for three days, we might not have had any problems driving. It was just very frustrating trying to match our map (which was a very good one) to the streets. Once you are in Tuscany it is a pure joy to drive around.

Thank you!

We picked up from the location that Bobthenavigator mentioned. It is very easy to find and is close to the autostrada.

Hi S,

If you are flying into FLR and then going on a driving tour, I suggest paying the extra for the airport.

If you are coming in by train or will be in Florence, I go with BTN.

We (all 4 of us)are starting out after a few days in Florence from Hotel Casci, which I believe is centrally located . We plan to pick up the car, and drive to meet friends in Tuscany. We want the car for our one week in Tuscany.

On our return, two of us will go back to the Hotel Casci for two nights, and two take a train to Venice. This may give you all a better idea of our needs. Thanks!

Just a thought .. last year we took the train from Florence to Umbria - and picked up a car at the train station. Driving into/out of Florence isn't a picnic... and the rental at the train station was cheaper. This ended up being very stress free.

We picked up a car from AutoEuropa at the office on Via Borgognissanti in Florence 2 weeks ago and then left for Tuscany- no problem. We walked to the office from the hotel, they brought the car around to the front of the building, told us how to go out of the city and we were off. We picked it up on a Sunday and the office is only open until 1. Also, we made sure to ask how to find reverse. Some posters have had problems with the manual gear shifts.
We dropped the car off at the Rome airport. It was well marked and easy to do as well.

good information, and hope hipvirgochick sees this too!

Bob, help?

the only city options AE gives me on their website for Florence is either downtown office at Via Maso Finiguerra #33 which I suspect isn't what I want... and Florence South
Via Erbosa 5-b which sounds better but still isn't the one mentioned. any tips?

maybe look at it on www.mappy.com and see if one looks better than the other.

Also, don't forget that the airport in Florence is closed until end of April at the earliest.

If you pick up at the airport, can you find parking in Florence or anywhere else in Tuscany?

Seems like it would be easier to rent just on the days you need the car (when you're in Florence itself, you can walk or use public transport?) and then return it to the car rental office.