I plan on renting a car in Italy in March. What credit card gives me the best coverage? American Express, Visa or M/C? I know when I rented in Ireland a few years back, this forum told me about the advantages Visa had over the others. Just wondering if it was similar in Italy. Thanks!

I don't beleive any of them coveryou in italy - but you would need to check your specific card to find out.

You may want to use EconomyCarRentals.com whose coverage has no deductible. I have found it to be cheaper than AutoEurope or Kemwel.

The type of credit card is probably a lesser of the issues when renting a car in Italy for the reason mentioned by the others. I hope you have already looked at whether you need a car in the first place considering the traffic, parking logistics, rental office hours, the operating cost, the time, alternatives, and the ZTL.

I looked into this - Visa does say they provide insurance coverage in Italy. However it is a catch-22, because the car rental companies and brokers like Kemwel and AutoEurope by Italian law must bundle the insurance cost into the price - so you can't take advantage of the Visa insurance coverage option.

You'll find plenty of helpful information on the topic of car rentals on this forum.

FYI: traffic cameras are ALL OVER THE PLACE. No matter if you inadvertently commit a traffic violation, the municipality will go to the car rental company for your cc info and then the fine will attempt to hit your card. Because the municipality does not have your approval for the charges, the card will be declined and you will then hear from the cc. They will tell you there has been fraudlent charges trying to hit your card and you need a new card.

Then the municipality or in my case 2 of them will send you bills in the mail.

Driving in the country is OK, the cities not so good. jk

I've looked into this as well, and coverage in Italy will depend on your card.

My MasterCard would provide coverage, but you have to decline the insurance offered by the rental company. They said that they will cover any excess if I cannot decline the coverage due to Italian law, but they won't put it in writing, so I wouldn't count on it.

As far as Italian law requiring it to be bundled, I'm not sure. I know that you are required to have insurance, I do not know if the insurance HAS to be through the rental company. Hertz seemed willing to let me waive it (AutoEurope would not), but who knows what would happen when I actually pick up the car (I'm going in May). That being said, Hertz was not willing to reduce the rental quote if I declined the CDW, so there really is no benefit to relying on your credit card for insurance in Italy.

In the end, I found the cheapest rate from Hertz using a Continental Airlines onepass discount code, then called AutoEurope and had them match it PLUS include the zero excess insurance. That way I won't have to worry about coordinating anything with my credit card if anything happens, and I got a great rate.

Hopefully you will have similar luck with your rental

Thanks for all the info. We are onlly renting a car for our days traveling around Puglia. No need for it anywhere else. I will check into the rental companies you mentioned. Ciao!

Hi R,

Italy requires the rental car agency to provide insurance. There is a deductible.

You will need an International Driver's Permit.

Look for
'no insurance excess" when comparing rates
Try Autoeurope, Kemwel, Easy Terra (ALL the same company)

<i>There is a deductible.</i>

It depends on the broker.