Guide to Car Hire in Italy

• Posted by: Editor
• On: 20/02/2008 09:55:22
• In: Italy Car Hire

These are some of our top destinations in Italy:

Bologna: is located in the middle of northern Italy and offers a true taste of Italy.

Milan: is a large city in the north-west which is a world capital of fashion.

Naples: a large city in southern Italy that is located very close to the Roman city of Pompeii.

Parma: located near Bologna, this city is famed for its architecture and cuisine.

Rome: the Eternal City that was once the centre of one of the most significant empires in history.

Turin: in north-western Italy near both France and the Alps.

Venice: this city in the north-east is famed for its canals and the gondolas that ply these waterways.

For more information take a look at our 'Car Hire Italy – Where to go and what to see' blog.

Step by step guide:
So you've decided you want to travel to Italy and to hire a car to get around.

Step 1: Make sure you have conditions of country met.
Step 2: Make Booking.
Step 3: Go to country.
Step 4: Go to Car Hire Office and pick up car.
Step 5: Return car after happy holiday.
Step 6: Head home.

Step 1: Do you meet the conditions for hiring a car?

In Italy, the minimum age for a person driving a rental is 18 (though this can change on car category).

Some car rental companies will also have an additional fee for drivers who are of a young age, e.g. Under-25.

You'll have to have a full license, not probationary or provisional.

You must have had the license for at least 1 year.

Seatbelts are mandatory and under-12s need appropriate restraints.

Make sure you have read the Terms and Conditions and the FAQ.

Step 2: Make a booking request and reservation.

Select your travel dates, pick up, drop off locations, and enter your age here.

We will display the best rates available in the local currency for a variety of car types.

Pick your preferred car type and we will present you with all the details you have chosen for your review. Please make sure all these details are correct and that you also read the Terms and Conditions of the specific car rental company.

Also at this stage you'll have the option to choose Nova's Excess Insurance (daily cover of only UK £4.73).

What is Excess Insurance?

Note: If you don’t choose this Excess Insurance cover, you'll have the option of getting it with the Car Rental Company at time of pick up though this can be more expensive than Nova's Excess Insurance and it also may not cover such things as lost keys, windscreen damage and tyre damage. If you don’t take any Excess Insurance Cover from Nova or the Car Rental Company, then you will be liable to pay for an excess incurred from damage to your rental, this could be anything up to €3000 or more!

Enter your name and surname, and make sure it matches your driving license and passport.

You will also need to enter your payment details at this step. Only credit cards can be accepted, there are no cash Car Rental Companies with Nova Car Hire.

Note: you can always make your booking over the phone so why not give us a call – contact details.

Once you press reserve, you will receive a Booking Request Number and we will contact the specific car rental company and make a reservation for you (this can take up to 48 hours).

When confirmed by the car rental company we will then contact you via email with your Booking Confirmation Number. This booking confirmation will again give you full details on your car rental, be sure to check again that these are all correct. It may be a good idea to print this page off for presentation at the Car Rental Desk. At this point we process the reservation deposit.

Step 3: Make your way to your destination.

If you're flying to the destination you can also enter your flight details when making the booking request, so that the Car Rental Company will know to hold your car if your flight is delayed.

Step 4: Pick up you car.

When you arrive at your destination, you can make your way to the Car Rental Office at your chosen Pick-Up Location. You will need your Booking Confirmation Number, Drivers License (and an International Drivers License if required) and Passport.

You pay the balance to the car rental company at this stage.

The paying credit card has to be in the same name as the driver of the car.

They may offer you Excess Insurance, but if you have already chosen Nova's Excess Insurance you will not need this.

If you accidentally say yes to both, the car rental company’s Excess Insurance will trump Nova's Excess Insurance and you may lose the extra benefits that Nova's Excess Insurance offers.

At this stage you should receive your keys and car. Have fun on your holiday.

Step 5: At the end of your holiday.

Assuming there has been no damage to the car then returning it to your chosen Drop-Off Location should be a hassle free experience.

Hopefully you’ll have enjoyed your holiday and you can return home refreshed.

Step 6: Head home after a great holiday.

Hopefully everything went well for you, so perhaps leave some feedback, and iif you wish, some advice for your fellow travellers.