How it works

As soon as you've booked your hire car in Italy, we will send you an email confirmation. This will contain your booking reference, as well as details of your car hire provider. Your confirmation will also detail the location of the car hire desk/office.

Insurance - we've got you covered

All our Italy car hire agreements include a collision damage waiver. This means that, in the event of theft or damage you won't be charged any more than your excess.

Here at Holiday Extras, our mission is to make your Italy car hire as hassle-free as possible. Our total protection insurance will give you extra peace of mind should you be involved in an accident or damage the rental car while you're away. We regularly compare and price-check all our policies to ensure we're giving you the premium level of cover. All our policies include the following:

• Damage and theft excess
• Damage protection for all mechanical and exterior of the car
• Cover for any immobilisation, admin and towing charges
• Free cancellation up to 48 hours before travel

On arrival - collecting your hire car in Italy

When you collect your rental vehicle in Italy - whether you've opted for car hire in Naples, Pisa or Rome Airports, head to the appropriate car hire desk or office. If you've opted to collect your rental car from the airport, the desks will normally be in the Arrivals Hall. Here, a member of the team will go through the paperwork of the car rental agreement with you. There will be a few forms to complete before the keys are handed over. The team will also go through the fuel policy with you - namely whether the car is being supplied with a full tank of fuel and how it should be returned, as well as if there is any mileage limit.

You need to ensure you have the following with you when you pick up your hire car:

• Printed email confirmation for each of your journeys
• A full driving licence
• Credit card in the lead driver's name, with the full deposit amount available
• A valid DVLA code
• A valid passport

What to do on your return

Details of where you need to return your hire car to will be listed on your booking confirmation. When you drop it off, a member of the rental car team will check it over before you head off.

Airport Pick Ups for Car Rental in Italy

Wherever you're travelling, we can find you a top offer with our Italy car hire comparison. Our award-winning holiday car rental provides collection points from all of the major airports across Italy and its islands. From Palermo to Pisa, Verona to Venice, our range of airports includes:

• Brindisi
• Bari
• Sardinia
• Sorrento
• Venice

If you wish to speak to an advisor, you can contact our dedicated car hire team on 0800 804 7362. Alternatively you can contact us online here with any queries you may have.

*The prices quoted are based on one driver, aged 25, with a full UK driving licence hiring a car for 3 days, picking-up and dropping-off at Catania Airport, Sicily. Prices correct at time of writing. Subject to change according to availability. Free cancellation applies to most rentals up to 48 hours before pick up, however some suppliers may charge. Please check supplier terms and conditions carefully.

Driving in Italy**

Driving a car that is not your own can often be an unnerving experience, particularly when abroad. As such, here are a few local laws and customs we think you may find useful.

• Left hand drive - Drive on the right-hand side of the road, overtake on the left.
• Minimum car hire age - 18 years old. Under 25's may have to pay a young driver surcharge.
• Seatbelt - Italian law requires all car occupants to wear a seatbelt.
• Children under 12 or under 1.50m - Must not travel in the front of a vehicle, unless in a specially adapted rear-facing seat for children.
• Unleaded petrol - Benzina Senza Piombo (available in 95 and 98 octane)
• Diesel - Gasolio.
• Petrol stations - Only 25% of petrol stations inside and outside town are open 24 hours on Sundays and public holidays. Petrol stations which open on Sundays may be closed on Mondays as a result.
• Mobile phones - It is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving unless using a completely hands-free kit

On-the-spot fines

The Italian police can issue fines to a foreign-registered car and collect 25% of the total fine on-the-spot. A receipt must be given.

If you wish to contest the fine, you must deposit a guarantee for half the amount of the maximum fine. It is possible that the guarantee may be refused, in which case the authorities have the right to confiscate the vehicle until the fine is paid in full.

Drinking and driving

Severe penalties are imposed if the driver is found to have 0.05% or more alcohol in their blood.

Police have the authority to issue an on-the-spot breath test if they believe you have been drinking

It is important to note that drinking alcohol and then driving may invalidate your car rental insurance, irrespective of local drink driving laws. Check your policy for full details.

Driving licence

Important Information - Changes to the UK Driving Licence

Do I need an International Driving Permit?

Although it is no longer required by law, some car hire companies impose their own terms and conditions, so it may be an idea to carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) with your national driving licence as a precautionary measure.

Italian driving etiquette

Joining a dual carriageway or motorway -Merging onto a road in Italy can be a difficult process. Be prepared to stop, even at the end of an entry slip road and wait until there is a clear space to join these roads safely.

Flashing headlights - If another driver is flashing their headlights at you they want you to give them right of way.

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**This information should be considered as a broad overview of things to remember when hiring a car. It is therefore very important that you read the rental terms and conditions and associated policies for your own specific policy as well as doing your own research into the motoring laws of the country in which you will be driving.