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Hiring a car in Rome opens up possibilities that public transport, however efficient in the historic centre, simply cannot offer. The capital is the natural starting point for exploring one of Italy’s richest territories: within a 100-kilometre radius you’ll find Renaissance villas, medieval villages, volcanic lakes, world-famous archaeological sites and a coastline stretching for hundreds of kilometres. Without a car, many of these destinations remain out of reach or require complicated transfers.
For getting around Rome itself, the situation is different: driving in the historic centre is not advisable, and not just because of traffic. Large areas are subject to ZTL (Limited Traffic Zones) with cameras operating 24 hours a day, and fines for unsuspecting visitors unaware of access times are frequent. The advice is to collect your car only when you intend to leave the city, or to keep it parked outside the ZTL zones during your days exploring Rome.
The advantage of hiring a car in Rome comes into its own on day trips: the Castelli Romani, Tivoli with Villa Adriana and Villa d’Este, Ostia Antica, the Tuscia with Civita di Bagnoregio, or the Lazio coast from Anzio to Sperlonga are all less than two hours’ drive away. With a hire car, you can plan personalised itineraries, stop in smaller villages and enjoy the Lazio countryside without depending on bus or train schedules.
The prices of car rental at the in Rome varies depending on the time of year. This graph shows the average prices in the various months to help you find out which is the best period to rent a low cost car.
Choosing your pick-up location is one of the most important decisions to optimise time and costs. Rome has several options, each suited to a different type of trip.
The Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino (FCO) is the preferred pick-up point for most travellers arriving in Rome by air. All major international operators — Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Sixt, Budget, Enterprise — have desks directly in the arrivals terminal, open during extended hours with no need for additional transfers. Picking up your car at the airport means you can drive straight to your destination without going through the city centre, which makes sense especially if you’re staying outside Rome or want to start a tour of Lazio immediately.
Fiumicino is about 30 kilometres from Rome’s centre and is connected to the A91 motorway (Rome-Fiumicino), which feeds onto the Grande Raccordo Anulare ring road. From there you can quickly access motorways to Naples (A1), the Tyrrhenian coast (A12) and the Castelli Romani (Via Appia). One practical point: returning your car to the airport on departure is simpler and less prone to unexpected issues than returning it in the city.
Below are the cheapest prices for car hire at at the Airport of Roma Fiumicino, to book click here.
According to reviews by other travellers, the following are the best car rental companies at the Airport of Roma Fiumicino. To compare rates click here.
Rome’s second airport, Ciampino (CIA), mainly serves low-cost flights from Ryanair, Wizz Air and other operators, and is about 15 kilometres from the city centre, much closer than Fiumicino. Here too you’ll find desks from the main rental companies — Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Sixt — with offices in the arrivals area or immediately near the terminal. Pick-up is simple and quick, and the airport’s location allows you to quickly join the Grande Raccordo Anulare ring road and from there head in any direction.
Those arriving at Ciampino who want to explore the Castelli Romani have a significant logistical advantage: the Alban hills are just 10-15 kilometres from the airport, making Ciampino the ideal pick-up point for those wanting to start their Lazio tour directly from the villages and volcanic lakes, without passing through Rome. Frascati, Grottaferrata and Castelgandolfo are all reachable in under 20 minutes from leaving the car park.
Below are the cheapest prices for car hire at at the Airport of Roma Ciampino, to book click here.
According to reviews by other travellers, the following are the best car rental companies at the Airport of Roma Ciampino. To compare rates click here.
Rome Termini is the second main hub for car hire in the city. Several operators have offices directly inside the station or on the immediately adjacent streets, particularly on Via Giolitti and Via Marsala. It’s the most convenient choice for those arriving by train who want a car available from arrival, or for those who’ve already visited Rome and want to hire a vehicle for the second part of their trip dedicated to day trips.
Bear in mind that leaving Termini by car during peak hours can take time, and the area surrounding the station falls within the ZTL during peak hours. It’s best to plan your pick-up during quieter times — ideally early morning or after 7pm — to avoid the stress of Rome’s rush-hour traffic.
Several operators have offices scattered across main neighbourhoods: Prati, EUR, Parioli. These locations are useful if you’re already in Rome and need to hire for just a day or a weekend. Some independent local agencies, concentrated especially near Termini and in the Trastevere area, offer competitive rates but with smaller fleets. In any case, booking online in advance always guarantees the best prices and certainty of vehicle availability.
The cost of hiring a car in Rome varies significantly depending on the season, type of vehicle, rental company chosen and how far in advance you book. Generally, rates are in line with other major Italian cities, with significant peaks during high season — Easter, July and August, holiday weekends — and excellent opportunities in winter months.
For a basic economy car (Fiat Panda, Volkswagen Polo or similar), daily rates start at around €25-35 per day in low season with advance booking, and can rise to €60-80 in high season or with last-minute reservations. Mid-range saloons (Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus) range from €40 to €90 per day depending on season. SUVs and higher-category vehicles start from €70-80 per day.
One element to consider carefully is the excess, which is the portion of damage costs that remains the driver’s responsibility in case of an accident. Standard excess can be €800-€1,500, reducible to zero by purchasing additional comprehensive cover, which on Rome rentals typically costs €10-20 per day. It’s almost always worth considering, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the city’s roads. Some operators include a second driver free of charge, while others charge separately (€5-10 per day): check this when booking.
Fuel is almost always the customer’s responsibility with the “full to full” policy: you pick up the car with a full tank and return it in the same condition. Always check the fuel policy before signing the contract.
Driving in Rome requires some familiarity with Italian urban traffic and a good dose of patience. The city is notoriously chaotic, especially during morning rush hours (8-9:30am) and evening rush hours (5:30-8pm), and other drivers’ behaviour — not to mention scooters — can surprise those from more orderly road environments. That said, it’s not impossible to navigate: just rely on a good updated GPS navigator and know some basic rules.
The most important issue concerns ZTL zones. Rome has one of Italy’s most extensive networks of Limited Traffic Zones: the historic centre (bounded by the Aurelian Walls), Trastevere, the Trident, Testaccio and other neighbourhoods are subject to restrictions during daytime hours and often during evening and night hours at weekends. Cameras automatically read number plates and fines are sent to your home even months after your trip.
Parking is another challenge. In central areas, street parking spaces (blue lines) are available but often occupied; costs range from €1 to €3 per hour depending on the zone. Multi-storey car parks — Villa Borghese, Prati, Trastevere, EUR — are more reliable for longer stays. If you’re staying outside the centre, in neighbourhoods like Prati, Pigneto or EUR, finding on-street parking is considerably easier.
For trips outside the city, the situation improves noticeably. Motorways and main roads flow well outside peak hours, signage is clear, and Lazio towns are almost all equipped with large free car park areas. The Appian Way, Via Aurelia, Via Cassia and Via Tiburtina offer historic routes that in themselves merit slow, attentive driving. On the motorway, the Telepass toll collection system is not included in your rental: use cash or credit card at the appropriate toll lanes.
Finally, remember that in Italy it’s mandatory to have a reflective safety jacket and a warning triangle on board (usually already present in rental cars), and that using a mobile phone while driving without hands-free is prohibited with severe penalties.
The Castelli Romani represent the classic day-trip destination from Rome, situated just 25–30 kilometres from the centre and reached in under 40 minutes via the Appian Way or the Via dei Laghi. The ideal itinerary begins in Frascati, the best-known town of the Colli Albani, celebrated for its DOCG white wine and its 16th and 17th-century noble villas, including Villa Aldobrandini with its dramatic terraced park. From the main piazza, you’ll enjoy spectacular views across the Roman countryside.
Continuing south, you reach Grottaferrata, home to a Basilian abbey founded in the 11th century and still inhabited by monks of Greek-Byzantine rite — an absolute rarity in the Italian religious landscape. Just beyond opens the Lake of Castel Gandolfo, the northernmost crater lake of the Castelli, with its deep blue waters and the village that hosts the papal summer residence. Castel Gandolfo can be visited on the inside with guided tours of the pontifical villas.
The itinerary continues to Ariccia, renowned for its porchetta and for the majestic Palazzo Chigi-Savelli in the historic centre, then onwards to Nemi, a small village overlooking the lake of the same name, famous for its wild strawberries. Round off your visit with a stop at Albano Laziale or Velletri before heading back to Rome. The outing requires about 6–7 hours of sightseeing overall and covers no more than 80 kilometres.
Tivoli lies approximately 30 kilometres east of Rome along the Via Tiburtina and encompasses within a few kilometres’ radius two of Lazio’s most significant UNESCO world heritage sites: Villa Adriana and Villa d’Este. The former is the largest villa of Roman antiquity, an imperial palace complex that Hadrian built between AD 118 and 138, recreating the finest buildings he had admired during his travels: the Egyptian Canopus, the Athenian Stoa Poikile, the bath complexes, the theatres. It sprawls across more than 120 hectares and a complete visit requires at least 3 hours.
Villa d’Este, in the centre of Tivoli, is the masterpiece of Italian Mannerist garden design, created in 1550 by Cardinal Ippolito II d’Este. Hundreds of fountains fed by natural fall — without hydraulic pumps — create an extraordinary water-feature system: the Fontana dell’Organo, which plays when activated by water pressure, and the Avenue of a Hundred Fountains are the most memorable elements. The garden is splendid in every season but reaches peak beauty in spring.
Complete your visit with lunch in Tivoli’s historic centre, where restaurants serve traditional Lazio cuisine: abbacchio alla cacciatora, carciofi alla romana, supplì. In the afternoon, if you still have the energy, nearby Villa Gregoriana, featuring the grand artificial waterfall created by Gregory XVI and the Grotto of Neptune, makes a worthwhile detour. The return to Rome takes approximately 40 minutes without traffic.
Tuscia — the ancient Etruscan land north of Rome — is among the least explored corners of Lazio and one of the most rewarding for those travelling by car. The itinerary starts in Viterbo, approximately 90 kilometres from Rome via the Cassia or Cassia Bis, a medieval city of extraordinary integrity: the city walls, the San Pellegrino neighbourhood with its towers and loggias, the 13th-century Gothic papal palace and the Cathedral of San Lorenzo constitute one of central Italy’s best-preserved historic centres.
From Viterbo, head towards Civita di Bagnoregio, the village nicknamed “the dying city” because it stands on crumbly tufa that erosion progressively reduces. Reached on foot via a long footbridge suspended over a chasm: the view across the badlands landscape surrounding the rock is one of Lazio’s most iconic images. The village has very few permanent residents but is among Italy’s most photographed locations.
On your return journey to Rome, it’s worth pausing at Lake Bolsena, Europe’s largest volcanic lake, with its remarkably clear waters and the villages of Bolsena, Marta and Capodimonte perched on its shores. A swim in the lake, Marta’s eels cooked over charcoal and a glass of Est! Est!! Est!!! from Montefiascone represent a perfect finale to a day in Tuscia. The journey back to Rome along the Cassia offers further villages to admire along the way.
Here are some quick answers to the most common doubts about car rental in Rome.
To reserve a car in Rome a credit card or debit card is sufficient. However, when you go to collect the car, you will need:
The car rental companies in Rome allow to rent a car to all those who are between 21 and 70 years old. However, there is an additional cost for under 25 and for those over 70.
A car rental in Rome always includes:
Any extras or additional insurance coverage are separate.
Find the best rates by comparing all car rental companies in one search.
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