Car Hire Tips UK

Car hire is widely available throughout Italy from all the major car rental companies. Italy is home to the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites - art and monuments are everywhere around the country. It is also famous worldwide for its cuisine, its fashion, sports cars and motorcycles, as well as for its beautiful coasts, lakes and mountains (the Alps and Appennines).

Two independent mini-states lie within Italy: San Marino and Vatican City. While technically not part of the European Union, both of these states are also part of the Schengen Region and the European Monetary Union.

Driving in the Italy
If you’re planning to rent a car while in the Italy there’s some basic information you’re going to need to get you on your way. Firstly, and quite importantly if you’re British, get ready to drive on the right hand side of the road. That’s the wrong side if you’re British! This means you should always overtake on the left.

All grades of unleaded petrol (benzina), diesel (gasolio) and LPG are available as well as lead substitute additive. Leaded no longer exists. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, although they probably won’t work at automatic pumps, which are often the only pumps open out-of-hours and at lunch-time away from the Autostrada.

Local Laws
On the spot fines are issued for a variety of traffic offences. Ensure an official receipt is issued by the officer collecting the fine.

Children under four cannot travel unless they use a suitable restraint system. Children between four and 12 cannot travel in the front unless using a suitable restraint system.

Dipped headlights must be used in poor daytime visibility and in all tunnels at all times. They must also be used when on motorways, dual carriageways, and on all out of town roads. Motorcycles must use dipped headlights during the day at all times.

Replacement bulbs and first aid kits are not currently a legal requirement to be carried at all times but are highly recommended.

Speed Limits
The common speed limits are 50 km/h (31mph) in built up areas, 90 km/h (56mph) out of town, and on motorways it’s 130 km/h (81mph). Speed limits are also quite vigorously enforced throughout Italy and the on the spot fines can be pretty expensive.

Drink Driving
As with most other European countries drink driving is heavily frowned upon in Italy and the limit is very low (currently 50mg) even lower than in the UK so it’s not worth taking any risks.