How much does car rental cost in Italy in 2026?

The price of a rental car in Italy depends mainly on:

• the travel dates,
• the city and airport of pick-up,
• the vehicle class,
• the length of the rental,
• the driver's age,
• the chosen insurance package,
• the mileage limit,
• the type of gearbox,
• the drop-off location.

July and August are usually the most expensive months, as are the busiest tourist locations. In Rome, Milan, Venice, Naples or on Sicily you will find offers advertised at 15 euros a day – but that does not mean the whole rental will cost that.

Indicative car rental prices in Italy

In off-season promotions a car can cost less than EUR 15 per day, while in peak summer the same model may go well beyond EUR 50–70.

How much does car rental cost in Croatia?

Croatia has an equally competitive rent-a-car market. Most rental desks are located in:

• Zagreb,
• Split,
• Dubrovnik,
• Zadar,
• Pula,
• Rijeka.

Outside the season you can rent very cheaply. In the summer holidays, however, demand is enormous and prices climb fast.

Indicative car rental prices in Croatia

In Dubrovnik and Split the booking date matters enormously – in peak season prices can multiply. Before you travel it is also worth comparing the overall cost of both destinations in our guide Croatia or Italy? Comparing 2026 Holiday Prices.

Which car rental companies operate in Italy?

The Italian market is very large – you can choose between international chains and sizeable local operators.

SIXT

A large international rental company with desks at all the main Italian airports. The usual advantages are a relatively new fleet and a wide choice of vehicles. Do check the deposit, though: depending on the vehicle class it can run to several hundred euros, and considerably more for sports or luxury cars.

Avis / Budget

One of the best-known chains in the world. Avis uses a pre-authorisation on your card, which means the amount is not charged to your account but temporarily blocked.

Hertz

A very large network, present at the biggest Italian airports among others. When booking, pay attention to:

• the excess,
• the scope of the insurance,
• the additional driver fee,
• the fuel policy,
• the rules for using Italy's toll motorways.

Europcar

A popular company operating both at airports and in city centres. It offers many vehicle classes, but if you plan to drive the rental car outside Italy, check the border-crossing conditions carefully in advance.

Locauto

One of the best-known Italian firms, with desks at airports, railway stations and in major cities. Often an interesting alternative to the international chains.

Sicily by Car

A very popular Italian company, especially in tourist regions. Despite the name, it does not operate only on Sicily.

Other companies

You will also come across Maggiore, Noleggiare, Drivalia, RentalPlus, Target Rent, Surprice and Green Motion, among others.

Which car rental companies operate in Croatia?

In Croatia you will find the major international brands alongside local operators. The most common are:

• SIXT,
• Avis,
• Budget,
• Enterprise,
• Europcar,
• Hertz,
• Green Motion,
• CARWIZ,
• Avia Rent A Car,
• Avant Car,
• Oryx,
• Autowill,
• Surprice.

CARWIZ

One of the better-known Croatian rent-a-car brands, with desks in Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, Pula and Rijeka among others. It is a good illustration of why the terms deserve a careful read: with basic insurance the excess can be roughly EUR 990–3,000 depending on the vehicle category. Separate rules also apply to driving outside Croatia and to ferry crossings.

The deposit – the biggest trap in car rental

One of the most frequent surprises at pick-up is the deposit. Picture the situation:

You book a car for EUR 200 for a week. At the desk, the agent says: “We also need a card authorisation for EUR 1,200.”

That does not automatically mean EUR 1,200 will be taken from your account – usually the amount is blocked on the card as security. The problem is that you need enough available credit. If your card limit is EUR 1,000 and the company wants to block EUR 1,200, it can refuse to release the vehicle.

How large is the deposit?

There is no single rate. In practice the amounts range from EUR 200 through 500, 800 and 1,000 up to EUR 1,500–2,000 – and more for expensive cars.

At CARWIZ in Croatia the excess on basic protection packages can reach around EUR 3,000 depending on the vehicle category. At SIXT in Italy the deposit level likewise depends on the vehicle class.

Can you rent a car without a credit card?

This is one of the most searched questions. Yes, at some companies it is possible – but not everywhere.

Do not assume that because you paid for the booking with a debit card, the same card will be accepted at pick-up. These are two different operations: some companies let you pay for the reservation by debit card but require a credit card for the deposit block.

The card usually has to be:

• physical,
• valid,
• issued in the main driver's name,
• backed by a sufficient available limit.

Prepaid cards are often rejected. If you use Revolut, Wise, N26 or another online bank, check the terms of the specific pick-up location.

Rental car insurance – CDW is not full cover

The rental price usually includes CDW – Collision Damage Waiver. It can give the impression that the car is fully insured. Usually it is not: CDW normally only means a cap on the customer's liability at a defined amount.

Add-on packages such as Super CDW, Premium Protection, Full Protection or Zero Excess can reduce the excess to zero.

Watch out for glass, tyres and the underbody

One of the biggest insurance traps concerns parts that are often excluded from standard cover. Check in particular:

• windows and windscreen,
• tyres and wheel rims,
• the underbody,
• the roof,
• the interior,
• loss of the key,
• misfuelling.

If you plan to drive a lot in Croatia, tyre and underbody cover can be particularly relevant.

Beware of “Full Insurance” sold by a broker

You can rent through a third-party comparison site and buy “full insurance” there. That does not always mean the rental company will drop the deposit to zero. The following scenario is entirely possible:

1. you pay the broker for full protection,
2. at the desk the rental company still blocks, say, EUR 1,200,
3. damage occurs,
4. the rental company takes the money,
5. only then do you claim reimbursement from the broker's insurer.

So check whether the protection is direct insurance from the rental company or reimbursement by a third-party insurer. That is a substantial difference.

Pick-up and return – document everything

This is the simplest protection against later disputes. Before you leave the car park, film the entire car with your phone:

• front and rear,
• both sides,
• the roof,
• wheel rims and tyres,
• windows,
• bumpers,
• the interior.

Separately, photograph the odometer and the fuel gauge. If you spot a scratch, a dent or a damaged rim, make sure it is entered in the handover report before you drive away.

Renting in Italy – the biggest trap is called ZTL

Italy operates Zona a Traffico Limitato (ZTL), or limited traffic zones. You will meet them in Rome, Florence, Milan, Bologna, Pisa, Siena and many other historic cities.

Entrances are normally monitored by cameras reading number plates. Do not assume that “I have a rental car, so I am allowed in” – that is not true.

If the car has no valid permit, the camera records the violation and the information goes to the rental company. The company passes the driver's details to the authorities and may additionally charge its own administrative fee for handling the fine. One unintentional entry into a ZTL therefore means a fine plus the rental company's admin fee.

Venice – a rental car will not get you into the centre

If you rent a car in Venice or plan a trip there, remember that you cannot drive into the historic centre. The car has to be left in the Piazzale Roma or Tronchetto area, or in Mestre.

A detailed description of car parks, prices and access is in our guide Can you drive into Venice by car? Parking, getting there and fees.

Crossing borders and taking ferries

Can you drive a rental car from Italy to Croatia?

In principle yes, but never assume every contract allows it. If you are planning the route Italy → Slovenia → Croatia, tell the rental company. You may need:

• an additional permit,
• a Cross Border Fee,
• appropriate insurance,
• the countries written into the contract.

Europcar in Italy, for example, lists Croatia and Slovenia as countries that may require prior authorisation. The safest approach is to get confirmation in writing or in the contract. Remember the Slovenian vignette too, if the rental company does not provide one.

Renting in Croatia? Watch out when crossing borders

From Croatia, tourists often drive on to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Slovenia or Italy. At CARWIZ this has to be declared in advance – the company charges an additional fee for a Cross Border Permit.

Driving abroad without the required declaration can void your insurance cover and leave you with very high liability. Never fall back on the idea that “there are no checks inside Schengen, so the rental company will never find out” – the car may have a tracking system, and the issue surfaces above all in the event of a breakdown or a collision.

Croatia and ferries – check the terms

Planning Hvar, Brač, Korčula, Pag or another Croatian island? Check the rental terms. Some companies require you to declare a ferry crossing or to buy an add-on – at CARWIZ a separate fee applies to ferry use.

Without a declaration, your cover may be limited if the car is damaged or breaks down on an island.

Does a rental car come with motorway tolls paid?

Do not assume it does.

Croatia

Croatia has no classic vignette for passenger cars. The charge on most toll motorways depends on the distance driven and the vehicle category. Under the current HAC system you can pay by card, in cash or via ENC, among other options.

Details are in Vignettes Croatia 2026: tolls, toll gates and e-vignettes and in the guide Route to Croatia 2026: which vignettes to buy? Complete guide to road tolls.

Italy

Italy likewise has no classic vignette for passenger cars – most motorways use a distance-based toll system. See: Vignettes in Italy 2026? How to pay for motorways in Italy.

Driving your own car? Buy the vignettes in advance

Although Italy and Croatia do not use a classic vignette system for passenger cars, the transit countries are another matter. Routes from Central and Western Europe to the south usually run through Austria and Slovenia; depending on your starting point, you may also pass through Czechia, Slovakia or Hungary. A country-by-country overview is in Road tolls in Europe 2026.

Austria

Austria is the key transit country on the way to both Italy and Croatia. Check the current Austrian vignette. Note that some Alpine routes carry an additional section toll.

Slovenia

If you drive via Graz, Maribor or Ljubljana towards Croatia or northern Italy, you will need the right Slovenian vignette. Pay particular attention to the correct vehicle category.

Czechia

If your route runs via Ostrava, Brno and further south, you may need a Czech vignette. The Czech system is electronic and tied to the vehicle's registration number.

Hungary

A popular alternative route to Croatia runs through Hungary. Before joining a toll road, check the Hungarian e-vignette rules.

Slovakia

Depending on the starting point, some drivers take the route through Slovakia. Current options are listed under Slovak vignettes.

Heading to Italy via the Brenner? A vignette alone is not enough

The popular route to the Dolomites, Lake Garda, Verona, Milan and Tuscany runs through Austria and the Brenner Pass. Austria has both a standard vignette system and additional toll sections. Read: A13 Brenner: where to buy a ticket in 2026? and Route to Italy by car 2026.

The most common extra fees

Fuel policy – full-to-full is best

The most transparent option is FULL TO FULL: you collect the car with a full tank and return it full. Refuel as close to the rental desk as possible before returning and keep the receipt.

If the rental company has to refuel the car itself, it may charge the fuel, a higher price per litre and a refuelling service fee all at once.

Additional driver

If more than one person will drive, every driver must be named in the contract. Saving a few tens of euros here is not worth it – in a collision the insurer may refuse cover. At some Croatian companies an additional driver costs from a few to more than ten euros per day.

Drivers under 25 – Young Driver Fee

Young drivers should compare offers especially carefully. Depending on the company, there may be:

• a minimum age,
• a minimum period of holding a licence,
• a Young Driver Fee,
• restrictions on available vehicle classes.

At SIXT in Italy an extra charge may apply to drivers under 25. In Croatia each company sets its own limits.

Returning in another city – One Way Fee

A Zagreb → Dubrovnik or Milan → Rome rental is very convenient, but it can cost far more than returning the car where you collected it. At CARWIZ in Croatia the one-way fee between selected locations can be EUR 100–180.

Always compare rental + one-way fee against rental at a single location + the cost of getting back.

Automatic transmission usually costs more

In much of Northern and Central Europe, more and more people drive automatics only. In southern Europe, however, a large share of the cheapest rental cars still have a manual gearbox. If you need an automatic, book it well in advance – in season availability is limited and the price much higher.

Is renting a car worth it?

Italy

Yes, especially if you are planning Tuscany, the Dolomites, Sicily, Sardinia, Puglia, the Lake Garda area, small towns or a road trip across several regions.

It is not always worth it if you are only visiting central Rome, central Milan, Venice or Florence. In large cities a car creates more problems than benefits because of ZTL zones, expensive parking, traffic jams and narrow streets.

Croatia

In many cases, definitely yes. A car makes it far easier to explore Dalmatia, Istria, Plitvice Lakes National Park, the area around Zadar, Split, Makarska and Dubrovnik, and lesser-known beaches.

For a family of four, renting can also compete on price with several bus tickets, transfers and taxis.

What to do if the rental car breaks down

Contact the rental company first, or the assistance number given in the contract. Do not order a random tow truck on your own unless there is immediate danger. The company usually has its own assistance network and a defined towing procedure.

If you are driving to Croatia in your own car, also read: Roadside assistance from Croatia and the cost of transporting a car.

15 things to check before you rent a car

Before you click “Book now”, check:

1. the final rental price,
2. the size of the deposit,
3. the size of the excess,
4. whether a credit card is required,
5. whether the card must belong to the main driver,
6. the scope of the CDW,
7. whether glass and tyres are covered,
8. whether the underbody is covered,
9. the fuel policy,
10. the mileage limit,
11. the additional driver fee,
12. the Young Driver Fee,
13. the fee for returning the car in another city,
14. the rules for crossing borders,
15. the rules for taking the car on a ferry.

If the answer to any of these is unclear, read the terms and conditions before you pay.

Italy or Croatia – where is renting easier?

Both countries have a well-developed rental market. What differs is what you need to watch out for.

If the car is only meant to get you from the airport to the hotel, price up a private transfer as well. If you plan to explore the region actively, a rental car will usually give you far more freedom.

FAQ – renting a car in Italy and Croatia

Summary – the cheapest rental can turn out to be the most expensive

When renting a car in Italy or Croatia, do not choose an offer on the daily rate alone. A car advertised at EUR 12 a day can end up costing more than one at EUR 30, once you add expensive insurance, an additional driver, a high excess or cross-border fees.

The essentials before you collect the car:

• check the size of the deposit,
• check the excess,
• establish which type of card is required,
• check the scope of the insurance,
• take photos and a video of the car,
• check the rules for driving abroad,
• respect the ZTL zones in Italy,
• check the ferry rules in Croatia.