Renting a Car in Rome? Here’s How to Avoid Common Travel Mistakes

When planning a trip to Rome, most people tend to get swayed by the many historic places they’d like to visit, where to stay, and how many days to set aside. Moving around tends to come later, but it’s actually one of the few things that can shape your entire experience in Rome.

To get more flexibility and convenience for travelling with family, for business, or beyond the city, you can use a car rental service in Rome. However, you’ll need a bit of preparation as there are a few key differences from driving in the UK.

We’ll give you a few tips and tell you what you need to do to make your trip go much more smoothly.

Understand Rome’s Driving Zones Before You Arrive

Rome has several historic centres, like the Colosseum, that can easily get congested if traffic is allowed to move freely. The city, therefore, has a system known as the Zona a Traffico Limitato, or simply ZTL. It’s a zone where non-resident vehicles are restricted during certain hours to avoid congestion and preserve historic areas.

The problem for visitors is that these zones aren’t physically restricted, they are only monitored by cameras. This means you can drive without realising it, and the camera will mail you a hefty fine.

You need to familiarise yourself with the system before you travel. Learn the signage, and look at the hotel and places you want to travel to, to know if any sit inside a restricted zone. If your hotel is in such an area, it can register your number plate in advance, but you need to arrange this directly with them.

Choose the Right Pickup Location

It’s important to consider where to pick up your rental car based on the trip itself. If it involves lots of movement or you are travelling with children, picking up the car at the Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport might make more sense. You’ll avoid the hassle of public transport right away and won’t to worry about carrying your bags around.

If you are planning to spend a few days in the city then head out to a few hidden gems, you can arrange to pick it up at the city centre. It will help avoid a few headaches like traffic and parking, which can be quite significant in Rome. Car rental services Dryyve offer flexibility to match your trip and make transport smoother. You won’t even have to return the car to the same spot as you can pick a different one when booking or adjust later depending on how your trip pans out.

Don’t Underestimate Italian Traffic and Parking

Driving in Rome has a different rhythm that you need to get used to. The biggest one is that traffic moves on the right, with the driver on the left, which is the opposite of UK traffic rules. Even when you are an experienced driver, it can take a while to get used to this, especially at roundabouts.

It’s also compounded by the fact that the roads are significantly more chaotic compared to the UK. You’ll have to deal with scooters and motorbikes weaving through traffic, but just try to stay steady (don’t swerve to make way). Drivers also won’t give you a lot of leeway, so try to make your way at junctions and stay alert to go as soon as the lights turn green.

Note that city streets are also quite narrow and parking is very limited. You’ll need to understand the colour-coding that guides curbside parking. Blue lines mean paid parking, white lines mean free (but limited) parking, and yellow lines mean parking is reserved for residents or special permits.

Select the Right Car and Review Rental Terms Carefully

Considering the narrow streets and limited parking spaces, a compact or subcompact car is the most practical in Rome. In fact, A Fiat 500 or Lancia Ypsilon is the "Roman Gold Standard." If you’ll mostly stay in the city or nearby, try to consider the limited space in your plans.

If your trip extends beyond Rome, you have a bit more freedom. A mid-size or larger car will be more comfortable for longer trips or families and groups, as you’ll have extra luggage space and room to stretch.

Before you book one, take some time to go through the specific policies. Rentals like Dryyve clearly highlight the insurance coverage and excess, fuel policy, mileage limits, and one-way or cross-city fees. It’s good to go through the rental terms before you get on a flight. It will help you avoid unexpected charges.

Lastly, book early where possible. Just like flights and hotels, car rental costs are much cheaper when you book early. Online bookings are also offer much better prices than in-person bookings, so try to take advantage of that.