Driving in Tuscany by Rental Car: Our Tips

Rental Car Prices in Tuscany

During peak season from April through September, a compact car with two to four seats starts at around 300 euros per week. A mid-size car with five seats costs around 400 euros per week.

In the off-season — fall and winter — rental cars in Tuscany cost only half as much.

Beyond the car’s features, such as size or extras, several other factors affect the price, including the rental company, the location of the pickup station, and the airport.

Booking a Rental Car for Tuscany

We always book our rental cars through a comparison portal so we can check multiple providers side by side and filter by the criteria that matter most — vehicle class, insurance, pickup location, and price.

Compare rental car deals on Discovercars

If you haven’t booked your flight yet, make sure to compare prices across all three airports that serve Tuscany: Pisa, Florence, and Bologna. It might actually be cheaper to fly into Pisa rather than, say, Bologna.

Our tip: How far in advance you book the rental car doesn’t really affect the price. That said, don’t wait until the last minute — by then, certain vehicle classes may already be sold out.

The right vehicle class for Tuscany

If you’re doing a road trip through Tuscany, you’ll be driving into lots of small villages and through narrow alleyways. That’s why you should definitely rent a compact car or at most a mid-size car, like a VW Golf or a Fiat 500.

An SUV or station wagon can be tricky to maneuver on some roads, and the risk of scratches is much higher.

You also don’t need a four-wheel-drive vehicle — the roads that matter for tourists in Tuscany are all well-maintained, and going off-road is generally not permitted anyway.

Insurance Coverage

In Italy, minor accidents are not that uncommon — especially in chaotic city traffic or when you have to squeeze through a street lined with parked cars on both sides.

That’s why we strongly recommend getting insurance with comprehensive coverage and theft protection when renting a car in Tuscany. Also make sure you have additional coverage for glass, tires, and the undercarriage.

If you drive on an unpaved road — for example, the driveway of a winery — flying gravel can damage these parts of the car. Standard comprehensive coverage alone won’t cover that kind of damage.

We always choose the “No deductible” option. That way, you won’t have to front the money yourself in case of damage and then wait for the rental company to reimburse you.

Pickup locations in Tuscany

Every airport has rental car pickup stations, both inside the terminal and in the city. As a general rule: the farther the pickup station is from the airport, the cheaper the rental rates.

Providers run small shuttle buses to take you from the terminal to the pickup station. It’s a bit less convenient, but the savings are real.

Rental cars at Pisa airport are typically the cheapest. And from there, it’s only a 45-minute drive to Florence.

Direct Providers vs. Rental Car Brokers

Rental car providers fall into two categories: direct providers and rental car brokers.

In the results list on a comparison site, you’ll often see the rental car provider listed with the broker shown below it in smaller text — for example, “Hertz” in bold and “via Aurumcars” in small print underneath.

This means that at the pickup station, you need to look for the Aurumcars broker counter — they’re the ones handling your rental — and not the Hertz counter.

In general, counters for major direct providers like Hertz or Sixt are only found at large Italian airports anyway, such as Milan or Rome. Brokers like Aurumcars or TUI Cars have a much wider presence across smaller airports.

Renting directly from a provider versus through a broker says nothing about quality — only about price. Direct providers are usually more expensive and only worth it if you’re part of a loyalty program or need a specific vehicle that brokers don’t carry.

Checklist for Booking Your Rental Car in Tuscany

Here’s a quick rundown of the key things to check when choosing your rental car for driving in Tuscany:

• Insurance coverage (choose comprehensive coverage and theft protection)
• Additional coverage (glass, tires, undercarriage)
• Deductible (we recommend “no deductible”)
• Fuel policy (usually full to full)
• Vehicle class (we recommend no larger than a mid-size car — no SUVs)
• Mileage policy (we recommend choosing “unlimited mileage”)
• Security deposit amount (will be held on your credit card)
• Extras (navigation, additional driver, air conditioning)

Important Documents for Renting a Car in Tuscany

Make sure to have the following documents with you when picking up your rental car:

• Passport or ID card
• Driver’s license (valid for at least one year)
• Credit card (name and address must match your ID)

Everything must be the original — a scanned ID or driver’s license will not be accepted. If you’re renting the car in your name, the credit card must also be in your name.

Vehicle Inspection at Pickup and Drop-off

When picking up the car, carefully inspect it together with a staff member — look for even the tiniest scratches — and photograph everything.

Otherwise, you could end up being charged for damage you didn’t cause. Arguing about it afterward won’t help. The rental company will charge the damage amount directly to your credit card.

That’s why every single piece of existing damage must be documented in writing before you leave the pickup station.

The same applies when you return the car. Try to drop it off during business hours and ask the rental company to issue a written return inspection report.

Some rental companies take advantage of after-hours returns and charge for damage you didn’t cause — by the time you find out, you’re already home and there’s very little you can do about it.

Traffic in Tuscany

Tuscany has a well-developed road network and most roads are in good condition. The one thing to watch out for is city centers — not so much because of traffic, but because of restricted-zone signs that are easy to miss. Months later, a hefty fine can show up at your door.

ZTL – Limited Traffic Zone

In Florence, Siena, and Pisa, the city centers have a ZTL: Zona a traffico limitato — a limited traffic zone.

During the day, only residents, taxis, and delivery vehicles are allowed to enter. The zone typically covers the entire historic center.

You’ll recognize a ZTL by the surveillance camera and small traffic light at the entrance, which is always red during the day. After 8 PM it’s usually green — that’s when you can drive through freely.

Caution: Google Maps or your GPS don’t always know about limited traffic zones. If your route takes you through one of the red ZTL lights, do not drive through — find an alternative route instead.

If you accidentally drive through one of the red lights, nothing will happen on the spot. But a letter will arrive months later, and you’ll have to pay a fine of between 80 and 350 euros.

Parking Tips for Florence, Pisa, and Siena

All parking garages in these cities are located outside the ZTL, so you can reach them without any trouble.

Here are some parking garages we’d suggest if you want to visit the highlights of Florence, Pisa, and Siena:

• Parking in Florence: the Parcheggio Stazione (€3.80 per hour), the Parcheggio Parterre (€2 per hour), or the Parcheggio Sant’Ambrogio (€2 per hour).
• Parking in Pisa: Parcheggio Piazza dei Miracoli (€2 per hour)
• Parking in Siena: Parcheggio Il Campo (€2 per hour), Parcheggio Stazione (€1–2 per hour)

When You Don’t Need a Rental Car in Tuscany

You really only need a rental car if you’re planning a Tuscany road trip and want to reach the smaller, more out-of-the-way towns of Tuscany. In that case, it’s the best way to get around.

You’ll also need one if you’re staying at a winery — they tend to be quite remote.

If your accommodation in Tuscany is in Florence and you’re mostly based there with maybe just a day trip to Siena or Pisa, you can skip the rental car entirely.

Siena, Pisa, Lucca, and the coast are all easily reachable by train from Florence.

More out-of-the-way destinations, like San Gimignano or the Chianti region, can be reached on a guided day trip from Florence:

Day trip from Florence to Pisa, Siena, and San Gimignano

Day trip from Florence to the Chianti region

Honestly, driving around Florence is pretty stressful anyway: parking is expensive, traffic is chaotic, and almost the entire historic center falls within the limited traffic zone. To reach the sights of Florence, you’d have to leave the car parked somewhere regardless.