Rome, the capital city of Italy, overflows with history from the incredible art to the magnificence of its churches. The hectic pace in the metropolis showcases a current and on-trend lifestyle that gives way to rich all-night hangouts including swanky nightclubs.

Touring the brilliant countryside and the out-of-the-way villages and towns of Rome is easier when driving, a reason most visitors rent a car. Please visit leiebilguiden.no/italia/roma/ for a guide on renting vehicles in the capital. 

The process is simple with the recommendation to book well ahead of departure for a smooth process and the best price. Booking in advance allows comparison shopping to get competitive rates and add-ons to meet your needs and preferences. 

These can include adding a driver, extra insurance, or finding an automatic vehicle when most in the city are manual.

Most rental agencies have a vast selection of luxury cars, compact autos, minivans, and on throughout the year, with cheap car pickup in Rome and drop-off in another city if you decide to explore.

Tips On Cheap Car Rental in Rome

Renting a car can be simple, straightforward, and even cheap in Rome despite the many rules, regulations, and the reputation many rental agencies have for costs exceeding customer expectations. Fortunately, many clients have figured out how to work with the rental companies to pay only what they need to.

Here are a few tips on getting cheaper rates for your car rental while still having your needs met.

Review aggregator sites

Renting a car can be overwhelming with some customers uncertain where to start. In this situation, it can help clients to research aggregator sites that will pull details from all the major rental agencies. Many aggregator sites exist, with some being more prominent and reputable. 

These will show the amount you should pay for the value. That doesn’t mean you should go ahead, and book based on this information. You should take a step further and go to the agency sites directly. 

It may seem like a lot of preparation before finding the ideal company, but taking the necessary steps will ultimately save you time and money. Go here for tips on renting a car in Rome, Italy.

Go to the rental sites directly

The aggregator site will give you brief details on finding cheap rentals that meet your criteria, but before booking through these sites, it would benefit you to compare these quotes to the rental site directly. Some agencies will give clients a better deal when renting directly.

If an aggregator shows an incredible estimate for a particular company, go to that agency’s website to look for that deal. It doesn’t mean you’ll always get a better deal, but you can confirm the one you found with the aggregator site and book directly with the rental site.

Keep the “budget” agencies as an option

Prominent “budget” companies are the go-to for many customers, but some small local agencies are worth a second look. These might have fewer locations than these large businesses or offer high-quality websites, but the costs are often cheaper.

The prices are available for the small local agencies on various rental sites, but remember that just because they’re local and small doesn’t mean they’ll be lower priced than the big rental firms. Make sure to do due diligence and research before booking your car rental.

It might be a matter of only a few dollars between a small local company and the big-name brand or it could be considerable. The priority is receiving quality service, getting value for the cost.

Weekly and daily rate comparisons

The assumption is that the weekly rate would be cheaper than the day-to-day rate, but that is not always true. If you’re on a four-day holiday, hiring a car for the week and returning it early could be less costly. Before you book, check the rates comparing weekly and daily.

Read the agreement thoroughly, including the fine print, to ensure you won’t have hidden fees like charges for returning the car early. It’s also wise not to inform the company beforehand that the vehicle will be returned before the scheduled date.

The agency could add charges to the agreement if they had this information before booking the car.

The insurance

Once you do your due diligence and find a reputable, affordable agency to suit your needs, paying attention to the features and services you sign up for when booking the car is essential. You won’t need everything made available to you. These add-ons can add up to exorbitant costs if you’re not mindful of the extras tacked onto the agreement.

One source of confusion is whether to add rental car insurance to your booking. Most companies will encourage the addition to avoid the possibility of incurring exorbitant charges if the car is damaged during the visit. 

This is a very real possibility due to driving in a strange country with aggressive drivers, as Rome is known for, and unfamiliar road rules.

Typically, your personal car insurance will be sufficient for a rental car, but you can call to confirm this. You can also reach out to a premium credit card since many travel cards offer rental car insurance with no additional costs.

Avoid upgrades

If you want a cheaper rate, it’s wise to avoid the upgrades offered by the companies —the extra items you genuinely don’t need. Some include the following:

• Satellite radio: If you have a mobile device, you can play music without the need for this service.
• GPS navigation: Mobile devices have excellent apps for navigation, mapping systems, and other options to help you find your way through a foreign country.
• Toll passes: Toll passes are often not worth the cost. If you bring a little extra cash in case, there’s a toll on your journey where credit is not accepted; you’ll be fine without the added expense.

Select an economy car

Some rental agencies will try to upsell clients to a luxury auto, a more expensive model, or a larger vehicle. It’s wise to stick with the economy car when booking despite your desire to have a nicer auto. 

Sometimes, however, when you arrive, you might find you’ve been automatically upgraded with the indication that the economy cars are out of stock. Still, if you choose an economy car, they’ll need to charge you at that rate regardless of what you’ve been upgraded to.

The thing to remember in many countries like Rome is that it’s better to have a compact, economy car for the small towns and villages, cobblestone streets, and in aggressive traffic. A large or luxury vehicle is not one you want to try to navigate in a city or along a roadway you’re unfamiliar with.

Final Thought

Now that you have plenty of tips on cheaply booking a car rental, you can spend more time and money exploring Rome and enjoying what it has to offer. 

Renting a car will take you through the city seamlessly on your own schedule, visiting where you like, including out-of-the-way places that locals don’t necessarily tell tourists about; definitely an experience you will remember.