VRENTY CAR is an independent comparison service. The search above is provided by our partner Localrent and lists local agencies side by side; you book directly with the provider. Always confirm the price, insurance and deposit before you pay.
📍 Florence: the Tuscan capital in central Italy; Pisa Airport (PSA) is about 85 km west.
Do You Need a Car in Florence?
Not for the city. The historic centre is compact and almost entirely a ZTL, and parking is scarce. Walk, take buses or taxis.
A car is the way to see the Tuscan countryside: the Chianti wine road, Siena, San Gimignano, Volterra and the Val d'Orcia. Our advice: collect the car at the end of your stay in Florence, or have it delivered to a car park outside the ZTL or to a countryside villa.
Drive Times from Florence
Times are approximate and depend on traffic; use live navigation for the real figure.
| Destination | Approx. distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Pisa Airport (PSA) | ~85 km | about 1–1.25 hours |
| Siena | ~70 km | about 1–1.25 hours |
| San Gimignano | ~55–60 km | about 1–1.25 hours |
| Lucca | ~75 km | about 1–1.25 hours |
| Bologna | ~100 km | about 1–1.5 hours |
The ZTL and Hill Roads
The historic centre of Florence is a ZTL with cameras at the entry points, and some hotels can notify your plate to the authority; ask in advance. Outside it, use a car park at the edge of the city or near a tram or bus line. In the hills, roads are narrow with stone walls and white gravel (strade bianche) tracks; some are not paved, so insurance is not valid there.
- Look for the red-circle ZTL sign and the electronic panel before entering the centre
- Do not follow navigation onto the Oltrarno streets without checking
- Leave the car outside the walls of hill towns such as San Gimignano
- Fines from ZTLs and cameras are sent to the agency, which charges you after the rental
Pick-Up and Delivery
Pick-up is usually delivered to your hotel or a car park in Florence, or collected at Pisa Airport (PSA). Use the "Specify location" option in the search to choose, and check the car card for any fee. Do not rely on a named office unless it is written on the car card. If you arrive late, give the provider your flight number.
Documents and Age
- Valid driving licence, usually held for at least a year; minimum age is typically 21 (23 or 25 for larger or premium cars)
- Your valid driving licence; licences issued outside the EU or EEA are commonly accompanied by an International Driving Permit (IDP) or a certified translation — rules depend on the country that issued your licence and can change, so ask the agency what it requires before you travel
- Passport and the booking voucher
- A payment method that matches the offer: many agencies block the deposit on a credit card; use the No deposit or No credit card filter if you need an alternative
Insurance and Deposit Explained
With basic insurance the excess — your share of any damage — can be large and the agency blocks a deposit. Full coverage brings the excess close to zero and, with many local agencies, means no deposit. Typical exclusions are tyres, glass, the underbody, interior damage and lost keys, and the cover is not valid off-road. ZTL fines, autostrada tolls and parking are billed separately. Photograph the car with the agent at pick-up and return and make sure all damage is in the acceptance document.
Driving in Florence: Roads and Habits
Tuscan roads wind through hills with blind bends and cyclists, and the villages have narrow arches and one-way systems. Autumn mist and winter ice can linger in valleys.
- Traffic drives on the right; seatbelts are compulsory and children need a suitable seat; the rental should include a warning triangle and a reflective vest
- ZTL (zona a traffico limitato) zones are the biggest pitfall: many historic centres are closed to non-resident cars, cameras read the plate, and the fine can reach you months after the trip, billed by the agency with a handling fee
- Speed limits are signed: typically 50 km/h in towns, around 90 km/h on main roads outside towns and up to 130 km/h on autostrade (lower in rain); speed cameras, including average-speed (Tutor) sections on autostrade, are common
- On the autostrada you usually take a ticket at the entry and pay at the exit; ask the agency about the lanes and any electronic tag, and avoid yellow tag-only lanes
- Parking lines: white is usually free, blue is paid (pay at a machine or app), yellow is reserved for residents, disabled drivers or loading; check the signs for time limits and street-cleaning days
- Drink-driving limits are low and enforced; do not drive after drinking, and no handheld phone while driving
- Dipped headlights are generally required outside built-up areas; check the signs and ask the agency
- Winter tyres or snow chains are required on many signed roads, roughly mid-October to mid-April; verify the current rules and ask the agency what is fitted
- Do not take the car off the paved road: insurance is not valid there