Car rental at Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO)

Compare car hire at Rome Fiumicino for Tuscany, Umbria, the Amalfi Coast and the Lazio countryside.

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Renting a car at FCO

Rome Fiumicino, officially Leonardo da Vinci Airport, sits on the coast about 30 kilometres south-west of the city centre. A free motorway links it to the Grande Raccordo Anulare ring road, and the A12 coastal motorway starts close by, so you can head north into Tuscany and Umbria, east to Abruzzo or south towards Naples and the Amalfi Coast without driving through Rome. That makes it a far better place to collect a car than the city centre.

If you're spending days in Rome itself, don't pick up the car until you leave. Most of the historic centre is a restricted traffic zone watched by cameras, parking is difficult, and the Leonardo Express train reaches Termini in around half an hour. Comparing car rental at Fiumicino is mostly about the fine print: the size of the deposit, what the included cover excludes, the fuel policy and whether the company is on-site or a shuttle ride away.

Where to pick up your car

FCORome Fiumicino Airport

Most on-airport rental companies at Fiumicino are grouped together in a dedicated car rental area rather than in the terminals. From the arrivals halls of Terminals 1 and 3, follow the signs for car rental (autonoleggio) to the covered walkways leading to the multi-storey car park complex; allow around 10 minutes on foot with luggage. The desks are in the rental area and the cars are parked on the car park levels nearby. Several companies operate off-airport and run shuttle buses from signed pick-up points outside arrivals, so check your voucher. You'll need your licence, passport and a credit card in the main driver's name.

Driving around Rome: what to know

  • Rome's historic centre is a ZTL (zona a traffico limitato), and many Italian towns and cities, including Florence, Siena and Pisa, have similar zones. Cameras at the entry gates record unauthorised cars, and fines reach you via the rental company, often months later, with an admin fee added. 'Varco attivo' on the sign means the zone is in force.
  • Autostrade use a ticket system: take a ticket on entry and pay on exit. Avoid the yellow Telepass lanes unless your car has a device, and use the lanes marked for cards or the white lanes with a cash symbol. The ring road and the motorway between the airport and Rome are free.
  • Average-speed cameras (Tutor) monitor long stretches of autostrada, and speed cameras are common on main roads. The usual autostrada limit of 130 km/h drops to 110 km/h in rain, so watch the signs.
  • Parking bays are colour-coded: blue lines mean paid parking, white lines are usually free and yellow lines are reserved for residents, disabled badge holders or deliveries. Pay at the machine or via an app and display the ticket, and remember that driving into a ZTL to look for a space can itself trigger a fine.

Tips to avoid extra charges

  • Italian rental desks are strict about payment: bring a credit card in the main driver's name with enough available limit for the deposit. Debit cards and cards in a passenger's name are often refused, which can leave you without a car.
  • Basic collision and theft cover is normally included in Italian rental rates, but with a high excess. Compare that excess and what's excluded, such as tyres, glass and the underside, before choosing between basic and fully inclusive rates.
  • At filling stations, pumps marked 'servito' are attended and cost more than 'fai da te' self-service. Many self-service pumps are paid at a central machine, and some rural stations close for lunch.
  • If your hotel is inside a ZTL, ask in advance whether it can register your number plate with the city so you're allowed through; otherwise park outside the zone and walk in.

Rome Fiumicino on the map

Open in OpenStreetMap · Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Car rental at Rome Fiumicino: questions and answers

Where is car rental at Rome Fiumicino Airport?

Most on-airport companies share a car rental area connected to Terminals 1 and 3 by covered walkways. Follow the car rental signs from arrivals; the walk takes around 10 minutes. Cars are collected from the adjoining multi-storey car park. Off-airport companies pick up from signed shuttle stops outside arrivals, as described on your voucher.

What is a ZTL and how do I avoid fines?

A ZTL is a limited traffic zone, usually covering a historic centre, enforced by cameras at each entry point. Unless your car is registered to enter, for example through your hotel, passing a gate while the zone is active triggers a fine. Look for the white sign with a red circle and 'varco attivo', and use car parks outside the zone.

Do I need an International Driving Permit to rent a car in Italy?

Not if your licence was issued in the EU, and UK photocard licence holders don't need one either. Drivers with licences from many other countries, including the US, are required to carry an International Driving Permit alongside their licence in Italy, and rental desks may ask to see it.

Should I drive in Rome?

Avoid it if you can. The centre is a ZTL, traffic is heavy, scooters weave between lanes and parking is difficult. Use public transport, taxis and walking for Rome itself, then collect your car at Fiumicino when you leave. The airport links straight to the ring road and the motorways, so you never need to drive through the centre.

How do I pay tolls on Italian motorways in a rental car?

Take a ticket from the machine when you join the autostrada and pay when you exit, choosing lanes marked for cards or the white lanes with a cash symbol. Keep out of the yellow Telepass lanes unless the rental car has a device fitted. Ring roads and some short sections near cities are free.

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Before you pick up: the airport car rental checklist

Deposits, excess, fuel policy and the photos to take before you drive off.

Read the checklist