Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Fuel
Fuel prices are among the highest in Europe and vary from one service station
(benzinaio, stazione di servizio)
to anoth-
er. Lead-free (
senza piombo;
95 octane) costs up to €1.85/L. A 98-octane variant costs as much as €1.95/L. Diesel
(gas-
olio)
comes in at €1.50/L. Prices tend to be slightly cheaper in Switzerland.
Hire
To rent a car in Italy you have to be aged 25 or over and have a credit card. Most firms will accept your standard licence
or IDP for identification purposes. Consider hiring a small car, which you'll be grateful for when negotiating narrow city
or village lanes.
Multinational car rental agencies include the following:
Autos Abroad
( in the UK 0845 029 19 45;
www.autosabroad.com
)
Auto Europe
(
www.autoeurope.com
)
Avis
(
199 10 01 33;
www.avisautonoleggio.it
)
Budget
(
199 30 73 73;
www.budgetautonoleggio.it
)
Europcar
( 199 30 70 30;
www.europcar.com
)
Hertz
( 08708 44 88 44;
www.hertz.it
)
Italy by Car
(
800 84 60 83;
www.italybycar.it
)
Maggiore
(
199 15 11 20;
www.maggiore.it
)
Parking
Parking in most cities in the region can be complicated. The historic centre of most cities is off limits to most traffic, al-
though partial exceptions are sometimes made for tourists who are staying at hotels in the old centre (in such cases you
may be able to enter the city centre long enough to unload).
Milan has instituted the Ecopass, which obliges drivers to pay to enter the centre of town. As a rule, it is simplest not
to drive in the cities and main towns. Park and walk is the best policy.
Road Rules
»
Drive on the right, overtake on the left.
»
Give way to cars entering an intersection from a road on your right.
»
Seatbelts are compulsory for all passengers.
»
A warning triangle (to be used in the event of a breakdown) must be carried, and if your car breaks down and you get
out of the vehicle, you must wear an approved yellow or orange safety vest (available at bicycle shops and outdoor
stores).
»
Random breath tests take place in Italy and Switzerland. The blood-alcohol limit is 0.05%.
»
All vehicles must use headlights by day on the autostrade. It is advisable for motorcycles on all roads at all times.
