Can you rent a car in Germany and take it to Italy?

Available Sixt Rent a Cars in Germany No matter if you need a car rental from Germany to Italy, a car rental from Germany to Austria, or to another nearby country in Europe, we have a car for you.



Yes, you can generally rent a car in Germany and drive it to Italy in 2026, but it is subject to "Cross-Border" policies and potential fees. Most major agencies like Sixt, Enterprise, and Europcar allow travel into "Zone 1" countries (which includes Italy), but you must declare this at the time of booking. There is often a cross-border fee (roughly €5 to €10 per day, capped at €50). Crucially, there are restrictions on luxury vehicles: brands like BMW, Mercedes, and Audi, or high-end SUVs, are often prohibited from being taken into Italy (or specifically Southern Italy) due to higher theft rates. Additionally, you must ensure the car has the necessary equipment for Italian roads, such as a high-visibility vest for every passenger, and you should obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP) to accompany your standard license, as it is technically a legal requirement in Italy.

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Many car rental suppliers will allow you to travel outside Germany without charging additional car rental fees, although there are specific cases in which restrictions or charges may apply. Most commonly, traveling to Eastern Europe with a rental car out of Germany has very specific requirements for this to be allowed.

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Most vehicles rented in the US can be driven throughout US and Canada. Some vehicle classes like Exotics, Large Passenger or Cargo Vans, and other specialty vehicles may not be allowed to travel outside of the US. Please reach to the renting location directly for details on cross-border restrictions.

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Driving Across the U.S. Border into Canada in a Rental Car
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Driving in Germany You can rent a car with a US driver's license. International licenses are accepted, but not legally required. There are no tolls for private cars on German roads.

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Out of all the popular cities in Europe, Bucharest is the cheapest city to rent a car in at just $2/day. Renting a car in Bucharest is 85% cheaper than renting one in Dublin where the per day rate is around $13.

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If you're visiting both cities and the countryside, rent a car only for the countryside part. How light are you traveling? There's no question about it: lugging suitcases on and off trains and to and from train stations is no fun. But if you're only visiting cities, I still recommend not renting a car.

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Italians are known to be aggressive drivers compared to other places. They will quickly switch lanes, drive fast, and there are scooters zooming through all the cars. This can seem chaotic to someone who is not from Italy, but it is their way of driving. It is safe and legal, and Italians expect you to drive like them!

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Italians drive on the right side of the road, just like Americans. That may seem basic, but you'd be surprised how many people don't know. Traffic lights and stop signs work the same as most other countries, but, like most of Europe, right turns during red lights are ALWAYS ILLEGAL.

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As mentioned above briefly, third party liability and fire insurance are both mandatory, and fortunately these are included in all car rental rates in Germany when you book with Auto Europe, but CDW and Theft protection are not required, as some credit card companies will provide these insurance extras for you.

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Rental cars are slapped with Germany's 16% Value Added Tax (VAT), registration fee, and airport fees (but rates do include the required third-party liability insurance). These additional fees may equal up to 25% of the daily rental.

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