Car shortages that began in 2020 are unfortunately still a major problem. Demand for rental cars is outpacing the supply of available vehicles, so rental car prices have gone sky high.
People Also Ask
Car rentals cost more than they did a few years ago due to many different factors, but primarily because of supply chain issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. As demand for rental cars fell, rental car companies sold segments of their fleets to stay in business during the lean times.
Holidaymakers face soaring car hire costs as shortages drive up prices. The cost of renting a car in European holiday destinations has almost doubled in the past three years, and experts predict prices will remain high as global shortages mean car hire firms are paying more for new vehicles.
That is because the shortage of semiconductor chips that has held up auto manufacturing persists, leaving rental car companies to operate with lower inventory after they sold off chunks of their fleets in the early days of the pandemic. Building that stock back up has been more difficult than expected.
Through 2023 at least, limited vehicle availability will continue. However, most experts report some recovery on the horizon. There were finally early signs of increased allocation to rental fleet channels in fall 2022. Operators still need to be clever in how they source cars as we inch toward supply recovery, though.
Car rental supplies, especially for automatic cars, have always been limited in Italy. The pandemic has compounded this situation as people prefer to drive rather than take public transportation options and many companies sold off some of their stock. Make sure to book your car well in advance to avoid disappointment.
Rental companies maintain their cars well and closely follow the service schedules. And because the rental car agencies buy vehicles in volume and pay less up front, their resale prices can be lower.
Whether you have a new car and you want to keep the mileage low, or you have an old car and you're trying to keep it going, renting a car is a great way to save the wear on your vehicle. Rather than take your auto on the highway for a cross-country journey, consider renting a car for that next road trip!
Car rentals cost more than they did a few years ago due to many different factors, but primarily because of supply chain issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. As demand for rental cars fell, rental car companies sold segments of their fleets to stay in business during the lean times.
While renting a car isn't necessary or even advised if you're only visiting major tourists city (you can't even bring your rental car into the old town Florence, and having a car in Rome is a very bad idea not just because of traffic but also because many main attractions are only accessible by foot anyway), if you ...
It's 27% less expensive to live in Italy compared to the UK, which is a significant difference. While some things in Italy are more expensive than in the UK, in general, it's a cheaper country to live in, especially when you take into consideration its higher average wage.
If you're looking to rent a car in Italy, then Catania is the cheapest city to do so as prices are just $3 per day. According to our data, it's 73% cheaper for a rental car in Catania as opposed to renting one in Venice (which costs $11 per day).
When renting a car in Italy you must purchase collision (CDW) and theft insurance. Declining this insurance is not an option and the price you are quoted will always include it. Sounds good except there's a catch: the insurance comes with a substantial deductible or excess, usually in the €1000 to €3000 range.