To hire a car in Italy, according to the ACI, you need a credit card in the driver's name, and holders of a non-EU licence also need an international driving permit. But for a golfer the decisive question is a different one: car or transfer?
Almost all Italian golf courses lie outside the cities, and public transport does not run to the club's door. So the choice is between the hire car, which gives freedom over tee times and courses, and the transfer arranged by the hotel or a driver, which is more convenient if you are playing a single course and want a drink after the round.
Documents and rules for hiring in Italy
According to the ACI's guidance for foreign tourists ("Per i turisti stranieri: guidare in Italia"), hiring a car generally requires:
- a licence from an EU/EFTA country, valid for the vehicle and held for at least a year;
- if the licence comes from a non-EU state, also an international driving permit or a sworn translation (Italy accepts both the 1949 Geneva model, valid for one year, and the 1968 Vienna model, valid for three);
- an identity document and a credit card in the driver's name.
Some companies set a minimum age of 21 or 23 and a maximum between 65 and 75. The ACI suggests checking for hidden costs: limited mileage, a second driver, 22% VAT if it is not included, drop-off at a different location, and photographing the car at pick-up and at return. Check the insurance cover as well: the ACI notes that damage to tyres, bodywork and windscreen is usually excluded.
Tolls, speed and ZTL
- Motorways: access is almost always paid and the cost depends on the vehicle and the distance; you pay in cash or by card. Foreigners cannot use the Telepass lanes without having activated a device; the ACI mentions the tolltickets Telepass and the prepaid Viacard.
- Speed: the motorway limit is 130 km/h (110 in bad weather), unless signs say otherwise; speed is also monitored by section-control "tutor" systems.
- ZTL: many historic centres have limited-traffic zones with electronic gates; entering without a permit is an offence, and the penalties are those of the Highway Code. Ask the hotel whether it is inside a ZTL and how to register your number plate.
- Fines: offenders stopped by the police can pay a reduced amount, 30% less, to the officer.
When the car makes sense, when the transfer does
| Situation | Most practical choice |
|---|---|
| A single course, hotel that arranges the transfer | Hotel transfer |
| Three or more courses on different days | Hire car |
| Hotel in the centre of a city with a ZTL | Transfer or taxi, car only outside the city |
| Arriving and leaving from the same airport | Car, with pick-up and return at the same place to avoid the surcharge |
The choice of airport also affects driving times: from Turin to La Mandria is about 22 minutes, from Olbia to Pevero about 48.
Examples of transfers arranged by hotels
- The Hotel Excelsior on the Lido puts the trip to the Circolo Golf Venezia at the Alberoni at about 20 minutes; Guest Relations books the tee times and arranges the transfer by car, taxi or water taxi.
- At the Forte Village the reception handles the booking of tee times at Is Molas and the transfers, as well as the hire of clubs and golf buggies.
- The Villa e Palazzo Aminta in Stresa has private parking, a charging point and a free shuttle to the centre; for the courses the concierge books green fees, while the Golf des Iles Borromées is about 2 km from the Carpugnino exit of the A26.
- The Quellenhof Luxury Resort Lazise counts, according to the hotel, twelve courses within an hour and twenty minutes by road: a case where the car offers more choice.
The Paradiso del Garda, finally, is one kilometre from the motorway toll booth: it is among the most convenient for those arriving by car.
How to get organised in five steps
- Choose the airport from the course, not from the city.
- Book the car with the driver's credit card and check minimum age, mileage and cover.
- Ask the hotel about the ZTL and parking.
- Check the boot capacity against your golf bag.
- Book the tee times before fixing the travel times.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need special documents to hire a car in Italy?+
According to the ACI, an EU/EFTA licence held for at least a year, plus the international permit if the licence is from outside the EU, an identity document and a credit card in the driver's name.
Can I use Telepass with a hire car?+
Foreigners cannot use the Telepass lanes without having activated a device: the ACI mentions the tolltickets Telepass and the prepaid Viacard. Otherwise you pay in cash or by card.
What is a ZTL and how do I avoid a fine?+
It is a limited-traffic zone in historic centres, with electronic gates: entering without a permit is an offence. Avoid it, or ask the hotel how to report your number plate.
What is the motorway speed limit?+
130 km/h, reduced to 110 in adverse weather, unless signs say otherwise.
Is a transfer or a car better for a single course?+
If the hotel arranges the transfer, as at the Excelsior on the Lido or at Forte Village, the transfer is practical; for several courses the car is more flexible.
How much does car hire cost?+
It depends on the season, category and company, and rates change from week to week. The ACI urges checking hidden costs such as VAT, a second driver and drop-off at another location.
