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We are pleased to offer car hire through Transhire Worldwide Ltd and have negotiated a 10% worldwide discount. The rates below are already discounted.

If you prefer to book on the phone please phone 0870 777 4474 and quote Hidden Tuscany for the discount.

The following information is intended for UK passport holders only and based on our understanding of current legislation and as such no liability is accepted for errors or omissions.  

To drive in Italy you will require a valid UK passport and a valid European Community pink version of the driving licence, (old style green licences issued up to April 1991 are not valid with or without translations). 

If taking your own or loaned vehicle you will also require the original registration document and if borrowed a letter of authority from the vehicles owner. An international insurance certificate is also required; this can be a green card. Your vehicle will also need a clearly displayed GB sticker, a set of spare bulbs, a warning triangle, headlamp beam converters and a high visibility (bright orange or yellow) vest, which should be carried in the vehicle. Note if travelling overland from the UK you may need additional equipment to comply with the regulations of the countries you are passing through. 

Seat belts are to be worn at all times in the front and rear of the vehicle. Children under 4 years of age must use special child seats. An appropriate harness system is obligatory for children from 4 to 12 years of age who must travel only in the rear seats of the vehicle. The alcohol limit is 0.5 grams per litre (g/l). The use of mobile phones is prohibited if they are hand operated. Dipped head lights are required at all times during the day on autostrade, main roads outside urban areas and when passing through tunnels irrespective of length. Speed limits are fixed at 50km (31 miles) per hour in urban areas, 90km (56 miles) per hour on secondary and local roads, 130km (80 miles) per hour on autostrade and 150km (92 miles) per hour on three-lane autostrade. SEE essential information on speed cameras below.

Most autostrade are toll roads and you can pay by cash or credit card (Visa, Master card, American Express and Diners Club are all accepted). Other methods for long stay and regular usage are ViaCard Plus and TelePass. Go to links page to get further information, you will also require an Italian bank account.

Italy remains the country with the most petrol stations in Europe, with over 22,000 locations. Petrol is available 24 hours a day on the autostrade, other service stations open from 6.30/7.00am to 12.30/1.00pm and from 3.00pm to 7.30pm. Fuel can be obtained outside these hours on automatic dispensing pumps that take cash or credit cards. We suggest you do not use the credit card facility as the have been known to keep the card!! Note that there are still many service stations in Italy that do not accept credit cards. By law you can only carry spare petrol in iron cans.

Finally drive on the RIGHT and be aware that the Italians cut corners and overtake in the most unlikely places. There is no road rage in Italy that we have experienced.

Speed Cameras

Although there were a few speed cameras located on major routes we have recently noticed the installation of new speed cameras in villages on SS roads. They are all within 50 KPH restricted village areas and smaller than UK equivalents and painted grey, with no distinguishing marks. Unlike UK cameras there are NO road markings. Most villages have signs indicating electronic speed control and this refers to both the cameras and the former and still existing mobile traps. We are still uncertain as to how these cameras operate. They appear to have two lenses rather than one and a flash light. It is therefore possible that they cover both sides of the road as we have also seen evidence of newly installed induction loops in both carriageways. The ONLY excuse for speeding --- "a priest may speed to administer last rites to a dying man without being punished by a photo enforcement ticket".

               "ATTENZIONE" Warning                                   Mobile Trap

                 Rear of speed camera                              Front of speed camera

Pleased with the revenue from roadside speed cameras, the Port Authority in La Spezia, Italy has announced plans to expand the use of speed cameras to the sea. Although current law provides no specific speed limit for boats -- ships are to travel at "safe speeds" -- the cameras will be used to issue fines for whatever the officials deem to be excessive.  If you have any further information with regard to these speed cameras we would be obliged if you would e-mail us.

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