Car hire reviews
Car hire in Rome is one of those decisions that depends entirely on what you plan to do after the Colosseum. Inside central Rome, a car is more liability than asset: traffic is chaotic, ZTL restricted zones are strictly enforced, and parking is expensive and scarce. But the moment your itinerary includes the Amalfi Coast, Tuscany, or day trips to Orvieto and the Alban Hills, a rental becomes genuinely useful. Rome Fiumicino (FCO) pickup is usually the best option because supplier choice is broad, airport logistics are straightforward, and you can head straight onto the A1 or A12 without navigating central congestion first. Ciampino (CIA) is smaller and can work for budget-focused travellers, but fleet choice is thinner. Expect assertive local driving, manual transmission dominance, and compact cars as the practical sweet spot. The reviews below help you separate efficient Rome desks from suppliers that turn airport pickup into an upselling marathon. For more on Italian rentals, see our Italy car hire guide, and compare Hertz and Sixt for strong airport coverage.
Counter intelligence
23 min
Best: Goldcar (16 min)
25% low
8 reported answers
High at: Budget
0%
0 of 8 reported answers
67%
Got car they booked
Missing answers are excluded. Based on 8 reviews across 77 locations and 37 suppliers. Average rating: 3.8/5 · Typical wait: ~23 minutes · Higher upsell reports: Budget
Quick insights
Archived editorial notes on suppliers and pickup locations in Rome; not verified traveller reviews.
Locations in Rome
These archived editorial notes are not verified traveller reviews. Their source experiences have not been independently confirmed; they are excluded from traveller ratings and counter statistics.
Editorial · Budget · Fiumicino Airport
The arrivals hall was mayhem, but Budget's counter was calm and organised. Clear damage documentation and no upsell pressure. Car had 40,000km but ran perfectly.
Editorial · Goldcar · Fiumicino Airport
Long queue, thorough damage check, and a deposit that maxed our credit card. But the Fiat 500 was perfect for Rome parking and we got it back without dispute.
Editorial · Sixt · Fiumicino Airport
The counter was slick and the Audi A3 upgrade was real rather than theoretical, but expect a chunky card pre-authorisation and a persistent pitch for tyre-and-glass cover at €17/day.
Editorial · Hertz · Fiumicino Airport
Our midday arrival met a 35-minute line and a Ford Focus with a few honest Roman scrapes, plus an awkward explanation that crossing into Switzerland would trigger an extra €65 fee.
Editorial · Europcar · Fiumicino Airport
Staff clearly marked existing bumper rash, explained the full-to-full fuel rule properly, and released a tidy Jeep Renegade in under 20 minutes — exactly the sort of competent airport rental most travellers want.
Editorial · Avis · Rome
ZTL zones are the real enemy, not the rental company. Avis staff warned us clearly about restricted areas. Car was fine, return was smooth.
3.8
Good
8 reviews
Paulo Santos
3 Mar 2026 · Community submission · booking not verified
Not the worst, just too much talking at the counter when we were already exhausted. Cover options, fuel options, more cover options. The car itself was alright.
Lisa Chen
20 Dec 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified
Was bracing for chaos because Fiumicino can be a circus, but Hertz were surprisingly switched on. We even got a hybrid upgrade which helped a lot driving up toward Umbria. No weird charges afterwards either.
Paulo Santos
9 Dec 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified
Not the worst, just too much talking at the counter when we were already exhausted. Cover options, fuel options, more cover options. The car itself was alright.
Daniel Moore
5 Dec 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified
We chose Hertz at Rome Fiumicino for our family holiday because we've used them before and trusted the brand. However, the experience was pretty mixed. The biggest issue was the wait time. After a long flight with two tired kids, standing in line for nearly 45 minutes to reach the counter was exhausting. It seemed like they were understaffed for the volume of arrivals. On the positive side, the staff member was polite enough and didn't aggressively push the extra insurance, which I appreciated. We were given a decent Volkswagen Tiguan that fit our luggage comfortably, and the car itself was clean and ran without issues for the entire week. If you can get past the slow queue at the start, the actual vehicle is fine, but be prepared for a tedious pickup process.
Lucas Cole
17 Nov 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified
We rented from Europcar at Rome Fiumicino for a couple's trip to explore Lazio. The actual rental process was fine once we got to the counter, but the queue was honestly a nightmare. It took nearly three-quarters of an hour to be seen, which isn't exactly what you want after a long flight when you're desperate to get to your hotel. The staff member was professional enough and didn't aggressively push the extra insurance, which was a relief. We ended up with a Fiat 500L, which was perfect for the narrow Italian roads. The car was clean and ran smoothly. Just be prepared to factor in some waiting time before you hit the road.
Lisa Chen
12 Nov 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified
Was bracing for chaos because Fiumicino can be a circus, but Hertz were surprisingly switched on. We even got a hybrid upgrade which helped a lot driving up toward Umbria. No weird charges afterwards either.
Evie Clarke
26 Oct 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified
I rented from Goldcar at Rome Fiumicino for a quick two-day business trip. I was initially worried about the queue, as I arrived around 9 AM on a Tuesday, but the line moved faster than expected. It took about 20 minutes to reach the counter. The staff member was efficient and, unlike some other budget agencies, didn't aggressively push the extra insurance once I showed I had my own coverage. I was given a Fiat 500—perfect for navigating the tight Roman streets—and the car was clean and relatively new. Drop-off was seamless, and I had my deposit refunded within three days. If you need a reliable car for work without the premium price tag, this is a solid option.
Thomas Hill
17 Oct 2025 · Community submission · booking not verified
I was a bit wary given Goldcar's reputation, but my experience at Rome Fiumicino was surprisingly smooth. I arrived at the desk around 9 AM and the queue was short, which was a relief since I had a meeting scheduled for the afternoon. The agent did ask about extra insurance coverage, but a polite 'no' was enough to move on—they weren't aggressive about the upsell at all. I received a Fiat 500 that was clean and ran well for my city driving. The only minor hiccup was the deposit hold taking a few days to clear, but that's standard practice. For the price, it was a solid choice.
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