Well, who has not heard of Sicily - the island of the Italian mafia! Every self-respecting traveler at least once in his life dreamed of visiting this legendary and very beautiful land. The island is famous not so much for its "criminal" past, but for the hospitality of local residents, unique nature, cozy beaches and a huge variety of entertainment offered by hotels and small companies, as well as individuals. In Sicily (Italy) there are hotels for every taste and budget: there are 3, 4, and even 5-star apartments overlooking the picturesque mountains and the turquoise sea.
To travel around Sicily, you need to rent a car so that the movement is as convenient as possible. You can do this at one of the airports: Comiso, Trapani, Palermo or Catania. The road surface is very good, but public transport is infrequent. In big cities, it is easy to get around by metro, trams and buses, but if you have plans to visit various remote resort towns, then you cannot do without your own wheels. There is little hope for trains, because they run very irregularly, sometimes they are canceled altogether, and if you are lucky and you still take the rail transport, then from point A to point B you will get more than 10 hours.
Rent a car - this will allow you to spend your vacation in comfort and fully enjoy all the delights of the ancient island.
How much does it cost to rent a car in Sicily
The cost of the service is affected by the model of the car, equipment and the period for which you need it. If you rent a car for more than 10 days, and even in advance, then such a deal will cost less than renting for a couple of days.
To rent a car, you need to have a European driver's license with you. Some companies still provide a car to owners of Russian plastic rights, on which everything is written in Latin letters, but most prefer to play it safe and refuse to rent if there is no international document.
The driving experience must be at least 1 year, and the age must be more than 23 years.
In Sicily, they are loyal to the drivers of rented cars who decide to drink a glass of delicious local wine before the trip (and you try to resist tasting!). The maximum allowable dose of alcohol here is 0.8 ppm, which is slightly more than in other European countries. But do not overdo it: for drunk driving, not only a fine threatens, but also deprivation of rights, freedom, and in some especially egregious cases - everything in a complex, so that it would be discourteous.
The main fines for traffic violations on the roads of Sicily
You should not hope that if you get to Sicily, the island of the mafia, then you will be allowed to violate local traffic rules. Quite the contrary: the police zealously catch violators and ruthlessly fine them. Therefore, in order not to spoil your vacation with law enforcement proceedings, familiarize yourself with the basic traffic rules and the penalties that are provided for their violation.
| Traffic Laws | Penalties for violations in euros |
| You can not overtake in a place that is not equipped with special signs. | 160-648 |
| Keep a distance between cars on the roads | 40-169 |
| Prohibition signs and road markings must not be ignored | 40-169 |
| Driving on a red traffic light is strictly prohibited | 160-648 |
| You must follow the speed limit | 526-3288 |
| You may not overtake on the right side unless that action is permitted by a sign | 81-309 |
They are also fined for transporting children without a special seat, for not wearing seat belts while driving, for turning off the headlights in tunnels, and, of course, for talking on a mobile phone without a headset that allows you not to use your hands.
Speed limit on the roads
The locals are very fond of breaking the speed limit, but you should still refrain from recklessness, because the fines for exceeding are quite high.
- Within any settlement it is necessary to refrain from speed more than 50 km/h.
- Outside cities and towns, it is allowed to accelerate to 90 km / h.
- On sections of the road between settlements, the speed limit is 110 km/h.
- On the motorway, you can add another 20 km to the speedometer: the maximum allowed speed here is 130 km / h.
Do not be surprised if, as a law-abiding citizen, you drive at a speed of 130 km / h, and at the same time some Sicilian honks impatiently from behind: they are so impatient. Just give way and continue your leisurely and exciting journey through the fabulous island.
Parking Rules in Sicily
It is quite difficult to park a rented car in Sicily. This is largely due to heavy traffic and limited space. Before you leave your vehicle, carefully study the markings, because not everywhere you can park a car for foreigners.
- White markings indicate that parking here is free, although limited in time. Places are much harder to find. Don't forget to get a parking disc, on which you need to set the time at which you will come for the car.
- Blue lines in the parking lot indicate that you will have to pay for the service. These parking lots usually have machines that accept payment. From 0.00 to 8.00 even here you can leave your car for free.
- Yellow markup. Attention! This car park is for public transport and local residents only. If you leave your car here, then you will have to pick it up at the impound lot, after paying the fine.
There are also underground parking lots. They cost a little more, but there are almost always places. At the entrance, there is usually a valet who takes payment. Also on a special board it is written whether there is a free place, so if there is none, you don’t even have to go there: you just go looking further.
When traveling in Sicily, arrange a profitable car rental through the site. Working only with local rental companies, we have the opportunity to find an excellent car option for you and your family at an attractive price, without additional “for the name” and surprises in the form of hidden surcharges and commissions. You will receive exactly the car you have chosen, and not a similar one, and our constant support in any situation in Russian.
Rent a car in Sicily
Tourists who have already visited Sicily agree that there is nothing to do there without a car. Public transport does not connect all cities and runs rarely, and attractions are spaced apart. A rented car will give freedom of movement and freedom of choice.
The famous Rabbit Beach, where sea turtles lay their eggs, on the island of Lampedusa. Known throughout Europe for its architecture, the Monreale Cathedral is on the slope of Caputo, next to Palermo. The Valley of the Temples is located in the resort of Agrigento. Near the town of Piazza Armerina, Villa del Casale, one of the pearls of Sicily. Delivery of a rented car can be ordered directly to the airport and from there you can start your journey around Sicily.
Insurance and car rental conditions in Sicily
During the trip, you will definitely be provided with OSAGO or CASCO insurance (deposit from 200 euros). Additionally, you can buy SuperKASKO and insurance against theft. The conditions for obtaining a car in Sicily are quite simple: the driver is 22 years old, driving experience is at least 2 years. Required documents:
international passport
Driver's license
Credit card
When renting on our website, you will receive exactly the car that you order (not an analogue). It is better to book a comfortable car on good terms in advance. If necessary, it will be adjusted to your flight. The procedure for obtaining a car has been worked out and takes from 20 minutes to half an hour. After that, you get behind the wheel - and all of Sicily is at your feet.
Features of traffic rules in Sicily
The traffic rules on the island do not shock you, they are the same as everywhere else in Europe. Look carefully at the signs and do not exceed the speed limit (fines for this violation can reach 500 euros), follow the traffic lights. Driving through a red light can cost an inattentive driver 650 euros. Do not overtake where it is impossible (next to the sign, both a policeman and a camera may be found).
parking
Free parking lots are marked with a white line and are limited in time (the time on the sign below the sign). If there are blue markings on the pavement, parking costs from 60 euro cents to 1 euro per hour, payment at the parking meter. Paid parking can be used free of charge from 0.00 to 8.00.
We decided to write an article on car rental in Sicily in the form of a question and answer. This will allow you to quickly find the answer to any question of interest.
General questions about car rental in Sicily
Is it difficult to rent a car in Sicily?
Renting a car in Sicily is not difficult. Many rental companies in all corners of the island will gladly offer you their cars.
Do I need an international driving license to rent a car in Sicily?
To rent a car, not always, you may be required to have international rights. However, in the future, on the road, serious problems may arise. If you are stopped by the police, the fine will be around 300 euros.
Do I need a credit card to rent a car or is a debit card sufficient?
Some companies require only a credit card, others are loyal to a debit card. And still others impose restrictions on debit card holders: a ban on crossing the Italian border, a limit on certain car models, and so on.
Cheap car rental in Sicily
How to find the best car rental deals in Sicily?
Is it profitable to rent on arrival?
No, it is better to book a car in advance. This will save you from queues, in addition, you can pay not immediately, but leave an advance payment. And most importantly, by booking in advance you are guaranteed to receive your car. When booking on the spot, the desired car may not be available! And there is no difference in price!
Car rental in Sicily: deposit, franchise and insurance
Is it possible to rent a car in Sicily without a deposit?
There are such conditions. However, in this case, you will have to buy a more expensive insurance package that covers all risks. In most cases, a deposit is still taken.
What is the amount of the deposit?
Usually this is an amount from 300 to 1000 euros, which is blocked on your card.
Is the deposit returned immediately after the car is returned?
No, as a rule, 2-4 weeks after the delivery of the car. This is the time to check the car for breakdowns due to your fault, and also whether you have earned fines.
N.B. Demand an inspection of the car during the delivery and a signed paper stating that there are no claims against you, the car is safe and sound.
What is a franchise?
The deductible is the amount of expenses, in case of insured events, that the company is ready to pay. The most expensive insurances provide for 100% payment of costs by the insurance company, this no deductible insurance.
Two equal insurance packages with a deductible. In one, the deductible is 300 euros, in the other 1000. Which one is more profitable for me?
The one in which the franchise of 300 euros is more profitable for the client. Then, in case of damage or theft, the client will pay 300 euros, the rest will be paid by the insurance company.
Should I buy expensive insurance?
If you are an inexperienced driver or you have difficulty with parking, driving through narrow streets - yes it is worth it. Sicily is all about narrow streets, compact bumper-to-bumper parking, and reckless drivers.
Receipt and delivery of a car
What should be done when receiving a car?
If the insurance does not cover all costs, carefully inspect the car for damage, scratches, breakages. Ask the manager of the rental company to fix them down to the smallest.
What questions should you ask a manager?
- Is there a mileage limit?
- Is there a driver age limit?
- Are there any restrictions on the second driver?
What is important to know when renting a car?
- Arrive at the drop-off point 30-40 minutes before the end of the rental time. Remember that being late even for 1 minute will lead to payment of an additional day of rent!
- Document that the vehicle is technically sound and without damage.
- The car must be returned with a full tank of petrol.
Is it possible to get a car in one place and return it in another.
Yes, you can. Ask about this opportunity in the car rental company in advance.
Traffic rules and fines
What are the specifics of the rules in Italy?
The rules are very similar to Russian ones. What are the differences:
- Speed limit in the city 50 km/h
- Loyal attitude to alcohol. Permissible degree of intoxication up to 0.5 ppm
- There are special traffic restriction zones - zona traffico limitato. This is usually the historical center, or attractions. There is usually a travel time limit here.
What are the penalties for violations?
Roads of Sicily
Are there toll roads in Sicily?
Yes, I have. Two toll highways: A18 (Catania - Messina) and A20 (Palermo - Messina).
How to pay for the toll road?
- First, at the entrance you need to stand in the right lane. White - for cash payment. Blue for non-cash. You don't have to go to the yellow lane.
- The fare is paid at the exit from the highway, so keep the receipt until the end of the journey
- If you don't pay your fare, it will most likely be taken off your deposit or it will come in the mail when you get home.
Are all major cities in Sicily connected by wide highways?
How to distinguish paid parking from free?
Free parking is marked in white, paid parking is in blue.
What is the cost of paid parking?
3-5 euros for an hour of parking.
How to pay for parking?
Either through a special machine, or through technical staff. After payment, the barrier opens and you park.
What are the penalties for incorrect parking?
From 40 euros. The cost of the fine will increase significantly if your car is forced to be removed by a tow truck.
We hope that information about fines will not be useful to you and your trip to Sicily will only be joyful. Pleasant emotions!
Perhaps it would be a big mistake to assume that being in the homeland of the Italian mafia, you can break the rules with impunity. Therefore, it will not be superfluous to familiarize yourself with the list below, which indicates the amounts of fines that are provided throughout Italy for violators of traffic rules, regardless of whether you are driving a car - your own or rental car in Sicily.
Speed Limit
Let's say you are a fan of fast driving - well, the same Russian that Gogol used to say about. In this case, you may need a reminder of the 5% error in Sicily when determining speeding, and this little loophole in some cases can save you from a fine. But still, remember:
- in the settlement it is supposed to move no faster than 50 km / h;
- outside the settlement, a speed of 90 km / h is allowed;
- on the road between two settlements, the limit is 110 km/h;
- a large multi-lane highway provides for movement at a speed of 130 km / h.
parking
Parking in Sicily is quite tricky because the cars are packed tight and all your "zero visibility" parking skills can come in handy. However, the Russians are no strangers.
Parking lots in Sicily are marked with three colors. The white color of the lines suggests that after purchasing a parking disc, you will be able to use this free parking lot. The main thing is not to forget to set the time on the disk at which you want to return and pick up your car.
The blue color of the lines will tell you that the parking lot is equipped with parking machines.
Also, pay attention to underground parking lots, which are equipped with barriers, and payment is accepted either automatically, or it is collected by the parking operator.
Avoid the yellow lines - these are parking lots for special vehicles, and if you park in one of these places, you risk not finding your car, returning for it. She may well be in one of the impounds.
Allowable blood alcohol limit for a rental car driver in Sicily
The maximum that a driver can afford to drive rental car in Sicily- this is 0.8‰, in no case more. Because everything that is further, threaten with severe punishments, up to possible imprisonment. And the amount of fines is generally amazing. So even considering that Sicily is the cradle of the mafia, the police will not allow you to drink more than a mug of beer or a glass of wine while driving.
Traffic Laws
The Sicilians, despite their reputation as the inhabitants of the most "criminal" island, are very God-fearing and child-loving. That's why:
- children under 3 years old are transported in special devices designed for this, and over 3 years old, but less than 150 cm tall - in child seats corresponding to the weight of the child;
- seat belts must be fastened regardless of where the passenger is - in front or behind;
- low beam is switched on in tunnels, as well as in conditions of poor visibility, and the time of day does not matter;
- it is better to equip the car with a wireless communication device, because talking on the phone, which is held in the hand, is prohibited.
Toll roads and driving on them in a rented car in Sicily
Sicily has toll motorways, although they are quite cheap, unlike mainland Italy. The price is taken for the number of kilometers travelled. It is also worth remembering that despite the reputation of freeways, such roads are also not immune from the formation of many kilometers of traffic jams on them. So sometimes you have to be patient.
Also, to your surprise, even if you are driving at a speed of 130 km / h, you may start to honk and flash your headlights from behind, demanding to pass. But such are the Italians, in particular, of course, the Sicilians.
The most expensive route in Sicily is Messina-Palermo, because it has a large number of tunnels. When entering a toll freeway, avoid the lane marked in yellow, it is intended only for automatic payment.
Sicily is a beautiful resort with such a large number of attractions that it is simply impossible to consider every interesting place at once. In order to have time to explore the island more deeply, it is worth saving valuable time on things such as movement. The easiest and most effective way to do this is to rent a car. This will allow you to build a convenient daily schedule and choose your own route. But it is worth knowing some of the nuances.
How to rent a car in Sicily: deposit and insurance
Today, it is convenient to make any operations and bookings online, so to rent a car, you just need to have access to the Internet. At the same time, you need to find out and discuss all the details, starting from the price and collateral and ending with the conditions of the insurance company.
Car rental in Sicily
Pledge
Usually car rental in Sicily requires a deposit. This can be done both in cash and with a card, the required amount on which will be temporarily blocked. The size of the deposit depends on the choice of car and company, the price can vary from 200 euros to 1000 euros*. In some cases, you can rent a car without a deposit, but the cost of the rental itself is slightly higher.
Franchise
Deductible in insurance is the amount that the renter is obliged to pay in case of damage to the car. For example, if the deductible is 250 euros, and the damage is estimated at 200 euros, then the driver must pay this money. If the car is seriously damaged, then the insurance company pays for all repairs, and the tenant pays only the deductible. There are more expensive insurance packages where there is no deductible at all - usually full coverage.
Car insurance
If the driver considers himself insufficiently experienced or just wants to play it safe, he can use additional insurance services and choose full insurance. This tariff in most cases fully covers the franchise. Full insurance can be purchased both on the website of the landlord and in another company.
Traveling with a rented car
Car rental prices, average prices
The rental price depends on the class of the car and may differ several times depending on the choice. The most inexpensive option in the price will be several tens of dollars for a couple of days. To find out where to find the cheapest and most profitable option with the best offer for your wallet and credit card, it is worth taking a few minutes to search the Internet. You can use an aggregator site. On average, a 3-4 day rental will cost 100-200 euros. The car will be waiting at the agreed point, usually the local airport is chosen.
What documents are needed to rent a car in Sicily
First of all, you need to have a driver's license and a passport. You will also need a bank card (in some cases, you can get by with a debit card). Italy recognizes the Russian driver's license as legal, so the presence of an international driver's license is not necessary.
Note! Often, in order to rent a car, you need to be at least 21 years old. Sometimes, for an additional fee, you can use the rental from the age of 19.
List of car brands available for rent in Sicily
Renting a car in Sicily in the local car sharing market provides a wide choice: each service has its own range of makes and models of cars. There are no restrictions in this regard - Ford, Citroen, Opel, Volkswagen ... From the large list of available cars, you can choose whatever you like.
But, unfortunately, no company can guarantee the tourist exactly the model that was indicated when ordering. There are good reasons for this: the previous customer can extend the lease or crash the car; or the desired car, rented, just broke down.
Attention! In this case, the driver is provided with a car similar in characteristics or a class higher.
Nice car rental in Sicily
Rules and fines, alcohol limit, toll roads and other nuances
Permissible ppm value
If the driver is over 21 years old and has at least 3 years of experience behind him, the permissible blood alcohol level is 0.5 ppm. In another case, there should be no alcohol in the blood at all - the permissible value is 0.00 ppm.
fines
In Italy, as in the entire European Union, they are strict about the rules of the road, and Sicily is no exception. For drunk driving, the violator faces a fine of 500 euros up to imprisonment, depending on the dose of alcohol in the blood. Speeding entails a fine of 770 euros, driving through a red traffic light - 150 ... 650 euros. Parking violations, driving around the island without seat belts and other non-compliance with the rules are also punished.
Roads and toll roads
On a note! The quality of roads in Sicily is not ideal, but quite high. Sicily is an island with a large volcano Etna in the center, so there are rarely plains here, hence there are many tunnels on the roads. On the highway, tourists expect beautiful views of nature and fields.
There are only two toll roads on the island: A18 (Messina - Catania) and A20 (Messina - Palermo). The first highway is 76.8 km long and the fare is approximately 3 euros. The second is extended by 182 km, the fare costs about 10 euros. These are pretty low prices.
Long term car rental in Sicily
parking
It is not always easy to find a place for a Sicilian car in one of the cities, so it is better to use parking lots. You can use quite expensive parking buildings or simple sites. There are three types of parking spaces - blue (paid), white (free) and yellow (for the disabled).
Note! Sometimes free parking has a time limit, for non-compliance with which a fine can be charged.
It is important to know! There are two types of tariffs regarding gasoline - returning the car with an empty tank and a full one. Tip: in the second case, you should pay attention that most gas stations do not work after 19:00 and during the siesta.
Tourists who want to have time to explore Sicily and enjoy every corner of it definitely need a car that allows them to freely travel throughout the island. Renting a car in Sicily is a simple matter, you just need to have money and the necessary documents with you. The main thing is not to break the rules and return the transport on time. Booking a rental car is definitely worth the money.
* The prices indicated in the article are current at the time of publication of the material.
