Car rental costs in Europe - Italy

[pinotnow]

I have never booked on the continent and AI tells me the average cost for Italy (Venice-Trieste and into Slovenia in between) is £300 (or Euros - not sure) in the summer. Further research shows lots of people last year saying they paid 90 Euros in Spain for 6 days etc. I have a quote for £800 for Hertz (knew they would be expensive) and various other comparison sites come up at around £500. It's for August and I need automatic and different pick-up/drop-off locations, which I know does make it more expensive. The cheaper ones have terrible or middling at best reviews on Trust Pilot too.

Just wondered what others have paid before I pay way over the odds.

Yes I think they are expensive, we needed a car for two weeks in August in Italy, different pick up/drop off locations and initially paid £1000 in 2023. We needed a large car as 3 children. Pick one with free cancellation because we kept an eye on it and got one for £300 cheaper as it got closer to the time.

It depends on the size of the car but definitely the different pick up locations will be pushing the price.

Check some of the brokers as they can get special rates. Keddy by Europcar is exactly the same company bur only available through a broker for instance.

We used Locauto in Italy and they were very good definitely believe the reviews we avoid sicily cars, goldcar and ok mobility in Italy. Known for trying to charge damage etc.

I just paid £50 for 4 days in Ireland, but that was March (Sixt). I am hiring a car in Canada with a drop off elsewhere and it’s an additional $300. I always use travel supermarket comparison. Any chance you could return to same place and get a train?

Italy is insanely expensive for rental cars. Make sure you have a huge limit on your credit card too, as the damage deposit was ridiculous. Think they wanted 2500 euro deposit. I didn't have a high enough limit and they refused to split it onto another card.

Ended up having to pay an extra 40 euros a day for full insurance on top of an already eye watering price. Bastards.