Car Rental on Sicily
Cheapest Car Rental Rates
Most Popular Car Rental Deals
Travel Information
Why rent a car on Sicily?
Sicily is a great place to explore by car. Rich in traditions and diverse in heritage, it offers everything from impressive historic sites and cities inhabited since ancient times to charming fishing villages and some of the most fascinating wild terrain in Europe. Getting a rental car is your best bet to see as much as you can.
If you want to know more about renting a car in Sicily, don't miss our complete guide.
One-way Car Rentals on Sicily
Here are the most popular one-way rental options for pickup on Sicily and drop off in another country:
- From Sicily to Italy - 1,284 offers from $19.81 per day
Top ways to enter Sicily
- Palermo Airport: Formerly known as Punta Raisi, the airport is located some 35 km (22 mi) northwest of Palermo, the regional capital. The airport serves around 5 million passengers every year.
- Catania–Fontanarossa Airport: By far the busiest in Sicily, this airport serves nearly 10 million passengers every year. It is located just 4 km (2.4 km) southwest of the city proper and is connected to it by the A19 motorway.
- Trapani Airport: Its full title, Vincenzo Florio Airport Trapani–Birgi, is quite a mouthful, but flying to this small and cozy airport on the western edge of Sicily is another great way to reach the island.
- By sea: It is also possible to reach Sicily from the Italian mainland by ferry. One of the most popular routes takes off in Salerno, Campania, and ends in the Eastern Sicilian city of Messina, the travel taking up around eight hours. It is possible to bring your rental car on a ferry, but ask your car rental provider in advance if they permit it.
Top cities and places to visit
- Palermo. The Sicilian capital’s long and fascinating history can be seen in its many monuments, buildings, and museums. Palermo is also a great place to start exploring the island’s unrivalled cuisine.
- Syracuse. Once ruled by ancient Hellenes, Syracuse is still perhaps the most Greek-influenced city of Sicily and perhaps all of Italy. Visit Parco Archeologico and the 5th century B.C. theater where ancient plays are still performed every summer.
- Etna. The still active volcano that is set on a margin between the tectonic plates of Africa and Eurasia is arguably Sicily’s number one natural attraction. Go on a challenging hike to explore its rugged slopes, or, if you’re more into comfort, get in a cable car that will take you close to the summit.
- Messina Province. The Sicilian province that’s closest to mainland Italy is known for the port city of Messina, the charming hillside town Taormina and its Greek theater, as well as nature areas like Parco Fluviale dell’Alcantra and Parco dei Nebrodi that tempt travelers with their gorgeous mountains trails, caves, and waterfalls.
- Agrigento Province. Although perhaps not as famous and more subtle in its pleasures than some other parts of the island, Agrigento is the perfect place for a long and leisurely holiday thanks to its serene towns, ancient Greek temples, and pristine beaches.
- Trapani Province. The westernmost province of Sicily is known for its great hospitality and proud traditions. Do visit the picturesque town of Erice, the Selinunte Archeological Park, and charming islands like Pantelleria that are part of the province.
- Cefalù. Millions of tourists visit Cefalu every year for its gorgerous sunsit historic Cathedral and the remains of its ancient city.
Most popular rental car
The most popular rental car in Sicily is the Fiat Panda. Travelers also love the Lancia Ypsilon and the VW Golf.
Driver's license requirements
- Italy accepts all driver licenses issued in the European Union (EU).
- If your driver license is issued by a non-EU country, for it to be considered valid you’ll need an Italian visa. Another requirement is to have been in the EU for no more than six months at the time of the rental. If you’ve been in the EU longer, you’ll need a driver's license issued by an EU country.
- If your driver's license is printed in a non-Latin alphabet (Cyrillic, Arabic, etc.), you’ll need an International Driving Permit (IDP) or an official translation of your license into English or, preferably, Italian.
- You must carry your driver's license, not its copy, with you at all times.
- You need to have had your driver's license for at least one or two years, depending on the car provider’s requirements.
- There may be additional requirements depending on the car provider and car category, so make sure to check the Rental Conditions before booking.
Crossing borders
The region of Sicily has no international borders. Many rental companies allow their cars to be taken to mainland Italy, either returning to Sicily or dropping off the car at a location on the mainland. Few, if any, allow their cars to be taken on a ferry to Sardinia — and in any case, the costs of doing so would probably not be worth it. Just drop off your car before taking the ferry and rent a new one when you get to Sardinia.
Learn more about cross-border rentals in our FAQ section.
Toll roads
There are two toll roads on Sicily — the A18 between Catania and Messina and the A20 between Palermo and Messina. The A19 between Palermo and Catania is not tolled.
The toll gates accept credit cards, cash, and Telepass. Most rental companies in Siciliy do not provide Telepass transponders with their cars. Keep in mind that you cannot use your own Telepass unless the license plate of your rental car is registered on it — contact Telepass to see if you can do this or not. In any case, you can always pay for the tolls in cash or with a credit card.
Most popular types of rental car
The most popular rental car types in Sicily are Mini, Economy, and Compact. Most highways are in decent shape, but if you plan to drive higher in the mountains, renting a more powerful vehicle might be a good idea.
Top driving routes
- Catania - Syracuse (65 km / 40 mi) Route E45 is the highway that takes you between these two spectacular Eastern Sicilian cities. The distance can be done in under an hour, so why not make a small detour to one of the many spectacular beaches you’ll be so close to?
- Messina - Palermo (230 km / 140 mi) If you’re arriving in Sicily from the Italian mainland, it’s quite likely that you’ll be taking this picturesque road along the highway E90. If you’re not short on time, plan a stop to enjoy the natural beauty in one of the nature reserves that are on the way.
- Palermo - Catania (200 km / 125 mi) Routes E90 and A18 connect the island’s two largest cities, snaking through its pristine inner landscapes. Stop at Parco Delle Madonie to enjoy a relaxing walk in an oak forest and to glance at some of Sicily’s highest peaks. If you’re traveling without any stops, however, the drive between the two cities can be completed in two hours and thirty minutes.
Car rental prices
- Convertibles - from $40 per day
- Station wagons - from $28 per day
- Large cars - from $15 per day
- Medium cars - from $10 per day
- Vans - from $31 per day
- Premium cars - from $82 per day
- Small cars - from $3 per day
- SUVs - from $4 per day
Money-saving and other tips
There are a number of things you can do to get a good deal on your rental in Sicily:
- Compare rates of different rental car providers
- Book your rental car well in advance
- Plan your route before you go
- Know your fuel and mileage requirements
- Visit in the month when the rental prices are the lowest. According to our data, visiting Sicily is the cheapest in March when renting a car is about 40% cheaper than the yearly average.
The 15 most popular cities on Sicily
The 8 most popular locations on Sicily
Map of Car Rental Locations
What is the cheapest month to rent a car on Sicily?
This information can help you identify the low season. But these are only average numbers. How much your car rental will cost will depend on the type of vehicle you rent, how long you’ll rent it for, and how far ahead you book. Simply enter your dates in the form at the top of the page to see the exact prices.
What’s the average rental length on Sicily?
What's the most popular month to rent a car on Sicily?
Car rental information
Car rental locations | 41 |
Airport locations | 5 |
Popular suppliers | GaldieriRent, Felirent, ECH, Brid, RentSmart24 |
Popular car categories | Small cars, SUVs, Medium cars, Large cars |
Lowest price | $3 per day |
Cheapest supplier | Optimo Rent |
Most popular car models of rental suppliers
Rental Supplier | Model | Doors | Luggage | Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
GaldieriRent | Fiat 500X | 5 | 2 | SUVs |
Record-go | Fiat Panda | 3 | 1 | Small cars |
Felirent | Fiat Panda | 4 | 2 | Small cars |
GaldieriRent | Lancia Ypsilon | 4 | 2 | Small cars |
Sicily By Car | Fiat Panda | 4 | 1 | Small cars |
Eurorentcar | Fiat Panda | 5 | 2 | Small cars |
Record-go | Chery Tiggo | 5 | 2 | Medium cars |
Viaggiare | Fiat Panda | 4 | 1 | Small cars |
ECH | Fiat Panda | 5 | 2 | Small cars |
GaldieriRent | Kia Picanto | 5 | 1 | Small cars |
Our customers' reviews
Because we want to make sure each review listed here is left by a real customer, we don’t have the option to post a review here. Instead, we ask each and every customer to leave a review after they return their rental car. This way, you know that all reviews are authentic.