Car Hire on Sardinia
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Cheapest Car Hire Rates
Cagliari Airport Car Hire
Economy
Fiat Panda
or comparable
£ 8.28
/ per day
Cagliari Airport Car Hire
Mini
Fiat 500
or comparable
£ 9.53
/ per day
Cagliari Airport Car Hire
Mini Elite
Fiat 500
or comparable
£ 13.51
/ per day
Cagliari Airport Car Hire
Economy Elite
Audi A1
or comparable
£ 16.98
/ per day
Most Popular Car Hire Deals
Olbia Airport Car Hire
Compact
Renault Captur
or comparable
£ 17.70
/ per day
Cagliari Airport Car Hire
Compact Elite
VW Polo
or comparable
£ 22.22
/ per day
Olbia Airport Car Hire
Intermediate
Citroen C5
or comparable
£ 23.26
/ per day
Alghero Fertilia Airport Car Hire
Intermediate Elite Crossover
Volkswagen T-Roc
or comparable
£ 26.16
/ per day
These prices are approximate and depend on the dates of the booking, hire length and type of car. This information was last updated at 08:55 on 2023-09-11.
Why hire a car on Sardinia?
The island of Sardinia is one of the most interesting regions of Italy. Culturally distinct and home to many proud traditions, it is also home to some of the finest beaches. From its classy capital, Cagliari, to the northern beach resorts around Alghero and Sassari, hiring a car will let you experience all that Sardinia has to offer.
Note: This article is about the Italian island of Sardinia. Read the individual articles about the Italian mainland or Sicily to learn more about these parts of the country.
One-way Car Hire on Sardinia
Here are the most popular one-way car hire options for pickup on Sardinia and drop off in another country:
- From Sardinia to Italy - 124 offers from £ 35.43 per day
Top ways to enter Sardinia
- Cagliari Airport. Serving Sardinia’s southwestern capital, Cagliari Elmas serves about 4.7 million travellers a year, making it the busiest airport on the island.
- Olbia Airport. The main air hub of the island’s northeast, Olbia Airport handles almost three million travellers annually. The airport is served by a number of low-cost carriers including easyJet and Volotea.
- Alghero Airport. The third international airport of Sardinia, Alghero-Fertilia serves the island’s northwestern coast.
Top cities and places to visit
- Cagliari. It’s not only for the sake of convenience that the capital of Sardinia is also the island’s most visited destination. Home to a well-preserved historical centre, Cagliari boasts architectural gems such as its Neo-Gothic cathedral and three Pisan towers, as well as even older heritage like the Roman amphitheatre, San Saturno Basilica, and artefacts in the National Archaeological Museum.
- Costa Smeralda. Taking up some 20 km (12 miles), Costa Smeralda is the most popular coastal area of Sardinia. Some visitors find the area too busy, others enjoy its joyful atmosphere and fun nightlife, but nobody can argue against the natural beauty of the region. Costa Smeralda is located in the northeast of the island, with the city of Olbia being its main port of entry.
- Alghero. Located in the northwest of the island, Alghero is a lovely place to visit as it combines access to beautiful beaches with scenic architecture and a relaxed atmosphere. This part of the island shares a strong cultural affinity with the Catalonia region of Spain, and not just Italian and Sardinian, but also Catalan can frequently be heard on the streets of Alghero.
Most popular hire car
The most popular car is the Kia Rio, followed by the Lancia Ypsilon and the Fiat 500. The most popular car types are mini, economy, and compact.
Driving licence requirements
- Italy accepts all driving licences issued in the European Union (EU).
- You can only use a driving licence issued outside of the EU if you've been in the EU for less than six months. If you’ve been in the EU longer, you’ll need a driving licence issued by an EU country.
- If your driving licence is printed in a non-Latin alphabet (Cyrillic, Arabic, etc.), you’ll need an International Driving Permit (IDP) or an official translation of your licence into English or, preferably, Italian.
- You must carry your driving licence, not its copy, with you at all times.
- You need to have had your driving licence for at least one or two years, depending on the car provider’s requirements.
- There may be additional requirements depending on the supplier and car category, so make sure to check the terms and conditions before booking.
Crossing Borders
Some car hire companies allow their cars to be taken to mainland Italy — most often as a one-way trip dropping off the car in Rome.
Many wonder if a car can be taken to the neighbouring French island of Corsica. Very few car hire companies allow this — instead, think about dropping off your car before taking the ferry and picking up another on Corsica.
Almost no car hire companies allow their cars to be taken on the long ferry journey to Sicily.
Top driving routes
- Nuoro. Most visitors of Sardinia tend to stick to the coasts and completely overlook the mountainous inland part of the island. But if you’re curious enough to get off the beaten track, you’ll be rewarded with stunning hikes, plenty of hospitality, and a completely different atmosphere than that of the most popular tourist resorts. Nuoro, the largest town of the inland and a good hub for exploring the rest of it, is less than a two-hour drive from either Cagliari, Sassari, Olbia, or Alghero.
- Asinara. Located just off the main island’s northern coast, little Asinara is one of Sardinia’s most interesting travel destinations. Former home of various civilizations and later a maximum-security prison, nowadays it has been turned into a wildlife and marine reserve and is known for its population of albino donkeys. There are ferries from both Porto Torres and Stintino, and while you cannot bring a car with you, the island is small enough to explore on either foot or by bike — and you can pick up your vehicle after the return to the main island.
Car Hire Prices
- Convertibles - starting at £ 24 per day
- Station wagons - starting at £ 16 per day
- Large cars - starting at £ 22 per day
- Medium cars - starting at £ 9 per day
- People Carriers - starting at £ 76 per day
- Premium cars - starting at £ 85 per day
- Small cars - starting at £ 8 per day
- SUVs - starting at £ 14 per day
How can I save money on my hire car?
There are several good methods to find a cheaper car for hire:
- Compare rates of different car hire providers
- Book your vehicle well in advance
- Plan your route before you go
- Know your fuel and mileage requirements
- Visit in the month when the prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Sardinia is the cheapest in March when hiring a car is about 46% cheaper than the yearly average.
Top 3 Most Popular Cities on Sardinia
-
Car Hire in Olbia starting at £ 7.41 per day
-
Car Hire in Cagliari starting at £ 7.33 per day
-
Car Hire in Alghero starting at £ 19.58 per day
Top 3 Most Popular Destinations on Sardinia
-
Car Hire at Olbia Airport starting at £ 7.41 per day
-
Car Hire at Sardinia Cagliari Airport starting at £ 7.33 per day
-
Car Hire at Alghero Fertilia Airport starting at £ 19.58 per day
Map of Car Hire Destinations
In which month is car hire on Sardinia the most affordable?
Our data shows how prices for hiring a car on Sardinia fluctuate depending on the season. This graph can help you find the best bargain.
Average price for hiring a car per day on Sardinia
The best month to hire a car on Sardinia is January — when the average price for a hire is £ 7.81 per day. This is 61% less than the yearly average and 81% less than hiring a car in July (when the average price is £ 40.92 per day).
This information can help you determine the low season. But note that these prices are only averages. The cost of your hire is determined by the type of car you select, the length of time you hire it for and how much in advance you book. Simply type in your dates in the form at the top of the page in order to find out the exact prices.
This information can help you determine the low season. But note that these prices are only averages. The cost of your hire is determined by the type of car you select, the length of time you hire it for and how much in advance you book. Simply type in your dates in the form at the top of the page in order to find out the exact prices.
How many days do people keep their hire cars, on average, on Sardinia?
Car hire lengths can vary according to the time of year. Longer periods of car hire are more common in July with an average of 8 days. Shorter periods of car hire are more common in February with an average of 6 days.
Average number of hire days on Sardinia
Which month is the most favoured for hiring a car on Sardinia?
Given the number of customers searching for a car on Sardinia, the month in which the highest number of people search for a hire car is August, while November is the month that sees the lowest demand for them.
Monthly Car Hire Searches on Sardinia Compared to the Yearly Average
Car Hire Information
| Car hire locations | 18 |
| Airport locations | 3 |
| Popular suppliers | Moventur, Viaggiare, Felirent, Italy Car Rent, Noleggiare |
| Popular car categories | Small cars, Medium cars, SUVs, Large cars |
| Lowest price | £ 8 per day |
| Cheapest supplier | RentSmart24 |
Most Popular Car Hire Models
| Hire Agency | Model | Doors | Luggage | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viaggiare | Fiat 500 | 3 | 1 | Small cars |
| Felirent | Fiat Panda | 4 | 2 | Small cars |
| Viaggiare | Fiat Panda | 4 | 1 | Small cars |
| Moventur | Peugeot 108 | 3 | 1 | Small cars |
| Drivalia | Fiat 500 | 3 | 1 | Small cars |
| Moventur | Renault Clio | 4 | 2 | Small cars |
| RentalPlus | Fiat Panda | 5 | 1 | Medium cars |
| Surprice | Hyundai i10 | 3 | 1 | Small cars |
| Welcome Cars | Fiat 500 | 3 | 1 | Small cars |
| Surprice | Smart ForTwo | 2 | 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 an 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, verified, and trustworthy.
SP
United Kingdom
Citro?n C3
17 September 2023
Great hikes, food and weather
PK
United Kingdom
Citroen C3
15 September 2023
Respect the locals, they will embrace you.
JW
United Kingdom
Opel Karl
4 September 2023
Beautiful beaches
JD
United Kingdom
Citro?n C3
30 August 2023
Driving around Sardinia, beautiful island
RH
United Kingdom
Fiat Panda
14 August 2023
Lovely island. Amazing beaches that have to be visited.
RP
United Kingdom
Fiat Panda
12 July 2023
gorropu gorge - very hot walking but beautiful place and definitely worth waking at 0530 to get to it early and beat the midday sun and crowds. we had the gorge all to ourselves in the morning!
Berretti winery - quick visit to taste wine and talk to extremely knowledgeable staff about wine and the history of the vineyard.
Orosei gulf visit with private self-drive hire boat from Cala Gonone via Azzura - beautiful coastline, amongst the best beaches in the Mediterranean
seafood in Cala Gonone - Il pescatore restaurant: great view, very good staff and amazing food.
JC
Ireland
Volkswagen Up
6 July 2023
Fantastic experience in and around Cagliari, with amazing coastline and phenomenal gastronomy
VO
United Kingdom
Fiat Panda
22 June 2023
Essential to have a car, whist recognising it’s features ie hybrid. I would seriously think about a automatic knowing what I know now. On major roads it’s fine but changing gears in town was something to get use too again.
Sardinia has some fantastic beaches and beautiful country.
YM
United Kingdom
Peugeot 108
19 June 2023
Sardinia is a beautiful place people are very friendly, food is excellent wherever we ate and not silly expensive. Local wines and beers are all very good.
JL
United Kingdom
Citroen C3
2 June 2023
Sardinia has amazing beaches to explore
GP
United Kingdom
Fiat 500
27 May 2023
Amazing beaches and restaurants.
CS
United Kingdom
Fiat Panda
23 April 2023
Great experience
SP
United Kingdom
Fiat 500
10 April 2023
Nature mostly
RB
United Kingdom
Fiat Panda
1 November 2022
Sardinia is beautiful. It was the end of their tourist season but we still had great weather, snorkelling, beaches to ourselves & trips to the caves. Friendly locals and a very relaxing holiday.
PW
United Kingdom
Fiat 500
1 November 2022
Out if season so roads were quieter.
BK
United Kingdom
BMW X3
29 October 2022
If you like solitude and zero crowds, I can highly recommend Sardegna east coast as a holiday location. Food was somewhat difficult to come by as it was pretty much end of the season but not a real complaint.
CB
United Kingdom
VW Up
22 October 2022
Sardinia is an island for active people - it's not a place for those seeking a 'lazy' time on the beach. The countryside is mountainous, so walking there is strenuous. The roads are excellent, they are very quiet too, so touring by car is a good option, but there are steep hills and hairpin bends, so drivers need to be alert.
JB
United Kingdom
Jeep Renegade
17 October 2022
Fabulous beaches in Sardinia and the food we ate everywhere was first class.
DS
United Kingdom
Fiat Panda
16 October 2022
Renting a car definitely helped us enjoy Northern Sardinia more
SL
United Kingdom
Renault Clio
16 October 2022
Great experience
Car Hire Statistics
Highest rated company
Locauto
9.6 / 10
Lowest rated company
Interrent
6.9 / 10
Total number of reviews
427
Total rental companies
44
Average daily price
£ 17.21
Lowest daily price
£ 8.28
Total cars available
1819
Top 44 Hire Companies on Sardinia in 2023
Locauto
4 locations
£ 28 - £ 370
Alamo
3 locations
£ 32 - £ 303
GaldieriRent
2 locations
£ 17
Maggiore
7 locations
£ 35 - £ 170
Budget
3 locations
£ 35 - £ 71
Ecovia
3 locations
£ 16 - £ 343
Centauro
2 locations
£ 20 - £ 188
Keddy
6 locations
£ 29 - £ 40
Key'n Go
2 locations
£ 31 - £ 41
Felirent
3 locations
£ 20 - £ 163
Ciarent
1 location
£ 46 - £ 234
Europcar
10 locations
£ 36 - £ 100
Enterprise
3 locations
£ 32 - £ 306
RentSmart24
3 locations
£ 8 - £ 36
Vettura
1 location
£ 16 - £ 108
SIXT
3 locations
£ 58 - £ 212
Avis
11 locations
Sicily By Car
3 locations
£ 43 - £ 131
GreenMotion
3 locations
£ 42 - £ 652
Moventur
3 locations
£ 16 - £ 252
Welcome Cars
5 locations
£ 15 - £ 40
Goldcar
2 locations
£ 13 - £ 91
Record-go
2 locations
£ 22 - £ 61
Autovia
3 locations
£ 19 - £ 343
Thrifty
3 locations
£ 29 - £ 59
National
3 locations
£ 32 - £ 320
Target Rent
3 locations
£ 62 - £ 191
RentalPlus
2 locations
£ 57 - £ 1436
ABBYCAR
1 location
£ 29 - £ 115
Hertz
6 locations
£ 42 - £ 83
Karym Rent
1 location
Rhrent
1 location
£ 79 - £ 362
Viaggiare
3 locations
£ 19 - £ 206
Italy Car Rent
3 locations
£ 22 - £ 184
Optimo Rent
3 locations
£ 41 - £ 266
Dollar
3 locations
£ 27 - £ 59
Brent
3 locations
£ 12 - £ 59
Noleggiare
3 locations
£ 23 - £ 598
Drivalia
4 locations
£ 23 - £ 331
Ok Mobility
1 location
£ 121 - £ 196
NUCarrentals
3 locations
£ 10 - £ 255
Rental4leisure
2 locations
£ 61 - £ 333
Surprice
2 locations
£ 13 - £ 39
Interrent
3 locations
Why book with us?
Special offers
As a market leader (see SimilarWeb), we get special offers like contactless pick-ups, great prices, and free upgrades.
Award-winning
World's Leading Car Rental Booking Website in the World Travel Tech Awards (3 years in a row).
Highly-rated
A combined rating of 4.5 with 90k total reviews on platforms like Trustpilot, Google, and Review Center.
4M users
Have already booked on one of the fastest-growing car rental booking websites.
Awards
World Travel Tech Awards - World's Best Car Rental Booking Website 2022
World Travel Tech Awards - World's Best Car Rental Booking App 2022
Magellan Awards Gold Winner 2022
Travel & Hospitality Awards 2021
FT 1000: Europes Fastest Growing Companies - Top 300 Companies 2021
FT 1000: Europe's Fastest Growing Companies - Top 100 Companies 2020
Uzakrota Travel Awards - World’s Leading Car Rental Website 2022
Inc. 5000 Europe - Top 500 Companies 2019
Our clients highly recommend us
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