If you’re considering renting a car in Puglia, this is your complete guide for everything you need to know. I spent a few weeks with a rental car in Puglia myself, and have several tips to make it easier.
Renting a car in Southern Italy is a heated debate on whether or not you should. I’m here to say the best way to experience Puglia is with your own two wheels. Driving in Italy is often chaotic, and feels lawless at times, but the trade-off of getting to explore on your own is miles worth it (pun intended).
We picked up our rental car for our long Puglia trip at Bari Airport and embarked down the coast to the Val d’Itria. My husband and I took turns driving, finding ourselves rather comfortable by day two or three. You realize pretty quickly how easy it is to assimilate!
Renting a car in Puglia has a few things to consider, so I put together this post to help make it easier. Here’s my guide to Puglia car rentals, including everything you need to know to make the experience easy and affordable and why I prefer to use Discover Cars for our rental cars in Europe.
Should I Rent a Car in Puglia?
Absolutely! There are so many special towns and coastal areas to see and experience in Puglia, and while the area does have public transport, using it will make getting around more complicated. A Puglia car rental gives you the freedom to spend as much time as you’d like in locales, including coastal gem Polignano a Mare, Monopoli, Martina Franca, and the fairytale town Alberobello.
Travel Tip: The best way to explore Puglia is by driving yourself. We use Discover Cars for our rental cars in Europe, choose full coverage insurance, and opt for trusted companies like Alamo, Hertz, or Sixt. Renting a car in Italy is quite easy, and while driving in Puglia can feel hectic, road-tripping there still felt manageable with a little extra caution (For more, read my guide to renting a car in Puglia). Book your car with Discover Cars here.
Planning a Trip to Puglia?
If you’re planning a trip to Puglia, don’t miss my 7 to 10 day Puglia itinerary, guide to the best towns to base yourself, and detailed travel guides to Monopoli, Ostuni, Alberobello, Martina Franca, and Polignano a Mare!
Renting a Car in Puglia, Italy
What to Know Before Booking Your Rental Car
Is it Safe to Rent a Car in Puglia?
I felt safe renting a car on my trip to Puglia and wouldn’t hesitate to do it again. While the usual personal safety caveats (i.e., don’t walk alone at night in larger cities) still apply, the region is considered very safe for travelers and tourists. And while driving there can feel a little different than what U.S. visitors may be used to, I found it easy enough to adapt to the cadence of driving in Puglia and road safety wasn’t an issue.
Who Should I Use to Book a Car in Puglia?
Discover Cars is always my go-to for renting vehicles abroad. It’s a popular website for finding discounted car rentals and booking online, and it’s one I highly recommend after using it in Ireland, Mexico, and other destinations around the world. With more than 3 million monthly visitors, it’s well-trusted by global travelers.
Why Book With Discover Cars?
There are a few key reasons I’m loyal to Discover Cars. First, the website is transparent and user-friendly, allowing you to get through your booking with ease. It also has the most competitive pricing, as the company negotiates deals directly with car rental companies to offer lower prices. Finally, the full-coverage insurance policy, which I’ll talk more about below, offers the ultimate peace of mind.
Where Should I Get My Car in Puglia, Italy?
I would opt to pick up your car in Puglia at either Bari train station, Bari Airport, or Brindisi Airport. These rental locations have ample selection and will allow you to pick up your car as soon as you arrive in the region. You can also drop off your car at a different location, as one-way rentals aren’t terribly priced in this part of Italy which is what we did.
Tips for Booking a Car in Puglia, Italy
What Kind of Car Should I Book in Puglia?
What kind of car you need comes down to how much you need to fit into it. I recommend booking as small a car as can fit your suitcases; smaller cars will make it much easier to park and navigate narrow streets, but on the flip side they have less room for storage. If it’s any consolation, we took a midsize SUV for our family, which made us squirm at times on tight roads, but made it.
Automatic vs Manual When Booking?
Experienced stick shift drivers will often find that manual cars are cheaper to rent all over Europe. But if you’re used to automatic cars, the ease and familiarity is worth the extra expense. Driving a manual can introduce stress into your trip if it’s not something you’re fully comfortable with.
Should I Get Full Coverage with Discover Cars?
Discover Cars’ Full Coverage Insurance Policy covers all exterior parts of the vehicle, and I highly recommend using it for your Puglia trip. It offers total peace of mind, protecting you against a wide variety of unfortunate circumstances including theft, towing, lost keys, and everything in between.
When Should I Book a Car?
While Discover Cars is great for finding the best rental car deals, if you want to keep costs down as much as possible, you should book as early as you can. The cost to rent a car in Puglia tends to go up the closer you come to the rental start date.
Pick a Well-Rated Rental Car Company
Discover Cars allows you to filter by supplier rating, and I recommend checking the box for “Excellent 8+” to ensure you get the best service and opting for trusted companies like Alamo, Hertz, and Sixt.
Valid ID is Required and Often an International Driving Permit (IDP)
When renting a car in Puglia, you’ll need identification—specifically, a valid driver’s license and passport. You may also be required to produce an IDP, or International Driving Permit, which is accepted across 150 countries. Sometimes, even when an individual country doesn’t require an IDP, individual car rental agencies may so check this out before arriving at the counter.
Credit Card Deposit is Required
Please note that most rental car companies in Italy will not accept debit cards for in-person payments and security deposits. For security deposits, the credit card must be in the name of the primary driver on the booking.
Always Review Your Car Upon Pickup and Return
To avoid any surprise fees for damage at the end of a trip, be sure to survey the rental car when you pick it up and drop it off. You want to make sure you are aware of any existing scratches. I recommend always taking a video of your rental car when you get it and return it. That way, you won’t be charged later for any damage to the car that was there when you picked it up, no matter how small.
Tip: Booking with Discover Cars and choosing full coverage insurance is the best way to ensure there are no unexpected surprises.
Tips for Driving in Puglia, Italy
Parking is Almost Always Paid, Noted By Colored Lines
Expect to pay somewhere between 1 and 2 euros per hour for parking in Puglia unless you want to do quite a bit of walking to your destination. Occasionally, you can get lucky and find a “white-lined” road that indicates parking is free. But most often, you’ll see blue lines that represent parking spaces with a fee. Also be aware of parking spaces with yellow lines, which denote that a space is reserved for residents or disabled badge holders.
The Roads Can Be Chaotic
Driving in Puglia can feel hectic, especially for first-time visitors. Italian drivers in the region are less inclined to use their turn signals, which can mean cars changing lanes in front of you without warning. The typical yielding rules of roundabouts also don’t necessarily apply in Puglia, so it’s important to stay alert. But while drivers are a bit more aggressive in Puglia, road-tripping there still felt manageable with a little extra caution.
Always Fuel Up When You Can
When driving in a foreign country, I strongly recommend taking advantage of any chance to fuel up, and that advice applies in Puglia. It’s not always clear where and when you’ll find your next opportunity, so taking advantage of filling stations when you see them will remove the guesswork of finding them in a pinch and the stress of running out of fuel.
Don’t Drive in the ZTL (City Center)
There are several reasons to avoid driving in city centers, including traffic. But in many Italian cities, there’s another layer: If you do, you could be fined.
A limited Traffic Zone, or Zona Traffico Limitato (ZTL), reduces congestion in busy areas by imposing fines on drivers who enter, either during certain hours or all the time. It’s common for tourists and visitors to enter unknowingly, get caught by a camera, and receive penalties from both the local government and the car rental company. Look out for signs marked “ZTL” and make sure to keep your distance.
Country Roads are Very Narrow
While Puglia’s country roads are scenic, they’re also extremely narrow and difficult to navigate. Often, they’ll allow room for just a single car, and even without oncoming traffic, getting through them can be tight. Be prepared to do some highway driving both for time-saving and convenience purposes.
Be Mindful of the Speed Limits
Speed cameras are common throughout Puglia, so be sure to mind the posted speed limits. For reference, the standard speed limits are:
- Urban areas: 50 km/h
- Minor roads: 90 km/h
- Major roads: 110 km/h
- Motorways: 130 km/h
GPS (or Offline Maps) is a Must
Navigating in a foreign country can be confusing and stressful, especially when you throw features like roundabouts and narrow roads into the mix. This makes having a GPS solution mandatory on your road trip.
To ensure your maps are available even in spotty coverage areas, I always recommend downloading offline Google maps for the areas you plan to explore. That way, you’re not dependent on cell service and don’t have to pay an extra fee to rent a GPS device with the car.
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PS — Are You Booking a Trip Soon? Use My Booking Checklist!
These are the sites I use most to book my own trips. Using the links below is a great way to support Bon Traveler’s travel journalism at no extra cost to you. If you need help organizing your itinerary, get my free travel itinerary template here.
1. Book Your Accommodations
I use Booking.com for hotels and Airbnb for vacation rentals. They have the biggest inventory and consistently offer the best rates.
2. Book Your Rental Car
Self-driving is the best way to explore most destinations. I use Discover Cars for our rental cars, select full coverage insurance, and opt for a reputable company like Alamo, Hertz, or Sixt.
3. Book Your Tours & Experiences
I use Viator, Airbnb, and Get Your Guide to find the best tours and experiences. They are my favorite tour search engines. I always check all three as their inventory varies depending on the destination.
4. Book Your Private Transfers
For easy, reliable private transfers, I use Welcome Pickups. It’s my go-to for arranging a driver in advance — whether it’s an airport pickup, a hotel-to-hotel transfer, or a day trip. The experience is seamless, with English-speaking drivers and upfront pricing, so you can travel stress-free at every stage of your trip.
5. Get Cell Data for Your Trip
I use Holafly for international cell data. Their unlimited data eSIMs are easy to install, activate instantly on arrival, and let you skip local SIM cards and expensive roaming fees.
6. Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
I never leave the country without travel insurance. It provides comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong (ie. illness, injury, theft, or cancellations).
My favorite companies that offer the best coverage and rates are:
- World Nomads (best for all-around)
- Safety Wing (best for frequent travelers)
Xx,
Jessica
