A hire car is the best way to explore the beaches, smaller towns, nature reserves and the Sicilian hinterland. Buses and trains are a good option for travelling between the major cities, but they will significantly limit your options on trips off the beaten track.

We drove right across Sicily. The biggest advantage isn’t the speed itself, but the chance to stop at a secluded beach, change your plans depending on the weather, or visit several smaller towns in a single day.

Depending on the season, a small car will cost you around 150 eur – 650 eur per week. The security deposit usually ranges from 500 eur – 1 500 eur, and it’s not just the price and type of car that matter, but also the insurance conditions and the type of payment card required.

The general guidelines for car hire also apply in Sicily, and if you’re new to this, read our article‘How to hire a car abroad for the first time’.

Is it worth hiring a car in Sicily?

We recommend hiring a car if you want to explore several areas of the island during a single trip. It’s particularly useful for south-eastern Sicily, the area around Mount Etna, the west coast and nature reserves.

On the other hand, if you’re staying only in the centre of Palermo or Catania, it’s not worth hiring a car.

In heavy traffic, it causes more hassle than it’s worth, and you’ll have to deal with parking and ZTL restricted zones. In such cases, it’s better to collect the car on the day you leave the city.

Itinerary	Is it worth hiring a car?
Staying only in Palermo or Catania	No
Catania, Mount Etna and Taormina	Probably not
Syracuse, Noto, Ragusa and Modica	Yes
Beaches and nature reserves	Yes
The route between Palermo and Catania	Depends on the stops
A tour of the whole of Sicily	Yes

Where to hire a car

The widest selection of cars is usually available at Catania and Palermo airports. A smaller selection can be found at Trapani and Comiso airports or in the centres of larger towns.

Choose your airport based on the area you wish to explore:

Pick-up location	Best for
Catania Airport	Mount Etna, Taormina, Syracuse and the south-east
Palermo Airport	Palermo, Cefalù and the west coast
Trapani Airport	Erice, San Vito Lo Capo and the west of the island
Comiso Airport	Ragusa, Modica, Noto and the south-east

Car hire companies at the airport usually have the longest opening hours and the widest range of vehicles on offer. However, not all counters are located directly in the arrivals hall. Some car hire companies have an office in a car park further away and transport passengers by minibus.

Before booking, therefore, check whether the collection is marked as ‘in terminal’, ‘meet and greet’ or ‘shuttle bus’.

You can collect the car from one location and return it to another. A one-way hire is useful, for example, if you’re arriving in Catania and departing from Palermo, but the hire company may charge an additional fee for this.

When to book a car

For July and August, it’s best to book your car 2 to 4 months before your trip. Small cars and automatics are the first to sell out, and prices can rise significantly shortly before departure.

Outside the peak season, there is usually a wider choice. Nevertheless, we recommend booking with a free cancellation option. If the price drops later, you can cancel your original booking and make a new one.

As well as Booking.com, you can also check prices via Kayak or Skyscanner. However, don’t just look at the price per day. Compare the total cost, including insurance, mileage limits, fuel policy, security deposit and any late collection fees.

Car hire prices in Sicily

Prices vary depending on the dates, airport, hire period and vehicle availability. Small cars with manual gearboxes are usually the cheapest.

Approximate prices for 7 days:

Period	Small car	Automatic or medium-sized car	Seven-seater car
November to March	150–280 eur	250–450 eur	450–750 eur
April to June, September and October	220–400 eur	350–600 eur	600–950 eur
July and August	350–650 eur	500–850 eur	850–1 300 eur

Fees may be added to the base price for an additional driver, a child seat, a driver under 25, late collection or return to a different location.

A higher price may not be due to the car itself, but to the insurance you’ve chosen. That’s why you should compare the final total cost for the entire hire.

Check the current prices of car hire companies

Which car to choose

For two to three passengers, we recommend a small car such as a Fiat Panda, Fiat 500 or similar model. It’ll be easier to navigate the narrow streets and find a parking space.

You won’t need an SUV or four-wheel drive on normal roads, including the route up to Mount Etna. What’s more important is that the air conditioning works properly and there’s enough space for your luggage.

If you want an automatic gearbox, book it in advance. There are fewer automatic cars available and they tend to be significantly more expensive during the high season.

When choosing the smallest car category, check the size of the boot. Suitcases shouldn’t be left visibly on the back seats.

Driving licence and necessary documents

When collecting the car, you will need:

• your original driving licence
• a passport or other form of identification accepted by the car hire company
• booking confirmation
• a physical payment card in the name of the main driver

A driving licence issued in the EU or the EEA is valid in Italy without the need for any further documentation.

For licences issued outside the EU and the EEA, please check whether you also need an international driving permit or an official translation into Italian.

Always check the terms and conditions of the specific car hire company. They may be stricter than the legal minimum.

Credit card, debit card and security deposit

A credit card is not required by all car hire companies. Some also accept debit cards, but may require a higher security deposit, the purchase of their own insurance, or restrict the categories of cars available.

The key factor is the information in the terms and conditions of the specific offer, not just the payment provider’s logo.

The card usually needs to:

• be a physical card, not just stored on a mobile phone
• be issued in the name of the main driver
• have a sufficient available balance
• allow the security deposit to be blocked

A virtual card or Apple Pay alone is often not enough. Many car hire companies do not accept prepaid cards.

The standard deposit is 500–1 500 eur; for more expensive cars or when paying by debit card, it may be higher. The money is not deducted but held until the returned car has been checked.

For further information, see the article ‘Car hire and credit cards’.

💬 Do you have a tip for a specific car hire company where you don’t need a credit card? Let us know in the comments below this article – thanks!

Refuelling and fuel prices

The best fuel policy is ‘full to full’. You pick up the car with a full tank and return it with a full tank too.

Petrol is referred to as ‘benzina’, and diesel as ‘gasolio’. Petrol stations usually display two prices:

• self-service – you fill up yourself
• servito – a member of staff fills up the car for you, and the fuel is more expensive

For budgeting purposes , allow for a price of around 2.00–2,20 eur s per litre. Prices fluctuate; current figures can be checked via the Italian fuel price portal.

There are plenty of petrol stations on the main routes. You’ll find fewer of them inland and in mountainous areas, so don’t wait until your tank is almost empty.

Self-service machines may temporarily block a higher amount when paying by card. When paying in cash, some machines do not give change.

Motorways and tolls

Most motorways in Sicily are toll-free. Tolls are payable only on motorways operated by Autostrade Siciliane.

Motorways	Route	Price for the entire toll section
A18	Messina–Catania	approx. 4 eur
A20	Messina–Buonfornello towards Palermo	approx. 10,50 eur
A19	Palermo–Catania	Free
A29	Palermo–Trapani and Mazara del Vallo	Free

At the start of the toll section, take a ticket and pay according to the distance travelled when you exit. Choose the lane marked ‘cash’ or ‘card’.

Only use the yellow Telepass lane if your hire car has an active Telepass unit. In case the card terminal is out of order, we recommend that you also carry cash and small change.

You can find out the current price for a specific route using the official toll calculator.

ZTL zones

The biggest risk isn’t the roads in Sicily, but entering historic town centres. Restricted traffic zones are known as ZTL – Zona a Traffico Limitato.

Cameras automatically record number plates. Each unauthorised entry may incur a separate fine, and the car hire company also charges an administrative fee for passing on the driver’s details.

You’ll find ZTLs in places such as Palermo, Catania, Taormina, Cefalù, Syracuse, Noto and Ragusa. Their operating times and rules vary and may change depending on the season.

Do not drive into historic centres relying solely on your sat-nav. Follow the road signs and, ideally, park on the outskirts of the centre.

If your hotel is located within a ZTL, the operator may sometimes register the guest’s number plate. Please confirm whether entry is permitted before you travel, preferably in writing.

Cities such as Palermo and Catania publish their current rules.

Parking in Sicily

The colours of parking spaces have the following meanings:

• blue lines – paid parking
• white lines – free parking, unless otherwise indicated by a sign
• yellow lines – reserved spaces / no parking

Road signs always take precedence over the colour of the lines. A white parking space may be restricted to residents only or to certain times of the day.

On-street parking costs around 0.50–2 eur per hour. All-day parking at tourist attractions costs 5–15 eur, whilst car parks in city centres can cost 15–30 eur per day.

Some pay-and-display machines require you to enter your registration number. Place the ticket in a visible position behind the windscreen, unless the machine specifies otherwise.

When looking for accommodation in Sicily, we recommend checking the parking options. Private car parks often save you more time and hassle than a cheaper room right in the historic centre.

Do not leave luggage, electronic devices or other valuables in plain sight in your car.

Driving in Sicily

Traffic in Palermo and Catania can be chaotic. Drivers often change lanes without leaving much space, and scooters weave in and out between cars. Drive predictably and check your mirrors when turning.

Outside the major cities, driving is more relaxed. However, side roads can be narrow, bumpy and, in places, have no hard shoulder. You should therefore treat your sat-nav’s estimated journey time as an approximation only.

The basic speed limits for passenger cars are:

• 50 km/h in built-up areas
• 90 km/h outside built-up areas
• 110 km/h on main roads
• 130 km/h on motorways

The current road signs always take precedence. At roundabouts, follow the signs – right of way for vehicles on the roundabout is not automatic in the absence of signs.

You can also drive up to Rifugio Sapienza on Mount Etna without any problems in a standard small car. You do not need an off-road vehicle for standard hiking trails.

Where to go by car

You’ll get the most out of a hire car when combining several destinations in a single region.

Eastern Sicily

From Catania, you can easily reach Mount Etna, Taormina and, further on, Syracuse.

South-East Sicily

A car is ideal for travelling between the towns of Noto, Ragusa and Modica. The same journeys would take considerably longer by public transport.

Western Sicily

From Palermo or Trapani, you can visit Erice, San Vito Lo Capo and the Zingaro Nature Reserve.

The South and the Inland

A car will make it easier to travel to Agrigento, the Scala dei Turchi or the inland town of Enna.

For a week-long trip, we recommend choosing either the eastern or western half of the island. Allow at least 10 to 14 days for a comfortable tour of the whole of Sicily. You can find further inspiration in our guide to what to see in Sicily.

Our recommendations

Hire a car if you’re planning trips outside Palermo and Catania or if you want to explore several parts of the island during a single trip.

Choose a smaller car with air conditioning, check your credit card terms and insurance cover, and do not enter ZTL zones without first checking. If you’re staying in a major city for the first few days, collect the car only when you’re ready to leave.

The lowest price doesn’t necessarily mean the cheapest hire. What matters is the final cost, the amount of the deposit, the excess and the return conditions.

Check current car hire prices