Your Sicily Car Rental. The Do's And Don'ts And Tips To Make It A Breeze.

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Your Sicily car rental doesn't have to stress you out. The Island of Sicily offers the traveler a vast amount of beautiful scenery, remarkable architecture and rugged landscape to discover. In order to truly experience the whole island, the best way to get around is by car rental. A Sicily car rental would allow you the freedom to travel and discover the incredible sights that the island has to offer. There is so much to see and do all over the island that renting a car is really the ideal way of experiencing everything. In fact, Sicily is custom built for a road trip to explore the island! If you are planning to rent a car in Sicily, there are a few tips you should be aware of. U.S. or Canadian drivers do not need an International Driver’s License to drive a rented vehicle. You will need to have a valid driver’s license, however, from your home country, a valid passport and must be more than 25 years old (in most cases). The insurance is compulsory and is usually arranged by the rental firm in advance.

It is generally cheaper to arrange a Sicily car rental before you leave home. But, you can also rent a car once you arrive in Sicily as well. The car rental rates can vary significantly (which also depends on the vehicle), but the average price for a Sicily car rental is about 50€ -- 100€ (or $60 - $132) per day.

There are several car rental agencies that you can choose from, Budget has always been my top choice. Their rate promises take the guess-work out of finding the best price for your car rental. You'll find that Budget has the lowest rates online and the car rate you reserve is the rate you'll pay at the counter. All that, plus no booking fees ever. Click here to Get 10% off car rental with Budget!

Gas (or benzina) is expensive in Sicily and prices can change from week to week, or even day to day. On the autostrade (highways), gas stations are open 24 hours, but on other roads the gas station hours are more varied. They may not, for example, be open on Sundays and may close from noon to 3:00 p.m. for lunch or be closed after 7:00 p.m. As a travel tip, make sure the attendant changes the gas pump to ‘zero’ before he starts to fill your tank. It is a known popular scam in Sicily that you may end up paying not only for your own gas but also the previous customer’s gas bill.

You will find that Sicily uses international road signs and that driving is on the right, with passing on the left. The speed limit in cities and towns is 50 km/hr. and on other roads (except for the autostrade) the limit is 90 km/hr. On the autostrade the limit is 130 km/hr. Be aware that on the autostrade the left lane is only used for passing. Traffic violations are fined, but serious infractions may also be punished by imprisonment. Seat belt use is compulsory.

Sicily does have some toll roads that you need to be aware of. For instance, the autostrade from Messina to Catania is a toll road costing approximately 3€ - 4.50€ (or $3.60 - $5.40). Traveling from one main city to the next will require you to use the state roads (or Strade statali) which are single-lane, toll-free routes. These roads are generally in good condition.

Using a Sicily car rental is really the best way to see the entire island. Traveling along the mountainous, curvy roads and roaming the Sicilian countryside can add up to be quite an adventure. A Sicily car rental will help you make the most of your travel experience.

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