Does the thought of driving in Sicily make your stomach clench? If you come to Sicily armed with the right tips for renting a car and getting around safely, you’ll be a master of the roads in no time. You’ll also be free to curate the trip of your dreams and go where you want, when you want, on your own schedule!
This gorgeous island (in addition to the entire country of Italy) does have a reputation though. “Rules of the road are suggestions,” we heard before we went to Sicily for the first time.
But we knew all the things we wanted to see and do, and we had our dog along on the trip, so it just made sense to have our own car so we forged ahead. That first Sicilian road trip was not our last, and now we’re hooked and doing annual visits to this amazing place.
If we hadn’t had a car, or if we had decided not to come because of fear of the roads and the drivers, we would have missed one of our very favorite travel destinations!
Renting a Car in Sicily
1) RENT A SMALL CAR
This is the best piece of advice I can give you about driving in Sicily. Pack small so you don’t need a giant car just to haul your bags. This will not only save you money, it will make your trip much more enjoyable.
A delayed flight and rental car pickup left us with a car much to big for what we needed. They called it an “upgrade” but that’s not what it was. It felt at times in small towns like Savoca like driving a tank through a marble maze.
Of course, if you are traveling with family you need a car that fits your crew. But in general, get the smallest car possible for your needs.
You’ll thank yourself when you are maneuvering through tight streets, around cars parked in odd places, and trying to find a parking spot. Bombing around in a huge SUV is going to make your life a lot more difficult on many levels, and yes I speak from experience!
2) Get the Full Coverage Insurance on the Car
If you’re like us, you’ll notice right away that there’s hardly a car on the road that doesn’t have some kind of scratch, ding, or dent somewhere. “Why do I feel like I’ve just entered a game of bumper cars?” asked my husband on our first outing.
So, do yourself a favor and give yourself one less thing to worry about. Get the insurance upgrade so that you pay nothing if your car is damaged. Make sure you ask this specifically when you are at the rental counter.
We had a big utility van back right into our car while we were parked at a gas station. We were so glad we were covered, and didn’t have to spend a second of our vacation worrying about how much it was going to cost or what we had to do. That peace of mind was priceless.
3) Do a Double Check on Your Rental Car
This, honestly, is good advice anywhere you go. Make sure your rental car has all the necessary safety equipment (reflective vests, hazard triangles, first aid kit, spare tire and jack). In Europe having these things with you is the law, so your rental car will likely have them, but double check and know where they are just in case.
Also take a quick video showing all around your rental car before you leave the lot, and then again when you return it. Note any damages that you see.
Make sure you have a phone number from the rental car company to call in case of an emergency or if you run into problems or have questions once you leave the lot.
How We Choose a Rental Car in Sicily
All the major airports in Sicily have rental car counters with the usual large US companies, European companies, and some smaller more localized rental options, and they are not all created equal. Being slightly overwhelmed with choice and unsure of the particulars of renting in Sicily, we relied on our stand-by, DiscoverCars to choose the best option.
The thing we love about DiscoverCars is that you can compare multiple companies, side by side, and determine which options you need, what kind of coverage you want, and book it all ahead of time with no surprises.
They even won the World Travel Tech Awards for World’s Best Car Rental Booking Website, and app. So you know it’s intuitive, easy to use, and accurate! Plus there are no hidden fees, 24/7 Multilingual Customer Service, and free cancellation should your plans change. All boxes checked, and no confusion at the counter.
🚗 🚙 🛻 Compare rental cars in Sicily without surprises ✅
💡 Tip: It’s always best to book as early as possible to make sure you get exactly the car you want, especially during summertime, and the “shoulder seasons” in spring and fall which are becoming more popular for Sicily travel.
Tips for Driving in Sicily
4) Drive assertively
When you first start driving in any new place, it’s natural and smart to be a bit cautious. The street signs look different, the roads are unfamiliar, and you’re not yet sure of the driving culture. But once you’ve got the lay of the land, so to speak, the key to really fitting in when you are driving in Sicily is to be assertive and act like you know what you’re doing. Fake it ’til you make it – another good Sicilian driving tip!
The thing we had to remind ourselves of, as we watched Sicilian drivers zipping around, passing on all sides, tailgating, not using turn signals, and straddling the lines on the road, was that everyone expects everyone else to drive this way too. So do the best you can to go with the flow (within the bounds of safety) and don’t be too skittish or overly cautious, because that they won’t be expecting!
Think of driving in Sicily like being a salmon swimming in a stream of cars.
5) Maintain Situational Awareness
My husband, an Army vet, always talks about “maintaining situational awareness,” which is basically being vigilant and aware of your surroundings. This is the best advice possible when driving in Sicily. Maintain 360-degree awareness, and look out for pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, and the occasional horse-drawn carriage, in addition to your fellow drivers.
You’ll be amazed how motorcycles with helmet-less drivers weave in and out of traffic like they’re immortal. They pass on the left, and the right, and sometimes swarm in big clumps all around you.
6) Driving in Sicily is a Team Sport
One of our rules about driving in Sicily is whoever is riding shotgun doesn’t get a free pass. That extra set of eyes is critical for spotting signs, identifying hazards, warning of approaching vehicles, and guiding you using Google Maps to your destination. Having a good navigator is critical, and makes the whole process run so much more smoothly.
7) The ZTL and Tickets
At the heart of most of the most popular tourist destinations with narrow streets and historic sites like Palermo, Catania, Trapani, Syracuse and more, you’ll also find the ZTL or “Zona Traffico Limitato.” Even without good Italian skills, you can probably tell it means Limited Traffic Zone, and it’s exactly what it sounds like.
Traffic is limited (mostly to residents and business owners) to reduce congestion, improve pedestrian safety, and keep the air quality good in cities. There are signs marked with a big fat red circle which will tell you where they start. They may be placed higher than you expect.
If you are caught driving in Sicily through a ZTL by the sneaky Sicilian traffic camera, it will result in a ticket – a very delayed ticket which will arrive in the mail up to 360 days after your violation!
Depending on the municipality, your fine will be somewhere between €80 and €330. If you rented a car, the rental car company will receive the initial notice. They’ll often charge you a fee on top of the fine before forwarding your details to the authorities.
Don’t blow off the fine if you get a ticket in the mail. The fine can increase over time, and believe it or not Italian authorities can pursue collection in your home country. Also if you want to come back to Italy (and why wouldn’t you??) you’ll create all kinds of trouble for yourself if you try to rent a car or for some reason get stopped by the police.
Parking and Parking Tickets
Most parking you will have to pay for. Parking on the street is indicated by painted blue lines. You’ll need to find the on-street parking machine to pay in advance. Always buy more time than you think you’ll need. There’s nothing worse than having a fantastic time and having to leave before you’re ready, or realizing that you completely forgot about your parking and overshot the mark.
I usually prefer to park in designated parking lots, or parking garages which allow you to stay as long as you want, and pay afterwards. When you park, always figure out where you have to pay first. Sometimes it’s underground in the garage, sometimes it’s outside in a little kiosk, sometimes it’s as you leave.
And of course, if you get a parking ticket, pay it as soon as possible! We got a parking ticket once and were able to go to the address at the bottom of the ticket and pay there right away.
Speeding Tickets
That whole “rules are suggestions” thing that we were told does not cover speeding! Even if those around you are speeding, resist the urge. Those hidden cameras are everywhere and will zap you even if you don’t realize it.
If you use an app like Waze or Google Maps, it will show you the speed limit, and how fast you are driving in the lower left corner. Ask your navigator to assist if they notice your speed creeping up. And again, pay the ticket asap if you get one in the mail – even months later.
➡️ Here’s the official site for all the rules and regulations for driving in Italy if you want to bone up before you travel.
8) Pick the Right Toll Lane
When approaching toll booths on the highway, be sure to scope out your options, choose your lane well in advance, and pick the one with the cash/credit card option (shown on a sign above the lane), NOT the one that says Telepass.
Most tourists driving in Sicily won’t have the Telepass (like Easypass in the US), and there’s no better way to irritate people and die of embarrassment than to mistakenly choose that line and be stuck there with no way to pay, and no way through. Yes, this happened to us and we had to have a whole line of traffic back up to let us reverse, back up, and get into another line. Learn from our mistake because it still makes me cringe!
At the Gas Station
9) Always Check the Gas Pump
When filling the tank do not rely on color of the pump cover to make your decision! In the US, green is always an indicator of diesel. In Sicily this is not true. Be very sure you know what you are pumping into your tank.
10) Don’t Be Afraid of Eating at the Gas Station
If you’re American, the thought of “gas station food” is enough to make your stomach churn. You will not find any week-old shriveled dessicated hot dogs on a spit in Sicily! We’ve had some downright delicious meals at the gas station. Focaccia with mortadella, pistachio cream and buratta at a gas station? Yep!
It’s a great place to pick up a quick, tasty, and inexpensive lunch after you fill up. There are often tables outside as well, so you can eat in the sun!
Also check to see what’s for sale inside. There are often local foods you can buy like olives, pasta, pistachio cream, and even big slabs of parmesan and cured sausages.
11) Always Have Some Cash in Euros
This is another all-purpose piece of advice. Not everywhere you go will accept credit cards, and we’ve had occasional problems with finicky machines even when they do. Cash is your friend, especially for critical things like having enough gas, and needing to use the restroom. Yep, many restrooms will require 50 cents or 1 euro to use the facilities.
Is Driving in Sicily Dangerous?
To be honest, driving in Sicily was not as bad as I had imagined. That said, it’s not the place to let yourself be distracted, or drive when you’re tired or unfocused. Be alert, scan your surroundings, have eyes in the back of your head, remember you’re a fish in a stream, and go for it.
Also, if driving in Sicily feels intimidating at first, choosing the right rental car (with clear comprehensive insurance and no surprises) makes a huge difference.
⭐️ If you want to compare reliable options before you go, you can check
rental cars in Sicily here
There is truly no better way to enjoy the magic of Sicily than to have your own wheels. We’ve been able to explore areas way off the beaten path, visit historical sites on our own timeline, and make impromptu schedule changes that would have been impossible if we were solely relying on tours from our hotel, or public transportation.
I hope you’ve found these tips to be helpful and that you have a great time in this beautiful, historic, and magical place! Happy Driving!
Other Posts About Sicily You May Enjoy:
- The Best Archaeological Sites in Sicily: East to West
- One Day in Syracuse Sicily – A Stunning Historical Gem
- Visit Villa Romana del Casale Mosaics: Room by Room Guide + Photos
- Valley of the Temples in Sicily: Top Guide
- Syracuse Archaeological Park: Best Guide to Must-Sees & Hidden Details
- Selinunte Archaeological Park: Walk Inside the Temples of Ancient Sicily
- Segesta Archaeological Park: Guide to the Hidden Gem of Western Sicily
- Selinunte or Segesta: Which Ancient Site in Sicily Should You Visit?
- Villa Romana del Tellaro: Sicily’s Hidden Gem of Roman Mosaics
- Paolo Orsi Archaeological Museum in Syracuse: The Good, and the Ugly
- The Greek Theater of Taormina: Drama, History & Volcano Views
- Is Noto Worth Visiting? Discover Sicily’s Hidden Baroque Gem
