By Car
Driving is on the right, as in
the United States. Regulations are largely as in Britain and the
United States, except that the police have the power to levy
on-the-spot fines. The use of the horn is forbidden in certain, if
not all, areas; a large sign, zona di silenzio, indicates where.
Speed limits are 130 kph (80 mph) on autostradas and 110 kph (70 mph)
on state and provincial roads, unless otherwise marked. Fines for
driving after drinking are heavy, with the additional possibility of
six months' imprisonment, but testing is not routine.
Parking space is at a premium; historic centers are closed to most
traffic, and peripheral parking areas are usually full. Parking in an
area signposted zona disco is allowed for limited periods (30 minutes
to 2 hours or more--the limit is posted); if you don't have the
cardboard disk to show what time you parked, you can use a piece of
paper. It's advisable to leave your car only in guarded parking
areas. Unofficial parking attendants can help you find a space but
offer no guarantees. Your car may be towed away if it is illegally
parked.
Only a few gas stations are open on Sunday, and most close for a
couple of hours at lunchtime and at 7 PM for the night. Gas stations
on autostradas are open 24 hours.
Requirements
In Italy your own driver's license is acceptable. An International Driver's Permit is a good idea; it's available from the American or Canadian automobile associations, or, in the United Kingdom, from the AA or RAC.
Car
Rental
The major car-rental companies operating in Rome are Avis (tel.
800/331-1084 or 800/879-2847 in Canada); Budget (tel. 800/527-0700 or
0800/181181 in the U.K.); Hertz (tel. 800/654-3001, 800/263-0600 in
Canada, or 0345/555888 in the U.K.); and National InterRent
(sometimes known as Europcar InterRent outside North America; tel.
800/227-3876 or 0345/222-525 in the U.K.).
Maggiore (tel. 06/229-1530) is one of Italy's largest car-rental
companies.