Self-Drive Car Rental in Bologna, Italy

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How to book the best car rental deals in Bologna

We’re frequently named as the most trusted travel search site out there. We scan hundreds of trusted travel providers and put it all in one place, allowing you to instantly compare car hire rates and then book with no fees. Here's how to get the most out of your Bologna car rental search.

How to find a cheap car hire deal in Bologna

  • Whether you need a small car for cruising around town or bigger wheels for bigger plans, we'll help you find a cheap rental car in Bologna. Pick from options averaging ₹ 9,439 a day and travel your way for less.

  • The cheapest daily price for a rental in Bologna is ₹ 553.

  • For longer trips, grab a weekly rental from ₹ 3,865 and pack in more adventures.

  • If you like to plan with precision, book around two weeks ahead to land the best price on a Bologna car hire.

  • Surprice, U-Save and RentSmart24 are some of the most reliable providers in the city. They're a great starting point for comparing offers.

  • Whether you go with Surprice or another supplier, be sure to check the coverage on your Bologna car hire. Some companies include a collision damage waiver (CDW), while others offer it as a paid extra.

  • Booking a one-way car hire can be the key to finding a deal. Simply select 'Return car to a different location.' Providers often have to move vehicles between branches, which means you can bag some great one-way prices on a car for rent in Bologna.

  • Avoid any unexpected fees by choosing a ride with a 'Fair fuel policy.' Start your journey with a full tank and return it the same, and pay only for what you use.

  • Hit the highway without tracking every mile and racking up extra fees. Go to the 'Policies' filter and select 'Unlimited mileage' to find a ride that lets you go the distance.

Best value car hire options right now

  • You'll find the best deal with this company. Prices average ₹ 3,632 a day.

  • Offering daily rates of around ₹ 6,494, this provider comes in next.

  • The third option won't break the bank either. You'll pay roughly ₹ 2,031 a day with this supplier.

  • If you're having trouble deciding what kind of ride you need, choose something from the Compact rental category. It's the most frequently booked type of vehicle in Bologna.

Flying to Bologna? Think about an airport pick-up

  • Keep arrival day hassle-free by picking up a car hire at Bologna International Airport. If you're flying to Bologna through this hub, simply pick up your ride after landing and go. The drive to the city centre is about 6 kilometres and takes around 15 minutes.

Compare car hire types in Bologna

  • Small: Including classes like mini and economy, this cheap rental car in Bologna puts you on the road for less. These agile, fuel-efficient cars are ideal choices for short trips and city driving.

  • Medium: Choose from compact and intermediate cars that combine comfort, space and fuel efficiency. Easy to manoeuvre around cities and roomy enough for longer drives, they're a great all-rounder.

  • Large: Long drives fly by in this Bologna car hire category. Also known as full-size, they're built with bigger engines for better driving. The extra space and comfort make them an excellent choice for groups of friends and families.

  • SUV: Get a higher ground clearance and a commanding view of the journey ahead in an SUV. Whether you're navigating trickier terrain or gliding down stretches of highway, many come with all-wheel drive to help you tackle any road.

  • Van: Go for this vehicle category when you need a car for rent in Bologna that makes light work of heavy loads. Featuring commercial vans and trucks, they're designed to transport more, whether that's supplies, suitcases or the whole travel crew.

Insurance and optional extras

  • Car rental excess insurance isn't mandatory, but is something you should consider. If your car is damaged, no matter how minor, it can save you from paying a hefty excess fee. Different Bologna car hire providers have different insurance policies and cover levels, so check the terms before booking.

  • Make travel easier when you rent a car in Bologna by adding a few nifty extras. Think things like a GPS unit to be your go-everywhere guide, or reverse cameras that take the pain out of parking.

Good to know

  • You generally have to be at least 21 years old to rent a vehicle in Italy. Younger drivers can sometimes still qualify — just expect some added charges or limits. Check the companies' terms and conditions before you book.

  • If you're bringing the kids along, find out if you need to add a child car seat to your Bologna car rental booking. Whether a legal requirement or not, they're always the safest way for youngsters to ride.

  • Bring the right documents and save time at pick-up. You'll typically need your physical driver's licence (not a screenshot or digital version) and a second photo ID. Also bring a credit card that can cover the deposit. If extra documents are required, they'll be listed in your booking.

  • Get familiar with your rental. Fix your seat and mirrors, test the brakes and blinkers, and get used to its handling before you set off. And importantly, stick to the right side of the road in Italy.

  • Local speed limits are usually about 45kph through built-up areas and around 125kph on highways. Road signs will indicate if the limit is different.

  • In Italy, the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit is 0.05%. If you intend to have a few drinks, hand the keys to someone else or arrange a taxi or ride-share instead.

  • Try to travel outside heavy traffic periods for a smoother run in general. 8am is one of the busiest times to be on the road in this destination.

  • You'll be using the euro (EUR) for all your purchases and expenses throughout your trip. You may find it useful to carry a mix of cash and cards so you always have a backup option.

Best hotels in Bologna for drivers

  • Offering parking, Frame Bologna takes the guesswork out of where to leave your car. This hotel is around 0.32 kilometres from central Bologna and also comes with Wi-Fi and internet access.

  • La Villa makes things simpler with parking and features like air conditioning and internet access. It's roughly 2 kilometres from the city centre.

  • Need more ideas? Browse the full lineup of hotels in Bologna. You can narrow things down with filters — try 'Parking,' 'Outdoor parking,' or 'Valet parking.' If your car's electric, you can use the 'Electric vehicle (EV) charging station' filter.

  • After you've found a car hire deal in Bologna and the right hotel, it's time to plan where to go first. Piazza Maggiore, St. Peter's Basilica Church and Two Towers are the perfect introduction to the city.

Hit the road: Where to drive to from Bologna

  • Shift gears and head toward Florence. Around 80 kilometres south of central Bologna, you'll find must-sees like Brunelleschi's Dome and David of Michelangelo.

  • You'll be well taken care of at c-hotels Ambasciatori and The Social Hub Florence Lavagnini, two comfortable accommodation options with parking in Florence.

  • Add Prato to your list of stops. Grab your cheap car hire in Bologna and drive around 72 kilometres south to discover leading attractions like Duomo and Palazzo Comunale.

  • Take it easy after a day spent exploring Prato at Hotel Alba or B&B Hotel Calenzano First. These hotels cater to visitors bringing their own car.

  • Looking to cover more ground? Genoa is a top road trip destination that's around 193 kilometres west of Bologna. Consider making a few pit stops at Doge's Palace and Aquarium of Genoa.

  • Next up: catching some z's. B&B Hotel Genova Principe and Holiday Inn Genoa City by IHG have room for both you and your wheels while visiting Genoa.

When's the cheapest time to hire a car in Bologna?

Our data shows that December is the cheapest month to rent a car in Bologna. It’s around ₹ 4,664 per day in December, compared to the yearly average of ₹ 6,387 per day.
Cheapest month avgDecember • ₹ 4,664
Yearly avg price₹ 6,387

Select your Bologna pick-up location

There are 74 car hire providers in Bologna. Check out the map below to find the most convenient pick-up spot.

Car hire pick-up spots in Bologna

Compare car hire prices at airports, train stations and in different neighbourhoods across Bologna. You might find a better price, or the perfect pick-up point nearby. Start your journey where it suits you.
Filter locations
These are estimated prices to help you choose from a large number of options. Each is an average based on the lowest car rental prices found for each destination over the last 15 days.

The most popular car rental companies in Bologna

Target
U-Save
Italy Car Rent
ECH
Galdieri Rent
Carwiz

What's the most popular car to hire in Bologna?

Based on recent Skyscanner data, the Fiat Panda is the most popular car to hire in Bologna, with prices starting from ₹553 per day. The Fiat 500 and similar models are also popular drives in Bologna.
Fiat Panda
Fiat Panda19% chose this
Fiat 500
Fiat 5008% chose this
Citroen C3
Citroen C34% chose this
Toyota Aygo
Toyota Aygo4% chose this
Most popular carFiat Panda
Why?Small, practical, easy to park

Bologna's cheapest car hire providers

Italy Car Rent has the cheapest car hire in Bologna right now, with prices from ₹553 per day. You'll save an average of ₹30 per day when you book with them.
Italy Car Rentfrom ₹553 per day
U-Savefrom ₹570 per day
Surpricefrom ₹587 per day
Green Motionfrom ₹592 per day
Cheapest providerItaly Car Rent
Book with them to save around₹30 per day

Hiring a car in Bologna: Fast facts

Here's everything you need to know to hit the road happy.
Most popular car hire companyTarget
Most popular carCompact, Convertible
Average daily price₹ 9,439
Best time to book1 week before

Frequently asked questions

On average, hiring a car in Bologna will set you back around ₹ 9,439 per day or ₹ 48,074 per week. 

The cheapest car to rent in Bologna is an intermediate crossover (similar to SUVs). The most popular is Compact, Convertible.

The cheapest car hire companies in Bologna are currently Target and ECH.

Bagging the best car hire deal depends on when you book  – often, it pays to book your wheels as far in advance as possible. But according to our data, the cheapest month to rent a car in Bologna is currently August.

On average, around ₹ 48,074. But the best price we found for car hire for a week in Bologna is ₹ 3,865.

Based on everything we know about daily prices, the average cost to hire a car in Bologna for a whole month is ₹ 165,618. 

But sometimes, you'll get a discount for booking a whole month instead of 3 and a half weeks. So play with your dates to find the best deals!

If you're looking for freedom to explore Bologna, choose a car with unlimited mileage, or look for car hire deals with a ’full to full' fuel policy as opposed to a 'half-full to full' one.

We also clearly highlight car and van hire options in Bologna that have free cancellation

Yes – you can easily find car hire companies that allow you to pick up your car in one place, and then drop it off in another. Just select ‘Return car to a different location’ when you search with us.

Public transport can only get you so far, and could be tricky to navigate with children or luggage. With your own set of wheels, you can go wherever you want, whenever you want, for as long as you want. And you'll be able to discover more outside of Bologna.

Most places – Bologna included – allow under 25s to rent a car as long as they provide a valid driver's license and the correct documentation. It may cost slightly more due to a higher insurance excess for young drivers. 

The cheapest price we found for an economy car is ₹ 592 per day. The average price per day is around ₹ 68,723.

Of course. Most major car hire companies like Target, U-Save and Italy Car Rent offer baby and child seats as an add-on when you book.

Other travellers rated Surprice as the best overall in terms of experience.

Yes – van hire is available in Bologna.