How to Dig Out The Best Deals on a Milan Car Rental

Use this online guide to learn how to get the best deals from Milan car rental companies.

Everyone loves the flexibility of being able to travel when and where they want. So one way to get to Lake Como from Milan is to rent a car which will allow you to explore all the charming little towns and points of interest along the way and at your very own pace! It is also fun to take your car onto one of the ferry boats which will let you explore the other parts the lake.

A car rental in Milan offers you the convenience of many pick-up and drop-off locations such as the Malpensa, Linate or Bergamo airports or many downtown areas such as the rail station. It also allows you to take advantage of odd hours during the day, while Como car rental companies tend to have more limited hours and locations. We created a separate page on Como car rentals here.

But if you still prefer to travel with the locals...click here to learn more about Public Transportation

Milan Car Rental Services

From Milan

Smart tourists always find great deals on car rentals way before they even arrive into the town of Como, thanks to the internet and its ability to sift through the hundreds of agencies available.

You can check use the search engine above to browse through up to 50 car rental companies and see what the rates are currently going for.

You can book a car online but then pick up your car from Europcar, Avis or any another agent in Europe.

We enjoy using this service anytime we need an car rental in Italy. You can easily book your preferred vehicle online and then simply bring your confirmation number to one of the pick-up locations listed and Voila! ...you're driving before you even know it! You don't have to worry about finding a location, closing hours, lack of availability and all the other stomach churners.

You may also be wondering if renting a Smart car is really that smart? Click here to read about my experiences with a smart car

From Milan Malpensa Airport, Bergamo Airport, Milan Linate Airport

If you arriving by airplane into one of Milan's Airports, the most convenient albeit the most expensive way to rent a car is to get one directly from the airport. These rental agencies are usually open much longer than the ones in the city.

From Milan's Malpensa airport you can get car rentals with brand names such as Auto Europa, Avis, EasyCar, Europcar, Hertz, Maggiore, Sixt, Targa Rent, Thrifty-Italy by Car and Locauto Tirreno from Terminal

From Milan's Linate airport you can rent from AutoEuropa, Avis, EasyCar, Europcar, Hertz, Maggiore/National, Sixt, Thrifty-Italy by Car and Tirreno/Prestige which all have desks in the Arrivals level.

From Bergamo's Orio al Serio airport you can rent from Auto Europa, Avis, EasyCar, Europcar, Hertz, Maggiore, Sixt, and Locauto Tirreno.

To help you get around Milan and Lake Como, you can always visit our maps page which will clearly map out where you want to go, and even show you satellite images of the area!

Pros and Cons of Renting a Car

Pros of Renting a Car:

Daniel Wnukowski Rent a Car Milan

You can go where and when you want without having to rely on a schedule.
Buses, trains, and ferries often don't run during late hours of the day or very early morning hours.
You can drive through lesser known roads and trails that reach spectacular mountain views where buses often don't go to.
You can take your car with you on the ferry boats that run between Cadenabbia, Menaggio, Bellagio and Varenna.

Cons of Renting a Car:

Parking is difficult to find and pricey in most towns of Lake Como or Milan during the tourist season.
Italians drive like they have the worst case of road rage.
Many Milan car rentals only rent cars with gear shifts, and cars with automatic shifts are usually much, much more expensive.
Many of the streets of Lake Como are very narrow, and you wonder whether they're not really meant for one lane! Tip: It's better and wiser to rent a small car!
Highways become really clogged during rush hours.

Phew! Now that you've made it this far, you have a pretty good idea as to whether you are somebody who should rent a car.

Como also has a few possibilities for car rentals, but we've dedicated a whole other page on that here

Some people prefer to rely on public transportation most of the time, because it is generally reliable and on-time. But on some occasions...

...like when going for a hike in the mountains...

....or getting back home from a late-night concert, it is essential to rent a car because there are no other options and taxis are very expensive.

OK...here we go...

Public Transportation

Click here for a very handy tool you can use to figure out exactly how to get to your destination in the Milan/Lake Como region.

There is an extensive network of buses, trains, and ferries to get you to your destination. Many times you will have to use a combination of two or three to get where you want to go.

If you are ever completely lost, you can always ask the friendly drivers for help. One handy italian phrase is "Dov'e __________?" or "Where is __________?" pronounced (Doh-vay).

Taxis

If the thought of a Milan car rental or just the thought of driving makes you cringe, there are numerous taxi services available.

You can usually get a taxi from a stand in larger towns such as Bellagio, Menaggio and Como. They are very expensive and can charge over 15 Euros just to get to a nearby town.

In the smaller towns, taxi stands are very unreliable especially at odd hours of the day. If you are ever stuck in a small town, or arriving late at night, then visit a local bar that’s still open and they should know the number of a taxi you could call or maybe even order one for you.

Also, keep in mind that Italian taxis can sometimes charge you extra for the time it takes to arrive to you!