- Deposits required in Sardinia when hiring a car can be quite substantial, often more so than elsewhere. Make sure you have a large credit limit available on your card before booking.
- Even though the locals don’t always don a helmet when driving motorcycles, this is not an open invitation for anyone else to do so. It is a legal requirement to wear a helmet on a motorcycle, and for anybody new to Italian roads, just plain smart.
- In Sardinia, the law states that you must drive with dipped headlights on at all times, day or night, when on main roads such as a dual carriageway or on any road outside the towns. Err on the safe side by keeping your lights on all the time, even on smaller roads.
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Search for the best car hire deals in Sardina
Car hire in Sardinia is a no-brainer for anybody looking to experience the island independently. What’s more, prices per day can be relatively cheap in Sardinia compared with many other destinations.
And that means you can save a larger portion of your holiday budget to splurge on other island experiences.
And that means you can save a larger portion of your holiday budget to splurge on other island experiences.
Travel Information
Language: Italian | Currency: Euro (€) | Local time: CET | Avg. Flight time: 2.30 hrs
Freedom on four wheels
All airports and main cities on the island have car hire services available. You’ll have a choice between all the recognisable international brands, as well as smaller Sardinian car rental agencies, such as Maggiore, King Rent and Sicily by Car.
This is great news for anybody looking for cheap car hire in Sardinia. The competition between no fewer than 16 rental companies at Olbia airport, for example, really helps you to drive a hard bargain.
You should nevertheless shop around a little to find the cheapest Sardinia car hire prices. As is often the case, the best way to get the cheapest car rentals is to book in advance, rather than on arrival.
Follow the open road
With a soul-stirringly beautiful coastline and an untamed mountainous interior, Sardinia is a joy to explore. The biggest cities, Olbia and Cagliari, are connected by the E25, the only motorway on the island, which links one coast to the other.
Car rental in Sardinia opens up the island completely. Roads can often be poor quality in more remote locales, but this is where you will also begin to experience the real Sardinia. Small semi-hidden villages such as mural-peppered Orgosolo are well worth the drive.
South of Oristano, meanwhile, you’ll find a stretch of coastline where tourism has yet to get a foothold. The beaches there are beautiful, all-but-deserted, and just waiting to be discovered. It’s a side of Sardinia that only visitors with hire cars tend to see.
Bring your own car
If you plan to bring your own car across on the ferry from mainland Italy, Spain or France, remember to have your vehicle registration certificate, proof of insurance (minimum third party liability) and your driving licence. You will also need to carry a fluorescent safety bib and a warning triangle in case you have an accident.