Car hire Parma

Cheap Car Hire Parma

Parma, in northern Italy, is the second largest city in the Emilia-Romagna region of the country. It is found around 100km from Bologna, the region’s capital.

The easiest way to explore Parma is by car. From driving around the city to taking longer road trips across the whole country, a hire car is essential to make sure that you make the most out of your visit to Parma.

How to Drive in Parma

In Parma and throughout Italy, there are several rules of the road which must be obeyed at all times. You should understand these thoroughly before hiring a car in Parma:

• Drivers have to be at least 18 to hire a car in Parma, while those under 25 may face a young driver surcharge depending on the individual company’s policy.
• You must have held your driving licence for at least a year before being eligible to hire a car in Parma.
• Cars drive on the right and overtake on the left. This is the same as most of Europe and the USA, but opposite to the UK.
• You must always wear a seatbelt when the car is in motion, and you can be fined for not wearing one.
• Speed limit signs are displayed in km/h (kilometres per hour), not mph (miles per hour).
• Children under 12 years old are not allowed to sit in the front seat.

What to see in Parma

Parma is a beautiful city, known for its rich history and architecture, making it one of the most unique-looking cities in Italy.

The University of Parma is one of the oldest universities in the world, and this is good to see when you are there.

Parma Cathedral is a Gothic-Romanesque masterpiece, and it is simply a must-see when you visit Parma.

Sports fans may wish to pay a visit to the Stadio Ennio Tardini, where Parma Football Club play their home games. Either watch them take on one of the other giants in a Serie A game, or undertake a tour of the stadium to learn more about the history and successes of the club.

Best road trips from Parma city

Both Milan and Bologna can be reached in under two hours by car. This is a short but very good road trip. Northern Italian scenery is beautiful any time of the year, so a drive through the countryside from Parma to either Milan or Bologna is a must.

You can also reach the tiny landlocked country of San Marino in around two and a half hours by car, and ticking off two countries in one road trip always feels like a good achievement.

For those wanting to undertake longer road trips, try and visit some other Italian cities further south, such as Florence (2 hours), Rome (4.5 hours) or Naples (7.5 hours).

Range of Car Types in Parma

There are numerous types of vehicles available to hire from Parma. These range from small and compact cars – perfect for solo travellers or couples – such as the Volkswagen Up, Peugeot 208 and Fiat 500. However, there are also lots of larger cars which are more suited to families, and these include the Toyota C-HR, Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, and the Lexus NX 200. The majority of these vehicles are available in both automatic and manual transmission, making them suitable for all types of drivers, whatever your preference. Some of these vehicles are also electric, while some are hybrid.

Car Hire Suppliers in Parma

The main car hire suppliers in Parma are Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt, although there are lots of other smaller companies also offering car hire.