Strictly Sardinia Podcast

Episode: How To Rent A Car In Sardinia

Host: Claudia Tavani
Date: December 18, 2025

Episode Overview

Claudia Tavani, local Sardinian and travel expert, dedicates this episode to the essentials of renting a car in Sardinia. Drawing from both personal experience and frequent questions from her readers, Claudia provides a comprehensive guide to navigating car rentals on the island. Her insights cover everything from choosing the right rental platform and insurance options, to practical tips for pick-up, drop-off, and legal documentation. This episode is geared toward helping listeners have a smooth, stress-free car rental experience, thus enabling them to explore Sardinia with maximum flexibility.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Why Renting a Car in Sardinia is Essential

• Car Rental as the Best Way to Explore:
  • Claudia underscores that renting a car is "really the best way to get around the island" and reach "all the best beaches" and "prettiest villages."
    • [00:57] Claudia: “Whenever I have friends visiting, whenever I have consultancies with anyone that is coming to Sardinia, my recommendation is that they rent a car. This is really the best way to get around the island.”

Choosing a Rental Platform: Discover Cars

• Claudia strongly recommends using Discover Cars for its robust search engine that compares local and international companies, flexibility in cancellation (up to 48/24 hours before pick-up), and user-friendly full coverage policies.
  • [01:30] “I always recommend using Discover Cars. It's my favorite comparison site. What I love about them is that they have a very powerful search engine … budget friendly full coverage policy.”

Her Top Tips for Booking:

• Use prepaid rentals to avoid payment at arrival.

• Pick suppliers with ratings of 8+ from travelers.

• Pay attention to deposit amounts and payment policies (credit card required for main driver).

• Opt for "full to full" fuel policies.

• Prefer unlimited mileage, especially for longer trips.

• Choose airport or ferry terminal pick-ups for convenience.

• Avoid shuttle bus pick-ups if possible—they can be inconvenient and cause delays.

  • [03:00] Claudia: “Pick a supplier that has 8 plus rating … choose full to full fuel policies … usually best to have unlimited [mileage] especially if you're planning a long trip.”

Insurance & Coverage: Essential Advice

• Full Coverage is Highly Recommended:
  • Claudia emphasizes again and again the importance of full coverage insurance, which “covers any damage to the car … repair work, towing, lost keys, windows, and glass repairs.”
  • [04:00] “Adding those extra euros for good insurance will come in handy. Even a flat tire can turn into a headache.”
• Credit Card Insurance May Not Suffice:
  • In Italy, you need legal insurance. Some rental desks may push their own full coverage even if you’ve prepaid. When declining extra coverage, "the car rental company will hold an additional deposit … usually in the range of 3000 Euro," which is refunded if there's no damage.
    • [08:28] “Let me stress that you're under no obligation to sign up for that additional fee full coverage. I've once found a vendor that was very pushy … I reported it to Discover Cars and they refunded me.”
    • [08:50] “When you refuse the additional policy, the car rental company will hold an additional deposit … Usually it's in the range of 3000 Euro, which is return entirely once you return the car with no damage.”
• Making an Insurance Claim:
  • Claims with Discover Cars are processed within 48 hours and are "super easy."

Where to Rent: Airports vs Small Towns

• Claudia advises renting directly from the airport or harbor—the process is straightforward, all companies are in one convenient spot, and contrary to what some say, renting in a rural village is not cheaper and is “simply a nuisance.”
  • [09:30] “There are many companies, they're all there. You don't need to shop around, you don't need to find your way around town to find the car rental office.”

Cross-Border Rentals: Can You Visit Corsica?

• Only a few companies permit taking a rented car from Sardinia to Corsica: “You normally have to read the geographical terms and conditions … most companies don't allow it, some do.”
  • [10:10] “There are very, very few car rental companies that will allow you to take a car … and drive the car to Corsica.”

Choosing the Right Car for Sardinia

• Go Small!
  • For most travelers, a compact car is ideal: "the streets can be very narrow … having a big car makes it more complicated."
  • Examples: Small Fiat Panda or Cinquecento are perfect.
  • [10:50] “It's easier to drive around town with small cars … makes it way more complicated to find a parking spot [with a big car].”

Booking Timing: How Far in Advance?

• Book 6 Months Ahead for Summer!
  • Last-minute deals are nearly impossible in July/August due to rental car shortages.
  • [12:25] “If you're coming in August or July or anytime in the summer, I recommend renting a car six months in advance. Just don't expect to find a last minute deal.”
• Typical Pricing:
  • Economy car in high season: about €30/day (€40/day with full coverage).
  • Low season: as little as €10/day with full coverage (“can't really get any better than that, can it?”).
    • [13:10] “If you're looking to rent a car in the peak summer season, an economy car could cost you just, just like €30 per day. If you, if you get full coverage, it can be as cheap as €40 per day. In the slower winter months you can get real bargains for like €10 per day. And that's with full coverage.”

What Increases the Cost?

• Additional driver fee
• GPS/satellite navigation
• Automatic transmission (less available; “manual cars are more common here in Europe”)
• Child seat (mandatory, must meet EU standards)
• Different drop-off location than pick-up (one-way fee)

Legal Requirements: Age & Documents

• Age:
  • Standard minimum: 21 (sometimes 18 with 1-year license, but often with surcharge under 25). Some maximum ages (75/80) may apply with certain companies.
• License:
  • Must possess a valid (not expired!) license.
  • Non-EU citizens require an International Driving Permit (IDP).
  • Must have a valid credit card for the main driver. Debit card possible but costlier.
• Other Docs:
  • Passport and insurance policy. Even if not always requested, "have it, just in case—it is a legal requirement."
    • [15:05] “You'll need a valid international driver license anywhere in Italy ... the car company may or may not ask you for one, but you still need to have it, just in case it is a legal requirement.”

Practical Tips for Pick-Up & Return

• Inspect the car with an agent:
  • Note all scratches, bumps, irregularities before leaving.
  • Take photos for your own records.
• Check fuel level:
  • Should be full. Return full.
• Return on time:
  • Build in extra time for refueling or unforeseen delays (queues at rental desk, etc.).
    • [17:45] “Give yourself plenty of time. Trust me, I have once found myself rushing to return a car … and it wasn't fun. I was about to miss my flight.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [01:09] Claudia on why a car is essential in Sardinia:

  “It allows you to visit as much as possible to reach all the best beaches, to visit all the prettiest villages, to check out everything even if you have limited time.”

• [04:10] Claudia on insurance worries:

  “Even a flat tire can turn into a headache.”

• [08:28] Claudia on unnecessary upselling at rental desks:

  “Let me stress that you're under no obligation to sign up for that additional fee full coverage. I've once found a vendor that was very pushy ... and when I realized what had happened, I reported it to Discover Cars and they refunded me.”

• [10:50] Claudia on choosing the right car:

  “You really need to get a small car. It's easier to drive around town with small cars. You will find Cagliari and other cities in Sardinia, the roads, the streets can be very narrow. And having a big car makes it more complicated to drive.”

• [12:25] On booking ahead:

  “There is a shortage of rental cars here on the island. Remember, it's Sardinia. It's an island. So book in advance to avoid any bad surprises.”

• [13:50] On transmission types:

  “Remember that manual cars are more common here in Europe. Automatic cars are not common at all. So if that's what you're looking for, book super, super early.”

• [17:45] On return tips:

  “Give yourself plenty of time. Trust me, I have once found myself rushing to return a car. I was in Puglia and it wasn't fun. I was about to miss my flight.”

Useful Timestamps

• 00:57 – Main reasons to rent a car in Sardinia
• 01:30 – Why Discover Cars is recommended
• 03:00 – Key tips for booking a rental
• 04:00 – Detailed discussion of insurance types and what’s covered
• 08:28 – Handling pushy insurance upselling and making insurance claims
• 09:30 – Where to rent: airports vs. town locations
• 10:10 – Can you drive a rental to Corsica?
• 10:50 – Best car types for Sardinia’s roads
• 12:25 – Booking timeline and typical costs
• 13:50 – Extra fees: transmission type, child seats, one-way fees
• 15:05 – Documents needed and age requirements
• 17:15 – Pick-up and return practicalities

Final Notes & Resources

Claudia wraps up by encouraging listeners to check her blog for an even deeper dive into car rentals (link in episode description), and she reminds travellers to book well in advance, come prepared with all legal documents, and always inspect their car before departing. She announces a two-week break for the holidays, promising to return with an episode focused on driving tips in the new year.

If you need personalized advice, Claudia offers paid consultations for planning your Sardinia trip and has a wealth of written resources at Strictly Sardinia.

Summary prepared for listeners who want to travel smart, safely, and with confidence in Sardinia!