Tuscany - The Basics - Part 4

Tuscany - The Basics - Part 4 cont.

Getting around the Tuscan region by car

Planning on having the availability of a car for any trip to this region will be a major advantage. The amount of time you will save cannot be understated. It will cost more than public transport but if you want to travel to less well known places around Tuscany it may be your only practical option. You can of course get to all the major cities and a lot of the minor ones by public transport. However once you move away from these main centres services can be indifferent or non-existent. If you really do not want to drive then a combination of trains for the longer journeys and buses in the cities can work.

Travelling by car in Italy is fairly straight forward with the roads well sign posted. The current range of SatNav Apps for phones means that is almost impossible to get lost. The condition of the local roads is mostly good and the motorway autostrada network is well laid out. Italian drivers much like French ones have built up a reputation that may be unjust in this case. Most drivers we came across drove quite normally. The only exception we found were the taxi drivers of whom a large number seemed to have a death wish.

All the major motorways in Italy are toll-roads. You must take a ticket as you join the road and then pay as you exit. Speed limits are 50kph in built-up areas, 90kph on minor roads outside built-up areas, 110kph on main roads and dual carriageways, and 130kph on nearly all motorways. There are now a few stretches have a 150kph limit but you need to be careful to note where they finish as it’s not unknown for the police to be close by. When it rains all these limits are automatically reduced. The limit on minor roads becomes 80kph, main roads become 90kph and on motorways 110kph applies to the entire network.

Should your car experience problems then dial 116 from the nearest phone. You do not need coins or a card for this call. Just tell the operator where you are, the type of car and your number plate; some operators can speak English but you may need to wait until one is available. The Automobile Club d’Italia will send someone out to fix your car but you need to fix a price before they tow you. It is much better to get cover with an international motoring organization before you leave home.

Car rental with unlimited mileage can be costly and even the smallest of cars can be hundreds of Euros per week. There are lots of companies at Pisa airport and in the major cities. However it always works out cheapest to book before leaving. Using a fully inclusive web site like this one will give you peace of mind. Most companies will only rent to drivers over 21 who have held a licence for at least a year. If you use your own car then you need a valid full driving licence or an international driving permit if you are a non-EU licence-holder. You must carry your car documents and passport when driving. If stopped by the police, which is not uncommon if you have foreign plates, then they will expect them to be present.

Continued in Part 5