How can I rent a car with RentSmart24?
You can book directly on our website by selecting the location, the rental dates and times and the available vehicle group. Once you have entered the required details and completed the procedure, you will receive your booking confirmation.
How old do I have to be to rent a car?
The minimum age to rent a vehicle is 19 and you must have held a driving licence for at least 12 months.
Drivers aged between 19 and 24 are subject to the Young Driver surcharge, in accordance with the rates in force.
Higher age requirements may apply to certain vehicle categories. In addition, during the first 3 years following the issue of the licence, the driver must comply with the engine power restrictions laid down by the legislation in force for newly qualified drivers. The possibility of renting the selected category is therefore subject to verification of the driver’s age, the date the licence was obtained and the specifications of the vehicle.
What documents are required to rent a car?
At the time of vehicle pick-up, the Customer and any authorised additional driver must present:
- an original, valid identity document (identity card or passport);
- an original, valid driving licence, held for at least 12 months and valid for the category of the rented vehicle;
- a physical credit card issued in the Customer’s name, valid and with an expiry date no less than 90 days from the scheduled vehicle return date.
Copies, photographs or digital versions of documents, loss reports or other substitute documents are not accepted.
For driving licences issued by countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA), an International Driving Permit or an official translation into Italian must also be presented, except where bilateral agreements, international conventions or the legislation in force allow the national licence to be used on its own.
Debit, prepaid, virtual and Maestro cards are not accepted, nor are cards issued by financial institutions that operate mainly online and that do not have an ATM network in the Customer’s country of residence.
How can I pay for my rental?
The rental can be paid for using the payment methods available and accepted by RentSmart24 at the time of reservation or at the rental location.
The requirements relating to a physical credit card issued in the Customer’s name apply instead to the security deposit taken at the time of vehicle pick-up.
A credit card meeting the requirements set out in the RentSmart24 Rental Terms and Conditions is required for the security deposit.
How does the excess work in car rental?
The excess is the amount up to which the Customer may be held liable in the event of damage to or theft of the vehicle, depending on the category rented and the cover selected.
The applicable excess amount is shown during the reservation process and in the contractual documentation.
The excess can be reduced or brought down to zero by purchasing the optional cover offered by RentSmart24, subject to the relevant conditions.
The damage, events and conduct expressly indicated in the Rental Terms and Conditions nevertheless remain excluded from the limitation of liability, including cases of improper or negligent use of the vehicle. Any administrative or handling fees provided for under the contract may also be charged separately.
Can I rent a car with zero excess?
Yes. By choosing RentSmart24 Premium cover, the excess applicable to damage and theft can be reduced to zero, in accordance with the conditions of the cover purchased.
However, the zero excess does not apply to events, damage or conduct excluded from the cover, such as cases of improper use, negligence or breach of the contractual conditions.
For full details of the cover, the exclusions and any applicable charges, please consult the Rental Terms and Conditions.
Can I cancel my reservation?
Yes. The reservation can be cancelled free of charge up to at least 48 hours before the scheduled vehicle pick-up time, in accordance with the procedures set out in the Rental Terms and Conditions.
Cancellation requests received after that deadline do not give any right to a refund of amounts already paid.
To request cancellation, please send a message to [email protected], quoting your reservation details.
Can I change my reservation?
Yes. If the rental has not yet started, you can request a change by contacting your RentSmart24 branch directly.
Changes are subject to availability and may result in a change to the rate or the application of additional charges, depending on the new conditions requested.
The change will be considered confirmed only once confirmation has been received from the branch.
How do I get to the pick-up location?
Directions to the RentSmart24 pick-up location are provided in the reservation confirmation you will receive by email.
We recommend that you read the instructions carefully before your arrival.
What happens if I arrive late at the rental location?
If you are running late compared with the scheduled pick-up time, please contact your RentSmart24 branch promptly, using the contact details given in the reservation confirmation.
A maximum tolerance of 59 minutes applies in relation to the booked pick-up time. Beyond that limit, and in the absence of prior notice, the availability of the vehicle cannot be guaranteed and the reservation may be treated as a No Show, as provided for in the Rental Terms and Conditions.
Do I need a credit card to rent a car?
Yes. At the time of vehicle pick-up you must present a physical credit card issued in the name of the Customer/main driver indicated in the reservation, who will sign the rental agreement, to be used for the security deposit.
The card must be valid and have an expiry date no less than 90 days from the scheduled vehicle return date.
For the purposes of the security deposit, debit, prepaid, virtual and Maestro cards are not accepted, nor are cards issued by financial institutions that operate mainly online and that do not have a physical presence or an ATM network in the Customer’s country of residence.
Can I purchase extra services?
Yes. At the time of reservation or at the pick-up location you can request various additional services and options, including an additional driver, a child seat, Cross Border authorisation, a vehicle upgrade and RentSmart24 optional cover.
The child seat and the vehicle upgrade are subject to availability, while Cross Border authorisation is subject to prior approval and to the conditions applicable to the country of destination. Additional services and options may involve an extra charge according to the rates in force.
Can I add a child seat to my rental?
Yes. You can request a child seat when reserving or directly at the pick-up location.
The service is subject to availability and involves an additional charge according to the rate in force.
Can I limit my liability in the event of damage to or theft of the vehicle?
Yes. RentSmart24 offers a range of optional cover that allows you to reduce or, depending on the cover selected, bring down to zero the excess applicable in the event of damage to or theft of the vehicle.
Premium cover provides for a zero excess, without prejudice to the exclusions set out in the Rental Terms and Conditions.
Why is a security deposit required?
At the time of vehicle pick-up, a security deposit is taken by credit card, as a guarantee of the obligations arising from the rental agreement.
The amount is temporarily blocked on the card and not charged, except for any sums due in connection with the rental.
At the end of the rental, once the required checks have been carried out, the deposit is released less any amounts due. The time required for the sum to become available again depends on the card-issuing institution.
The amount of the security deposit may vary depending on the RentSmart24 cover selected, as provided for in the Rental Terms and Conditions.
Can I change the duration of my rental?
Yes. If the rental has not yet started, you can request a change by contacting your RentSmart24 branch directly.
If the rental has already started and you wish to extend or shorten its duration, you must contact the same branch in advance.
Any change is subject to availability, prior approval and any applicable additional charges.
The change is considered confirmed only once written confirmation has been received from RentSmart24.
Can I travel abroad with the rental car?
Yes, but only with prior authorisation from RentSmart24 and only in those countries where our vehicles are permitted to circulate.
To take the vehicle into a foreign country, you must request Cross Border authorisation in advance, which is subject to the relevant Cross Border Fee of € 85.40.
Authorisation can be requested for travel to: France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Andorra, Vatican City, the Republic of San Marino, the Principality of Monaco, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Austria.
Leaving Italian territory without prior authorisation, or travelling to a country that is not permitted, constitutes a breach of the rental conditions and entails the application of the liabilities, penalties and exclusions provided for in the Rental Terms and Conditions.
Can I return the rental car early?
Yes. You can return the vehicle before the scheduled date by giving prior notice to your RentSmart24 branch.
Early return does not give any right to a refund for unused rental days or to a reduction of the amount already provided for in the reservation.
How does the fuel policy work in car rental?
The vehicle must be returned with the same fuel level as at the time of pick-up.
If fuel is missing, the cost of the fuel required to top it up and the related service charge will be charged, as provided for in the Rental Terms and Conditions.
Any fuel returned in excess of the initial level does not give any right to a refund.
What happens if the rental car is stolen?
In the event of theft, including partial theft, fire, acts of vandalism or damage to the vehicle caused by unidentified third parties, you must file a formal report with the competent Authorities and send or deliver a copy to RentSmart24 within 12 hours of the event.
You must also contact your RentSmart24 branch promptly and provide all available documentation relating to what happened.
What should I do in the event of a car accident with the rental car?
In the event of an accident, you must contact your RentSmart24 branch promptly and properly document what happened.
If the other party is present and cooperative, you must complete in full and sign the CAI form – European Accident Statement, collecting all details and information relating to the vehicles and drivers involved.
If there are injuries, or if the other party leaves the scene, refuses to complete or sign the CAI form or cannot be properly identified, you must remain at the scene of the accident, immediately call the Single Emergency Number 112 and request the intervention of the competent Authorities.
The CAI form, the report, the police record and any other documentation relating to the incident must be sent or delivered to RentSmart24 within 12 hours of the event, as provided for in the Rental Terms and Conditions.
What should I do in the event of a road accident involving injuries?
In the event of an accident involving injuries:
- make the vehicle and passengers safe, as far as the conditions at the scene allow;
- call the Single Emergency Number 112 immediately and request the intervention of the emergency services and the competent Authorities;
- remain at the scene of the accident until the Authorities arrive and cooperate with the necessary investigations;
- if the vehicle can no longer be used, contact the roadside assistance service on the number indicated in the rental agreement;
- promptly inform your RentSmart24 branch.
The police record, the report and any other documentation relating to the incident must be sent or delivered to RentSmart24 within 12 hours of the event, as provided for in the Rental Terms and Conditions.
What happens if I get a fine with a rental car?
In the event of a traffic offence committed during the rental period, two situations may arise:
- if the penalty notice is served on RentSmart24, we will provide the competent Authority with the driver’s details. The fine will then be served directly on the Customer, who must pay it in accordance with the procedures indicated by the Authority;
- if the Authority requires RentSmart24 to pay the penalty as a jointly and severally liable party pursuant to Article 196 of the Italian Highway Code, RentSmart24 will pay it and the relevant amount will subsequently be charged to the Customer.
In both cases, for each case handled the administrative fees for processing the traffic fine set out in the Rental Terms and Conditions will be applied.
What happens if I return the rental car late?
If the vehicle is returned late, you must contact your RentSmart24 branch promptly, using the contact details given in the reservation confirmation or in the rental agreement.
A maximum tolerance of 59 minutes applies in relation to the agreed return time. Beyond that limit, an additional rental day may be charged, in addition to any further costs provided for in the Rental Terms and Conditions.
Any change to the time or date of return must be authorised in advance by the branch, subject to verification of availability.
How is any damage to the rental vehicle handled?
At the time of pick-up, the condition of the vehicle and any pre-existing damage are recorded. Please check the vehicle before setting off and immediately report to the branch any damage or defects not noted in the handover documentation.
On return, the vehicle is inspected again. Any new damage found will be assessed and charged in accordance with the Damage Matrix, taking into account the cover purchased and any excess provided for in the agreement.
If the vehicle is returned outside the branch’s opening hours, the inspection of the vehicle’s condition may be carried out later, when the location reopens. Any new damage found will be documented and handled as provided for in the Rental Terms and Conditions.
In the event of damage, the administrative handling fees set out in the Rental Terms and Conditions are also applied, with the exception of Customers who have purchased EASY or PREMIUM cover.
In all cases, the exclusions, limitations and grounds for forfeiture of the cover and of the limitations of liability set out in the Rental Terms and Conditions continue to apply.
