Car Rental in Vatican City - Driving Guide & Best Rates

Renting a car in Vatican City is not recommended and generally not practical for tourists. As the world's smallest independent state at just 0.17 square miles, Vatican City is entirely walkable and can be explored on foot in under an hour. The city-state has no car rental facilities, and private vehicle access is heavily restricted to authorized personnel only. Visitors cannot drive within Vatican City's walls, and parking is not available to tourists. If you're staying in Rome and planning to visit Vatican City, a car is unnecessary due to Rome's extensive public transportation network connecting to the area. However, if you're considering a car rental for exploring the broader Italian countryside, Tuscany, or coastal regions as part of a longer trip, you would rent from Rome, not Vatican City itself. Italy drives on the right side of the road. For your Vatican City visit specifically, rely on walking, Rome's metro (Ottaviano or Cipro stations), or buses. Save car rentals for genuine road trip scenarios outside major cities where public transport is limited and you want flexibility to explore rural areas at your own pace.

Car Rental Availability

Information not available for car rental services in Vatican City. Vatican City is the world's smallest country (0.17 sq mi) and typically accessed on foot.

Driving Restrictions

Information not available regarding public driving access in Vatican City. Due to its size and nature as a religious/administrative center, private vehicle access may be restricted.

International Driving Permit

Specific IDP requirements for Vatican City are not available. For driving in surrounding Rome/Italy, an IDP is typically required for non-EU license holders.

Minimum Age Requirements

Information not available for Vatican City specifically. Check with Italian rental requirements if planning to drive in the surrounding area.

Insurance Requirements

Specific insurance requirements for Vatican City are not available. Standard Italian insurance regulations would likely apply for any authorized vehicles.

Alternative Transportation

Vatican City is best explored on foot. Consider Rome transportation options for the broader area - verify current access rules through official Vatican sources.

Vatican City itself has no car rental facilities - rent from Rome's Fiumicino Airport or city locations instead, as the Vatican is a tiny city-state within Rome where private vehicles are generally prohibited.

Before driving in Rome to visit Vatican City, verify your rental includes required documentation and insurance for Italy, and familiarize yourself with ZTL (limited traffic zones) which restrict access to many central areas.

Use GPS navigation apps that include Italy's ZTL zones and parking restrictions - the Vatican area has extremely limited street parking and you'll need to use paid parking garages in nearby Rome neighborhoods.

Plan to park outside Vatican City in Rome's public garages (such as near Prati district) and walk or use public transport for the final approach, as driving into St. Peter's Square area is restricted.

When returning your rental car to Rome locations, allow extra time for navigating Rome's traffic and confirm the exact return location address, as some agencies have multiple city offices.

Information not available - Vatican City is a pedestrian-only city-state with no public roads for private vehicles, making traditional driving warnings not applicable.

Vehicle access to Vatican City is extremely restricted and limited to official Vatican vehicles and authorized service vehicles only - tourists cannot drive within the territory.

If driving in Rome to visit Vatican City, note that parking near St. Peter's Square is very limited and the surrounding area has strict ZTL (Limited Traffic Zone) restrictions with automated cameras.

Weather-related driving information not applicable - visitors should plan to walk or use Rome's public transportation to reach Vatican City, as it functions as a pedestrian zone within Rome.