Renting a car in the country can be terrifying (like when F1 wannabes creep on your bumper) but also liberating, says Christina Lynch, author of The Italian Party (St. Martin’s Press), who spent four years living in (and driving around) Tuscany researching the novel. Here’s her advice for safely navigating the autostradas.
Stay to the right. The left lane is strictly for passing.
Look for city names, not route numbers. Think directionally—if you’re leaving Milan for Florence, for example, watch for the sign pointing the way south to Rome rather than a route marker for the A1 highway.
Roundabouts don’t have lanes. Remember to yield to cars already inside the loop, then just hope for the best.
Get all the insurance. It’s expensive, but even the well-known American rental agencies are notorious for charging for the tiniest scratch.
Pay tolls with a credit card. But carry backup cash. Broken machines are not uncommon.
Don’t skip Autogrill. The food’s great—you can even buy an entire leg of prosciutto—but take any valuables and lock your car: The parking lots can be sketchy.
