Reviews didn't do them justice

Its strange that it has a lot of negative reviews. I was worried when making the booking, especially during Milan Furniture Week 2014. I managed to book a smart car with Sicily by Cars for 4 days, through RentalCars.com. We picked the Smart from downtown Milan, drove though Como, Genoa, Cinque Terre, Pisa, Florence, Porto Santo Stefano, and returned at Rome Termini.


At pick up at Milan downtown, the agent said they haven't got an automatic Smart, even I called 3 days earlier to double check. Right away, they brought one from Linate Airport in 1 hour. This is just typical Italian way of working, so I am not too bothered by it.

The Smart was very new from 11/2013. They have everything in the car, tools, manual etc. and the more Italy specific "parking time indicator dial". Aux-in audio system, or USB stick reader, too bad it doesn't charge phones...(external batteries pack for phones are essential for navigation)

Returning in Rome is a bit confusing (as do driving in any new cities). Long queues at the pick up desk (may be a nightmare picking up from Rome, its only because everyone gets off the same train) So the car return is at the car park tower down the street, we drove in, up 6 levels, and that's it. All done! We double checked with the lady at the return desk, all that we need to pay is the fee for the extra driver and extra full insurance, all for about 56 euros.

Smart cars are the best in Italy, good on highways going at 140kmh, refuelled only 2.5 times, very efficient. It's super cute, agile and manoeuvrable, all the way from Milan to Rome not a scratch! Perfect for a romantic road trip for 2. Automatic is also essential, cause city traffic will drive you nuts on the stick.

The total of the rental is very reasonable, 190euros prepaid online + 56euros at the return desk. I would recommend the car hire service from Sicily by Car. We are poor, design students from London, but this road trip in a Smart was amazing!

P.S. I have just got back from the trip 4 days ago, so fingers crossed that I didn't have any traffic violations during the trip, cause Sicily by Car impose a 50euro handling fee for traffic tickets...lets see. And I can see that all the negative reviews for Sicily by Car are about them charging extra after the rental period, which I suppose would be the traffic tickets. I would suggest those who want to drive in Italy to do some homework, understand the road signs, especially the ZTL (traffic control zone, 60euro fine if you enter, but they are mostly only active during office hours and they are different in every town) and GET THE FULL INSURANCE with them when you pick up (not through your online booking agent, I have seen reviews saying that SbC may not recognise the insurance bought through booking agent).

Have fun and safe trip guys!