Car rental in Sardinia: documents, fines and a route around the island

Sardinia stretches almost 270 km from south to north. Without a car you will only see the beach next to your hotel: buses between resorts run rarely, and they don't go to the wild coves of the east at all. A rental car solves this problem.

The island is compact, but the roads wind between the mountains. If you drive along the entire coast, the odometer will rack up about 1,800 km (on the map). So it's better to split the route into south, west, and east rather than trying to circle all of Sardinia in one week.

Below we break down what documents you need for a rental, where to book a car, what the speed limits and fines are on the island, how to refuel, and what to see along the way. Figures verified as of 09/2026.

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What you need to know to rent a car in Sardinia

💡 In short:

• Have your driver's license and a bank card in the driver's name ready; licenses from outside the EU require an international driving permit.
• Book the car in advance: in summer, the selection at airports melts away within weeks.
• Take full insurance with no deductible, otherwise you'll pay for scratches out of the deposit.

There are plenty of rental agencies on the island. Their desks are located at the airports of Cagliari and Olbia, in port cities, and at major resorts. Booking in advance is calmer and cheaper: you land, and the car is already waiting for you in the parking lot. You won't have to hunt for an available desk in peak season.

Without documents, no car will be issued. You need a driver's license and a bank card in the driver's name. EU licenses are valid in Italy without additional documents. An international driving permit is only needed if your license was issued outside the EU. Check the requirement in the booking terms in advance; at the desk it's too late to argue anything.

A deposit is frozen on the card as liability for the car. The amount depends on the car class and insurance; for compact cars it usually stays around 500 € (according to rental company Sardinya). After you return the car intact, the deposit is released.

How much a rental costs and where to book

The rental price is determined by season, car class, and insurance. In the off-season, a compact car costs noticeably less than in July and August, when the island is packed with tourists. Full insurance with no deductible adds to the daily rate, but it removes almost all the risk: a rock to the windshield or a scratch on the wheel is no longer your concern.

Discover Cars aggregates offers from different rental companies in one window. You see the price, insurance, and cancellation terms right away, choose a desk at the airport you need, and pick up the car on arrival. That's more convenient than walking from desk to desk on the spot.

If you're flying to Sardinia from far away, tickets are also worth catching in advance. You can compare flights to Cagliari and Olbia on Kiwi.com. The earlier you book, the lower the price on direct flights.

Speed limits and fines in Sardinia

Traffic rules are uniform across Italy, and Sardinia is no exception here. Limits depend on the road type (Codice della Strada, as of 09/2026, Italian traffic regulations):

Outside the city, always turn on your low beams, even during the day. In tunnels, headlights are always required. New drivers with less than three years of experience drive no faster than 100 km/h on the motorway and no faster than 90 km/h outside the city.

© CAPTAIN RAJU · CC BY-SAPhoto: CAPTAIN RAJU, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Speeding fines increase in steps. Exceeding the limit by 10-40 km/h costs 173-694 €. For exceeding by 40-60 km/h you will pay from 544 to 2,174 €, and your license will be taken away for one to three months, while above 60 km/h the fine reaches up to 3,382 € with a suspension of six months or more (as of 09/2026, article 142 of the Italian Highway Code). The fine can arrive even a month and a half later: the police issue it to the rental company, which finds you through the contract and charges the amount plus a 25-50 € processing fee.

Many highways use the Tutor system. It calculates the average speed between two checkpoints and records all license plates, including rental cars (as of 09/2026, description of the Tutor system). A short burst of speed will not help if the average speed over the segment is above the limit.

Alcohol, lights, and parking rules

The legal limit behind the wheel is 0.5 per mille. For drivers under 21 and new drivers with less than three years of experience, the limit is zero (as of 09/2026, source). Use your phone only with a hands-free headset.

Parking is color-coded, and the color matters a lot. White spaces are free, blue spaces are paid, yellow spaces are reserved for service vehicles and people with disabilities. Green spaces are usually for local residents with a permit, and parking is prohibited in black spaces. The line color does not tell the whole story: read the signs nearby, they add payment hours and time limits (as of 09/2026, source).

The fine for illegal parking depends on the violation and starts at around 40 €. City centers have ZTL zones with cameras: entering without a permit is recorded automatically, and the ticket arrives weeks later (as of 09/2026, source). Watch for the white sign with a red circle and the letters ZTL.

© Photograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net ). · CC BY-SAPhoto: Photograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net )., CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Running a red light and overtaking in the oncoming lane also carry serious fines. There are many cameras on the island, especially on highways, so keep your speed according to the signs. Patrols are less common, but they do appear.

How gas stations work in Sardinia

Gas stations in Italy come in two types: self-service and attendant service (servito). At automatic pumps you pay by card at the terminal. Where an attendant works, they accept cash and cards, but there is a surcharge per liter for the service.

In cities, pumps close in the evening, and 24-hour stations are mostly found outside the city. On holidays, city stations may be closed, but parking in such days often becomes free.

If you do not want to rent a car, a transfer will take you from the airport to your hotel. Kiwitaxi meets you at the exit with a sign and takes you at a fixed price, no haggling on the spot needed.

What to see in Sardinia

The island has eight provinces, stretching over 270 km. By car you can cover more than by bus, but it is hard to see the entire coast in one vacation. Start with the south, where the major cities are concentrated, and add the west and east depending on your mood.

Let's start with Cagliari, the island's capital. In the Castello quarter on the hill stand the Cathedral and the old Pisan towers. Nearby, on the slope of Bon Cammino, lies the Roman Amphitheater, carved into the rock back in the 1st-2nd centuries (as of 09/2026, source). Don't miss the Botanical Garden by the walls of Castello: it houses rare plants from around the world (as of 09/2026, source).

An hour's drive from the capital lies Villasimius. This is where you'll find the best diving spots in the south and the clear water that draws divers here. For a beach day, the coves near the town are a great fit.

To the northwest stands Alghero, often called little Barcelona. The Catalan influence is visible in the old town: narrow streets, cathedrals, medieval towers, and remnants of ancient Greek and Roman structures.

The east of the island is wild and sparsely populated. Here it's worth checking out the Dorgali caves and the local beaches, considered among the cleanest in Italy. The mountain roads are narrow, so allow extra time for the drive.

Before you leave, stock up on souvenirs. Sardinia is known for wool products, cheese, local wines, and coral jewelry. In the south, entire villages make their living selling souvenirs to tourists, so the selection is wide.

It's best to plan your stops in advance: pick two or three bases and don't move every day. That way you spend more time on the beaches rather than behind the wheel.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Do you need an international driving permit in Sardinia?

If you have an EU license, you don't need an international permit. EU licenses are valid in Italy as is. You need an international driving permit if your license was issued outside the EU. Check this in the booking terms before your trip, otherwise the car won't be released at the counter.

What deposit is held for the car?

For compact cars, the deposit is usually up to €500; for premium cars it's higher. The release after return sometimes takes a few days.

How much does car rental cost in Sardinia?

The price depends on the season, car class, and insurance. Rates are higher in July and August than in the off-season.

Do speeding tickets arrive after you return the car?

Often yes, once you're back home. The rental company charges the fine to your card along with a €25-50 fee. It takes from three weeks to a month and a half between the violation and the charge.

What if you don't want to rent a car?

Take an airport transfer to your hotel through Kiwitaxi. Buses run within resort areas, and taxis cover short trips.

In short: what's worth booking

If you're heading to the coast for a week, get a compact car and full insurance: without a car, the island loses half its beaches. The easiest way to book one is through Discover Cars. If you want to drive around the whole island, split your route into south, west, and east, and book ahead. If you'd rather not get behind the wheel, a transfer from Kiwitaxi from the airport will work for you.