Renting A Car In Olbia: 20 Best Tips To Rent A Car In Olbia

Are you thinking of renting a car in Olbia? You are in the right place. I live in Cagliari, Sardinia and I go to Olbia all the time – to pick up friends from the airport and then move to other places in Northern Sardinia, and to use as a base to explore the immediate (and beautiful) surroundings.

Olbia is among the most visited and busy cities in Sardinia, for a ton of different reasons. First of all, it’s the getaway to Gallura, the luxury beach paradise where VIPs and rich people from all around Europe and beyond gather during the summer.

Secondly, Olbia is just a quick drive to many great attractions, historical sites, natural parks, and many stunning beaches.

Last but not least, the city itself is definitely more than meets the eye and while it appears rough around the edges, it actually deserves a visit: there are some lovely churches and a charming historical center.

In other words, while Olbia is an up and coming destination in its own rights, most travelers (including myself) use it as a base to explore the region and take advantage of the convenient prices of accommodation in the city, especially compared to those of nearby tourist hubs like San Teodoro (the main getaway to Cala Brandinchi) or Porto Cervo.

While there are public buses in Olbia, you are significantly better off renting a car in Olbia. This will give you a chance to travel on your own terms and schedule.

When renting a car in Olbia (and anywhere else I travel) I use Discover Cars. I think this is the best comparison site. It is a very powerful search engine that looks for local and international companies and finds the best deals for you. Discover Cars also has free cancellation up to 48 hours before you are due to pick up the car, and a very budget-friendly full coverage policy.

Continue reading this post for my guide how to rent a car in Olbia. I will explain why you should do it, and give you my expert tips based on more than a decade of experience with car rentals.

Is Renting A Car In Olbia A Good Idea?

Whether you are using Olbia as a base to explore the beaches of Gallura or to visit the magnificent inner region, you need to rent a car in Olbia – there honestly is no other way around it.

Public transportation is somewhat limited

Olbia has a good public transportation system – which is however mostly limited to urban lines. Getting out of the city might turn into a tiring adventure, and getting to all the nearby beaches will be more of a hassle than a pleasure.

For example, driving from Olbia to the famous Cala Brandinchi beach takes only 30 minutes, whereas getting there by bus takes almost 2 hours. And what happens if, for whatever reason, you miss the bus?

If Olbia is just the starting point of your trip to Northern Sardinia, then renting a car in Olbia is absolutely a must, so that you can have as much freedom as possible when exploring the area.

Indeed, there is a bus that connects Olbia to Arzachena (one of the main towns in Gallura, which however is not by the sea), as well as a bus between Olbia and Porto Cervo – the main hub of the Emerald Coast, and between Arzachena and Porto Cervo.

However, there is no reliable bus service that connects the various beaches – bus number 604 makes an impossible journey around the area before actually taking passengers to the beach, and has very few daily rides.

If you want to do beach hopping, you’ll have to either bike (on highly trafficked roads that at times have no bike lane at all) or rely on taxis or hotel shuttles all the time, and while this may be ok as a one off, the price would quickly add up and it would probably be cheaper to simply rent a car for some time.

Picture doing this with children, if you are visiting with your family – I’d say it’s the definition of nightmare!

Renting a car in Olbia doesn’t just mean you won’t be tied to bus schedules and departure times. You will also have more flexibility with luggage and mobility. If you have lots of luggage (for example if you are traveling with your family), it’s infinitely easier to put everything in your trunk rather than hopping on and off buses and then walking to your hotel or apartment rental.

Besides, if you go around by public transport, you will be forced to leave the bus at pre-determined stops; whereas with a car, you can unload your luggage close to your accommodation and then look for a parking spot (unless the hotel has one!).

My post How To Travel By Public Transport In Sardinia explains what you should expect when you travel by bus or train in Sardinia.

There are lots of places to visit outside of Olbia

Sardinia is an excellent destination for road trips, and the surroundings of Olbia are stunning! First of all, there are all the beautiful beaches that we all know about – Capriccioli, Grande Pevero, and a bunch of other beaches near Olbia as well as the ones of San Teodoro.

There’s also an infinity of small villages and small towns you will want to visit. For example, the charming San Pantaleo, one of the quaintest villages on the island and home to a weekly market and some fabulous restaurants. Then there’s Aggius, where you can experience unique traditions.

But there’s more! Whether you base yourself in Olbia or on the coast, you should not miss the local archeological sites such as La Prisgiona Nuraghe and the nearby Giants’ Tombs of Coddu Vecchiu; or the sacred well of Sa Testa.

And if you are a wine lover, having your own car rental in Olbia gives you the possibility of visiting some of the best wineries in Sardinia, where they produce the famous Vermentino of Gallura. Cantine Surrau offers fantastic wine tasting experiences, but there are plenty more wineries you should check out.

Have I convinced you? Go ahead and check the prices of car rental in Olbia on Discover Cars and see which car you can get for a very reasonable price.

How To Rent A Car In Olbia

Now that you know why renting a car in Olbia isn’t just a good idea, but actually a necessity, let’s go over my expert tips: I rent cars in Sardinia, Italy and elsewhere in the world all the time and with time I have learned all the tricks to land a good deal. Car rental in Olbia isn’t hard, but it’s best to know what to expect.

Quick overview

Let me first start with a quick summary of the steps you need to follow to rent a car in Olbia. If you are in a rush, this is all you need to read. Then, I will go over each step in more details.

Rent a car online via Discover Cars

Whenever looking for a car rental in Olbia or anywhere else in the world, I use a comparison site that allows me to see the prices of the various companies.

However, not all comparison sites are the same. I have tried many – some of them were ok, others simply bad (poor customer service and regular mistakes by the booking system that ended up causing a lot of issues).

After many trials, I now only use Discover Cars: they provide the best booking experience and the best customer support if things don’t work out as expected.

Here are the steps to follow when renting a car in Olbia via Discover Cars:

First of all, open the Discover Cars page or app (available for free for iOS and Android devices).

Start with the simple details: where you want to pick up the car (for example, if you want to rent a car in Olbia Airport or downtown), the dates you need the car for, the drop off location in case you want to drop off your rental car somewhere different (for example, it could be Cagliari Airport or Alghero Airport, the other airports in Sardinia).

Hit search and the system will pull out a number of deals on car rental in Olbia. That’s when you need to use the filters to narrow down your search and find the best deal for your needs.

The first filter you need to apply is the ratings. I always go for a minimum of 8 out of 10. Yes, car rental companies in Olbia that have higher ratings are usually more expensive – they offer better cars, better customer support, and won’t have hidden fees.

Another filter you can apply is the kind of car you would like to rent. If you are traveling solo or with your friend or partners, and aren’t planning a long trip with long commutes, an economy car (a Fiat Panda or similar) is enough. If you have lots of luggage or are traveling with your family, you will need a bigger car.

Finally, add Full Coverage. It’s an additional fee of around €10 per day which will cover any damage you may accidentally cause to the car – for example broken windows or mirrors.

This will give you a list of all the car rental companies in Olbia that offer a car matching your needs. Adjust the list by price or by review score and pick whatever you think is a good deal, but don’t forget to read the small print.

Discover Cars is my favorite comparison site for car rental in Olbia and elsewhere. It pulls out the prices of all car rental companies – international, Italian and even smaller local companies – and gives you the best prices for your requested filters. There also is a 48 hours before pick up cancellation policy.

Is Full Coverage insurance needed when renting a car in Olbia?

To make a long story short, you do. Sardinia is safe, and Olbia is one of the safest cities in Sardinia. But when you drive in a place that’s not home, you really never know what might happen. Like most travelers, you may just have a great time. But when things go wrong, it’s always useful to have that extra layer of support that full coverage insurance provides.

When it comes to insurance, the first thing you need to do is enquire with your car credit company. Some of them will provide their own insurance. However, car rental companies in Olbia may refuse to accept. And by law, you need to have an insurance when you rent a car anywhere in Italy.

Discover Cars Full Coverage insurance policy is the best deal on rental car insurance that you can get. It costs about €10 per day, which may add to the final price of the car rental, but it’s still cheaper than getting insurance directly with the rental car company.

Full Coverage insurance by Discover Cars covers the following things:

• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), which protects you in case of accidents;
• Personal Liability insurance;
• Medical expenses for all passengers in case of an accident;
• Theft protection;
• Damages to the body of the car;
• Towing expenses.

Full Coverage insurance by Discover Cars does not include the following:

• Damage to the interior parts of the car;
• Cleaning fees;
• Damage caused when not adhering to the terms and conditions of the car rental policy.

Will car rental companies in Olbia accept Discover Cars Full Coverage policy?

In my experience, some car rental companies in Olbia and elsewhere will push you to get their own insurance policy, even if you already purchased Discover Cars Full Coverage policy.

You don’t have to buy the additional insurance offered by the car rental company. It’s clearly stated in the terms and conditions by Discover Cars (it will be in your confirmation email). However, the company will hold an additional deposit (it’s usually €3000) that will be returned once you drop off the car if there are no damages.

If there are damages, you need to file a claim with Discover Cars. It’s very easy: you can do it via their site or app. They process the claim within 48 hour and reimburse you soon afterwards.

Best pick up location when renting a car in Olbia – car rental Olbia Airport

Some self-professed savvy budget travelers will suggest that the best car rental in Olbia is not in Olbia Airport car rental. They will tell you to go to town, or even to one of the nearby villages to find a better deal on car rental.

But is this really the best option? I don’t think so. The hassle of getting around with luggage and after a long trip; and the time and money spent on getting to your pick up location are all factors you should consider.

I am all for comfort and making things easy, so let me say it: you should rent a car in Olbia Airport – that is Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport. All the car rental offices are outside the airport, barely 50 meters away from the arrivals terminal, easily reachable on foot.

You can pick up your car at Olbia Airport car rental and give it back to another location, as long it’s from the same chain: pick up and drop off aren’t mandatorily in the same place (though there is an additional fee for dropping off your car in a different place).

Picking up your car at a car rental in Olbia airport is the best option, as you will find yourself with the freedom to drive around right from the beginning of your trip.

With this in mind, there are some tips you should keep in mind when renting a car.

Be sure to book your car in advance: this will ensure better rates and guarantee you have the car that best fits your needs. Don’t expect to land and rent a car in Olbia right on the spot, especially during the busiest months between June and September.

Olbia is by far the busiest airport in Sardinia during the summer months, so you can easily imagine that car rentals often run out of cars!

Best of outcomes, if you leave it to the last minute you’ll end up spending a lot of money and/or having to drive a car that you don’t like; worst case scenario – but not unlikely to happen – there won’t be any car left for you. Keep in mind there is a shortage of car rentals in Sardinia compared to the rest of the country!

Make sure to check the prices of car rental in Olbia on Discover Cars – I have used many companies to rent a car in Olbia and in other places in Italy and the rest of the world, but this is the best one as it gives you a good idea of what all companies charge.

Rent a car in Olbia downtown

If you are arriving to Olbia by ferry you will be docking at the harbor which close to the center of Olbia. There are some car rental companies in Olbia Harbor too, so if you prefer using that as a pick up location, you can.

If you want to rent a car in Olbia Harbor or Olbia city center, simply input “Olbia Port” or “Olbia Downtown” when selecting your rental car pick up location on Discover Cars.

Best car rental companies in Olbia

You will find all major international and Italian car rental companies in Olbia.

Herzt, Locauto, Sicily by Car, Maggiore and more all have offices in Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport and in downtown Olbia, along with some lesser known companies such as Noleggiare, Autonoleggio Sardinya, Only Sardinia Autonoleggio, MickyRent, LuRenting and others.

You can’t possibly check out the prices of car rental on each and every of these companies. So here’s a tip: for the best deals on car rental in Olbia, consider using a comparison site. My favorite one is Discover Cars – that’s where I normally find the best deals.

How far in advance should you rent a car in Olbia?

I regularly get emails in the summer by readers who express their concerns about the high prices of car rental in Olbia, and ask for tips on cheaper companies or last minute deals.

You really need to start looking for a car rental in Olbia as soon as you have secured your flights and have some certain dates. This is especially important if you are visiting Sardinia in the summer between June and September.

Let me say it again: the secret to finding a good deal when renting a car in Olbia is to look for a car way before your trip.

Don’t expect to leave it to the last minute and land a good deal if you are visiting Sardinia in August! The prices of car rental on the island skyrocket in the summer season, and this is a reflection of higher demand and limited availability.

Which car should you rent?

My general tip for travelers renting a car in Olbia is to pick the smallest car that suits their needs.

If yours is a short trip with a friend or two around Olbia and Gallura, or even further north to Maddalena Archipelago, a small / economy car like a Fiat Panda or Fiat Cinquecento is perfectly fine.

Smaller cars are easier to drive even on the narrow city streets, and way easier to park in places where parking spots are tiny (which is the way they are in Italy) and you often have to be creative.

You might even consider an electric car. There often are reserved parking spaces for those, and almost every parking lot has some recharging stations.

If however you are traveling with your family and have children, or are moving around the island a lot, you will probably need something a bit larger and more comfortable, with a larger trunk to fit your luggage (or a pram if necessary) as well as beach umbrellas and (if you have children) toys etc.

I should also point out that cars in Italy are manual transmission by default. Automatic cars available for rent are very few and more expensive – another thing to consider if you are looking to rent a car in Olbia.

Ready to rent a car in Olbia? Check out the prices of car rental on Discover Cars.

How much does it cost to rent a car in Olbia?

It honestly isn’t nearly as expensive as some people complain about. When a reader says that renting a car in Olbia is too expensive, I usually conclude that he left the search for a rental car to the very last minute for a summer trip – which is not what I recommend.

A car hire in Olbia is on average more expensive that in other places in Italy, because there is less availability (and more demand in the summer months).

You can expect to pay around €30 per day (including Full Coverage) for an economy car in the summer months. The same car in the winter month will cost you as little as €10 per day.

There are obviously some things that will increase the price of your rental car in Olbia:

• Additional driver;
• GPS system;
• Automatic transmission car (as I said before, cars in Italy are manual by default);
• Child or infant seat;
• Drop off location different from the pick up one.

How old do you need to be to rent a car in Olbia?

The age requirement is the same as in the rest of Italy: you need to be at least 21. Most companies will apply a surcharge to drivers who are under 25; some will rent a car to drivers who are just 18, as long as they have had a license for a year or more.

There is no maximum age, but some companies do not like renting cars to drivers who are older than 75 or 80.

Documents needed when renting a car in Olbia

It’s worth checking that you have all the right documents you need when you are ready to pick up your car. Make sure to keep them in a folder before you leave home as it is easy to forget some of them!

Here is what you will need:

• A valid driving license – triple check it hasn’t expired!
• If you don’t have an EU driver’s license, Italian law requires you to have an International Driving Permit. If you are visiting from the US, you can get an IDP via the website of the American Automobile Association. Some rental car companies may not ask for it, but you still have to have it.
• A credit card. In some cases a debit car is also accepted (companies that accept it are usually more expensive).
• Your passport.
• Insurance policy.

Useful Tips When Renting A Car In Olbia

Inspect the car before driving off

One of the biggest mistakes you can do when renting a car anywhere in the world is rushing out as soon as you have signed the contract.

DO. NOT. DO. THAT. Even if it is late, even if you are tired: take your time to inspect the car with a member of staff of the rental car company, and take photos of any scratch and bump you may see – and make sure they are noted in the paper you will be provided at the end of the inspection.

You really want to avoid any dispute over a scratch when you return the car.

Let me also point out that if you have Full Coverage insurance, any small damage to the car is actually covered too so you don’t have to worry so much.

You should also make a not of how much fuel you have in the tank – it’s easier to rent cars with full-to-full policies so that you know you just need to fill up before dropping off the car.

I recommend checking the prices of car rental in Olbia on Discover Cars, my favorite comparison site for car rental anywhere in the world.

Be on time when you return the car

Olbia is not a very big city, and Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport is small too. If you are staying in Olbia, the drive to the airport is just in the range of 10 minutes, but if you are coming from other locations in northern Sardinia it may take a bit longer.

Don’t just factor in the time you need to drive to the airport: if you are traveling in the summer there may be traffic, or perhaps road works. So give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport for when you return the car – especially if you must check in and catch a flight.

Driving to and from the airport

Driving to and from Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport isn’t exactly a long journey – quite the opposite indeed. Once you get your car rental in Olbia Airport, the drive to the city is literally a few minutes.

The airport is barely 4 km (2.5 miles) away from the city, and there are plenty of signals pointing in the right direction. My main tip is to drive slowly as it can be confusing in some areas (I can’t say I never took the wrong turn!).

The drive is obviously longer if you are going to Porto Cervo, Maddalena Archipelago or San Teodoro. In optimal conditions it takes about 35 minutes to drive from the airport to Porto Cervo; 45 minutes to drive to Palau (from where you can catch the ferry to La Maddalena); and around 25 minutes to drive to San Teodoro.

Check out my post How To Get From Olbia Airport To The City Center.

Where to park your car in Olbia

Chances are you won’t be staying in Olbia for your entire trip, so this section may be irrelevant.

If you are renting a car in Olbia to then drive to other destinations in Sardinia, opt for a hotel that has parking spaces for guests – it can be either a private parking or free parking in the street.

Finding a parking spot in Olbia can be a hassle. The city is small but there’s quite a bit of traffic and free parking might be sometimes difficult to find. If you have booked a place in the historic center, ask your hotel if they have a recommended parking space.

You will find a free, large parking lot almost in front of the Grand Hotel President Olbia, and by the Molo Brin. Not far from there, there’s the Parcheggio Isola Bianca that also has plenty of space. Parcheggio Piramidi is closer to the historic center, but can get full easily.

Pay attention to the parking lines on the road pavement: white lines indicate free parking, and blue lines are for the paid ones. Parking lots for disabled are marked by yellow lines.

Driving in and around Olbia

Driving in Olbia and its surroundings isn’t always going to be pleasant. The city is small but it can get very busy, especially when ferries dock and everyone gets off. The traffic is sometimes unbearable and there are lots of roundabouts and traffic lights to challenge your patience.

Likewise, the roads leading to Porto Cervo, Cannigione, to Palau and to San Teodoro can get lots of traffic in the summer, so getting to your destination may take longer than expected.

Like most cities in Italy that have a historic center, Olbia has a ZTL – Zona Traffico Limitato. This is a part of the city where traffic at certain times of day and night is restricted to residents only, in an effort to reduce pollution and noise.

Pay close attention to ZTL signs (the picture above is a generic one, but indicates what a ZTL sign may look like) and whether you can drive through at that specific time of day: there are cameras recording and you may get a fine if you drive through at a time you are not supposed to.

The speed limit in the entire municipality of Olbia is 30 km/h – it’s one of the first cities in Italy to have adopted a lower speed limit as of 2021. Speed cameras and speed bumps scattered around town will remind you to keep within the speed limits.

Once you get out of the municipality limits, the speed limit increases. Depending on the area to 50, 70, 90 or even 110 km/h. Police random checks are quite common in the summer, so once again keep within the speed limit!

Further Readings

Traveling to other destinations in Sardinia and want to rent a car? Then, these posts are for you:

• How To Drive In Sardinia
• A Guide To Renting A Car In Sardinia
• A Guide To Renting A Car In Alghero
• The Best Sardinia Road Trip Itinerary
• The Most Complete 10-Days In Sardinia
• A Wonderful 10 Days In North Sardinia Itinerary

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