Can I drive my rental car onto the Capri ferry? No, you cannot take a rental car from the mainland to Capri in the restricted travel periods. Prefectural Decree No. 22 of 25 March 2026 bars disembarkation of non-resident rental vehicles from March 30 to November 3 and again from December 18 to January 7, with fines of €430–€1,731 and return-to-mainland enforcement. Park first in Naples, Sorrento, or Salerno, then use the passenger-only ferry; a secure parking choice such as Parcheggio Mandara (Via Pasitea 82), Parcheggio Di Gennaro (Via Pasitea 1), or Parcheggio Arienzo / Zarbo is usually simpler than trying to bring the car across. My rental plate ends in an odd digit but it's an even-numbered calendar day. Am I stuck? No, the alternating-plate rule on the SS163 Amalfitana is time-bound rather than all-day. The restriction normally runs from 10:00 to 18:00 on designated enforcement dates, while mornings before 10:00 and evenings after 18:00 are usually open regardless of plate number; the SR 366 Agerolina and the Provincial Road Valico di Chiunzi are commonly used as bypasses. Hotel guests with a confirmed booking may receive a one-time entry allowance, and ANAS Ordinance 340/2019 is the reference many drivers check for SS163 plate controls. Do I need an International Driving Permit (IDP) with a US or UK licence? Yes, non-EU/EEA drivers should carry an International Driving Permit with the original licence. Article 135 of the Codice della Strada requires the IDP for many foreign licences, and roadside checks by Polizia Stradale can trigger an on-the-spot fine around €408 if the documents are incomplete; UK drivers are also advised to carry one after Brexit. A missing IDP can also jeopardize CDW, SCDW, or FDW claims if the rental contract requires full documentation. What happens if I scrape the right side of the car on a stone wall? The repair bill is usually yours unless you booked full coverage with low or zero excess. Standard CDW policies often exclude tires, glass, undercarriage, mirrors, and wheel damage, while an excess or franchise can still leave you paying a deductible even after a claim; many renters add SCDW, FDW, or a third-party top-up to reduce that risk. For Positano’s tight lanes near Spiaggia Grande, Fornillo, Montepertuso, and the cliff-side bends toward Atrani or Furore, a Fiat 500, Fiat Panda, or Fiat 500L is usually easier to place than a larger sedan. Are there EV rentals in Positano? Is charging feasible? Electric rentals are limited on the Amalfi Coast, and charging is only practical if you plan around one known site. The most relevant public charger for Positano is Go Electric Stations SRLS at Via Marconi 110, which offers 22.1 kW AC; for broader road-trip planning, drivers often still prefer petrol or diesel for routes to Amalfi, Minori, Maiori, Cetara, Vietri sul Mare, and Salerno Costa d'Amalfi. Because the roads climb steeply and the network is thin, an EV works best for short local use rather than a multi-day loop from Naples Capodichino (NAP), Rome Fiumicino (FCO), or Salerno Costa d'Amalfi. How early should I book a car for peak summer? For July and August, booking 3 to 4 weeks ahead is the minimum that usually avoids the sharpest price spikes. A March booking for a July economy car often prices around €30–€35/day, while a two-week-out search can jump to €44–€48/day or more, especially for automatic Fiat 500, Fiat Panda, or Lancia Ypsilon stock. If you are collecting at NAP, the Curreri airport shuttle can be a useful transfer option before you pick up a car in Positano or Sorrento. I'm 23 with a licence issued 14 months ago. What are the restrictions? You are a neopatentato, which means the stricter new-driver rules apply. Article 142 of the Codice della Strada limits your speed to 90 km/h on extra-urban roads and 100 km/h on motorways, Article 186 imposes a 0.0 BAC standard, and rental companies often add a €20–€30/day young-driver fee or block higher-powered models like an Alfa Romeo Giulia or Morgan Plus 4. The rule can remain relevant for three years from the licence issue date, so a 14-month-old licence is still inside the restriction period. Can I rent a car in Positano itself or must I pick up at Naples? You can rent in Positano, but the local market is narrow and heavily weighted toward premium, convertible, or vintage cars. Operators such as Hire Car Positano, Positano Vintage, Positano Car Service, Positano Rent, Rental Car Positano, and King Rent may arrange hotel delivery and stock a Fiat 500 Cabriolet, Fiat 124 Spider, Morgan Plus 4, or Volkswagen Beetle, with daily pricing often starting around €120 and rising above €620 for specialty models; standard economy availability is much stronger at Naples Capodichino (NAP), Rome Fiumicino (FCO), or Salerno Costa d'Amalfi. For route planning, the A3 Napoli–Salerno motorway and SS145 Sorrento Peninsula road are the main access corridors before the final coastal drive. What's the fuel situation along the Amalfi Coast? Fuel is available but planning matters because opening hours and payment methods are inconsistent. The most practical stops near Positano are Q8 Praiano, Tamoil Montepertuso, and fuel points near Sorrento or Meta di Sorrento, while many smaller stations close around 20:00 and may reject foreign cards at unattended pumps. Carrying €20 and €50 notes is still wise for self-service kiosks, especially if you are driving after dinner in Positano, Furore, or toward Piano di Sorrento. What if my hotel is inside the Positano ZTL (Limited Traffic Zone)? You must register the plate with your hotel before entering the ZTL. The hotel reception can submit your plate to the Comune di Positano whitelist so the cameras can match the rental vehicle, and this matters because Article 7 penalties under the Codice della Strada are issued automatically if the plate is not recognized. If your hotel is near Spiaggia Grande, Fornillo, or Montepertuso, confirm the timing in writing and keep a screenshot or email from reception as backup. Does my travel insurance cover ZTL fines? No, standard travel insurance does not cover traffic fines or administrative surcharges. A ZTL fine under Article 7 is billed to the rental operator first, then rebilled to the driver with a processing fee that can add €40–€60, so a single entry mistake can total roughly €120–€350. The same exclusion usually applies to speeding under Article 142, alcohol-related issues under Article 186, and other road penalties enforced by the Comune di Positano or Polizia Stradale. Is there a minimum age for renting a car in Italy? Yes, the legal driving age is 18, but most agencies require at least 21 to rent and apply extra charges below 25. A learner’s or provisional licence is not accepted, and the young-driver surcharge is commonly €20–€30/day on compact cars such as a Fiat 500, Fiat Panda, or Lancia Ypsilon. If you need confirmation before booking, agencies like Avis, Hertz, Europcar, Sixt, Enterprise, Goldcar, or Locauto usually publish age rules in the fare terms. Where should I park and refuel near Positano? For parking, the most commonly used garages are Parcheggio Mandara, Parcheggio Di Gennaro, Parcheggio Arienzo / Zarbo, Parcheggio Sirenuse, and Parcheggio Luna Rossa in Amalfi, with rates that vary by season and vehicle size. For charging, Go Electric Stations SRLS at Via Marconi 110 is the main EV point, while for fuel Q8 Praiano and Tamoil Montepertuso are the most practical local references before long drives back to Naples Capodichino, Salerno Costa d'Amalfi, or Rome Fiumicino. If you are staying several nights, confirm overnight access, opening hours, and preauthorisation rules before leaving the car. Which rental models are best for Positano roads? Small cars are the safest fit for Positano’s tight roads and limited parking. The most practical choices are the Fiat 500, Fiat Panda, Smart Fortwo, and Lancia Ypsilon for low-height, low-width maneuvering, while a Fiat 500 Cabriolet or Mini Cooper works well if you want open-air driving without a large footprint. If you want something more distinctive, an Alfa Romeo Giulia, Fiat 500L, Fiat 124 Spider, Volkswagen Beetle, or Morgan Plus 4 can be available from premium local operators, but those models make parking and reversing on the SS163 Amalfitana noticeably harder.