With a rental car the fine goes to the rental company first and is then reissued to you: only you can ask for it to be cancelled, and the 60 days run from that fine.
The fine reaches the rental company first
With a rental car the fine does not come straight to you. The first fine is addressed to the rental company, because it owns the car. The rental company is then obliged, under the Highway Code, to tell the municipal police that issued the penalty who was driving the car, that is the details of the renter who signed the rental contract: yours. The municipal police then reissue the fine, this time addressed directly to you.
Why this step matters so much
Only the recipient of the fine can ask for it to be cancelled. As long as the fine is addressed to the rental company you cannot appeal: you can do so when you receive the fine in your own name, and that is when the 60 days start. So there is no need to panic when the rental company first writes to you: wait for the fine addressed to you, then follow the steps in the guide to appealing to the Prefect. And of course keep the garage parking ticket: it is your proof. Beware: sometimes a letter arrives from the rental company that looks like a fine notice but is not one: here is how to recognise it.
Beware of penalty clauses in the contract
Also be careful with rental contract clauses that charge a penalty, for example 50 euro, if you receive traffic violations. They are often unlawful and void, and so without effect: the Italian Competition and Market Authority has taken this view in several recent decisions. We discuss it in the guide to rental penalty fees.
How to avoid the fine
The simplest way to avoid surprises is to book a garage that registers your plate, such as City Parking Fiesolana, City Parking Via Venezia and Garage Firenze Borgo Pinti. The garage arranges the permit when you arrive, without you having to send the plate beforehand; just remember that it is not valid in bus and taxi lanes. The full rules are in the Florence ZTL guide.
Frequently asked questions
Who receives the ZTL fine if the car is rented?
The first fine is addressed to the rental company, which tells the municipal police who holds the rental contract. The municipal police reissue the fine addressed to you.
Who can ask for the fine to be cancelled?
Only the recipient of the fine. That is why the fine addressed to you matters, not the one sent to the rental company.
Why does the rental company pass on my details?
Because the Highway Code obliges it to tell the municipal police who was driving the car, that is the details of the renter who signed the contract.
When do the 60 days start?
From notification of the fine addressed to you, not from the rental company’s first message.
What if the rental company charges me a penalty?
Read the contract and dispute the charge in writing: the guide on rental penalty fees explains why it is often challengeable.
Official information
Check current access rules, transport and attraction information for your travel date.