RENTING A VESPA IN ROME

Scooter rental in Rome is a thrilling idea.

It’s also a thrilling way to a) lower your life expectancy and b) learn the most Italian swear words in under a minute. But hey, when in Rome…right? Just Kidding.

Stylish, practical, innovative, classic… descriptions of the Vespa, the iconic Italian scooter, are endless. These vehicles aren’t just nice to look at, they’re also a very unique way of exploring Rome. You can rent a Vespa in many cities. Doing so just might be the highlight of your holiday in Italy.

There’s just something so stereotypically Italian about cruising through the streets on one of these sexy scooters. Stop for a gelato or just buzz by the sights. With the wind in your hair and the sun in the sky, you’ll really feel like a local.

Roman motorini often swerve into oncoming traffic to beat slower moving vehicles. Moped drivers see red lights as more of a suggestion than a rule and believe crosswalks and sidewalks are just as well suited for scooters as they are for pedestrians. Looking for a designated scooter lane? Any space between the two cars is fair game. Rome ranks among the cities with the most registered scooters in the world. With congested traffic and little parking, it’s no wonder that the motorino has found such a devoted following in the Eternal City.

However, the Roman affinity for motorini extends far beyond youthful rebellion and the scooter is the transportation mode of choice for many more mature commuters. You’ll spot many riders impeccably dressed in tailored suits on their way to work. To rent and ride a scooter in Rome, all you need is a valid driver’s license, a sense of adventure, and a good dose of common sense. Watch out for wet cobblestones, potholes, restricted traffic areas, and other drivers.

You can drive a scooter up to 125cc with no special license required. Helmets, however, are very much required, as is proper paperwork, so confirm the presence of both with your rental agency before you drive away. An international driving license (Car) works as proof of ID.

Here is our guide below for knowing everything about renting a scooter in Rome and exploring some unusual neighborhoods

RENTING A SCOOTER IN ROME

There are a lot of different companies that offer scooter, motorbike, or Vespa rental in Rome. If you want to rent something when you’re already there, that’s always an option. Or you can search online before you go.

Here are the best website options we could find to rent scooters in the capital of Italy:

My Vespa – An online option that has lots of different Vespa, scooter, and motorcycle choices as well as bicycle rentals. It’s super easy to use and you can do everything online. They’ll also let you change your dates or cancel your reservation online for free if you have a change of plans. We decided to embrace this adventure at the last min so just showed up at the store (There is one close to the colosseum – only 10 mins walking to where we were staying) and gave it a go. They have 4 locations in Rome to choose from
Bici & Baci – This scooter rental place located at Termini Station has four stores in Rome. They also organize some Vespa tours of Rome. They have set prices for the day based on how powerful your motorbike will be.

If you want to rent your scooter quick and fast, we recommend the following options on Get Your Guide or Head out (Both of our favourite apps for booking tours while on the go):

24-Hour Scooter Rental – 58€ for two people
12 Hours to One Week Rental – Starting 65€ for 2 people
Rome By Night – 70€ for two people

WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR RENTAL

The requirements for a scooter rental vary between rental places, but legally, you’ll need:

a credit card for the security deposit;
a European drivers license B (for cars) or
an International Driver’s Permit

If you’re from outside Europe, you can get an International Driver’s Permit before you leave your home country. As long as you have a license in your home state or country, you can get this permit, which is recognized as valid in over 175 countries.

NOTE: Most rental places, even if you have a valid international driver’s permit, won’t rent a motorbike to you if you are under 18 years old.

WHAT TO CHECK

When you go to pick up your scooter, make sure they give you a helmet. Also, do a full review of the bike, checking for any scratches, that all the mirrors are there, and that there isn’t any damage. If you find anything, make sure to show the rental agency (so you aren’t blamed when you return it!) or ask for a different motorbike.

TIP: We usually take pictures of every scratch even if they are recorded by the agency just in case.

Make sure the gas tank is full as well. With most rentals, the gas isn’t included if you have to refill the tank, but you should start out on a full tank. Also, be sure to ask what type of gas to put in if you need to refuel.

COST TO RENT

The price all depends on what company you use and what type of motor vehicle you want to rent. A scooter, Vespa or moped will usually be cheaper – around 45€ to 90€ a day (We opted for this one)

Almost all places that rent Vespas in Rome require a security deposit of 250€ to 500€ regardless of how many days your rental period takes. This is unavoidable and usually, the company doesn’t even withdraw the money from your account unless you return the motorbike with damage. Typically, they just place a hold on the money, and then it’s back in your account as normal once you turn in the motorbike.

NOTE: Most rental places also don’t include gas. Make sure you have 5€ or 10€ change to fuel up your scooter.

PARKING

One of the best parts of driving a scooter is that they’re easy to park because they’re small and versatile. You can leave your scooter or Vespa anywhere in the designated scooter parking spots – they’re marked with white or blue lines (but the easiest way to spot them is to see where all the other motorbikes are parked!). There are also no parking fees for bikes unless otherwise stated.

You can also park your motorbike on some sidewalks – if you see other scooters parked there, you can join them, but make sure you leave enough space for pedestrians, of course.

Just don’t park on any yellow lines, which are for public transport, or on a sidewalk where there are no other scooters. You cannot park in spots where there is a “Divieto di Sosta” sign (which literally means “Do not park”); you can usually find these in front of driveways and garages. If you park your scooter illegally, you risk getting a fine!

Some of the cool unusual places we explored on our day in Rome are as below:

PIGNETO

Just 15 minutes from Termini is the Roman equivalent of Shoreditch or Brooklyn, a vibrant neighborhood that feels a world away from the Centro Storico. Think street art, a lively nightlife, and two-story 20th-century buildings rather than Renaissance palazzi. No, it’s not the Rome of La Dolce Vita, but for many, that’s part of its appeal – hardly a tourist in sight.

The main street, Via del Pigneto, is packed with bars, including Mezzo, Cargo, and Bottiglieria Pigneto. You should also pay a visit to the famous Necci dal 1924 (Via Fanfulla da Lodi 68), which makes an appearance in a Pasolini film. It tends to be busy all day long, offering a delicious brunch and dinner.

While Pigneto is generally safe, take care if you’re there late at night, especially if you’re on your own.

THE AVENTINE KEYHOLE

A nondescript green door at the end of a cul-de-sac features a stunningly well-framed, if comically tiny, view consisting of two nation-states and one country, with the dome of St. Peter’s perfectly situated in the center. The doorway in question leads to the Priory of the Knights of Malta, the legendary crusader knights, and religious order. Although the property has been in their hands for centuries, the site has seen many occupants.

The elegant building today is a small church known as Santa Maria del Priorato. The church’s architectural motifs evoke ships and the sea, inspired by the longstanding tradition of comparing the Aventine Hill to a ship. The keyhole vista lines up perfectly with the garden, centered on the Vatican in the distance. No one seems to be able to say with certainty whether this was a beautifully planned peepshow—or just a lucky coincidence.

GIARDINO DEGLI ARANCI (ORANGE GARDEN ROME)

Not too far away from the Keyhole (Up the street) sits the Giardino Degli Aranci

You will know when you have arrived at the Giardino, also known as Parco Savello, by the fountain out front. The fountain is by Giacomo Della Porta previously lived in the Roman Forum before making its eventual way to this spot after a stop on the lungo Tevere.

(Or you can also find the entrance if you keep an eye out for the man with the impressive girth who sells roasted chestnuts at the gate pretty regardless of the season). Walk through the gates, and follow the pathway. When you turn left, you will see it.

St. Peter’s Basilica is gloriously centered, with Roman umbrella pines on either side. The terrace of the Giardino deli Aranci is popular with locals and tourists alike. It is one of the best places to enjoy some glorious views of Rome.

The garden is easily reached from either Circo Massimo or Testaccio. There are also stairs from Lungotevere Aventino, not too far from the Mouth of Truth.

TESTACCIO

This laidback residential neighborhood is just beyond the edge of the tourist map (close to Trastevere and the Aventine Hill), but it’s becoming increasingly popular with visitors who want to discover the more authentic, down-to-earth side of Rome.

Once a humble, working-class district best-known for its abattoir, Testaccio is foodie heaven, and these days it is the food tour group weaving through the local shoppers at the market.

On every other corner, you will find cool murals on buildings with hidden message or meaning behind it. More than anything Testaccio just feels so Italian. There’s a lively atmosphere of normal day to day life—old ladies stocking up in local delis, elderly gentlemen shooting the breeze on a piazza bench, teenagers licking gelato on street corners, stylishly dressed young Italians downing espressos at the bar with their morning cornetto.

There aren’t many other tourists around so by participating in these daily rituals you allow yourself to become, just briefly, Roman.