You can rent a car in Cagliari 24 hours a day directly at the airport. The cheapest car hire Cagliari is for small cars and economy cars (starting from 30 EUR per day). Look for the Noleggio Auto ('Car Rental') sign. To rent a car you need an international driving licence. The minimum price for medium cars, station wagons and jeeps is 60-70 EUR per day. The rental price usually covers insurance against theft and traffic accident damage (third party liability); minor claims (punctured wheels, windshield damage, etc) are paid separately.
Italian companies give the chance to rent a car of any make, even a BMW (cars of this brand are not frequent enough in rentals in other countries). Only Italians can rent a car in Cagliari without a deposit.
It is cheaper to rent a car in Cagliari if you book in advance. It can be done via the internet. One can book a car rental in Cagliari upon arrival. However, the cost of car hire in Cagliari will be higher.
One litre of petrol costs about 1.5 EUR. Parking must be done in the designated areas. If you park in the second lane, at a pedestrian crossing or at a public transport stop, your car will be towed away to the impound lot. You will have to pay a fine and an impound fee to get it back. In addition, problems may arise with the return of the deposit on the car.
Sardinia has many serpentine roads, so speed limits are vital. Driving around the island, you may drive into secret military bases (NATO bases are located here), so road signs must be watched very carefully.
