FAQ
WHAT SHOULD I KNOW BEFORE RENTING A VESPA OR A SCOOTER IN FLORENCE?
Beyond bureaucratic requirements that can be always sorted out, the single most important prerequisite—as obvious as it may sound—is KNOWING HOW TO RIDE. If you are a very inexperienced rider, you could be dangerous for you and other road users, and sketchy riding skills will make your experience less enjoyable because you'll have to focus almost exclusively on handling the scooter, leaving you unable to relax and enjoy the beauty of your surroundings.
ARE YOUR VESPAS AUTOMATIC OR DO THEY HAVE GEARS?
All our Vespas and scooters are automatic, without gears.
WHY CAN'T I BOOK MORE THAN ONE VESPA AT A TIME ON YOUR WEBSITE?
Each driver can only ride one Vespa, and we require individual details for each driver (different names, dates of birth, driver's license numbers, etc.).
Legal responsibility for each vehicle falls on the person riding it, which is why every single driver must be identified separately
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IS IT POSSIBLE TO RETURN THE SCOOTER OUTSIDE OF CLOSING HOURS?
Sì, è possibile (e quando verrete al garage a ritirare la Vespa vi spiegheremo come fare).
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A VESPA AND A SCOOTER?
A Vespa is simply a brand of scooter made by Piaggio. Therefore, there is no difference between a Vespa and a scooter.
WHAT IS BEST TIME OF YEAR TO RENT A VESPA IN FLORENCE?
Summer in Florence can get extremely hot, making the middle of the day somewhat unpleasant.
Winter from late November to late January is cold enough to make riding a Vespa an unappealing experience
Therefore, Spring and Autumn are our recommended seasons.
FOR HOW LONG SHOULD I RENT A VESPA IN FLORENCE?
HOW DO I RENT A VESPA IN FLORENCE FOR A WEEK OR A MONTH?
IS IT POSSIBLE TO DO A HONEYMOON VESPA TOUR OF FLORENCE?
If you're planning a romantic multi-day getaway, simply tell us which destinations you have in mind and we can design a custom itinerary tailored to your needs.
You can select this option directly at checkout when making your reservation.
WHAT ARE THE BEST VIEWPOINTS TO REACH BY VESPA AROUND FLORENCE?
Piazzale Michelangiolo and Fiesole are outstanding places where you could take panoramic pictures of the city.
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR FOR A VESPA RIDE AROUND TUSCANY?
Weather conditions will certainly dictate your choice; however, the golden rule to always keep in mind is CLOSED-TOE SHOES.
Sandals and flip-flops are great for keeping cool in the summer, but even a minor sudden stop that forces you to put a foot down quickly can result in a very painful toe injury.
You can always bring a pair of sandals to explore Chianti's villages, and put your closed-toe shoes back on before setting off again.
A rain jacket is always a good idea on days with uncertain weather.
Finally, while it's not strictly clothing, on very sunny days—especially for those with fair skin—it is wise to apply adequate sunscreen.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I BUDGET FOR GAS ON A VESPA RENTAL DAY?
WHAT ENGINE SIZE (CC) SHOULD I RENT FOR A RIDE IN FLORENCE AND TUSCANY?
In our opinion, there are three main engine sizes to consider:
50 cc (Electric Vespa): In this case, you are renting an electric Vespa designed strictly for exploring the city. The electric vehicle is truly the optimal choice for urban use.
125 cc: The all-rounder size. Nimble in the city, yet perfectly suitable for day trips out of town—up to around 100 km without overly exhausting the rider or passenger.
300 cc: These vehicles feel a bit heavy and less nimble in city traffic, but they are ideal for visiting other Tuscan cities like Lucca, Pisa, Arezzo, or Siena.
CAN I CARRY A PASSENGER?
CAN I RENT A VESPA OR A SCOOTER IN FLORENCE AS A TOURIST?
HOW DO I NAVIGATE FLORENCE TRAFFIC ON A VESPA AS A TOURIST?
We strongly recommend adding a smartphone holder to your Vespa rental. This allows you to navigate effortlessly using any navigation app on your phone (Google Maps, Waze, etc.).
WHAT IS THE ZTL IN FLORENCE AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
The ZTL (Zona a Traffico Limitato / Limited Traffic Zone) in Florence is a large area in the historic center where motor vehicle traffic is restricted to minimize congestion, protect historic monuments, and improve city livability.
Access is monitored by automated camera gates that record the license plates of all entering vehicles.
Two-wheeled vehicles (including all of our rental Vespas) are permitted to enter the Florence ZTL freely.
TIPS FOR PARKING A RENTAL VESPA IN FLORENCE?
If you are worried about theft, you can park overnight in any of the city's numerous monitored parking garages.
If parking on the street, alongside standard security precautions (locking the handlebars with the steering lock), make sure to park exclusively in designated motorcycle/scooter parking spots (marked by white lines).
If you aren't sure where to park, here are a few rules of thumb:
Do not park between two parked cars.
Do not park in yellow (resident) or blue (paid car) zones.
Do not park on sidewalks.
Do not park in front of driveways or alleyway entrances.
Do not park if street cleaning is scheduled for that night.
CAN YOU GIVE ME A MAP?
At our Florence store, we sell road maps of Tuscany for €8.50 each.
We have maps of Florence city center for €3.00 each.
Finally, we have a GPS track that you can open in Google Maps with a personalized tour of Chianti for €2.00.
BEST ITINERARY FROM FLORENCE TO CHIANTI BY VESPA?
We can't spoil it for you in these FAQs because we prefer you discover it yourself by following one of our custom GPS tracks!
DO I HAVE TO BOOK IN ADVANCE?
IS IT POSSIBLE TO TAKE A GUIDED VESPA TOUR FROM (AND IN) FLORENCE?
There are certainly many tour operators in Florence offering group Vespa tours, but we do not recommend this experience due to the inevitable skill disparities within mixed groups.
We are also quite critical of this model because many operators accept any client regardless of actual riding ability. We often see people on the road who are completely incapable of riding, putting themselves and group members (=you) at risk.
For this reason, we choose to guide only small private groups of people (minimum number is two, on one Vespa) who know each other and definitely already know how to ride. You'll notice it's impossible to book a tour directly from our website; this is a deliberate choice because, before taking responsibility for leading people on public roads, we want to know our riders well and assess their skills.
For more information on tours, feel free to email us at info@newtuscanyscooterrental.com. send us an email
DO YOU REQUIRE A CREDIT CARD DEPOSIT?
Yes, we require a security deposit of €800 for all scooters and Vespas up to 125cc. The deposit for rentals of motorcycles or scooters with a higher engine capacity varies from model to model, so check the vehicle description on its page for more detailed information.
The deposit is fully released when the scooter or motorcycle is returned undamaged, with a full tank of fuel, and with all additional accessories present and undamaged.
Time of release of your credit card hold DEPENDS ON YOUR BANK, NOT ON US, and it usually takes a few working days (up to 10) to be returned.
HOW DO I BOOK?
Booking through our website is super easy!
Go to our homepage and select your desired dates and times (and optionally choose a vehicle category from the drop-down menu). Then click "Search".
A new page will open showing all available vehicles for your selected timeframe. Choose the vehicle you want to rent and click on it.
On the next page, select any optionals you'd like, scroll down, and click "Book Now".
Enter your personal details and complete your credit card information. (Don't worry, the site is HTTPS certified, so your card details are completely secure!).
As soon as we receive your booking, we will confirm it, charge a 30% deposit to your card, and email you an invoice alongside a confirmation containing key pickup instructions. Done!
WHY CAN'T I BOOK MORE THAN ONE VESPA AT A TIME ON YOUR WEBSITE?
Each driver can only ride one Vespa, and we require individual details for each driver (different names, dates of birth, driver's license numbers, etc.).
Legal responsibility for each vehicle falls on the person riding it, which is why every single driver must be identified separately
HOW CAN I PAY?
Balance will be charged at the end of the rental period.
We can charge your credit or debit card (we only accept Visa and MasterCard, not American Express).
Cash payments are accepted.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR VESPA RENTAL PACKAGE?
We don't like baiting customers with fake low rates only to tack on extra fees for essential gear like helmets or top cases (which customers obviously can't bring from home).
Therefore, for all of our scooter rentals, helmets, top cases, and unlimited mileage are fully included in the price.
The only accessory we charge for (at a nominal fee of €3/day) is the smartphone holder. We only charge for this because phone mounts break very frequently, and rental proceeds allow us to keep a steady supply in stock for our customers.
Gasoline is also not included. We kindly ask that you refill the tank before returning the scooter because our garage is located inside a UNESCO zone, meaning (1) there are no gas stations nearby and (2) we are legally prohibited from storing fuel inside our premises.
WHAT IS THE INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR MY VEHICLE?
All our vehicles are insured with the standard third-party liability insurance required in Italy.
However, third-party liability insurance does not cover any damage caused to the vehicle by the driver (=you!), so we offer a few types of supplemental insurance coverage that reduces the deductible and coverage limits.
Each vehicle on this site clearly displays information regarding both the security deposit amount and any additional insurance coverage available for that vehicle.
DO I NEED INSURANCE TO RENT A VESPA IN FLORENCE?
It depends on which type of insurance we are talking about.
Personal accident insurance for the driver and passenger is not legally mandatory for any vehicle type in Italy. Therefore, whoever rents a vehicle (including our Vespas) must decide independently whether to purchase additional travel coverage of this kind.
Third-Party Liability (RC) insurance, on the other hand, is mandatory for every motor vehicle operating in Italy, so all of our Vespas include this coverage by default.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO RENT ONE OF YOUR SCOOTERS OR MOTORCYCLES?
It depends on what you would like to rent! We have Vespas starting at €60/day, but also 300 cc scooters starting from €90/day.
Then, of course, there are motorcycles, which cost more. All vehicles (and their availability) are listed here on this website.
IS IT DIFFICULT TO RIDE A VESPA IN ITALY? IS IT SAFE TO RIDE A VESPA IN FLORENCE?
It all depends on your riding ability.
We will never tire of repeating that the key requirement for a completely safe scooter or Vespa trip is BEING ABLE TO RIDE. It sounds obvious, but in our experience, 99% of accidents happen because inexperienced riders are unable to control the vehicle—especially in heavy traffic, during parking maneuvers, or on dirt roads (and there are plenty of those in Tuscany). Traffic in Florence is just like traffic in any other medium-sized city.
You don't need to be a MotoGP racer, but you must know how to control the vehicle under all conditions: in traffic, around curves, uphill, downhill, etc. If the person renting isn't able to do that, then yes, driving in Italy and Florence will indeed be difficult… just as it would be anywhere else in the world with traffic, sharp turns, and steep inclines.
So, if you are capable of riding a motorcycle or scooter back home, riding in Florence won't be noticeably less safe than riding in any other European city.
HOW DO YOU RIDE A VESPA IN ITALY AS A BEGINNER? CAN YOU RENT A VESPA IN FLORENCE WITH ZERO RIDING EXPERIENCE?
You can technically rent a Vespa without prior riding experience.
However, we strongly advise against renting any two-wheeled vehicle if you don't have at least a bare minimum of experience. While we don't want to deny anyone the opportunity to learn something new, getting on an unfamiliar vehicle in a foreign country without an instructor showing you how to manage basic maneuvers is not a wise decision.
We believe it is much better to learn in a safe environment and get some practice before tackling city traffic, where there is no margin for error when mistakes inevitably happen
WHAT IF I GET A FINE?
From the moment you take delivery of a vehicle, you become entirely responsible for any traffic violations you commit (and also for any expenses that New Tuscany Scooter Rental may incur as a result of such violations).
Also check out our blog for more details https://vesparental.eu/multe-a-firenze-come-funziona/
WHAT ARE THE AGE REQUIREMENTS TO RENT A VESPA FROM YOU, AND IN ITALY?
Four our scooters, you must be twenty years old. For 125 cc vehicles, you must be of legal age (18+) and hold at least a valid car driver's license from your home country (see our dedicated driver's license FAQ).
For motorcycles, please send us an email indicating the model you have chosen, as the answer depends on the power of the motorcycle
DO I NEED A LICENSE TO RIDE A VESPA IN ITALY?
Yes. In Italy you cannot ride ANY motorized two-wheeled vehicle without a license.
WHAT KIND OF LICENSE DO I NEED TO RIDE A 125cc SCOOTER IN ITALY?
To drive a 125cc scooter in Italy, a category B driving licence (the one used for cars) is sufficient.
DO I NEED AN INTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMIT (IDP) TO RENT A VESPA?
If your driver's license was issued by a non-EU country, an International Driving Permit is required (Note: the IDP is merely a translation of your original license, so you must present both).
To be 100% clear, you can rent a scooter from us without an International Driving Permit, provided that the Italian police can read and understand your original license (licenses written in Chinese, Thai, Arabic, Cyrillic, etc., are not acceptable). However, in theory, you cannot legally drive without an IDP if your license was issued outside the European Union (EXCEPTIONS ARE UK, NORWAY AND SWITZERLAND).
The police are often quite lenient about this, but the fine is potentially very high (€350). Therefore, taking that risk is up to the renter, as the rental agency is not responsible for fines incurred for driving without an IDP.
CAN I RENT A VESPA IN FLORENCE WITH A NORTH AMERICAN (USA OR CANADA) LICENSE?
The same rules mentioned above regarding International Driving Permits apply.
A large portion of North American tourists believe their US driver's license is valid in Italy, but even though the vast majority of rental agencies prefer to turn a blind eye, that is legally not the case.
DO I NEED INSURANCE TO RENT A VESPA IN FLORENCE?
It depends on which type of insurance we are talking about.
Personal accident insurance for the driver and passenger is not legally mandatory for any vehicle type in Italy. Therefore, whoever rents a vehicle (including our Vespas) must decide independently whether to purchase additional travel coverage of this kind.
Third-Party Liability (RC) insurance, on the other hand, is mandatory for every motor vehicle operating in Italy, so all of our Vespas include this coverage by default.
WHAT DOCUMENTS DO I NEED TO RENT A VESPA IN FLORENCE?
To rent a scooter or motorbike you need:
- an identity document separate from your driver's license (passport or National ID card)
- your driver's license
- a valid credit card (Visa or Mastercard only, we don't accept American Express)
WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED AND WHAT ARE YOUR HOURS?
We are in Florence, about 200 meters from the Santa Maria Novella station.
Our address, a map and all our information is available on this page
WHAT HAPPENS IF A RENTAL VESPA GETS DAMAGED?
As with all vehicle rentals, any damage caused to the rented scooter by the driver is the financial responsibility of the person providing the credit card guarantee (who must sign the rental agreement alongside the driver).
WILL YOU COME PICK ME UP IN CASE OF PROBLEMS?
In the event of an accident caused by another vehicle, we will, if necessary, pick up both you and the vehicle, and the recovery costs will be charged to the other party's insurance.
In the event of a breakdown not caused by you, we will replace the vehicle if possible; otherwise, we will collect both you and the vehicle. If you have to pay transportation costs (train, taxi) to return, we will reimburse you.
In the event of an accident or breakdown caused by you that requires vehicle recovery, the cost is €150 for the service plus €3 per km, calculated between the rental station of departure and the collection point.
HELMETS AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR VESPA RENTALS?
Italian traffic laws state that the only mandatory protective equipment for riding mopeds and motorcycles is a helmet. We supply 2 helmets with every rental (free of charge, with no hidden costs)
WHAT ARE THE BEST DAY TRIPS FROM FLORENCE BY VESPA? HOW CAN I EXPLORE TUSCAN WINERIES ON A VESPA FROM FLORENCE?
We are delighted to tell you that you don't have to plan anything on your own!
One of the options you can select when booking is the "Phone Holder + Itinerary" add-on.
We have two itineraries winding through the Sienese Chianti region and the San Gimignano area. Upon vehicle handover, we will provide you with a GPS track that opens directly on your phone.
Based on a quick calculation, you’ll have roughly fifty different wine producers to choose from along the route.
VESPA VS RENTAL CAR IN TUSCANY: WHICH IS THE BETTER CHOICE?
The only advantage of a car is having air conditioning on hot days and shelter during sudden rain, but honestly, we don't see any others.
In Florence, you can ride within about 70% of the historic center (where cars are forbidden to enter), and you will NEVER face parking issues.
Once out of the city, a car can reach a destination faster, but in our opinion, that's actually a disadvantage. A Vespa gives you the chance to travel along roads lined with vineyards and pull over virtually anywhere. Doing that in a car is impossible.
VESPA RENTAL SCAMS IN FLORENCE: HOW TO AVOID THEM?
Unfortunately, this business model can be prone to scams. We can only vouch for our own operations, which we keep fair, honest, and fully transparent.
Just as you make a commitment to us, we make one to you.
We photograph the entire Vespa and share those photos with you directly so there is zero ambiguity regarding pre-existing vs. new damage.
If damage does occur, we commit to providing itemized quotes from our third-party repair shops (body shops, parts suppliers, etc.).
As for traffic fines (which invariably arrive several months later), we manage the payment process directly and provide you with both the official fine notification and proof of violation photos.
