If you’re planning to get really off the beaten path, or if you don’t have a set itinerary, or if you’re traveling as part of a small group, renting a car in Italy might be a good option.
You can also rent a car for a portion of your trip, say for a day or two to drive through Tuscany, and then use the train for the rest. This is a particularly good option for those who aren’t excited about the hassles involved with driving – primarily city driving and parking.
Driving in Italian cities can be extremely frustrating, and finding parking in historic town centers even more so. In other words, while renting a car for certain parts of your trip or for trips through less-traveled parts of Italy can be a great idea, renting a car to drive through Rome or Florence is not.