Hi, everyone. Just wanted to check if anyone has hired a car and driven to the Alps without the snow tyres/chains. We are flying in on the 18th Feb and I can't decide what to do. The easiest solution seems to rent a car but rental cars don't come equipped wtih winter tyres (isnt' it insane ?!). Snow chains seem to be on the first come first served basis as well. I saw a suggestion from someone here to rent a car and then buy snow chains from the nearest Shell garage.
Just want to see if anyone has done that and how this worked out.
Thanks for your feedback.
Car hire from Bergamo, driving to Bormio (SNOW CHAINS/TYRES QUESTION)
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As for chains, stop at a supermarket and buy some, way cheaper. And bring them home with you!
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Started by Vft in Italy 09-Feb-2012 - 14 Replies
Vft posted Feb-2012
Edited 2 times. Last update at 09-Feb-2012
Tony_H
reply to 'Car hire from Bergamo, driving to Bormio (SNOW CHAINS/TYRES QUESTION)' posted Feb-2012
I think you'll find that they ask you to pay an upgrade if you want winter tyres, but you actually find when you rent the car that its already got winter tyres on anyway, so paying is a waste of money. This happened to me at Munich a couple of years ago.vft wrote:Hi, everyone. Just wanted to check if anyone has hired a car and driven to the Alps without the snow tyres/chains. We are flying in on the 18th Feb and I can't decide what to do. The easiest solution seems to rent a car but rental cars don't come equipped wtih winter tyres (isnt' it insane ?!). Snow chains seem to be on the first come first served basis as well. I saw a suggestion from someone here to rent a car and then buy snow chains from the nearest Shell garage.
Just want to see if anyone has done that and how this worked out.
Thanks for your feedback.
As for chains, stop at a supermarket and buy some, way cheaper. And bring them home with you!
www
New and improved me
Vft
reply to 'Car hire from Bergamo, driving to Bormio (SNOW CHAINS/TYRES QUESTION)' posted Feb-2012
Tony_H, Germany is not Italy. They definitely do not have winter tyres on hired car in Italy, hence the question.
Rossyhead
reply to 'Car hire from Bergamo, driving to Bormio (SNOW CHAINS/TYRES QUESTION)' posted Feb-2012
If you are just driving to bormio you won't need snow tyres-straight up the motorway through the tunnels. If going to oga, Santa caterina or livigno def get some but get them in tirano.
Are you going out for the English champs? I worked there for a year 2 seasons ago and regularly drove the airport run.
You really only NEED snow tyres going to livigno
Are you going out for the English champs? I worked there for a year 2 seasons ago and regularly drove the airport run.
You really only NEED snow tyres going to livigno
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Ian Wickham
reply to 'Car hire from Bergamo, driving to Bormio (SNOW CHAINS/TYRES QUESTION)' posted Feb-2012
My only problem is if you're hiring a car and buy snow chains they might not fit another vehicle you may hire next time ..... I have four or five sets in my garage at home where I have changed cars with a different tyre size 8)
Vft
reply to 'Car hire from Bergamo, driving to Bormio (SNOW CHAINS/TYRES QUESTION)' posted Feb-2012
Thanks for your replies, Rossyhead and Ian.
Rossyhead, I am only driving to Bormio so great, no snow tyres then! We are just going skiing ourselves, I wasn't aware of any events there at the time. Just googled it, it looks like we are coming just after the champs are over, which is probably not a bad thing:)Can't wait to get back on the slopes, so soon now!
Rossyhead, I am only driving to Bormio so great, no snow tyres then! We are just going skiing ourselves, I wasn't aware of any events there at the time. Just googled it, it looks like we are coming just after the champs are over, which is probably not a bad thing:)Can't wait to get back on the slopes, so soon now!
Dub
reply to 'Car hire from Bergamo, driving to Bormio (SNOW CHAINS/TYRES QUESTION)' posted Feb-2012
If you are driving in the north of Italy you must have Snow tyres or chains by law from 15th nov to 15th aprile .I know ..I live here
you should ask the car rental company.
ciao
you should ask the car rental company.
ciao
Vft
reply to 'Car hire from Bergamo, driving to Bormio (SNOW CHAINS/TYRES QUESTION)' posted Feb-2012
Dub, I know that it is a legal requirement to have a snow tyres or snow chains however not one of the car rental companies in the Northern Italy provides cars with either snow tyres. Snow chains are apparently provided on the first come first served basis. I have asked, multiple times, different companies, and in Italian too because I speak Italian fluently. So if they don't give it to me - not much I can do.
Topic last updated on 13-February-2012 at 22:25