Renting a Car at Catania (Sicily) Airport

Last updated: 5 August 2026

Short answer: Sicilian rentals are among the cheapest in Italy — a week in a compact in shoulder season starts around €80 — and the airport is small enough that you reach the desk about two minutes after clearing customs. AutoEuropa and Sicily by Car sit 3 km away on Viale Ulisse with a free shuttle every 10 minutes, and they include infant seats and GPS that international brands bill at €10–15 a day.

Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) is Sicily's busiest airport and the starting point for incredible road trips around the island. Rental counters are in the arrivals hall, with Hertz, Sixt, Europcar, and excellent local operators Sicily by Car and AutoEuropa. Sicilian rentals are among Italy's cheapest — a week-long compact car hire in shoulder season starts around €80.

🎯 Quick Tip

Sicily by Car and AutoEuropa are local Sicilian operators with newer fleets and better prices than international brands at CTA. They include more insurance coverage in the base price and have shorter queues — book direct on their websites for the best rates.

Compare QEEQ, Localrent, Economybookings, AutoEurope & GetRentacar at CTA

Localrent.com

Specialises in local Italy operators that often undercut international brands at CTA

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Economybookings.com

Aggregates 800+ rental companies including all major brands operating at CTA

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QEEQ

Strong fleet selection at Catania (Sicily) Airport with competitive Italy rates

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AutoEurope

Best for premium brands and one-way drops within Europe from Catania

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GetRentacar.com

Marketplace of local owners and agencies with live inventory in 80 countries — check live listings at CTA

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Airport Pickup Tips

CTA rental desks are immediately to the right after exiting baggage claim. The airport is compact — you'll be at the desk within 2 minutes of leaving customs. Present your passport, EU license or IDP, and credit card. Sicilian operators are friendly and informal but thorough with documentation. Typical pickup: 10–20 minutes.

Sicilian roads are narrow and uneven in places — check the undercarriage, wheel rims (curbing is endemic), and both mirrors carefully. The volcanic ash from Mount Etna occasionally coats cars with a fine grit that can mask existing scratches. Wipe the car with the provided cloth before your inspection, especially if parked in the outdoor lot.

Explore Catania (Sicily) by Car

Catania is eastern Sicily's main airport and the ideal starting point for a Sicilian road trip. Drive around Mount Etna, explore the baroque towns of Noto and Ragusa, and reach the stunning beaches of Cefalù on the north coast.

Top drive from Catania (Sicily): Circumnavigation of Mount Etna via the SP92

Full Catania (Sicily) Car Hire Guide →

Hotels near Catania (Sicily) Airport

Landing late or returning the car before an early flight? The map below compares live hotel prices around Catania (Sicily) Airport and nearby areas — handy for the night before pickup or drop-off:

Getting from Catania (Sicily) Airport to the City

CTA is 7 km south of Catania center — a 15-minute drive via the Tangenziale (ring road). For Taormina, take the A18/E45 north (55 min). For Siracusa, head south on the E45 (50 min). For Mount Etna's northern approach (Linguaglossa), take the E45 north then SP71 inland (75 min). For Ragusa and baroque Sicily, take the SS514 south (90 min).

AutoEuropa and Sicily by Car have large lots on Viale Ulisse in the Zona Industriale, 3 km from CTA. Free shuttle buses depart from the arrivals exit every 10 minutes. These local operators offer complimentary infant seats and GPS units that international brands charge €10–15/day for.

What to Know Before Driving from CTA

Italy drives on the right. Autostrada speed limit is 130 km/h (110 km/h in rain), extraurbane (rural) roads 90 km/h, and urban areas 50 km/h. Sicily's autostrade are mostly toll-free (unlike mainland Italy). The ZTL (Zona a Traffico Limitato) cameras in Catania center activate at different hours — check the posted times carefully. Sicilian drivers are expressive — honking, gesturing, and overtaking are normal communication.

Sicily's roads are a mix of modern autostrada and ancient village lanes where two cars barely fit side by side. Before leaving CTA, set your GPS to avoid 'strade comunali' (municipal roads) if your car is wider than a compact. Also verify your rental includes ZTL violation coverage — Catania, Taormina, and Siracusa all have restricted traffic zones with camera enforcement.

Fuel Stations Near CTA

IP and Q8 stations are on the Catania ring road (Tangenziale), 5 km from CTA. Fuel prices: unleaded approximately €1.85/L, diesel €1.75/L. The IP station on Viale Kennedy is the closest to CTA's rental return. Fill up at supermarket stations (Conad, Auchan) for fuel 5–8 cents cheaper than branded stations.

Local Driving Tip

Catania's one-way system around Via Etnea is notoriously confusing — program your GPS before entering and avoid the fish market area near Piazza Duomo entirely by car. The nearby Etna mountain roads have unpredictable volcanic gravel patches.

Car Hire at CTA — FAQ

Do I need a credit card to rent a car at Catania Airport (CTA)?
Not necessarily. GetRentacar accepts Visa and Mastercard debit cards with about 15% paid online and the balance to the owner. The other platforms leave the decision to the local supplier, and most of them want a credit card in the driver’s name for the deposit.
What is the minimum age to rent a car in Italy?
Most suppliers set a minimum of 21 and add a young-driver surcharge below 25. GetRentacar is the exception here: its marketplace rents from age 18. QEEQ shows the young-driver fee inside the displayed total, so the price you compare is the price you pay.
Which car rental platform is cheapest at Catania Airport (CTA)?
No platform wins everywhere. Localrent lists local operators and is usually the price floor in Italy, with small deposits and 15–20% prepaid online. Run it against one broker on the same dates and compare the total including insurance and deposit, not the daily rate.
Is it cheaper to rent at CTA or in Catania?
Airport locations carry concession fees that typically add 10–15% to the base rate, so a city branch can be cheaper. Against that, off-airport pickup costs a shuttle and time, and one-way drop-offs are simpler from the airport. For short rentals the premium is often smaller than the transfer into Catania.
How quickly can I collect a car after landing at Catania?
The airport is compact enough that you reach the rental desks about two minutes after clearing customs. If you booked with an off-airport operator, add the shuttle: it runs every 10 minutes from the arrivals exit to the Zona Industriale lots, 3 km away.
What do the local Sicilian operators include that the big brands do not?
AutoEuropa and Sicily by Car provide complimentary infant seats and GPS units — items international brands charge €10–15 a day for. Their lots are on Viale Ulisse with a free shuttle, so the saving costs you roughly 15 minutes on collection.
What should I budget for fuel in Sicily?
Roughly €1.85 a litre for unleaded and €1.75 for diesel. Supermarket stations such as Conad and Auchan run 5–8 cents cheaper than branded ones, and the nearest IP and Q8 stations to the airport are on the Tangenziale ring road, 5 km out — worth knowing for the pre-return fill-up.

More Airport Car Hire in Italy

✈️ Rome (FCO) ✈️ Milan (MXP) ✈️ Naples (NAP) ✈️ Florence (FLR) ✈️ Palermo (Sicily) (PMO)