Hertz SMN Return - Avoiding ZTL

[wilkersont]

I will be returning a car to Hertz at SMN (picking up in Rome so will be first time at location in Florence). I have been looking into how to avoid the ZTL. It appears Hertz moved locations a few years ago so I am seeing some conflicting information. Can you provide guidance on how to avoid the ZTL when returning the car on a Saturday morning in July (approximately 8:30 am) when coming from Greve in Chianti region.

Location provided:
Hertz Autonoleggio – Firenze, Via Alamanni 35/e
Via Alamanni 35e
Florence, IT 50123

 

[Lourdes]

Ciao Wilkersont,

The problem isn't getting to the Hertz location if you arrive in Florence and head straight there to drop off -- Via Alamanni is a one-way street right next to SMN train station and the road to get there is NOT in the ZTL so you should be able to drive directly there, drop off the car and then head to where you need to go.

The problem might be in navigating Florence as you arrive from Greve in Chianti. Some GPS systems might send you straight north and you arrive at Grassina, then Ponte a Ema and then in southeastern Florence - which is on the opposite side of the SMN train station.
But if you take the road that goes northwest from Greve toward Passo dei Pecorai -> Il Ferrone -> Falciani -> Tavernuzze -> Galluzzo, then you should arrive into Florence into the Porta Romana area and going along Viale Petrarca you will get to Ponte della Vittoria and from there it will be easy to drive to Via Alamanni directly to drop off the car.

Next question to you is: where are you staying or where are you headed to in Florence? Are you staying in the center near the train station? Are you staying at a hotel or at an Airbnb apartment? This is important to make sure whether dropping off passengers and luggage is possible BEFORE you drop off the car or not at all. If you're staying at a hotel in the center, most will allow you to enter the ZTL and drop off people and luggage and will send your car license plate to the authorities so it is put on the white list and you won't get a fine for having entered the ZTL. But apartments won't offer this service - in that case, you should drop off car and then get to your rental place with people and luggage, if close enough, just walking or maybe with a taxi.
Hertz won't offer this service as they are not in the ZTL area so you can't try the apartment and then try with Hertz to get your license plate added to the white list.

Luckily weekend mornings are a little better as traffic goes in Florence, so it should be relatively alright along the way. This route also avoids the current building works of the new tram line in Florence so it should be less hassle to get there!

Let me know if you have any other questions - I'm happy to help!

 

[wilkersont]

Ciao Wilkersont,

The problem isn't getting to the Hertz location if you arrive in Florence and head straight there to drop off -- Via Alamanni is a one-way street right next to SMN train station and the road to get there is NOT in the ZTL so you should be able to drive directly there, drop off the car and then head to where you need to go.

The problem might be in navigating Florence as you arrive from Greve in Chianti. Some GPS systems might send you straight north and you arrive at Grassina, then Ponte a Ema and then in southeastern Florence - which is on the opposite side of the SMN train station.
But if you take the road that goes northwest from Greve toward Passo dei Pecorai -> Il Ferrone -> Falciani -> Tavernuzze -> Galluzzo, then you should arrive into Florence into the Porta Romana area and going along Viale Petrarca you will get to Ponte della Vittoria and from there it will be easy to drive to Via Alamanni directly to drop off the car.

Next question to you is: where are you staying or where are you headed to in Florence? Are you staying in the center near the train station? Are you staying at a hotel or at an Airbnb apartment? This is important to make sure whether dropping off passengers and luggage is possible BEFORE you drop off the car or not at all. If you're staying at a hotel in the center, most will allow you to enter the ZTL and drop off people and luggage and will send your car license plate to the authorities so it is put on the white list and you won't get a fine for having entered the ZTL. But apartments won't offer this service - in that case, you should drop off car and then get to your rental place with people and luggage, if close enough, just walking or maybe with a taxi.
Hertz won't offer this service as they are not in the ZTL area so you can't try the apartment and then try with Hertz to get your license plate added to the white list.

Luckily weekend mornings are a little better as traffic goes in Florence, so it should be relatively alright along the way. This route also avoids the current building works of the new tram line in Florence so it should be less hassle to get there!

Let me know if you have any other questions - I'm happy to help!

Thank you. This is helpful to confirm the route. I am planning on dropping the car off and walking from there, so no need to worry about getting to next place.

However, I do have a few clarifications on the route to drop the car off. I plan to follow your route towards Porta Romana area and then take Viale Petrarca and cross the Arno at the Ponte alla Vittoria as suggested. From here, it looks like i would take Viale Fratelli Rosselli towards the return and turn on Via Alamanni to drop off the car.
1) can you confirm this is correct and will not enter a ZTL?
2) Via Alamanni appears to have Tram Tracks in the road. Am I allowed the drive on these once I turn off Viale Fratelli Rosselli to drop off the rental car? How do you handle this?

Thanks