ZTL - Open on Sunday 1October to return rental car to Train stationSMN?

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Sunflower1052

New member
Hello there, great site and have read the posts to learn about the ZTL and how to avoid fines when driving a rental car. We are returning our rental car to the SMN Central train station in Florence on Sunday 1st October, which I believe the ZTL on Sundays if after 3:00 am ( we would be there ~9:00 am that day, so will the ZTLs around there be Open? I.e. no risk of fine? Even though on a Sunday, is there a preferred route to keep us out of accidentally going into the A ZTL area? Appreciate any specific direction, we are coming up from
Villa I Barronci Resort & Spa
Via sorripa, 10
50026 San Casciano in Val di Pesa (FI)
 
Ciao!
The car rental companies "around the SMN train station" all actually tend to be clustered around the street called Borgo Ognissanti, closer to the Arno river. Do you already have an address for the rental agency? That street is not in the ZTL area - but are you sure the car rental place is open on a Sunday? Aside from that question, if you can return the car on a Sunday, you don't have to worry about the ZTL because it is off on Sundays (after 3am, so you have no problem) BUT if you have to return on Saturday or Monday, you just have to follow a precise route to get there without going into the ZTL: from Porta Romana, turn right on Viale Ludovico Ariosto, then right on Borgo San Frediano, turn left on Via Sant'Onofrio and then cross the river on Ponte Vespucci. After the bridge, head straight for two small streets and turn left onto Borgo Ognissanti. The car rental agencies are on that stretch of street. If you have a different agency that is at the SMN train station, let me know because that's a whole different route to reach. These streets skirt the ZTL so you cannot make a wrong turn because then you do risk going into the ZTL - not a problem on a Sunday, but be extra careful on other days.

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Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply and excellent advice. To confirm we are renting from Sixt ( pickup in Malpensa airport days earlier and confirmed drop off Sunday 1st October planned for around 9:00 am. We selected Sixt specifically because their rental car drop off is in the parking garage at the Santa Maria Novella Train station and their hours on Sunday start at 8:00 am. The drop off instructions tell us to drive into the SMN train station garage to floor -4 section A in the Sixt rental car return parking area. Thank you for confirming that after 3:00 am on a Sunday the ZTL is not active. Sixt return instructions also advise to be careful to avoid the yellow preferentially lanes reserved for taxis and buses so we will try to definitely stay away from those to avoid risk of a fine for that. Even though we will only plan to driv into Florence to return the car that Sunday if you can nevertheless recommend the preferred driving route to easily turn into the rental car return in the SMN parking garage we would certainly appreciate your advice. Many thanks! You have a wonderfully helpful blog of a local!
 
Glad to be of help!

Then you definitely need the train station - since you're coming from south, Google Maps will tell you to cross through the historical center to get to the train station. Don't do it because even if the ZTL is off, there are some lanes that are reserved and the streets in the center are narrow and just not a pleasant experience in general. So set your goal to get to Viale Lavagnini or to the Fortezza and then follow this route:
straight down on Via Nazionale to the train station!! Are you staying near the train station? Or just need to catch a train? Because if you're staying in Florence, you could make a stop first to drop off luggage and then return the car.

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Lourdes said:
Glad to be of help!

Then you definitely need the train station - since you're coming from south, Google Maps will tell you to cross through the historical center to get to the train station. Don't do it because even if the ZTL is off, there are some lanes that are reserved and the streets in the center are narrow and just not a pleasant experience in general. So set your goal to get to Viale Lavagnini or to the Fortezza and then follow this route:
straight down on Via Nazionale to the train station!! Are you staying near the train station? Or just need to catch a train? Because if you're staying in Florence, you could make a stop first to drop off luggage and then return the car.

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Great thank you so much! To answer your question we are not staying in Florence so no need to drop off luggage elsewhere in Florence
 
Perfect, then you can then just drive directly to the station, then you can catch tram or taxi to airport if that's where you're headed!

Hope you have a great time, feel free to post if any other questions come up before your trip :D
 
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