If you are planning your next vacation in Puglia and you are worried that your trip will not go through due to the restrictions for COVID-19 or if you simply want to protect yourself in case of a change of plans at the last moment, this is the right page for you. Here you can find the latest information on what you can do if you want to book a car during the Coronavirus emergency, or if you need to change or cancel your trip in the coming months.

This page includes the latest information on managing your booking during the COVID-19 emergency. Here you can find all the updates of the Italian Ministry of Health regarding rules and restrictions in case of travel to Italy, in order to find out if there are consequences on your trip and car rental. If you are not a resident of Italy, please also check the rules and ordinances with the government authorities of the country where you live.

Is it safe to rent a car during Coronavirus (COVID-19)?

Nothing is more important than the customer’s health. So, just as we at Puglia Paradise have adopted preventative measures for the safety of employees and guests and to guarantee a worry-free booking, in the same way, the car rental companies are committed to guaranteeing the highest hygiene standards. A number of measures have been implemented in order to minimize the risk of transmission of the virus at each step: from the moment you arrive at the rental desk to the moment you return the car.

But what are car rental companies actually doing to keep their customers safe during the Coronavirus emergency?
First of all, all the safety measures that we are used to seeing in shops, banks, supermarkets, etc. have been adopted at the rental counters, and therefore personal protective equipment for customers and employees, reminders to keep social distance, protective panels for desk, frequent cleaning with approved sanitizing products, etc.
Inside the car, cleaning has always been important but now rental companies have taken a further step forward: cars are disinfected after each rental, especially the “high contact” areas, such as seats, gear, handles, and the steering wheel. Any car found to have come into contact with the Coronavirus is “quarantined”.
In addition, rental companies are modifying their protocols based on the latest updates from the World Health Organization (WHO), the American CDC (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention), and local governments around the world.

Do you already have a reservation?

If you have already made a reservation, be aware that most companies allow you to change both the location and date of the pickup. So whatever you decide, you can change your booking online. There is normally no fee for changing your booking, but the rental price may change, so you may have to pay the difference.
In case the restrictions change and you are forced to cancel your trip, and therefore the reservation for your rental car, please contact your rental company as soon as possible to check the cancellation conditions, which in most cases they are free.
If there are no restrictions but you still want to cancel your reservation, we advise you to consult the cancellation policies in the “Terms and conditions” of the rental company.

Since renewing your license can be hard during this time, some governments have decided to extend the validity of many licenses that expire in 2020. When you collect your car, the desk staff will follow the instructions in place to check your license, for example at the moment the driving licenses issued by the United Kingdom or by any EU country except Italy, if they expired between 1 February and 31 August 2020, will remain valid for 7 months after the expiry date.