Landing at BRI and planning to hop between Alberobello, Matera and Gargano? Car hire at Bari Karol Wojtyła (T1) is built for exactly that kind of Puglia loop.
Rental desks sit inside T1’s arrivals area, with major brands like Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and Maggiore plus a few locals. Most counters keep hours roughly aligned with the flight schedule, but late-evening arrivals after 23:00 should double‑check operating times when booking. If you want the fastest exit, book one of the companies with an in‑terminal desk rather than an off‑site shuttle pickup.
Pickup is usually quick: one Reddit road‑tripper said they landed, grabbed a small car and hit the highway within 10–15 minutes. The rental parking is to the right of the terminal, just behind the taxi rank, and clearly signed, so walk straight past the cabs rather than towards the general car park. Expect compact and economy cars to be the most common category, which suits tight streets in Polignano a Mare and Ostuni.
Prices for summer weeks can jump above €400–€500 for an automatic, so locking something in 2–3 months ahead helps. Many Italy regulars arrive with their own excess insurance sorted so they can decline pricey add‑ons at the desk. Fuel policy is usually full‑to‑full and motorway tolls between Bari and places like Matera or Foggia stay modest, often under €15 per leg.
Watch out for Saturday morning crowds in July and August, when multiple arrivals around 10:00–12:00 can mean up to an hour in line at the big‑name desks. Upsells on insurance at BRI are reported as pushy, so go in knowing exactly what level of cover you already hold and keep a printed confirmation with the agreed category and price in euros. Check that any “upgrade” doesn’t quietly add €20–€30 per day.
Regulars photograph everything in the rental lot: all four sides, wheels, interior, and under‑bumper scuffs, then timestamp the shots before driving out. On return, follow signs for “Rent a car” as you approach from SS16 or SP73; the lot is again to the right of the terminal. For early‑morning drop‑offs before 07:00, nearby fuel stations may be card‑only self‑service, so keep a working chip‑and‑PIN card ready.
Step-by-step from arrivals to your rental car
- 1. Land at T1 and exit into the arrivals hall on the ground floor.
- 2. Walk 30–50 metres to the rental car counters signed “Autonoleggio.”
- 3. Take a ticket or join your company’s queue; expect 10 minutes off‑peak, up to 60 minutes on summer Saturdays.
- 4. Show passport, driving licence (plus IDP if needed), and credit card; confirm fuel policy and mileage limits in writing.
- 5. Exit the terminal, turn right, and walk about 150 metres past the taxi rank to the dedicated rental parking area.
- 6. Find your signed bay number, photograph the car thoroughly, then check for a spare tyre or inflation kit.
- 7. Follow signs to SS16 or SS96 and set your first stop—Alberobello is roughly 70 km, Matera about 65 km, and Gargano (Vieste) around 190 km.
One last tip: if your schedule is flexible, flying in mid‑week and picking up after 18:00 often means shorter queues and a calmer handover.