Travelling by hitchhiking

PEven if it is not developed like in many regions of Northen Europe, in Italy the hitchhiking is allowed on all the roads, with the exception of freeways.
Even if it turns out to be somewhat risky, it is advisable to make the hitchhiking in the service stations and where there are no obstacles to the passage of the cars.

Organized hitchhiking agencies
Organized hitchhiking agencies are associations that put into contact people available to give a lift in their car and people looking for a lift going towards the same destination. In this way it is guaranteed a time and money saving and more safety in comparison with the traditional hitchhiking.
Many agencies are free while some of them ask for a registration fee. In some cases it is also required to share the driver's expenses.

The main Italian agencies of organized hitchhiking are:

• AUTOSTOP & PENDOLARI: http://www.autostop.it/
  The agency offers a service on payment with bid and demand for lift for Italy and Europe besides a service designed for the commuters that every day make the same route for work.
  The one who asks for the lift must face the following expenses:
  - 16 Euro for the annual registration to the agency,
  - rate including reservation agency fee and participation to the driver's expenses
  via Torino 51 - Milan - tel. +3902/89011899 fax: +3902/89011897
  E-mail: info@autostop.it
• VIAVAI: http://www.autostop.viavai.com
  The agency supplies a list of lift offers and requests for Italy and Europe. The one who accepts the lift must enrol paying an associative fee valid for a year and pay a rate to the driver (not fixed by the agency).
  tel. +39051/348868 fax: +39051/495523 (main office in Bologna)
  tel. +39044/5366203 (main office in Vicenza)
  E-mail: autostop@viavai.com
  http//www.viavai.it (main office in Florence) - E-mail: viavai@viavai.it
• STRADAINSIEME: http://www.stradainsieme.com/
  Project studied for those who look for travel mates with hitchhiking in Italy and in all Europe. It is possible to insert your own offer or to make a search by car lift offerings inside the Database.
  You are not required to pay a fee or registration taxes but just to register yourself online.
  E-mail: sandra@stradainsieme.com
• DIVIDERE: http://www.dividere.com/
  Free service online in order to look for and to offer lifts by car in beyond 70 countries of all the world. The route appears on a road map. No commission cost is requested but only a registration online.
  E-mail: dividere@compartir.org
• HITCHHICHERS.ORG: http://www.hitchhikers.org/
  Database of lifts offer and demand exchange by car in all Europe.
  It is required just a registration online.
  E-mail: info@hitchhikers.org
  
• KANGURUH AUTOSTOP: http://come.to/autostop
  The site is for those who want to travel by hitchhiking.
  Published are the insertions of those who offer ad ask for a lift.
  It supplies also a list of Web sites dedicated to the hitchhiking organized into States.
  
• ENJOY ROME: http://www.enjoyrome.com/
  It is an independent office of tourism that offers numerous services (tourist information, lodging, guided visits, transports, advices..) to tourists who arrive to Rome. The staff speaks English.
  via Marghera 8a - Rome - tel. +3906/4451843 fax: +3906/4450734
  E-mail: info@enjoyrome.com
• INTERNATIONAL LIFT CENTER- Florence
  The agency organizes only transnational lifts, with variable costs according to the destination, and has a tariff list so as to calculate the cost of the travel.
  tel. +39055/280626