Hi- We are returning a car to FCO and then need a taxi van into Rome. Wondering whether it is possible to get picked up there or do we have to go back into the terminal? If so, is that complicated - we are traveling with several children.

Most car rental drop-offs are right in the parking garage attached to the terminal. You might be able to arrange a pick up in the garage if you made arrangements beforehand with a private driver. There are several who are popular with SlowTrav people, and perhaps they will make recommendations.
Jeanne

If you can't make arrangements to be picked up in the garage, it would be relatively simple to drop your passengers and luggage at a prearranged pick up spot (on the arrivals level, for example) while you alone return the car and then walk back to join them.

Not sure if you are with Avis but I arranged to pick up at the airport but am dropping off a week later at their office by the main train station downtown and taking a metro or taxi to hotelfor our last 3 days. Doesn't appear to be a surcharge.We did this in Madrid and it's so convenient!!

We just did what you are suggesting. We had a car from Eurocar (via Autoeurope). We checked it in in the garage, walked back the way we came when we picked up the car, straight past the Eurocar counter to the food court-like area. We took the elevator, right there on the right, to arrivals, lowest level, walked maybe a minute to the BIG orange column in Terminal B arrivals with the BIG sign that says "meeting point", and there waited for our driver from Roma Shuttle to meet us. From there it was a walk of about 5 minutes to where he had to park across the street. We were very tired and lugging our luggage but it wasn't any worse than any other transfering in an airport.

We had to wait a little while for our driver because we were early but without waiting the whole trip at a slowish pace took less than 15 minutes.

They may be able to meet you in the garage, we didn't try that. You can always ask.

Gotta love those "meeting point" signs! There's one near the square at the Vatican too.