Driving in Italy Essential Guide: Rules, Tips + Must Haves

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Italy Driving and Road Trip Tips

Are you thinking about driving in Italy? It’s a different experience compared to driving at home, with its own set of rules, road habits, and safety considerations. Before you hit the road in Italy, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with these nuances.

We spend a few months in Italy most years traveling by overland truck, motorhome, and motorbike. We’ve visited the four corners including Sicily, Puglia, and the Dolomites, as well as most of the stuff in between!

In this Italy driving guide, we’ll share lots of practical driving tips and tricks, information about road conditions, and highlight what to expect when you’re behind the wheel so you can enjoy a safe and stress-free road trip in Italy.

Is Driving in Italy Safe?

Yes! As long as you are aware of the challenges and obstacles and haven’t just passed your test, then driving in Italy is perfectly safe.

For context, Italy’s road traffic accident fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants is 5.2, whereas the United States is 12.9, and the United Kingdom is 2.9.

Ideally, you will be a confident driver with some experience, especially if you are in an unfamiliar vehicle such as a rental car.

The most important thing is to take your time driving when you first arrive in Italy, getting a feel for the roads and understanding how the locals drive.

Is this your first time visiting Italy? Get all the information you need in our Italy Travel Guide, including what to pack, the best time of year to go, getting there and practical tips to help you have the best trip!

Renting a Car in Italy

Renting a car in Italy is easy as long as you meet the Italian driving requirements. All airports and major cities have car rental depots. Car rental companies in Italy will require you to have the following;

You must be over 18 to hire a car in Italy and have passed your driving test at least a year ago.
You will need a valid passport or ID card.
If you are a non-EU citizen, you need an International Driving Permit for Italy, this needs to be arranged before you arrive. Travelers from the UK do not require an IDP for Italy unless the license is paper only, or issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey, or the Isle of Man.
You will need a credit card. You can’t use cash or a debit card when hiring a car in Italy.

Make sure you hire a car for your Italian road trip from a reputable and recommended national or international chain.

As one of the largest car hire aggregator companies in the world, we recommend Rentalcars.com because they have massive purchasing power that enables them to secure the best rental prices, which benefits you when you’re planning a road trip.

These are some common situations that occur when collecting a rental car in Italy:

Not all marks and scratches (inside and out) have been noted. Make sure you note anything down that is not recorded and take dated photographs.
You are not given the opportunity to inspect the vehicle or asked to do this in the dark. Insist on a full inspection, use a torch if necessary. Better still, try and arrange to arrive in daylight hours.
Fuel marked as full on paperwork but gauge showing empty. Take photographs and query this with the rental company hand-over staff.
You are asked to purchase further insurance. Many online hire car companies are brokers and can provide you with CDW (collision damage waiver) cover, usually purchased online at the time of booking. This means that if you do have an accident, the deductible or excess (usually a hefty sum) will be covered by the insurer and not you. You do not need to purchase this cover again if you have already bought it. We highly recommend taking out CDW insurance when hiring a car in Italy.
Check with your car hire company about taking your car outside of Italy if you are planning this as part of your road trip. Most do allow this but need to be notified in advance.

yellow and green classic Fiat 500 parked by a stone wall — A very cute Fiat 500 in Corvara in Badia

Taking Your Own Vehicle to Italy

Driving to Italy from the UK or European Union is pretty straightforward and you may temporarily import your vehicle for up to six months (although this sounds complicated, you don’t actually need to do anything!).

You need to carry the following documentation:

Full and valid driving license.
You must have at least three months remaining on your passport (issued in the past ten years) at your intended date of departure from Italy.
The original vehicle registration document, sometimes called the log book.
Certificate of roadworthiness – an MOT in the UK, TÜV in Germany, CT in France, ITV in Spain etc.
You must have at least 3rd party insurance for your vehicle. You do not require a green card to prove you have vehicle insurance cover when traveling in Italy unless your vehicle is registered outside the European Union or the UK.

RELATED POST: The Ultimate Bucket List Italy Road Trip

man on a moped wearing a black helmet by a 'Bormio' sign covered in stickers — At the top of the Stelvio Pass on our scooter!

Make sure you have travel insurance you can trust when visiting Italy. We recommend True Traveller for their 5-star TrustPilot reviews, variety of cover options, best activities cover as standard, great prices, and excellent service.

Italian Road Rules

Many of the driving laws in Italy are shared across European countries. Although you may see locals not obeying the rules – using mobile phones at the wheel and not wearing a helmet are things we have seen regularly – doesn’t mean you should. Make sure to follow these rules of the road:

Italy drives on the right side of the road and overtakes on the left.
As a general rule, priority must be given to vehicles coming from the right, and oncoming traffic, unless indicated.
Overtaking is forbidden on and approaching level crossings, at bends, on the brow of a hill, at intersections, and when visibility is limited. It is also prohibited to overtake a vehicle that’s slowed to allow pedestrians to use a crossing.
The left lane in motorways is for overtaking only. As soon as you have passed, you must immediately move back into the right lane.
Italy uses the international 3 colored traffic light system. Green light = go, amber light = prepare to stop and red light = stop.
Italian road signs conform to the general pattern of those used in most other European countries, with the exception that the background of autostrada signs is green and those for ‘normal’ roads is blue. Curiously, the Italian word for stop is fermare, but stop signs in Italy do actually use the word ‘stop’.
In urban areas, sounding the horn is not allowed except in an emergency. Warnings are given by flashing your lights.
Seat belts must be worn at all times.
Italy has a strict drink-drive limit of 0.5mg of blood alcohol. This means that you cannot drink more than one glass of wine without risking going over the limit. Penalties for being caught above this limit can be fines, vehicle confiscation, license bans and imprisonment.
Mobile phones can only be used for calls through a hands-free device. You can use a mobile phone in a cradle or holder for Google Maps or other sat nav apps as long as you don’t use it whilst actually driving.
Radar detectors are prohibited, although your sat nav system is allowed to indicate where fixed speed cameras are located.
Driving in a bike lane or bus lane is illegal.
Children under age 12 aren’t allowed to ride in the front seat of cars or motorhomes and children up to age four must be harnessed in appropriate child safety car seats.
Motorcyclists and scooter riders must wear a helmet.
Headlights or daytime running lights must be turned on at all times.
Your headlights must be adapted for driving on the right.
Your vehicle must display a country indicator on the rear. This can be incorporated into the license plate or be a sticker. If you’re vehicle is registered in the United Kingdom, the sticker must be UK and not GB.
Police can impose on-the-spot fines on drivers of foreign-registered vehicles and collect a quarter of the maximum fine there and then. A receipt must be given.

road towards a cream domed building with lines, pedestrian crossings and tram lines. — The road to Gran Madre di Dio in Turin

Speed Limits in Italy

Stick to the speed limits in Italy which are strictly enforced. Don’t forget that speed limit signs are in kilometers, not miles. These are the general speed limits for cars:

Built-up areas – 50km/h – 70km/h (according to local signs).
Main roads – 90km/h – 110km/h. Motorhomes over 3,500kg are restricted to 80km/h.
Autostrada – 130km/h. On some highways with three lanes in each direction, you may see a maximum speed limit of 150km/h. Motorhomes over 3,500kg are restricted to 100km/h.

Italian authorities are notorious for their strict enforcement of speed limits throughout the country. Positioned strategically along highways, city streets, and rural roads, speed cameras and average speed cameras are adept at catching speeding motorists.

The fines for speeding violations can be substantial, and some cameras even have the capability to detect other infractions such as running red lights or illegal lane changes. With such comprehensive coverage, we encourage you to stick closely to the speed limits to avoid receiving fines in the mail weeks after your Italian adventure.

And just a note about that… If you’re an EU or UK driver, the Italian police will catch up with you in your home country due to the driver and vehicle data sharing protocal in place between EU countries, which was extended to the UK as part of the Brexit agreements.

road signs by a gravel road with a hill village in the distance — On the road to Monteriggioni

Safety Equipment

You must carry the following equipment in your vehicle. If you’re in a hire car, check with the car rental company that these items are included, as they are a legal requirement:

Reflective vests are not mandatory to carry, but you can be fined for walking on the road or hard shoulder if not wearing one!
A warning triangle is compulsory in all vehicles with four or more wheels.
If your vehicle has an overhanging load at the rear such as a cycle carrier then you must display a fully reflectorized square metal panel measuring 50cm x 50cm with red and white diagonal stripes.
We would also recommend you carry a spare wheel or the means to repair a tire and a first aid kit.

Looking for the best SIM card deals in Europe for your trip? Check out our guide to the best data SIMs in Europe and get the best deal for your trip to Italy.

Driving a Motorhome or Campervan in Italy

Traveling through Italy by motorhome is a fantastic way to see the country and it’s easy to fly in and rent one. Our recommended Italian motorhome and campervan hire company is Motorhome Republic, who have depots in Rome, Milan, Florence, and many other major Italian cities – perfect starting points to see all the best bits as you road trip Italy.

There are some specific laws regarding motorhomes, camper vans and caravans in Italy, whether you’re hiring one or driving your own:

Motorhomes and cars with caravans are not allowed to exceed 12 meters in length, 4 meters in height, and 2.55 meters in width.
Loads mustn’t exceed 6 tonnes on a trailer with one axle and 22 tonnes on a trailer with 2 axles if the axle is fitted with twin tires and pneumatic suspensions.
An unladen weight of over 50% of the weight of the towing vehicle must have service brakes on all wheels.
Passengers should only use a caravan or the habitation area of a motorhome when it’s stationary.

motorhome on a road passing under an avenue of umberella pine trees — Motorhoming in Italy

Toll Roads in Italy

Tolls are more expensive than in Spain but much cheaper than in France. Not all autostradas have tolls or only have them on some sections.

Generally, it is far cheaper, easier, and quicker to take the toll roads due to the sometimes poor construction of lesser roads, although we always see potholes on toll roads all over the country.

Toll roads are pay-as-you-go. At the toll booth, which are usually unmanned, try to avoid using large notes. If the machine has no change, it will give you a credit note which you can exchange for cash at some obscure Italian highways office in a random town where no one will understand your bad Italian. The best option is to use the correct money or your credit card!

Alternatively use a Bip&Go, Tollbird, or Telepass device to allow you to pass without using the non-barrier lanes and pay via a credit card.

toll booth operator handing a ticket to a car driver — Paying at a manned toll booth in Italy

Low Emission Zones in Italy

Italy has many different low-emission zones with differing standards, time periods, and enforcement methods. You’ll find these mainly in northern Italy, but also in mid-Italy and Sicily.

In Milan and Palermo, these schemes combine LEZ and urban road tolling schemes. Check here what the requirements are if you’re planning to visit a city.

In many historical centres and major towns traffic is restricted from entering areas known as ‘Zona Traffico Limitato’ or limited traffic zones. Where you see the ZTL sign accompanied by another stating varco non attivo. this means that you can pass and enter the limited traffic zone, without breaking any regulations.

You can expect to receive a fine by post if you drive your vehicle into a signed ZTL as only residents are permitted to use these town roads, so don’t go there!

road signs advising of ZTL in Rome — ZTL signage in Rome

Italian Travel Inspiration

One Day in Venice: Best Itinerary, Map, Tips & Guide

One Day in Palermo: Best Itinerary, Map, Tips & Guide

Best Places to Visit in Italy for an Unforgettable Experience

The Best of Rome in 36 Hours: Ultimate Itinerary + Map

20 Best Cities in Italy to Visit & Fall in Love With!

Discover the Magic: 32 of the Best Christmas Markets in Europe

Road Etiquette

Italian drivers are generally pretty inconsiderate, don’t follow road signs, park badly, and have little regard for other vehicles. This can be evidenced by almost all Italian cars, especially in cities, having a variety of bumps and scrapes.

Flashing indicators and headlights are used as a way of letting you know they want to get passed and the horn is heard frequently.

cream and red car parked on a street in front of a historic red brick building — Driving in the center of Bologna

Road Quality

The quality of the roads in Italy varies depending on how far north or south you are. Generally speaking, the further into southern Italy you go, the worse the roads will be, especially in rural areas.

Out-of-town and country roads tend to be poorly maintained with large potholes, often verging on craters, being common. Autostradas and strade statali (state roads) tend to be maintained in better condition, but potholes are not unheard of, so keep your eyes peeled.

Road markings are also often lacking, either worn away or not applied in the first place. Expect this and take it easy where it’s not clear.

country road through rolling fields and wooded hills — A typical country road in Basilicata

Road Hazards

The singular biggest hazard on the roads in Italy is other drivers.

Turn signals are rarely used (other than to indicate you should move over or give way) and stop signs not adhered to, so you must guess the driver’s intentions at roundabouts and junctions.

Slow down on the approach and be ready to brake quickly. If you are unsure about the right of way, give way to the other driver and ensure they have passed you before making your maneuver.

Italian drivers also like to overtake, even if you are traveling near or on the speed limit. If you are a cautious driver, then you will have cars driving very close to your rear bumper as they wait for an opportunity to get past. Try not to be intimidated by this and don’t exceed the speed limit trying to shake them off.

Other hazards include large potholes, road surface damage, and generally poorly maintained roads.

blue classi Porsche car on a cobbled road with two drivers in the car — Driving a classic Porche (sadly not us!) in the Mille Miglia road race from Brescia to Rome

Driving in Cities

If you can avoid driving into large Italian city centers, then do. This is partly to avoid the pedestrian zones, narrow roads and one-way streets of the limited traffic areas and low emission zones which are common in big cities, but also because it’s a bit of a white-knuckle experience!

Italian city driving is fast, frantic, and involves an ‘everyman for himself’ approach.

You may prefer to park outside the city and get public transportation.!

traffic moving quickly through a built-up city centre — Traffic on a busy street in Rome

Parking

Parking in Italy, especially on the narrow streets of historic cities and urban areas which not designed for cars, is stressful.

Italians just abandon their cars wherever there is the tiniest gap, not even a parking space, often blocking others in or creating a hazard.

Small towns may not present too much of a problem, and if you’re in a tourist area many towns have a free parking lot on the outskirts where you can park and catch a shuttle bus.

For larger cities,the best way is to research parking garages online and drop your car off for someone else to park, or follow this guidance to find an appropriate street parking space:

Areas with white lines are available for anyone to park for free.
Areas with blue lines are pay-to-park. There will be a pay machine somewhere nearby, make sure the biglietto, or ticket, is on display.
Areas with yellow lines are for handicapped parking and require the appropriate permit displayed in the car.

red Fiat 500 with a woman in a striped top standing next to it looking at a map — Pasking in central Rome

Winter Driving

If you are visiting mountainous areas of Italy in winter, like the Alps, the Dolomites, or Abruzzo, then it is likely you will encounter snow. Italian law says that vehicles must be equipped appropriately:

Winter tires are recommended between October and 15 April or, at other times if conditions dictate.
Snow chains are required between October and 15 April or, at other times if conditions dictate.

Some parts of Italy can introduce local legislation making the use of winter tires and snow chains compulsory, you should check for signage and ask at tourist information offices.

road through a mountainous scene with snow on the ground — The road to Scanno in the Abruzzi Apennines

Fuel

In Italy, benzina is unleaded fuel and gasolio is diesel.

Italian gas stations often have a self-service and a servizio (serviced) option. The forecourt attendant may try and direct you to the serviced option when you drive in.

For this pleasure, you will pay around 15c more per liter on some of the most expensive fuel in Europe. Ignore the directions, unless you want the attendant to fill your tank, and fill up yourself.

round bell tower on a small church by. a tall Cypress tree — The church of Santa Maria a Pàcina at Castelnuovo Berardenga – becauase it’s prettier than a filling station!

Places to Avoid!

Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast is one of Italy’s premier attractions, renowned for its breathtaking coastline. However, the roads here pose significant risks, with steep cliffs and heavy traffic in high season.

Parking fees, when you can find a space, are astronomical. While the coastal road may appeal to thrill-seeking car enthusiasts, the reality is stressful. We say, do it on a motorbike or scooter instead!

RELATED POST: A Bucket List Amalfi Coast Road Trip

Capri

As one of Italy’s most renowned islands, Capri restricts traffic to locals only, making driving impractical for visitors. Coupled with perilous road conditions, exploring Capri is best enjoyed on foot or with the guidance of a local driver.

Catania

A major city on the island of Sicily, Catania’s narrow streets, dangerous driving and appalling parking facilities make the historical center even worse than Palermo for drivers. Don’t go there!

Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre, Italy’s most frequented national park, comprises five ancient fishing villages perched along cliff edges, accessible solely by train, boat, or foot.

Monterosso al Mare, the largest of the small villages, does allow driving access, but we would not recommend it due to steep parking costs and hazardous local roads.

The Cinque Terre Express train offers regular service from La Spezia to Sestri Levante, along with public ferries.

Florence

Like all large cities in Italy, Florence enforces traffic restrictions in various city sections, with limited parking availability, substantial fines, and congested streets.

Fortunately, the train station is conveniently located within the city, a pleasant 10-15 minute walk from the duomo, and there is good parking along the main train routes out of the city.

Naples

I have nightmares about driving in Naples. One year, we were traveling from Rome to Vesuvius and our sat nav diverted us through the centre of Naples. And we were in a 9 meter long motorhome.

The roads where shocking, the driving abysmal and the stress more than I care to remember. I think it’s safe to say that we won’t be driving in Naples ever again!

Rome

Renowned as the ‘Eternal City,’ Rome is a must-visit destination in Italy, but we wouldn’t recommend driving in the city. Parking is scarce and expensive, exacerbated by unofficial attendants demanding tips.

The city has lots of restricted traffic zones, often resulting in fines for visitors. We suggest utilizing local transportation, walking, or hiring a knowledgeable driver.

Siena

Siena, a gorgeous town in the heart of Tuscany, boasts a car-free city center. Parking is situated outside the town, with an easy stroll to reach the historic center.

Venice

Venice, the famous island city, is renowned for its intricate network of canals navigated by boats, so you can’t drive there!

However, once you cross the Liberty Bridge, there are car parks at Tronchetto Island and Piazzale Roma, with the latter being the best place to park as it’s closest to the city.

woman sitting on a wall looking at the sea view with a large motocycle parked nearby — Enjoying the view and a moment off the bike on the Amalfi Coast

In an Emergency

Accident

If you have an accident you’ll need to complete the EU Accident Statement, which you can download if your insurer hasn’t provided one.

Stop safely and use your hazard lights and warning triangle to alert other drivers.

Exchange details (a translate app comes in handy here) and take lots of photos to add to your form when you submit it to the insurers.

If the other party won’t give details or there has been an injury, you should call the police on 112.

Breakdown

If you’re on the autostrada, emergency telephones linked to an SOS telephone network are installed at 2km intervals.

There are two types of emergency telephone on Italian roads, from which you either connect to the emergency call center and speak directly to an operator or the type where you press a ‘spanner’ button for mechanical assistance or a ‘red cross’ button for medical aid. A red light will then let you know your request has been received.

If you’re driving your own car to Italy, we highly recommend organizing breakdown insurance beofre you travel.

two white Fiat Panda cars on a road, one with Polizia Municipale written on the side — Italian police at the scene of an accidient somewhere in Sicily

Should I take a road trip to Italy?

Absolutely! Italy is a gorgeous country with beautiful landscapes, amazing food, and great wine to sample. A road trip in this amazing country is one of the best ways to see all Italy has to offer.

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