If you’ve chosen Italy as your next travel destination and plan on driving there, make sure you prepare in advance. Read on to get an overview of the rules and documentation required when driving in Italy, plus tips on how to hire a car.
In this article.
- Can you drive in Italy with a UK licence?
- Essential driving rules in Italy
- International Driving Permit (IDP) requirements
- Requirements for driving in Italy
- Hiring a car in Italy
- Rules on the road in Italy
- FAQ
Can I drive in Italy with a UK licence?
Yes, UK tourists can drive in Italy with a full, valid UK driving licence. You do not need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in Italy as a UK tourist.
The legal minimum age to drive a car in Italy is 18. However, most car hire companies set their minimum rental age at 21, and drivers under 25 typically face young driver surcharges ranging from €16 to €50 per day, depending on the company.
Riders as young as 14 can ride 50cc mopeds, upgrading to 125cc motorcycles at 17 years of age.
Essential driving rules in Italy.
Italy can sometimes get a bad reputation when it comes to driving, but if you know the rules and stay calm, you shouldn’t have any problems.
- Drive on the right side of the road and overtake on the left.
- Speed limits range from 50km/h in towns to 130km/h on motorways.
- Give way to traffic already on roundabouts and follow road signs for priority.
- Many motorways require toll payment, you’ll collect a ticket on entry and pay on exit.
- ZTL zones restrict non-resident vehicles during certain hours and cameras enforce fines automatically.
- On motorways, keep right except when overtaking, lane discipline is enforced.
- The drink-drive limit is 0.05% blood alcohol, lower than the UK’s 0.08%.
UK licence and International Driving Permit (IDP) requirements.
UK tourists do not need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in Italy. A full, valid UK photocard driving licence is sufficient for driving in Italy as a tourist (source: gov.uk). Simply carry your driving licence card with you at all times when driving.
Requirements for driving in Italy.
Before you head off on your holiday or business trip in Italy by car, make sure you have examined all the rules and requirements.
Documents to drive your own car in Italy.
In order to drive your car in Italy, you will need to have the following documents with you:
- Valid UK photocard driving licence
- Valid passport or proof of ID
- V5C registration certificate
- Car insurance certificate
- UK sticker on your car (unless your number plate includes ‘UK’)
- Warning triangle
- High-visibility jacket
- Headlight beam deflectors (if you cannot adjust the beam manually)
In addition to documentation, you will need to have the following safety items with you in the car:
- Warning triangle
- High-visibility jacket
- Headlight beam deflectors (if you can’t adjust the beam manually, you will need deflector stickers)
Documents to hire and drive a rental car in Italy.
Planning to rent a car? You’ll need these extras.
- Credit card for deposit (some companies accept debit cards)
- Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) insurance
Hiring a car in Italy.
It’s time to learn all the ins and outs of hiring a car in Italy to help you decide whether to take your own car or hire one upon arrival.
What do you need to hire a car in Italy?
The minimum age for hiring a car in Italy is 18 years old, although many agencies have a higher minimum age of 21, as well as restrictions for drivers under 25.
You must have a full UK driving licence, and in some cases, you need to have held it for at least a year or two. You will be asked to show proof of ID such as your passport or national ID card. While most companies will ask for a credit card for a deposit, there are some agencies that will accept debit cards.
Having a Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) as part of your hire is standard and is typically included when hiring a car in Italy.
Expert tips for hiring a car in Italy.
- Most cars in Italy have manual transmission as they do in the UK. If you prefer an automatic vehicle, make sure to specify this when booking (use the Transmission filter on KAYAK to see the types of cars you want.)
- If you are booking your car hire in Italy before your trip, it is best to include a CDW. Buying it upon pick-up is likely to cost you a lot more.
- Inspect the car and note every mark on it before you drive off. When you bring it back, take good photos inside and outside as proof of the car’s condition upon return.
- If you need to bring the car back with a full tank, make sure you refill it at the petrol station nearest to the return location, as even minimal amounts of missing fuel could incur charges for a full tank.
- Don’t cross borders in Europe without informing the car hire company first. They might need to prepare additional documentation for you if you are heading into a non-EU country, and you will need to have the necessary insurance coverage.
Is it a good idea to rent a car in Italy?
Hiring a car in Italy can save you some trouble by being equipped with mandatory items such as a warning triangle and reflective jacket. All damages are covered by the car hire company if you opt for the complete insurance too. Let’s look at some of the most popular car rental companies in Italy.
Popular rental car companies in Italy.
| Car rental company | Minimum rental age | Young driver surcharges | Credit card requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europcar | 18 years old for some car groups | €15 per day, up to a maximum of 15 days, for drivers aged 18 to 24 | Payment of the rental price and possible additional charges must be guaranteed upon rental via a credit card, Visa Electron or full credit voucher |
| Avis | 18. Must have held a full driving licence for two years | Approx €16 per day up to 10 days for drivers under 25. | Accepts payment cards like American Express, MasterCard and Visa, but not Visa Electron, Maestro, Cirrus, JCB or pre-paid cards |
| Budget | 21 years old on most car groups. Must have held a full driving licence for two years | Between €20.78 and €24.52 per day for each driver under 25 years old up to 15 days | Accepts cards like American Express, MasterCard and Visa, but not Visa Electron, Maestro, Cirrus, JCB or pre-paid cards |
| Thrifty | 21 years old for some car groups | €30 per day up to 10 days | Accepts payment cards like American Express, MasterCard and Visa, but not Visa Electron and Maestro |
| Sixt | 18 years old for some car groups. Must have held a full driving licence for one year | Differs per car and region. | Accepts all credit and debit cards of internationally recognised companies. Pre-paid cards are not accepted |
| Hertz | 21 years old for some car groups. Must have held a full driving licence for one year | €36.60 per day, up to a maximum charge of €402.60 for drivers under 25 years old | Accepts most major credit and debit cards |
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Rules on the road in Italy.
When driving in Italy from the UK, whether with your own car or a hired one, you’ll need to pay attention to some rules – some of which differ from those in the UK. Keep reading to learn everything about Italian driving rules.
How to pay tolls in Italy.
Similar to a car park system you’ll get a ticket when you enter a tolled road, and must kept it until you leave.
- Collect a ticket from the machine when entering the toll motorway.
- Keep your ticket safe throughout your journey, you will need it to exit.
- At the exit, insert your ticket into the machine to calculate your fee.
- Pay using cash, credit card, or debit card at the payment machine or staffed booth.
Choose the correct lane: lanes marked with a hand symbol are staffed, lanes with card symbols accept card payment, and ‘Telepass’ lanes are for electronic pass holders only.
The majority of toll roads can be found in the north of the country, but some of the most popular routes include the A1, which crosses the country from Milan in the north to Naples in the south, and the A4, which links Turin in the north-west with Trieste in the north-east.
Speed limits
The speed limit for driving in residential areas is either 50km/h (about 30mph) or 70km/h (about 45mph) depending on the street. Outside built-up areas, the limit goes up to 90km/h (about 55mph) or 110km/h (about 70mph), while on the motorway the speed limit is 130km/h (about 80mph).
Cars with trailers and camper vans have lower speed limits, with the maximum on the motorway being 80km/h (about 50mph) for cars with trailers,and 100km/h (about 60mph) for camper vans between 3.5t and 12t.
Priority, right-of-way and overtaking
The default priority rule in Italy is to give way to vehicles approaching from the right at unmarked junctions. Road signs override this rule—look for yield signs, stop signs, or priority road markings that indicate which traffic has right of way.
When entering a roundabout in Italy, you should give way according to the road signs, and to any cars that are already on the roundabout. You don’t have to indicate upon entering the roundabout, but it is always a good idea to indicate when you’re exiting.
On motorways, always overtake on the left and return to the right lane after passing. Lane discipline is strictly observed—stay in the right lane unless overtaking.
Limited traffic or pedestrian zones (ZTL)
ZTL Italy driving zones, also called ‘Zona Traffico Limitato’, are inner-city zones with restricted access to non-residents at certain hours of the day. These are not locked zones and it is easy to drive through a ZTL area. However, there are cameras which document every car that enters.
Watch out for the flashing screen that says ‘ZTL Attiva’, which indicates that the restriction is currently active and you should not enter. In addition to ZTLs, some streets have been marked as ‘Area Pedonale’, which means a pedestrian zone. In these areas, all vehicles are restricted from entering.
Ask your car rental company for tips on avoiding ZTL zones specific to the areas you’re visiting. This could help you avoid nasty fines.
Kirstie Pickering, travel expert
Priority & roundabouts
When entering a roundabout in Italy, you have to give way to drivers on your left and to any cars that are already on the roundabout. You don’t have to indicate upon entering the roundabout, but it is always a good idea to indicate when you’re exiting.
Child seats regulations
Travelling to Italy with young family? When driving with children in Italy in a UK-registered car, you must follow the child seating rules and regulations of the UK. If you are driving a local hire car, you must adhere to the local laws. Infants up to 13kg (around 29lbs) must be placed in a rear-facing child seat, children weighing up to 18kg (around 40lbs) must sit in a front-facing child seat or a booster seat.
Alcohol allowance & drink driving
For drivers of private cars, the alcohol limit in Italy is 0.05%, which is less than the 0.08% limit in the UK. On the other hand, the limit is 0% for professionals such as bus and public service vehicle drivers, as well as drivers who have held their driving licence for less than three years.
Penalties & fines
Penalties and fines in Italy range from as little as €41 (about 35) for a minor offence such as speeding to €6,000 (about 5,300) if you are caught driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Police can hand out on-the-spot fines, and if you are in a foreign-registered car, they may require immediate payment or a deposit. For minor offences, drivers can get a reduction of the amount if the fine is paid within five days
Means of payment
In Italy, by far the most common form of payment is cash – especially in rural areas. However, credit or debit cards are also very common.
It’s always a good idea to carry cash with you when travelling around Italy. While card is accepted in many areas, having cash covers all scenarios and is preferable for many local businesses.
Kirstie Pickering, travel expert
Parking
In Italy, spots marked with a blue border indicate paid parking spots, and you will usually find a meter or an automatic machine located within walking distance. Areas with a white line indicate free parking spots, while the yellow lines indicate residential parking spots. The wheelchair symbol indicates disabled parking spots and are usually free.
Fuel
Unleaded petrol is called “benzina” in Italy, but will sometimes be indicated as “Super senza pb” at the petrol stations. Diesel is typically indicated simply as “diesel”. If not, look for the word “gasolio”, which is the Italian word for diesel. You can also find LPG or gas in some stations. You can pay at petrol stations using either cash or card.
Some petrol stations have both a self-service option and the possibility of having your car filled for you. The latter is indicated by “Servito” and fuel typically costs more per litre than self-service.
During after-hours, most petrol stations will be self-service only and have an automatic payment machine that you can use to pre-pay before refuelling your car. Both cash and card are usually accepted as payment methods.
Driving in Italy – FAQs
No. UK tourists can drive in Italy with a full, valid UK photocard driving licence. An International Driving Permit is recognised but not required by law for UK licence holders visiting as tourists.
Driving in Italy is straightforward once you understand the rules. The main challenges are navigating ZTL zones in cities and adjusting to driving on the right if you’re used to the UK.
In Italy, unlike the UK where driving is on the left, vehicles travel on the right side of the road.
Yes, you must display a UK sticker on your car unless your number plate already includes the letters ‘UK’.
British passport holders living in or wishing to travel to the EU and EU nationals living in or wishing to travel to the UK from the 1st January 2021 are to be advised that all travel-related information have to be checked on this official webpage in order to inform yourself about all and any information pertinent to Brexit when making travel decisions.
