Italy

Key points for young drivers:

• Motorway: 130 km/h, 110 km/h in rain or snow; expressway 110 km/h. In your first 3 years with a licence: 100 km/h on motorways and 90 km/h on expressways.
• Alcohol: 0.0 ‰ if you are under 21 or have had your licence for less than 3 years (everyone else: 0.5 ‰).
• Dipped headlights outside built-up areas round the clock.
• In the car: high-visibility vest and warning triangle.
• Tolls: toll booths on motorways – have cash in euro, as not every booth accepts a foreign card.
• Trap: ZTL zones in city centres – do not drive in without a permit.

Seat belts and child seats

Everyone wears a seat belt – front and back. Children travel in child seats or booster seats suited to their height and weight.

A child up to 12 years old or shorter than 150 cm must sit on a booster seat that lets the seat belt be fastened properly. According to the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, such a booster seat may only be fitted on the back seat.

Traffic lights

As in most EU countries: official sources do not list any different rules on traffic lights for Italy.

Helmet not compulsory

A helmet is not compulsory on an ordinary bicycle.

Helmet compulsory

• motorcycles (including with a sidecar) and mopeds – unless they have an enclosed cabin,
• three-wheelers and quadricycles without a cabin,
• e-scooters – everyone riding one must wear a helmet.

Note: after the reform of the Highway Code of 14 December 2024, an e-scooter must have insurance, a plate (identification sticker), indicators and brakes on both wheels. You may ride it only on urban roads with a speed limit of up to 50 km/h – not on cycle paths or in pedestrian zones. Your Europe (as of September 2024) does not reflect this – check before you travel at Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Odyseusz: Italy (in Polish).

Compulsory equipment in the car

• high-visibility (reflective) vest,
• warning triangle.

Compulsory equipment on a bike

No specific requirements in the sources.

You must not use a phone while cycling – you can be fined. The motor of an e-bike may have a maximum of 250 W.

Winter tyres and snow chains

According to Your Europe, winter tyres are compulsory in Italy. In practice, the requirement is set by road operators (e.g. the state-owned Anas) and local authorities: usually from 15 November to 15 April you must have winter tyres or carry snow chains in the car.

Watch the signs, especially on mountain roads.

Phone, drugs and other bans

Holding a phone is banned – you may talk only with a hands-free kit. Using a phone can mean a high fine and suspension of your licence (up to 3 months).

Drugs: zero tolerance. A positive preliminary test is enough to lose your licence for at least 3 months. Repeat drink-drivers must have an alcolock in their car.

Hard shoulder on the motorway – only for breakdowns. When overtaking a cyclist, keep at least 1.5 m away. Do not make a U-turn on the motorway or before entering it.

Note: on 14 December 2024 a major reform of the Italian Highway Code came into force (tougher penalties for phones, alcohol and drugs). Your Europe (as of September 2024) does not reflect it – check before you travel at Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Odyseusz: Italy (in Polish).

Vignettes, tolls and low-emission zones

There are no vignettes. Most motorways are tolled – you pay at the toll booths at the exit or at toll points: in cash (euro), by card or with Telepass. Toll booths do not always accept foreign cards, so have cash with you. On some automated motorways there are no toll booths – you check and pay the toll online with the operator. Information: autostrade.it.

Many cities have ZTL zones (Zona Traffico Limitato) – you must not drive into them without a permit.

Documents and insurance

• For a tourist stay, a driving licence from an EU/EEA country is enough – with or without an expiry date. Take the plastic card with you.
• Vehicle registration certificate and your third-party motor insurance – within the EU you do not need a Green Card.
• If you move to Italy permanently, you must re-register a car with foreign plates within 3 months of getting residency.

What to watch out for

• You pay fines on the spot. If you drive a car with foreign plates, you must pay on the spot – if you cannot, the car is taken to a paid impound car park. Paying means admitting the offence; if you disagree, pay a deposit (equal to the fine) and appeal to the prefect or the justice of the peace within 60 days.
• New licence: in your first 3 years, the Italian Highway Code limits your speed to 100 km/h on motorways and 90 km/h on expressways and bans cars with more than 75 kW/t (for cars – also more than 105 kW). The rule refers to holders of a category B licence – assume it applies to you too, especially in a hire car.
• On signposted three-lane motorways the limit may be 150 km/h – but only where signs say so.
• Driving the wrong way, through a red light, without a seat belt or helmet, or with a phone in your hand can cost you your licence for 7–15 days (up to 30 days if there is an accident). A fatal accident under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or when speeding by more than 50 km/h, counts as “road homicide”.
• Do not buy fakes from street sellers – buyers can be fined too.

Note: Your Europe (2024) says dipped headlights round the clock everywhere, the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2026) – round the clock outside built-up areas. The simplest option is to always drive with your lights on – check before you travel at Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Odyseusz: Italy (in Polish).

Sources

• Your Europe – Road rules: Italy
• Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Odyseusz: Italy (in Polish)
• Highway Code (Codice della strada), Art. 142 – speed limits (ACI)
• Highway Code, Art. 117 – restrictions for new drivers (ACI)
• Highway Code, Art. 186-bis – zero alcohol for young drivers (ACI)
• Anas – state road operator (winter requirement)
• Autostrade per l’Italia – tolls
• Last updated: September 2026.