The complete guide to driving in Italy for UK travellers

If you’re planning to drive through any city centres during your Italian road trip, you’re likely to come across a Zona a Traffico Limitato (ZTL). These restricted traffic zones are marked by signs, and driving within them without authorisation will leave you with a sizable fine.

Are you dreaming of an Italian road trip? You’re certainly not alone – Italy is an iconic driving destination. Picture motoring around the country at your leisure, taking in its ancient cities, glittering coast, dramatic mountain vistas and serene countryside. And of course, indulging in local Chianti, cannoli and parmigiano along the way.

Read on for everything you need to know about planning an unforgettable road trip in Italy, from legal requirements and road regulations to route inspiration.

Important documents for driving in Italy

Before we get started, let’s talk about the essential motoring documents you need to pack. Bear in mind that if you set off without some of these documents, you may not be permitted to drive in Italy at all.

Here’s what you’ll need:

1. A full, valid UK photocard driving licence

If you want to hit the road in Italy you’ll need to bring your UK driving licence with you. Fortunately, a UK photocard licence qualifies you to drive in Italy – you won’t need to apply for a separate licence, an International Driving Permit, or go through a different test.

2. An International Driving Permit (IDP)

However, if you still have a UK paper licence (i.e., not a photocard licence), or your licence was issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man, you may need an IDP to drive in Italy. This document is essentially an official translation of your UK driving licence, and should be carried alongside your licence.

Furthermore, if you’re hiring a car in Italy, it’s still worth investing in an IDP before your trip– regardless of your licence–as some car rental companies require them as standard.

It’s easy to get an IDP in the UK. Simply head to your nearest PayPoint store and present a valid, full UK driving licence, a recent passport photo and–if you have a paper licence–an original, valid passport. Getting your IDP costs £5.50 and should only take a couple of minutes.

3. Proof of ID (passport)

When driving in Italy as a tourist, you’ll need to bring your passport:

• To enter and exit the country
• To act as a second form of ID (this is a legal requirement).

4. V5 registration document

If you’re driving your own vehicle rather than renting a car in Italy, you’ll need to bring your V5 registration document with you too. This is your certificate of vehicle registration. It’s a legal requirement that you carry it when navigating Italy’s roads.

5. Car insurance certificate

You must also carry your car insurance certificate when driving in Italy. This should demonstrate that you have sufficient car insurance and breakdown cover for your trip.

6. UK sticker

If you’re planning to drive your own car, or any other UK-registered vehicle, in Italy, you must display the UK identifier on your vehicle.

If your number plate already includes the UK identifier with a Union Jack, you’re already covered. However, you’ll need to display a UK sticker clearly on the rear of your vehicle if your number plate includes any of the following:

• A GB identifier with the Union Jack
• A Euro symbol
• A national flag of England, Scotland or Wales
• Numbers and letters only without any flag or identifier

A guide to driving in Italy for UK drivers

Now you’ve got all your documents in order, it’s time to hit the road. Here are ten points UK drivers need to know when motoring in Italy.

1. Drive on the right

This is the big one – in Italy, motorists drive on the right hand side of the road.

2. Watch out for ZTL zones

If you’re planning to drive through any city centres during your Italian road trip, you’re likely to come across a Zona a Traffico Limitato (ZTL). These restricted traffic zones are marked by signs, and driving within them without authorisation will leave you with a sizable fine. In fact, unless your hotel gives you ZTL authorisation, it’s best to avoid driving in city centres altogether.

3. Know the speed limits

Much like in the UK, Italy’s speed limits are displayed on circular road signs with red borders. Unlike the UK, these speed limits are displayed in kmh rather than mph.

General speed limits in Italy are:

• 50 kmh (31 mph) in urban areas
• 90 kmh (56 mph) on main roads
• 130 kmh (81 mph) on motorways or autostrade in Italian

Bear in mind that many speed checks on Italy’s roads are automatic, and fines for exceeding these limits can be hefty.

4. Petrol stations

In the UK, many petrol stations open round the clock. But, in Italy, they often close on a Sunday or for lunch breaks, so fuel up when you can and don’t take an open petrol station for granted.

5. Autostrade tolls

Many motorways also known as autostrade in Italy charge tolls, so it’s vital to keep cash or cards handy when driving. You’ll collect a ticket upon entry to the toll zone, and pay when exiting.

6. Parking and fines

To park without incurring a fine, pay attention to the lines painted on the roads.

Here’s what different colour lines generally mean in Italy:

• Blue lines indicate paid parking
• White lines mean you can park there for free
• Yellow lines signify residents-only parking

However, it’s essential to look around the area for parking signs too, as they can change the meanings of the lines – for example, white lines can also signify taxi bays. Italian police are generally strict when it comes to parking violations, and if you breach parking regulations, you may receive notification of a fine at your UK address, even months later.

7. Keep your headlights on

Outside of urban, built-up areas, cars must keep their dipped headlights on – even during the daytime.

8. Important items for driving in Italy

When driving in Italy, you need to keep a number of essential items in your vehicle, in case of emergency.

These include:

• Reflective jackets for all passengers: high-visibility vests are required by law - you must have one for each person in the car and wear it if you exit the vehicle on a motorway.
• A warning triangle: you are required by law to keep a warning triangle in your car and use it in case of a breakdown to warn other drivers.
• Headlamp beam deflectors: if you’re in a UK car, designed to be driven on the left side of the road, your headlamps will dazzle oncoming drivers when driving on the right hand side. To fix this, you will need deflector stickers, or if your car allows it, adjust the beam manually.

9. In an emergency

In the event of an emergency, dial 112 for an ambulance or medical attention. There’s no need to use a country code when you’re calling from inside Europe.

If you need roadside assistance, contact the Automobile Club of Italy (ACI) on 800 116 800 if you’re calling from a foreign mobile, or 803 116 if you’re calling from a landline or mobile with an Italian provider. ACI Road Assistance is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

On a motorway? There should be an SOS post nearby. From here you can call for assistance from the first road patrol available.

10. Useful words and phrases for driving in Italy

• Car – Macchina/Auto
• Driver – Autista/Conducente
• Driving licence – Patente di guida
• Insurance – Assicurazione
• Petrol – Benzina
• Diesel – Gasolio
• Parking – Parcheggio
• Stop – Stop / Alt
• Give way – Dare la precedenza
• No entry – Divieto di accesso
• One way – Senso unico
• Exit – Uscita
• Entrance – Entrata / Ingresso
• Centre – Centro
• Motorway – Autostrada
• Ring road – Raccordo anulare
• Traffic – Traffico
• Traffic jam – Ingorgo
• Roadworks – Lavori in corso
• Detour – Deviazione
• Toll – Pedaggio
• Speed limit – Limite di velocità
• Fine – Multa
• Parking meter – Parchimetro
• Parking disc – Disco orario
• Free parking – Parcheggio gratuito
• Paid parking – Parcheggio a pagamento
• No parking – Divieto di sosta
• Residents only – Solo residenti
• Restricted traffic zone – Zona a traffico limitato (ZTL)
• City centre – Centro storico
• Authorized vehicles only – Solo veicoli autorizzati
• Camera – Telecamera
• Police – Polizia
• Breakdown – Guasto
• Mechanic – Meccanico
• Petrol station – Distributore/Stazione di servizio
• Hospital – Ospedale
• Pharmacy – Farmacia
• Where is the nearest petrol station? – Dove è il distributore più vicino?
• How much is the parking? – Quanto costa il parcheggio?
• I need help – Ho bisogno di aiuto
• Where is the city centre? – Dove è il centro?
• I'm lost – Mi sono perso/a
• Excuse me – Mi scusi

6 tips for planning your Italian road trip

Are you ready to finally plan that dream Italian road trip? Here are six vital tips for driving in Italy for the first time:

1. Avoid driving in major cities

Major tourist cities like Florence, Rome and Bologna have extensive ZTL zones that can leave you with significant fines. With this in mind, it’s important to research your journey ahead of time to identify these ZTL areas and plan your route around them. The easiest option is to plan to park outside major cities and then use public transport or walk into the city itself. If your hotel is in a ZTL, contact them in advance to register your license plate for authorized access.

2. Book accommodation with parking

It can be very difficult to find a parking space in Italy’s cities – and once you do, costs are steep. Booking accommodation with parking makes life on the road a lot easier. Search for properties that offer parking facilities (even if there’s a charge attached) to avoid hours of circling narrow streets seeking legal parking spots. This also helps you avoid fines and break-ins.

3. Give yourself extra time for the mountains and coast

You can use Google Maps to find out roughly how long it should take you to get from A to B. However, many of Italy’s most spectacular drives include winding mountain roads or busy seaside routes that can often take longer than your GPS might estimate. For instance, if you’re driving around the Amalfi Coast, Cinque Terre or using Alpine passes–especially in peak season–you’ll need to build extra time into your itinerary and consider travelling these routes early in the morning when there’s less traffic.

4. Download offline maps

Mobile coverage can fluctuate in mountainous regions, so it’s worth downloading maps ahead of your journey.

5. Budget for tolls and fuel

When allocating money for your trip, don’t forget to budget for tolls and fuel. Indeed, toll fees can quickly add up when you’re driving on Italy’s motorways, and fuel is relatively expensive too.

6. Learn essential Italian road signs

In order to confidently navigate Italian roads, you’ll need to familiarise yourself with key road signs such as:

• Centro – city centre
• Uscita – exit
• Deviazione – detour

Popular Italian road trip routes

Looking for some Italian road trip inspiration? Here are seven of the country’s most popular road trip routes:

1. Amalfi Coast drive (Campania)

Route:Naples – Sorrento – Positano – Amalfi – Ravello

Explore one of Italy’s most iconic areas – think dramatic cliffs, sparkling sea views, colourful villages and lemon groves.

2. Tuscan wine route (Tuscany)

Route: Florence – Chianti – Siena – Montalcino – Montepulciano

Visit medieval towns and sample world-class wines against a backdrop of rolling hills and cypress trees.

3. The Great Dolomites Road (Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto)

Route: Bolzano – Val Gardena – Cortina d’Ampezzo – Belluno

Take in the peaceful Alpine vista as you motor along mountain passes, stopping to explore scenic hiking trails along the way.

4. Puglia coastal loop (Puglia)

Route: Bari – Polignano a Mare – Alberobello – Ostuni – Lecce – Otranto

Visit whitewashed towns, olive groves and trulli houses (traditional limestone dwellings), before relaxing on beaches lapped by crystalline Adriatic waters.

5. Sicilian heritage circuit (Sicily)

Route: Catania – Taormina – Mount Etna – Agrigento – Palermo – Cefalù

Combine dramatic volcanic landscapes and ancient ruins with sumptuous seafood lunches on a Sicilian adventure.

6. Northern lakes tour (Lombardy and Veneto)

Route: Milan – Lake Como – Lake Lugano – Lake Maggiore – Lake Garda – Verona

Take in some of Italy’s most famous (and most glamorous) sights on an unforgettable journey that incorporates stunning lakes, elegant villas, and scenic boat rides.

7. The Roman countryside and lakes (Lazio and Abruzzo)

Route: Rome – Tivoli – Castel Gandolfo – Lake Bracciano – L’Aquila

Looking for a route that takes in the gorgeous Italian capital? Dine, drink and sightsee in Rome, before heading out of the city for ancient villas, volcanic lakes and serene countryside.