Driving in Italy from the UK: what you need
Checked against official sources on 8 November 2026 · Sources at the bottom of this page
Driving your own car to Italy? You need:
- A UK sticker, unless your number plate shows "UK" with the Union flag GB stickers are no longer valid: remove or cover them
- Your photocard driving licence, logbook (V5C) and insurance certificate Still have an old paper licence or an Isle of Man licence? You need an international driving permit (£5.50 at a PayPoint) Hire or lease car from the UK? Take a VE103 certificate instead of the logbook
- A passport for everyone in the car See the passport rules for Italy below
- A warning triangle and a hi-vis vest Both are required
- Headlights set for driving on the right, and on in daylight Many newer cars adjust for the right from a menu setting, others need beam deflector stickers
- To stay out of ZTL zones in historic town centres Cameras fine cars without a permit. See below
- Winter tyres or chains on signed roads from 15 November to 15 April
🛂 Your border check happens before Italy
Driving through France or Switzerland? You enter the Schengen area when you cross the Channel, so your passport is checked, and the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) records your fingerprints, at Dover, Folkestone or your arrival port. Your passport must be less than 10 years old on the day you arrive and valid for 3 months after you leave. If you drive through Switzerland, you'll need its CHF 40 motorway vignette.
Check your passport for Italy →ZTL zones: the fines that catch visitors out
Many Italian towns and cities, including Rome, Florence, Pisa, Bologna and Milan, have ZTL limited traffic zones in their historic centres. Only permit holders can drive in, and cameras record every number plate. Visitors often only find out months later, when the fine arrives by post.
Motorway tolls: on most motorways (autostrade) you take a ticket when you join and pay when you leave, in cash or by card. Contactless Visa, Mastercard and Amex work without a PIN. Avoid the yellow Telepass lanes unless you have a tag. If you can't pay, you get an Unpaid Toll Report: pay it online within 15 days, or a letter with an extra fee is sent to the car's owner.
Speed limits in Italy
| Road | Limit |
|---|---|
| Motorways | 130 km/h≈ 81 mph, 110 in rain |
| Main dual carriageways outside towns | 110 km/h≈ 68 mph, 90 in rain |
| Other roads outside towns | 90 km/h≈ 56 mph |
| Towns and villages | 50 km/h≈ 31 mph |
In rain or bad weather, the limit drops to 110 km/h on motorways and 90 km/h on main dual carriageways. Drivers who passed their test less than 3 years ago are limited to 100 km/h on motorways and 90 km/h on main dual carriageways. Speed checks must be signed, and the police publish mobile speed camera locations each week.
Rules that catch UK drivers out
🍷 Drink-drive limit
0.5 g/l, and zero for drivers who passed their test less than 3 years ago and for professional drivers.
📵 No handheld phones
Using a phone in your hand is banned. Penalties were raised in December 2024 and can include having your licence suspended.
🚨 Stay out of the emergency lane
Driving in a motorway's emergency lane can cost up to €1,500.
🚸 Pedestrian crossings
Pedestrians can be fined for crossing within 100 m of a crossing without using it. Drivers should expect people on crossings and stop for them.
👶 Child seats
Children must use a child seat or booster suited to their weight.
❄️ Winter tyres or chains 15 Nov – 15 Apr
On roads where signs say so, from 15 November to 15 April you must have winter tyres fitted or snow chains in the car, even if there's no snow. Many roads in the Alps and Apennines are signed.
With chains fitted, don't go faster than 50 km/h.
Breakdowns and emergencies
- Call 112 for police, ambulance or fire.
- Outside towns, place the warning triangle at least 50 m behind the car.
- Wear your hi-vis vest if you get out of the car at night or in poor visibility. For traffic information, call 1518.
Hiring a car in Italy instead
- Hire companies may want you to have a year's driving experience, be older than the legal minimum, or have an international driving permit, so check first.
- Ask about ZTL permits if you'll drive into a town centre, and how fines and tolls are passed on.
- They may ask for a DVLA licence check code. Get one on GOV.UK shortly before you collect the car: it's only valid for 21 days.
FAQs
What is a ZTL in Italy?
A ZTL (zona a traffico limitato) is a limited traffic zone, usually in a historic town centre. Only cars with a permit can enter, and cameras record every number plate, so driving in without a permit brings a fine by post, often months later. Look for the ZTL sign: black letters on a yellow or white background with a red circle. Many hire companies can arrange a permit.
How do I pay motorway tolls in Italy?
On most motorways you take a ticket when you join and pay when you leave, in cash or by card (contactless cards work without a PIN). Avoid the yellow Telepass lanes unless you have a tag. If you can't pay, you get an Unpaid Toll Report to pay online within 15 days.
Do I need winter tyres in Italy?
On roads signed by the local authority, from 15 November to 15 April you must have winter tyres fitted or snow chains in the car, even if there's no snow. This covers many Alpine and Apennine roads. With chains fitted, the limit is 50 km/h.
What is the speed limit on Italian motorways?
130 km/h (about 81 mph), or 110 km/h in rain or bad weather. Drivers who passed their test less than 3 years ago are limited to 100 km/h on motorways.
What do I need to carry in my car in Italy?
A warning triangle and a hi-vis vest. If you break down outside a town, place the triangle at least 50 m behind the car, and wear the vest if you get out at night or in poor visibility.
What is the drink-drive limit in Italy?
0.5 g/l, lower than England, Wales and Northern Ireland (0.8). It's zero for drivers who passed their test less than 3 years ago and for professional drivers.
Do I need an international driving permit for Italy?
No, not with a UK photocard licence. You need one if you have an old paper licence or an Isle of Man licence.
More for your trip
Sources
Checked on 8 November 2026. Rules change, so check the official sources before you travel.
- GOV.UK: Italy travel advice, road travel · International driving permits · UK stickers · Insurance abroad
- Italy: Speed limits (Polizia di Stato) · Driving in Italy (Polizia di Stato) · Winter tyres and chains · Paying tolls (Autostrade) · Unpaid tolls · Rome ZTL · Rome Fascia Verde
- EU: Your Europe: road rules in Italy