Driving in Italy: International Driving Document requirements for visitors
Start Express ApplicationVisitors to Italy need an International Driving Document if their licence was issued outside the EU/EEA. Italy is party to both the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Conventions — either type is accepted. Italy drives on the right. Urban speed limit is 50 km/h, motorway 130 km/h. Blood alcohol limit is 0.05%. Watch out for ZTL zones — restricted traffic areas in historic city centers with automatic camera fines.
Italy at a glance
- Permit type
- International Driving Document
- Side of road
- Right (same as most of Europe, US, Canada)
- How long it is valid
- 1 year (Geneva) or up to 3 years (Vienna)
- Minimum driving age
- 18
- Blood alcohol limit
- 0.05% (0.00% for drivers within 3 years of licensing)
- Emergency number
- 112 (EU universal)
How to get your permit for Italy
You do the first step; a dedicated expert does the rest.
Tell us your destination
Italy + your nationality. ~30 seconds.
We confirm what you need
An International Driving Document valid for Italy — picked for you, so you don't have to decide between convention types.
We handle the paperwork
Your dedicated expert checks your documents, prepares the application, and files it correctly with the authorized agency.
Review by a real person
A dedicated expert reviews your submission — not a bot.
Track every step
Live dashboard + email/SMS updates from submission until your International Driving Document is in hand.
Italy driving rules at a glance
- Side of road
- Right (same as most of Europe, US, Canada)
- Minimum driving age
- 18
- Speed limit — urban
- 50 km/h
- Speed limit — rural
- 90 km/h
- Speed limit — motorway (autostrada)
- 130 km/h (110 in rain, 90 in snow)
- Blood alcohol limit
- 0.05% (0.00% for drivers within 3 years of licensing)
- Seatbelts
- Mandatory for all passengers
- Helmet
- Mandatory for all motorcycle and scooter riders
- Mobile phone
- Illegal to hold while driving — hands-free only
- Emergency number
- 112 (EU universal)
- Headlights
- Mandatory on motorways and in tunnels, day and night
- Right turn on red
- Prohibited — wait for green
Documents required to drive in Italy
What police and rental counters expect you to carry, every time you drive.
- Valid foreign driving licenceEU/EEA accepted directly. Non-EU needs International Driving Document.
- International Driving DocumentEither Geneva or Vienna type
- PassportRequired for identification
- Vehicle registration (libretto)Provided by rental company
- Insurance certificateThird-party liability is mandatory
- ZTL permit(only if it applies to you)Only for authorized vehicles — tourists should avoid ZTL zones entirely
When you need a permit in Italy
How the requirement plays out, case by case.
EU/EEA licence holder
No — your licence is sufficient — Valid for the duration of your visit
Non-EU licence holder
Yes — required by law — Italy is stricter than most EU countries
Renting a car
Yes for non-EU — rental companies require it — Police check rental cars, especially in summer
Licence not in Italian or English
Yes — needed as translation — Essential for police verification
Frequently asked questions
Driving in Italy with a foreign licence, answered.
Last verified Reviewed by Expedify Compliance Review
About this service
Expedify is a private application-assistance service, not a government agency or an authorised issuer. International Driving Documents are issued by the authorised body in your licence country; our agency fee covers preparation, review, and tracking of your application, and is separate from the issuer's own fee. The information on this page is general guidance, not legal advice — acceptance rules are set by each destination country and can change. Always confirm requirements with the official issuer or the authorities of the country you're visiting.