Driving is a fantastic way to explore Italy, though it requires adjusting to new rules, road signs, and driving culture. Big cities like Rome, Milan and Florence and places like Sicily can be challenging even for experienced motorists. But getting an Italian driving license as an expat is at least a relatively uncomplicated process, and if you have a valid driver’s license from a foreign country, you can convert it.
So here’s the Remitly guide to obtaining your driver’s license in Italy.
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Driver’s licenses in Italy
The Italian driver’s license (patente di guida) is an official document that lets you drive legally in Italy and all European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) member states. The distinct pink plastic card follows the EU’s harmonized standard, guaranteeing you a high level of safety on Italy’s roadways.
Driving licenses in Italy fall under the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (Ministero delle infrastrutture e dei trasporti, MIT) and are issued by the Civil Motorization Office (Uffici della Motorizzazione Civile, UMC) in your local area.
They are valid for up to ten years, depending on your license type. There are several categories of Italian driver’s licenses—from the AM license, which allows young riders to pilot mopeds, to class D licenses, covering heavy vehicles.
You can also obtain professional driving licenses for driving taxis, large buses, trucks, or dangerous goods vehicles. See the official full list here.
However, most drivers above the age of 18 get a Category B license, which allows you to operate cars, pickups, small vans, and other light motor vehicles.
Italy’s points system explained
The Italian Highway Code (Codice della Strada) adopted a revolutionary points-based penalty system in 2003. Thanks to this innovative approach, Italian road safety is improving all the time, and drivers have become more responsible on the roads.
Italy’s points system is quite straightforward in practice. You are assigned 20 points once you receive an Italian driver’s license.
Each Highway Code rule violation will cost you a certain number of points, which is established by law. The points deducted also depend on the severity of the offense.
Newly licensed drivers (neopatentati) lose double the points for each offense in the first three years.
Drivers who lose all 20 points get a suspended license and have to retake—and pass—the driving test within 30 days. But those points may be restored if there are no further offenses within a fixed period of time.
However, the rules of the road are much tougher for foreign drivers. Accumulating 20 penalty points in one year may earn you a two-year ban from driving in Italy. Other variations also apply:
- 20 penalty points accrued in two years may lead to a one-year driving ban;
- 20 penalty points accrued in two to three years may lead to a six-month driving ban.
What types of driving licenses can immigrants get in Italy?
As an Italian resident with a valid Residence Permit (permesso di soggiorno), you can either:
- Convert your driving license from your home country, or,
- Apply for an Italian driver’s license.
In this case, a resident is defined as someone who lives in Italy for at least 185 days in a year, and has their main personal interests, like family or business, in the country.
Converting your foreign permit into an Italian driver’s license
Many immigrants opt to convert their foreign driver’s permit as the first step to becoming a registered driver in Italy. However, regulations vary for citizens from EU/EEA countries and those outside these regions.
License conversion for non-EU/EEA residents
As a non-EU or non-EEA resident, you can drive in Italy using your foreign license for up to one year after gaining Italian residency. In such a case, you would need:
- A valid driving license in your home country; and,
- An International Driving Permit (IDP) or a certified translation of your foreign driver’s permit.
However, you can only complete this process if your home country has established an agreement with Italy for reciprocal recognition of driving licenses. Check your eligibility here.
What is an International Driving Permit, and how can you get it?
An International Driving Permit (IDP) is simply an official translation of your driver’s license into multiple languages, making it a recognized document in other countries. Today, more than 150 countries accept the IDP as a valid document thanks to the UN-led 1949 Convention on Road Traffic and, later, the 1968 Vienna Convention.
Generally, IDPs are issued by the driving licensing authority in your home country, or the country where you are a registered license holder.
American drivers might find it easier to convert their U.S. driver’s license through AAA. An IDP is valid for one to three years. Alternatively, you can obtain a certified translation through the Italian Consulate in the issuing country.
License conversions for EU/EEA residents
License holders from EEA and EU countries—and nations like the USA and Canada—can drive in Italy for up to two years after gaining residency without converting their foreign driver’s permit, as long as it doesn’t have an expiration date.
But if your home-country permit does have a validity period, you can keep using it in Italy until it expires. Afterward, you can convert it into an Italian driver’s license following applicable EU guidelines.
How to convert your foreign driver’s license in Italy
- Your foreign driving license, its legal translation, and a photocopy.
- Form TT 2112, available at the UMC or online.
- Your payment receipt. Fees range from 9 EUR to 30 EUR depending on your city or region. Make your payment through the Portale dell’Automobilista website, or at a post office or bank.
- Copy of your valid ID document and Codice Fiscale.
- Medical certificate.
- Two passport-sized photos.
Applying for an Italian driver’s license
Sometimes it’s impossible to convert your foreign driver’s license, for example, if your home country doesn’t have a reciprocity agreement with Italy. Alternatively, you may have used your IDP or EU license until it expired. What can you do next?
Your next step will be to apply for an official driving license in Italy. This process starts with a thorough medical examination to determine if you’re fit for the road. This can only be done by a qualified doctor or registered medical center (commissione medica locale).
The Italian driving test is a two-stage exam that assesses both your understanding of road rules and your practical driving skills.
What are the requirements?
To get an Italian driving license, you start by making your application to the local UMC. You’ll need to submit the following documents:
- Form TT 2112, available at the UMC or online.
- Copy of your valid ID.
- Copy of your residence permit (permesso di soggiorno), or the renewal or first-issue receipt.
- Copy of your Codice Fiscale or Italian health insurance card (tessera sanitaria).
- Medical certificate from your local health authority (Azienda Sanitaria Locale or ASL).
- Three passport-sized photos
- Payments of 26.40 EUR + 16 EUR tax. The registration fee may vary slightly depending on where you live in Italy.
Then, you must pass a theory test and a practical driving test. You can either apply as a private individual or through a local driving school. In a driving school you’ll get direct access to driving instructors who will help you prepare for the theory and practice exams.
Applying as a private individual means you’ll have to do all the prep work yourself, and then register at a driving school to take the practice exam.
Either way, you’ll need at least six hours of driving lessons with a qualified teacher to advance to the practice exam.
Theory exam
The theory exam involves answering 30 true or false questions on road rules, car functions, and traffic signs. It usually takes 20 minutes, and you cannot get more than three questions wrong.
You can take the theory test in English, Italian, German, or French. Drivers with reading difficulties can receive audio support to hear the questions via headphones. However, this test must be completed within six months after your application.
You can access plenty of practice resources online, through physical handbooks, or at your neighborhood driving school.
Practical exam
Once you pass the theory exam, you’ll receive your distinctive pink provisional license (foglio rosa). This allows you to practice with an experienced motorist who has driven for ten years or more, and is valid for six months. At this stage, you will also place the “P” sticker marking you as a beginner at the back of your car.
Then you’ll move on to the practical exam, where you’ll follow the instructions of an examiner trained to evaluate your driving abilities. They may also ask you questions about the car’s functions.
After passing this practical test, you will receive your Italian driver’s license. That entitles you to drive your own or car rental vehicles throughout Italy and the European Union, as long as you have the proper visas.
Validity and renewal
You can use the Italian driver’s license while traveling to other countries across Europe with a validity period of ten years until you turn 50.
After the age of 50, you’ll need to apply for renewal every five years. This means that, until you’re 70 years old, you’ll receive a five-year driving license in Italy.
In both cases, you’ll be able to renew your driver’s license four months before its expiration date. This will require a visit to your local health authority for a medical check. For this appointment, you should bring the following:
- Valid ID,
- Your health insurance card (tessera sanitaria),
- Current driving license,
- Two passport-size photos,
- Payment of 10.20 EUR + 16 EUR tax, which may change based on city or region.
The MIT will then send your updated driver’s license to your home address.
Replacing a lost, stolen, or damaged driving license
Should you lose your Italian driver’s license, or it gets stolen or damaged in any way, you should make a report to the police as quickly as possible. Then, visit your local UMC and request a duplicate.
Make the most of Italy
Whether you’re there to work, study, volunteer, or be closer to family and friends, Italy is a vibrant, diverse country where you’ll easily fit in. Public transport is better than its reputation, but an Italian driver’s license is the key to discovering the hidden charm of stunning Il Bel Paese.
FAQs
Not at all—obtaining an Italian driver’s license is a straightforward process. After submitting your application, you just have to pass the theory test and practical exam in order to receive your permit.
The International Driving Permit (IDP) is geared toward non-EU/EEA residents. This international driver’s license allows you to drive in Italy for one year using a foreign driver’s license before you have to either convert your license or apply for an Italian driver’s license.
To apply for an Italian driver’s license, you are required to submit your TT 2112 application form, a copy of your valid ID, a copy of your residence permit, a copy of your Codice Fiscale or Italian health insurance card, a medical certificate from your local health authority, three passport-sized photos, and a copy of your payment receipt.
