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Driving In ItalyLaws and Tips for Driving in Italy
By reputation Italian drivers drive quickly, aggressively and will ignore traffic laws that don't suit them! Like many Mediterranean countries, scooters are common in all built up areas, and are a hazard to other vehicles and pedestrians alike. Italians will drive closer that most British drivers are used to. One common piece of advice is to ignore what is behind you, and only pay attention to vehicles in front and to the sides. Remember that if you are driving to Italy from the UK, you will probably be driving through France and Switzerland or Germany and Austria. Ensure that your vehicle and licence complies with the requirements for the countries you are passing through.  Basic Requirements
Legal Requirements
Driving Tips
Basic Legal RequirementsDriving Licence
You must be the holder of a full driving licence (not a provisional), and have passed your test. Even if you have already passed your full test, you must be at least 18 years old. Scooters (“motorino”) up to 125cc can be ridden with a full car licence The International Driving Permit is not required, but if you would like one you can apply through the Post Office. The international driving permit is in addition to your driving licence, so you will need to carry both copies. While a photocopy may be useful if your licence is lost, you should carry the original with you. Car DocumentsYou should carry your vehicles Registration Certificate (V5C) with you, which should be updated to show your correct details. For security reasons, it's best NOT to leave the Registration Certificate in the vehicle while it is parked - it makes it harder to a thief to resell the vehicle if they do not have the documentation. While a photocopy may be useful if your Registration Certificate is lost, you should carry the original with you. InsuranceIt is compulsory to have at least third- party insurance for Italy, as for the UK. Most UK insurance policies will allow an element of European driving, often for a limited period. Before leaving the UK, it is a good idea to contact your insurer, and check what your existing cover allows. You should request a 'Green Card' which is an internationally recognised form of proof of insurance. You should carry proof of insurance with you while driving. If your existing insurance does not provide European cover for the period required, most insurance brokers will have a suitable policy covering Italy, and will provide Green Card. Your Vehicle
Standard halogen headlights and Autobulbs Xenon HID Conversion kits can be modified by the use of a stick on Headlight Beam Adaptor. Vehicles with factory fitted Xenon HID headlights may find there is an adjuster either on the headlights themselves or on the dashboard - check your manual for details. If there is no adjuster, you may need to visit a dealer for them to make the adjustments, and again to change them back after your visit. Reflective Jackets or vests must be worn when getting out of a vehicle stuck on a motorway, dual carriageway or other busy road. However, there is not yet the requirement to have them at all times. To comply in an emergency it makes sense to have one for each passenger in the vehicle.
If you are planning on driving in mountain areas in winter, you must carry snow chains or have winter tyres fitted and use them when conditions demand it. Children under the age of 1.5m (4 feet 10 inches) must use child seats or booster seats. All passengers must use seat belts if fitted Children under 5 cannot been carried on a motorcycle or moped. Motorcycles under 150cc are not allowed on motorways.
There is no legal requirement to carry a first aid kit in the vehicle, but it is recommended. Similarly, there is not a requirement to carry a fire extinguisher, but they are generally a useful safety item to carry in your vehicle if you have the space. It is recommended that you carry a spare bulb kit suitable for your vehicle. While HID bulbs last longer than their halogen counterparts, it makes sense to carry at least one spare Xenon HID bulb suitable for your headlights. Feel free to add comments or your experiences of driving in Italy below... Customer Comments
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Italy - Famous for Pizza, Ferraris and Michael Cain robbing armoured trucks...
When driving in Italy,
you will need to ensure you bring both parts of your driving licence
- the Photocard plus the Paper Counterpart (D740). If you do
not have a Photocard yet, only the paper copy is required, but you
will need Photo ID, such as a Passport
Your headlights will
need to be adjusted to ensure that they do not dazzle oncoming users.
You must also carry a
reflective 
You may have a number
plate that already has a valid 'GB' mark. If you do not, you will
need to apply a GB sticker to the back of your vehicle.
Dipped headlights are
required on motorcycles all the time, and on other vehicles when
there is low visibility, such as when it is raining. They are also
required when driving through tunnels - you will see reminder
signs before and after the tunnels. You must not use main beam in
built up areas.
Police
in Italy can and issue on the spot fines for a range of offences
including speeding and other motoring offences. Fines issued are
normally 25% of the normal maximum for the offence. Offences
committed at night (between 10pm and 7am) will have the fine
increased by a third.
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