Destinations / Italy
Driving in Italy as a visitor
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Rental companies and local authorities in Italy routinely ask non-EU drivers to carry an IDP alongside their home licence.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Italy expects
| Driving document | Depends on licence issuer, script and rental policy |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna |
| Valid for | Up to 3 years |
| Drives on the | Right |
| Emergency number | 112 |
| Top speed limit | 130 km/h autostrade |
What the rental desk will ask you for
| Your own licence | The original card. A photo of it, or a photocopy, gets turned away. |
|---|---|
| Licence translation | Check the desk policy for your issuing country and licence script. A translation accompanies the licence and never replaces an official permit. |
| Booklet format they know | 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna |
| Minimum age | 18. Under 25 usually pays a young-driver surcharge. |
| Deposit | A credit card in the driver's name. The hold is taken in EUR. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| City zones | ZTL (limited-traffic) zones in city centres are camera-enforced: heavy fines. |
|---|---|
| Lights | Headlights required on motorways at all times. |
| In the car | Carry a reflective jacket and warning triangle. |
| Alcohol | 0.05% alcohol limit; zero for drivers under 21. |
On the road in Italy
At the pump
Stations sell benzina (petrol, unleaded) and gasolio (diesel); pumps offer servito (attended, pricier) or fai-da-te (self-service). Pay by card or cash, with many autostrada and rural stations going card-only automated overnight; check current fuel prices at the station.
After a crash
Call 112 for emergencies; police must be alerted if anyone is injured. For minor damage complete the CID/constatazione amichevole (European Accident Statement) signed by both drivers, photograph the scene, do not move vehicles if there are injuries, and report it to the rental company promptly.
Sources: finalrentals.com · adagioumbro.it · cover4rentals.ie · europa.eu
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Italy?
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Rental companies and local authorities in Italy routinely ask non-EU drivers to carry an IDP alongside their home licence.
Which translation format is used for Italy?
Italy uses the 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna convention format. A Vialy translation is prepared in that format but is not a government-issued permit.
Will a rental desk in Italy ask for a translation?
Italian traffic authorities typically expect the printed IDP booklet, not just a digital copy.
How fast can Vialy prepare one for Italy?
The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay, 30 minutes as standard and 5 with Express.
Also in Europe
Driving on to another country on the same trip? Each page states what that destination expects.