Parking in Italy

Unless signs say otherwise, the Codice della Strada sets 130 km/h on motorways, 110 km/h on main rural roads, 90 km/h on other roads outside built-up areas and 50 km/h in towns, where some signed stretches allow 70 km/h. In rain, snow or any other precipitation the maximum drops to 110 km/h on motorways and 90 km/h on main rural roads. Drivers who have held an Italian licence for less than 3 years may not exceed 100 km/h on motorways or 90 km/h on main rural roads.

Alcohol: 0.5 g/l, or zero

The general limit is 0.5 g/l of alcohol in the blood; above 0.8 g/l drink driving becomes a criminal offence. For drivers under 21, those who have held a category B licence for less than 3 years and professional drivers the limit is zero: no alcohol at all before driving. The reform in force since 14 December 2024 left these limits unchanged, but requires repeat offenders to fit an alcohol interlock. The simplest advice remains: if you are driving, do not drink.

Dipped headlights outside towns

Outside built-up areas, cars must drive with sidelights and dipped headlights on, even in daylight and in any weather. Daytime running lights may replace them if the vehicle has them, except at night, in tunnels, in fog, snow, heavy rain or poor visibility, when dipped headlights are required. Motorbikes and scooters keep their lights on in towns too. Many foreign drivers are caught out by this rule, so check your light switch as you leave town.

Phones at the wheel

While driving it is forbidden to use a smartphone, tablet or any device that takes your hands off the wheel, even briefly, and to drive wearing headphones. Only a speakerphone or an earpiece that needs no hands is allowed. Under Legge 177/2024, in force since 14 December 2024, a fine now always comes with a licence suspension, which is longer if the offence is repeated within 2 years. Set up your navigation before you set off.

ZTL: cameras read your plate

Many historic centres are Zone a Traffico Limitato (ZTL): each municipality sets their boundaries and hours. Signed electronic gates at the entrances automatically record the number plate of every vehicle, foreign ones included. If your hotel is inside a ZTL, ask it before you arrive whether and how it registers your plate: in Firenze, for example, accommodation providers add it to an online white list. Since 14 December 2024, a driver who enters and leaves the same ZTL within a few minutes cannot be fined twice.

Motorway tolls

On toll motorways you pay at the toll plaza, except on stretches with electronic tolling and no barriers. As you approach, pick your lane from the signs: white for cash, blue for credit cards, debit cards and Viacard with no PIN, and yellow marked Telepass for gates reserved for holders of the device. Without Telepass, do not enter a yellow lane. Automatic booths accept banknotes from 5 to 100 euros; where a hand symbol is shown, a member of staff is on duty.

Coloured lines and parking disc

The colour of bay markings tells you the rules: white for free parking, blue for paid parking and yellow for spaces reserved for the category shown by a word or symbol, such as disabled drivers or loading. Where parking is time limited you must clearly display your arrival time, usually with a parking disc on the dashboard. Paid hours and days vary from one municipality to another, so always read the sign by the pay machine. The 2024 reform raised fines for parking in disabled bays.

Winter: winter tyres or chains

As a rule, from 15 November to 15 April, on roads and motorway stretches marked by signs, you need winter tyres fitted or snow chains on board. This is not a nationwide obligation: the authority managing the road imposes it by ordinance, and in some mountain areas the period can start earlier. Before a trip towards the Alps or the Apennines, check the operator's ordinances and watch the signs at the motorway entrance.