Driving in Italy? Avoid getting fined by following these rules
Driving in Italy can be molto complicato (very tricky), so be sure to read these rules and tips before your trip!
First off, you’ll need an international driving permit (IDP).
This a translation document of your US driver’s license into multiple languages so that foreign authorities / officials can confirm you are legally allowed to drive. However, most countries will still require you to have your actual license so you will need to carry both.
If you are caught without one, Italian authorities will issue an immediate citation for (~$500-$2,000) and impound the car. We make getting one very simple — we’ll take care of everything and can deliver it to your door anywhere in the world!
Secondly, beware of Zona a Traffico Limitato (ZTL) or Limited Traffic Zones.
We recently drove in Bologna and learned how easily you can accidentally slip into one! ZTLs are common in up to 300-400 Italian towns and cities, and they can cause big headaches (aka fines) if you enter in a rental car.
What is a ZTL?
The ZTL is an area (often in a historic zone or city centers) where vehicle access is restricted to certain types (e.g., residents, taxis) during specific hours or sometimes 24/7. The purpose is to reduce traffic congestion, promote pedestrian access, etc.
Make sure you check the specific hours for the ZTL in your town. Some zones are restricted all day, and some only during certain hours. For Bologna, it was 7am-8pm.
Also, the GPS did not explicitly warn us about ZTL boundaries and we had to manually watch out for them. The signs were red circles that said “zona traffico limitato” – look out for these!
How does this affect me?
Rental cars are only allowed to drive in ZTLs with a permit. Tourists usually stay near city centers, so it is very easy to accidentally enter a ZTL! They’re usually monitored by cameras that will snap a picture of your license plate and trigger a fine if you’re unauthorized. The fine was €100 in Bologna, but varies between €80 to €300 per violation throughout Italy.
You will only discover that you’ve been fined months later since it’s usually passed onto the car rental company who needs to process it and will also tack on an additional admin fee.
How do I avoid getting fined?
In Bologna, we stayed in a hotel within the ZTL but didn’t get a permit. This was because Old Town was super walkable and we only rented the car for day trips out to nearby towns (e.g., Modena, Parma). We were also there during the weekend and street parking in Old Town would’ve been a nightmare!
However, if you decide that you want to drive around the ZTL, you must get a temporary permit. Italy is very strict about this and will definitely catch you through traffic cameras. A day pass was €6 for Bologna, and you need to fill out a form with license plate details. OR you can find a garage that does it for you (they’re usually a bit more expensive).
Either way, you will need an international driving permit in Italy to drive at all.
We are expert expediters of IDPs – the fastest and cheapest way to get one online. Apply for one today and get one in just 1-2 days!
We will help you through an official AAA IDP application, take that to a AAA office to obtain a physical IDP, and then ship it to you immediately anywhere in the world! Many of our customers are folks already abroad or those who want the convenience of not making a AAA trip themselves. We can process same-day and ship your IDP to you by next business day for domestic or 2-5 days for international. If you live near our offices in MN, we may even be able to deliver it in person!
Other tips for ZTLs
Be careful when you’re driving close to the historical centers. ZTL areas aren’t always a logical shape so you may unexpectedly cross into one. GPS may route you the quickest way through Old Town which may cut through a ZTL. Always check signage carefully and watch out for language like “Zona a traffico limitato”, “ZTL ATTIVA/ NON ATTIVA”.
If your hotel is inside the ZTL, call ahead of time and ask if they can register your rental car with the city for authorized access.
Lastly, use this checklist to safely drive in Italy
Get an international driving permit. We can help! Apply here to get one as soon as next-day for domestic destinations and 2-3 business days for most international cities.
Check if your destination has ZTLs, the map area, and when it is active
Decide if you need or want to drive in the ZTL - apply for ZTL permit if necessary. If not, plan for where to park outside of ZTL
Keep documentation: rental agreement, insurance, permission details, parking receipts, in case there’s any dispute later