Driving In Italy

Driving In Italy Tips and Info

Decided to travel to Italy and hire a car but you don’t know anything about Italy’s roads/motorways nor about how is to drive there.

Each country has its specifics, from the driving rules to the driving style. Therefore, we decided to come into your help in order to make Driving In Italy safe.

Road Info

It is well known that the Italian motorways are some of the best in Europe. The Italian national system of motorways consists of 6,661 km of motorway connecting all the regions.
In total there are 36 motorways, most of them running as toll ways:

Driving Rules

Seat Belt Requirements

When driving in Italy, you should know that you must wear the seat belt whether you seat on the front or on the rear of the car. Not complying with the regulations may lead to on the spot fines.

Travelling With Children

When travelling with children in Italy if you are driving a foreign-registered car, the regulations from the country of origin applies.
If the car is registered in Italy, the children under 12 must be sited in special seats.

General Driving Rules

• Mobile cellular phones may not be used when driving unless using a hands-free system
• Always give way to trains, trams, buses and emergency vehicles
• If involved in a breakdown or an accident, reflective jackets must be warn
• Warning triangle (compulsory in every vehicle with 4 wheels or more)
• Priority must be given to vehicles coming from the right or travelling on rails, except where indicated by road signs.

Speed Limits

• 50km/h (31 mph)
• 90km/h (55 mph)
• 130km/h (80 mph)

Driving Side

In Italy, you should drive on the right side of the road. When coming towards a roundabout, give priority to traffic coming from the left

Alcohol Limit

The general legal limit of alcohol in the blood of drivers is 0.05%.
Usually the police can request a driver who is suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol to take a test(breath).

Driving Licence Requirements

You can drive with an international driving licence as long as you are minimum 18 (the legal age of driving in Italy).

Domestic driving licences are accepted as long as they are written in Roman Alphabet.

When hiring a car, you must have your driving licence, a proof of address and insurance.

Emergency Numbers

• 12 – Telephone Directory Assistance Number
• 112 – Carabinieri
• 113 – Emergency Police Help Number (also ambulance and fire)
• 115 – Fire Department
• 116 – A.C.I. (Italian Automobile Club) road assistance.
• 118 – Medical Emergencies

Fuel Costs

Here are the fuel prices recorded in Italy in the beginning of June 2017:

• Unleaded petrol (95 octane) – 1.549 EUR per litre
• Diesel – 1.394 EUR per litre
• LPG – 0.595 EUR per litre

Rob Gillespie

Having worked in the car rental industry for over 15 years, he really knows his stuff. Rob heads up our marketing department and as a keen traveller, always has a new location to talk about. Particularly if there is a golf course nearby.

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