Driving Permit for Italy
Driving in Italy with a foreign license? A non-EU license needs an IDP or an official Italian translation under Article 135. See Italy's IDP rules, rental requirements, and ZTL fines.
- Drive on
- Right
- Convention
- 1949 + 1968
- IDP validity
- 12 months
- Processing time
- 2-4 business days
Do you need an IDP to drive in Italy?
Italy drives on the right and, as a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, recognises the International Driving Permit (IDP). If you hold a driving licence issued outside the European Union, Article 135 of the Italian Highway Code (Codice della Strada) requires that your national licence be accompanied by either an IDP or an official Italian translation of it. In practice the IDP is a convenient way to meet this rule: it reproduces your licence details in Italian and several other languages, so an officer or rental agent can read it at a glance. The IDP is never valid on its own — you must always carry your original licence with it.
Holders of a licence issued in an EU or EEA country do not need an IDP to drive in Italy, as those licences are recognised directly. For everyone else — including drivers from the United States, Canada, Australia and other non-EU countries — an IDP or certified Italian translation is the expected document alongside your home licence. A valid foreign licence generally covers short tourist visits; under Article 135, once you have been resident in Italy for more than one year you must convert to or obtain an Italian licence rather than rely on a foreign one. Because the IDP is a translation document rather than a standalone licence, obtaining one before you travel is the low-friction option.
On the ground, the reality is twofold. Car rental companies such as Hertz, Avis, Europcar and Sixt can ask non-EU drivers for an IDP at the counter, and branch policies vary — without one you may risk being refused the vehicle. Separately, Italian police may ask to see your licence and IDP at a roadside check, and driving without the required IDP or translation can expose you to a fine and may complicate an insurance claim after an accident. Carrying an IDP alongside your home licence keeps you compliant with Article 135 and helps avoid problems at both the rental desk and the roadside.
Italy recognises the IDP under both the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Conventions.
Italy is a signatory to both the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Conventions. In practice, an IDP issued by another signatory country is recognised for your permitted visitor stay — in Italy, plan on 12 months.
What you need to drive in Italy
Have these ready before you pick up the keys.
Minimum age 18.
Original license + IDP.
Italy drives on the right-hand side of the road and is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, under which it recognises the International Driving Permit.
Under Article 135 of the Italian Highway Code, a non-EU driving licence must be accompanied by either an International Driving Permit or an official Italian translation.
An IDP does not replace your national driving licence — you must carry both the original licence and the IDP when driving.
Licences issued by EU and EEA member states are recognised directly in Italy and do not require an IDP.
Major rental firms such as Hertz, Avis, Europcar and Sixt may ask non-EU drivers to present an IDP at pickup, and policies can differ by branch.
A valid foreign licence generally suffices for short tourist stays; under Article 135, a driver resident in Italy for more than one year must obtain an Italian licence.
What to know before you turn the key
Italy drives on the right — the driver sits on the left, and roundabouts flow anti-clockwise.
Carry your IDP and your original license together — rental desks and police checks will ask for both documents.
ZTL zones in historic centers have strict fines.
Driving without the IDP or official Italian translation required for a non-EU licence can result in a fine and may affect insurance cover in the event of an accident, so carrying the correct documents is strongly advised.
Local rules to watch in Italy
Low-emission zones, tolls, and city-specific rules that catch visiting drivers out.
Historic centres of many Italian cities (including Rome, Florence, Milan, Bologna and Pisa, with limited-traffic zones in place across roughly 300 or more towns) enforce ZTL zones (Zona a Traffico Limitato), typically marked by a round sign with a red border; camera-enforced fines commonly run in the region of €80–€300 per entry depending on the city.
ZTL fines for a rental car are sent to the rental company, which passes your details to the authorities and typically adds an administrative processing fee — notices can arrive months after the trip, so avoid driving into marked ZTL zones.
If your accommodation is inside a ZTL, the hotel or host can often register your vehicle's plate with the local authority to authorise access for that zone.
Signs you'll meet on the road
Eight internationally recognised signs — including which side of the road Italy keeps.
Common questions about driving in Italy
Drive Italy, confidently.
Apply online in minutes and get instant digital access to your IDP translation — with an IDP PVC card option if you want one in your wallet.