Please enjoy your hire car in Italy
Are you going on holiday
to Italy? To see as much as possible and to get the most out
of Italy, the best way of transport is certainly by car. But
of course you will have to abide by Italy's law of driving.
Below you will find some useful information about driving
in Italy.
Documents you need when
driving in Italy:
To drive a foreign registered car legally in Italy you must
have the following documents with you, which are your full
driving licence, vehicle registration document and certificate
of motor insurance minimum Third-party cover. If your licence
does not incorporate a photograph ensure you carry your passport
to validate the licence. Visitors must carry their logbook,
if the vehicle is not registered in your name, you must carry
a letter from the registered owner giving you permission to
drive.
Special rules you must
follow:
When driving in Italy it is compulsory for all vehicles to
have a Warning Triangle, a First Aid kit, a Spare Bulb Kit
and a Fire Extinguisher is also recommended. A Reflective
Safety Vest must be used in the event of a breakdown, it is
not permitted to walk to an emergency phone without one. For
all passengers it is compulsory to wear front seatbelts and
rear seatbelts if fitted. The police are able to issue and
collect 'on the spot fines' for not obeying these rules.
Minimum age:
The minimum age of a driver in Italy is 18 years. For children
under the age of 4 years old cannot travel unless they use
a suitable restraint system. It is compulsory for children
aged 4 to 12 years old to be secured by either safety belts
or with a safety approved car seat to sit in the front.
Parking:
Parking in Italy is similar to Britain with car parks and
parking meters. The colour of the lines on the parking space
indicates the type of parking, a white line is for free parking
and a blue line is for paid parking. There will be a payment
machine or a place to by tickets close by. You get some type
of receipt telling you how long you can stay which need to
be displayed in your car window.
A few basic rules:
In Italy they drive on the right, overtake on the left; remember
to pay full attention at roundabouts. Your driving licence
should be carried at all times. Use dipped headlights in reduced
visibility and in all tunnels. Don't use the horn in built
up areas except for emergencies. Be aware as Trams and Trains
have right of way.
Speed limits:
Built-up areas: 50 kph (31 mph)
Secondary Roads: 90 kph (56 mph)
Main Roads: 110 kph (68 mph)
Motorways: 130 kph (81 mph)
Breakdown service:
If your vehicle were to breakdown on any Italian road, you
can dial 116 at the nearest telephone box. You should tell
the operator where you are, your plate number and type of
car where then the nearest Automobile Club of Italy (ACI)
office will be informed for your immediate assistance.
Bus:
Good coach services run between towns and cities and there
are also extensive local buses, including good services on
Sicily and Sardinia. In more remote areas, buses will usually
connect with rail services.
Underground:
In Rome there are two underground lines, both daily and monthly
passes are available.
Tram:
There is a 17-mile network, which consists of eight routes
in Rome, Milan and Naples. In Turin there is also a tram service.
Bus:
The bus services operate in all main cities and towns, there
are flat-fare tickets and weekly passes, which can be bought
in advance from roadside, station machines or tobacconists.
There are also Trolleybuses, which run in a number of other
towns, fares are generally pre-purchased from machines or
tobacconists in larger cities. Bus fares are at a standard
rate per run where you can buy them in packets of five or
multiples where they are then fed into a stamping machine
on boarding the bus.
Taxi:
Taxis are available in all towns and cities in Italy. The
government-regulated taxis are either white or yellow and
visitors should avoid the taxis, which are not metered. Be
aware in Rome, as the taxis are relatively expensive also
with extra charges for night services, your luggage and also
taxis called by telephone. In Italy taxi drivers expect a
10 % tip, be aware as this is sometimes added to the fare
for foreigners.
Travel times:
The following chart below gives you the approximate travel
times (in hours and minutes) from Rome to other major cities/towns
in Italy.
Road
Florence 2.30
Milan 6.00
Venice 6.00
Naples 2.00
Palermo 10.00
Driving in Italy will be a pleasurable
experience as long as you remember you are in their country
and abide by their laws. Please remember it is not a good
enough excuse to plead ignorance, as you are a foreigner,
you are the driver and it's your responsibility to know the
law.