Summer, sun, mountains and sea – Italy is a varied travel destination that is particularly popular for road trips and campers. The topic of safety already plays a major role on arrival. To help you plan your trip and get an overview of your vacation destination, I have compiled the most relevant traffic rules for Italy, including the most important information.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
- Maximum speed Italy
- Parking in Italy
- Restrictions on vehicle / trailer size
- Tolls in Italy
- Blood alcohol limit in Italy
- High visibility vests in Italy
- Low emission zones in Italy
- Summer tires, winter tires and snow chains in Italy
- Emergency numbers in Italy
- Driving with children in Italy
- Other important traffic rules in Italy
- Good to know
Maximum speed Italy
Speed limits are an important part of the traffic regulations in Italy. Where is the speed limit in Italy? You can find an overview here:
Speed limit in Italy for cars and motorhomes up to 3.5 t
- In urban areas: 50 km/h
- Out of town: 90 km/h
- Expressways: 110 km/h
(exception: 90 km/h in wet conditions and if you have held your driver’s license for less than three years) - Freeways: 130 km/h
(exception: 150 km/h with appropriate signage on three-lane freeways in each direction; 110 km/h in wet conditions and 100 km/h for drivers under three years of age)
Maximum speed in Italy for motorhomes over 3.5 t and up to 7.5 t
- In urban areas 50 km/h
- Out of town 80 km/h
- Expressways: 80 km/h
- Freeways: 100 km/h
Speed limit in Italy for caravan combinations
- In urban areas 50 km/h
- Out of town 70 km/h
- Expressways: 70 km/h
- Freeways: 80 km/h
Parking in Italy
There are special regulations in Italy not only for driving, but also for parking. I have compiled the most important ones for you here:
- Black-yellow curb marking: absolute parking ban
- Color coding of parking spaces in the cities
- Blue line: paid parking (possibly only at certain times)
- Yellow line: Parking with permit (residents, cab, bus)
- Green line or area: temporary parking bans (observe signage)
- White line: free parking lot
Restrictions on vehicle / trailer size
In Italy, a maximum width of 2.55 meters applies for trailers/caravans (with load). The length for cars and motorhomes is also limited to a maximum of 12 meters (including drawbar) for trailers. The combination of towing vehicle and trailer may not exceed a maximum length of 18.75 meters. Exceptions are only possible after approval. These traffic regulations apply to both locals and tourists.
Tolls in Italy
Expressways are toll-free in Italy. Tolls are only compulsory on most highways. In this case, you take a ticket at the toll station, which you pay when you leave or change toll roads. The amount of the fee depends on the route and the vehicle class. Payment is made using an automatic payment system, cash or, in some cases, by credit card. You can find an overview of toll information and vehicle classes in our article“Tolls and vignettes in Europe“. With the Telepass, you can use the toll freeways in Italy without cash. You can find details on this in the article“Toll boxes in Europe“.
Blood alcohol limit in Italy
In Italy there is a blood alcohol limit of 0.5 per mille. Non-compliance is severely punished. A fine of at least 500 euros must be expected for even a minimal excess.
Lower blood alcohol limits apply to novice drivers and professional drivers. For example, the blood alcohol limit for novice drivers in Italy is 0.0 per mille, which applies for the first three years of driving license possession.
High visibility vests in Italy
In Italy, there is no obligation to carry high-visibility vests in the vehicle, but in the event of a breakdown or accident, all vehicle occupants who leave the vehicle outside the built-up area must wear a high-visibility vest. Otherwise a fine must be paid. It is therefore strongly recommended that you carry high-visibility vests.
In contrast to the safety vests, a warning triangle and a first-aid kit are mandatory equipment for vehicles in Italy.
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Low emission zones in Italy
There are so-called environmental zones in many inner cities of Italian cities and municipalities. Winter driving bans or traffic restriction zones (ZTL: Zona a Traffico Limitato) are the order of the day here. For example, there are paid zones in Milan, Palermo and Bologna as well as winter driving bans in Veneto and Piedmont. There is also a ban on certain diesel vehicles in some municipalities.
Summer tires, winter tires and snow chains in Italy
There is no nationwide winter tire requirement in Italy. Each province can enforce its own rules – both whether winter tires are mandatory and the time limit. If the weather makes it necessary, winter tires and snow chains can be made compulsory at short notice at any time. These regulations are then signaled by appropriate traffic signs. In South Tyrol and on the Brenner Pass, for example, winter tires are mandatory. Although it is not mandatory nationwide, appropriate tires are recommended from November 15 to April 15.
There is also no general obligation to use snow chains, but it is important to follow the signs. Snow chains may only be used on snow-covered roads and a maximum speed limit of 50 km/h applies.
From mid-November to mid-March, spikes are only permitted on vehicles up to 3.5 tons. The studs must be fitted to all four wheels (including trailer tires).
As there are very different regulations in Italy, you should find out about the exact requirements in the region you are visiting before you travel.
attention
A special feature in Italy is that not all winter or all-season tires may be used outside the winter months. Between mid-May and mid-October, there are special requirements: the tires must have a speed index that corresponds at least to the speed index specified in the registration certificate part I. Details can be found here.
In Italy, the standard value for tire treads is at least 1.6 mm.
Emergency numbers in Italy
Info
European emergency number: 112
Police: 112/113 (carabinieri/traffic police)
Fire brigade: 115
Emergency medical service: 118
From cell phone: Italian area code 0039 + emergency number
ADAC breakdown assistance: 0049 89 22 22 22
Driving with children in Italy
Children up to the age of 12 or under 1.50 meters must be secured with a restraint system appropriate to their age and size.
Attention
Since November 2019, children up to the age of 4 must be secured with a child seat equipped with an alarm signal. From March 2020, fines of 80 euros or more must be expected. This regulation only applies to vehicles registered in Italy or, in the case of foreign vehicles, if the vehicle owner is resident in Italy. Accordingly, this law also applies to rental cars or campers. When booking the rental car, you should already clarify whether an appropriate child seat can be rented. German or foreign child seats are only permitted if an alarm signal has been retrofitted. The purpose of the alarm signal is to ensure that no children are forgotten in the car.
Other important traffic rules in Italy
- Outside built-up areas and on highways, headlights are mandatory all year round. Low beam and daytime running lights are permitted.
- In Italy, seat belts are compulsory in all places (even for pets).
- Talking on the phone while driving is prohibited in Italy. The use of a hands-free system is permitted.
- Smoking in the car is prohibited in the presence of underage children and pregnant women.
- The use and carrying of speed camera warning devices (e.g. speed camera apps or special navigation devices) is generally prohibited in Italy. If you are caught, you can expect a fine of 800 euros or more.
- Unless otherwise signposted , a right-before-left rule applies at traffic circles. Nevertheless, you should drive in with the utmost caution.
- There is a ban on overtaking streetcars when passengers are getting on and off. The same also applies in front of and at level crossings.
- On mountain roads, buses have the right of way – regardless of the direction of travel. Otherwise, all vehicles traveling uphill have right of way.
- It is not permitted to turn or reverse on highways , on all on- and off-ramps or in the area of toll stations. Changing lanes without permission is also prohibited.
- Private towing is prohibited on highways.
- In Italy, a red/white warning sign (50×50) is mandatory for roof or rear loads projecting to the rear, such as bicycle racks,
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Good to know
- It is recommended that you take spare bulbs with you.
- In Italy, the traffic lights do not have a yellow phase.
- In Italy, a breakaway cable / safety cable is not mandatory for caravans. You can find out more about“Breakaway cable” here.
- Signs in Italy: highway signs are green, main roads are blue and town signs are white.
- And don’t think that you’re off the hook because your vehicle is registered in Germany: the fine can also be collected in Germany (within one year).
I hope this overview of traffic rules in Italy was helpful for you. As you can see, the traffic regulations in Italy are by and large very similar to those in Germany, but it is still important to know a few things about driving. I wish you a good and safe motorhome or car trip in Italy.
All information is subject to change & as of February 2020.
Cover picture: (c) Julia Klose
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