Sun and sea, pizza, pasta & dolce! Yes, but beautiful landscapes, fascinating culture and cities steeped in history also make Italy as versatile a vacation destination as it is popular with campers. For them, however, a trip to Italy also means dealing with the issue of highway tolls for motorhomes, caravans and cars. Below, we have put together an overview of the somewhat complicated toll system in Italy – so that you can start your trip to Bella Italia well prepared!
Inhaltsverzeichnis
- Brief overview
- On which roads are tolls compulsory in Italy?
- Which vehicles are subject to tolls?
- What types of tolls and vignettes are there?
- How is the toll calculated in Italy?
- How much does the toll cost in Italy? – Prices for the year 2025
- What are the special features of tolls in Italy?
- What are the penalties and fines for not paying the toll?
- Get inspired by our route tip through Italy now
Brief overview
- Toll for camping vehicles: yes
- Vignette(s): no
- Toll box(es): yes
- Digital toll and vignette: yes, but no vignette
- Special features: No turning maneuvers at the toll station!
On which roads are tolls compulsory in Italy?
Mautgebühren in Italien gibt es auf fast allen Autobahnen(autostrada), eine City-Maut wird in den Städten Mailand, Bologna und Palermo erhoben und auch einige Tunnel und grenzüberschreitende Autoverladungen sind gebührenpflichtig. Soweit der einfache Teil – denn beim italienischen Mautsystem wird es doch etwas tricky. Auch die wichtigsten Verkehrsregeln in Italien solltest du dir vor deiner Anreise einmal anschauen.
Are road sections exempt from the toll?
There is generally no toll on expressways(superstrada and strada extraurbana principale). On the Italian mainland there are a few exceptions to the highway toll: the A2 from Salerno to Reggio di Calabria, and sections of highway in the south of the country can also be used without paying a toll. On Sicily, only the A20 between Messina and Palermo and the A18 from Messina to Catania are subject to tolls; there is no highway on Sardinia, so you can drive on the island toll-free.
Tip
The toll roads are marked with a green sign, blue signs indicate toll-free roads!
Which vehicles are subject to tolls?
In principle, all motor vehicles in Italy have to pay tolls – from scooters to trucks. Vehicles are divided into categories according to which (with exceptions!) the toll is calculated.
Info
A double axle is counted as two axles in the calculation.
- Category A: Vehicles with max. 2 axles and < 1.30 m height at the front axle
(e.g. cars, motorcycles) - Category B: Vehicles with 2 axles and > 1.30 m height at the front axle
(e.g. motorhomes, coaches) - Category 3: Vehicles with 3 axles or combinations with a total of 3 axles
(e.g. trucks, caravan combinations) - Category 4: Vehicles with 4 axles or combinations with a total of 4 axles
(e.g. caravan combination with two-axle caravan) - Category 5: Vehicles with 5 axles or combinations with a total of 4 axles
(e.g. truck with three-axle trailer)
What types of tolls and vignettes are there?
There are two main types of toll calculation in Italy: the open and the closed system. In the closed system , you receive a ticket at the toll station when you enter the highway and the toll is calculated according to the length of the route you have driven – namely when you leave the highway, i.e. when you “close” the process by inserting the ticket at the toll station. In the open system, on the other hand, the kilometers you drive on the section are irrelevant – a flat rate is paid. This also applies to the city toll, tunnels, mountain passes and loading stations. A vignette, i.e. a flat-rate payment for road use, does not exist in Italy.
What payment options are there for tolls?
In Italy, you can choose between different payment systems. Cash payment is possible at almost all toll stations, and debit and credit cards are also accepted. Other options include prepaid systems, toll boxes and transponders. The following systems are currently available for Italy:
- Viacard
- Go by Telepass
- Liber-t-Box from bip&go
- ADAC toll box (maut1 de from Telepass)
Die Viacard ist eine Prepaidkarte, auf der sich ein Guthaben befindet, mit dem du an den Mautstationen bezahlst. Der Vorteil gegenüber einer Kreditkarte: Die Mautkarte Viacard ist übertragbar, also weder personen- noch fahrzeuggebunden. Mit der Go-Box von Telepass bist du ganz komfortabel unterwegs: Die Mautbox erfasst dein Fahrzeug an den Mautstationen, die Gebühr wird automatisch über das hinterlegte Konto abgebucht – und du kannst die Schranke auf den entsprechenden Fahrspuren (gekennzeichnet mit einem gelben T) direkt passieren. Schnell und unkompliziert also, dafür etwas teurer als die Direktbezahlung, da hier zusätzliche Gebühren für das Telepass-System anfallen – für Vielfahrer oder regelmäßige Italien-Urlauber lohnt es sich dank des Komforts aber in jedem Fall. Übrigens haben wir hier 5 kostenlose Stellplätze in Italien für dich zusammengestellt.
The toll box from bip&go with the name Liber-t already refers to its origin in its name: the French provider offers the option of a tele-toll for France, Spain and Portugal as well as Italy. You can also use this toll box to pay the fees for certain parking lots and ferries. And then there is the ADAC toll box: According to the ADAC, this can be used for all vehicles regardless of height and weight in Italy, France, Croatia (except Istria), Spain and Portugal. Exception: In France, there is a height restriction of three meters for vehicles. With the ADAC toll box you can pass the stations on the yellow Telepass lanes.
Special case: Free-flow system
On a few stretches of road in Italy, there is an exception to the “cash-is-possible-everywhere rule”: on the A36 highway, the Autostrada Pedemontana Lombarda, as well as a few other stretches, the license plates of vehicles are scanned. You will then be sent the invoice – and must pay within 15 days. On some stretches, you can also pay by app or at payment points and petrol stations. If you have a toll box, the payment process for the free-flow system is automatic. You can find the latest information on this system at pedemontana.com.
Where can I buy the Viacard and toll boxes?
Die Viacard ist bei Automobilclubs wie dem ADAC oder dem ACE erhältlich, ebenso in Italien vor Ort an Raststätten, Mautstationen von Autostrade per l’Italia und Tabakläden. Die Telepass-Mautbox kannst du online erwerben (zum Beispiel bei maut1.de oder tolltickets.com) oder vor Ort an Punto-blu-Stationen und Telepass-Verkaufsstellen. Bip&go ist ebenfalls vorab online über ein Abo-Modell zu kaufen. Die ADAC Mautbox kannst du online sowie telefonisch oder in den Geschäftsstellen ordern. In unserem Beitrag zu Mautboxen in Europa findest du viele weitere Einzelheiten.
How is the toll calculated in Italy?
In the closed system, the kilometers driven form the basis for calculating the toll and the vehicle category. With the open system, you pay a flat rate, and with the congestion charge, the pollutant category is also included in the calculation. As a rule, the construction costs and maintenance costs are included in the price calculation.
Motorhomes < 3.5 tons
Motorhomes under 3.5 tons generally fall into category B.
Motorhomes > 3.5 tons
Motorhomes weighing more than 3.5 tons can fall into categories B and 3.
Caravan combinations
Harnesses are classified in category 3 or 4.
Passenger car
Cars and towing vehicles are usually found in category 1 or 2.
How much does the toll cost in Italy? – Prices for the year 2025
On the freeways, as already explained, you pay according to the number of kilometers driven (closed system) or a flat rate (open system) – so the prices cannot be quantified exactly for each case.
City tolls are currently being levied in three cities – and this shows that the German bureaucracy is not the only one that is rather complicated. It’s not just the costs that are important, but also the times at which tolls are charged and which vehicle classes are allowed to enter the cities. In addition, payment is regulated differently for each city – so find out before you plan to drive through Bologna, Milan or Palermo , for example on the ADAC website. Motorcycles and electric vehicles sometimes do not pay tolls. The current prices are as follows:
| Stadt | Preise | Bedingungen |
|---|---|---|
| Bologna | - Tagesticket: 6 Euro - 4-Tagesticket: 15 Euro | - Mautgebühren: täglich 7 bis 20 Uhr - Einfahrverbot: Benzinfahrzeuge mit den Abgasnormen Euro 0 bis 2, Dieselfahrzeuge Euro 0 bis |
| Mailand | - Tagesticket: 7,50 Euro - Mehrtagestickets: ab 30 Euro | - Mautgebühren: Mo bis Fr von 7.30 bis 19.30 Uhr (außer Feiertage) - Einfahrverbot: Benzinfahrzeuge mit Abgasnormen Euro 0 bis 3, Dieselfahrzeuge Euro 0 bis 5, Dual Fuel Diesel-LPG und Diesel-Methan Euro 0 bis 4, Fahrzeuge und Gespanne über 7,50 m Länge, Zweitaktmotorräder und Mopeds mit Euro 0 und 1 |
| Palermo | - Tagesticket: 5 Euro - Monatsticket: 20 Euro | - Mautgebühren zu folgenden Zeiten: ganzjährig Mo bis Do von 8 bis 20 Uhr, für Fr und Wochenendtage gelten im Sommer und Winter unterschiedliche Zeiten - Einfahrverbot: Benzinfahrzeuge mit Abgasnorm Euro 0 bis 2, Dieselfahrzeuge mit Euro 0 bis 3 |
There are also different prices and entry times for tunnels, pass roads and car loading. A recommended source for detailed and up-to-date information is the ADAC website or vintrica.com. The following routes are affected by tolls :
- Munt-la-Schera tunnel
- Great St. Bernard Tunnel
- Tunnel Mont Blanc
- Tunnel Fréjus
- Pass Timmelsjoch-Hochalpenstraße
- Simplon tunnel top loading
- Lötschberg and Simplon tunnels Car loading
What are the special features of tolls in Italy?
Don’t turn or reverse! The different lanes at the toll stations can be confusing, but it is advisable to concentrate when getting into lane. This is because Italian road traffic law imposes severe penalties if you want to change lanes quickly at the toll station or even make a U-turn. This can result in fines of up to four figures, driving bans and even temporary immobilization of the vehicle.
What are the penalties and fines for not paying the toll?
There can be various reasons why the toll is not paid or debited correctly. If this happens, you will usually receive a letter from the Italian debt collection company Nivi SpA after your vacation, which will subsequently demand payment of the toll. In this case, you can pay the toll by online payment or bank transfer with the corresponding payment deadline. If you do not pay on time, additional processing fees will be charged in the next step until the claim is later asserted by a German debt collection agency.
Get inspired by our route tip through Italy now
Cover picture: © nblxer / Depositphotos.com
