Getting around
Driving & licence
Which foreign licences convert, getting an Italian licence step by step, Area B and Area C, and the costs of owning a car.
Checked November 2026 · rules change, so confirm fees and deadlines on the linked official pages
Driving licence
| Licence from | First year of residency | After 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| India | Drive with Indian licence + International Driving Permit | No conversion agreement. Pass the full Italian theory and practical exams |
| Indonesia | Same, with IDP | Not on Italy's conversion list. Full Italian exams |
| USA (any state) | Drive with US licence + International Driving Permit | No conversion agreement. Full Italian exams (see Moving from the US) |
| UK | Valid | Convertible without exams if you have lived in Italy less than 6 years |
| EU / EEA | Valid | Valid until expiry, no conversion needed |
| Philippines, Japan, Brazil, Sri Lanka and others | Valid with IDP | Convertible under bilateral agreements (conditions vary) |
The one-year clock starts at your residenza date. Driving on a non-convertible foreign licence after that brings a fine of roughly €400–1,600 and confiscation. The theory test is only in Italian (since 2011). A driving school (autoscuola) package typically costs €800–2,000. Many expats start the theory course in month 6.
Owning a car: compulsory third-party insurance (RC auto), annual road tax (bollo), roadworthiness test (revisione) every 2 years after the first 4.
Driving in Milan: Area B and Area C
- Area B covers almost the whole city. Mon–Fri 07:30–19:30 older polluting vehicles are banned (no ticket; you either qualify or you don't). Wrong entry: €83 fine plus fees.
- Area C is the historic centre inside the Bastioni ring: a €7.50 daily ticket for most cars, linked to your number plate. Some 2026 sources report the charge being extended to weekends; check the Comune page before you drive in.
- Check your plate on the Comune website before buying any used car. Diesel and older petrol cars face rolling bans.
- Parking: blue lines are paid (EasyPark and similar apps), yellow lines are reserved for residents or permit holders, white lines are free.
Getting an Italian licence, step by step
- Enrol with an autoscuola (driving school), or apply privately at the Motorizzazione. Schools handle the paperwork and booking.
- Get a medical certificate from an authorised doctor (eyesight and general fitness), usually arranged by the school.
- Pass the theory quiz: 30 true/false questions in 20 minutes, max 3 mistakes, in Italian only. Practise with free quiz apps and the official question bank.
- You then get the foglio rosa (learner permit) and have up to two attempts at the practical test within 12 months. A set number of lessons with the school, including motorway and night driving, is compulsory.
- Pass the practical test and the licence is posted to you. New drivers have lower speed limits and power limits for the first years.
Portale dell'Automobilista (official) ↗ · Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti ↗
Owning a car
- RC auto (third-party insurance) is compulsory; compare on Facile.it or Segugio.it. Your no-claims history from abroad usually doesn't count.
- Bollo: yearly road tax paid to the Region (Lombardy), even if the car sits unused.
- Revisione: technical check after 4 years, then every 2.
- Winter tyres or chains are compulsory on many roads from 15 November to 15 April, especially towards the mountains.
- Speed cameras (autovelox, Tutor on motorways) are everywhere; fines arrive by post months later and rise if paid late.
- Car sharing (Enjoy, Share Now, Zity) and longer rentals are often cheaper than owning in the city.