Inside

Getting an Italian Driving Licence

Information on driving permits in Italy: who can drive on a foreign driver's licence, and for how long. Information on when and how to exchange a license, and details on applying for a learner's licence and registering for an Italian driving test.

Anyone found driving without a valid driving licence may be subject to a fine. Drivers in Italy must be at least 18 years of age.
There are various types of driving licence in Italy: A, A1, B, C, D and E. The driving licence that allows a car to be driven is licence B (Patente B). When issued, drivers have 20 points and when infractions occur, points are deducted.

Getting a Car Driving Licence in Italy

In order to obtain the Patente B a person must be at least 18 years old and be in suitable physical condition (a medical certificate is required for eyesight, mental and physical condition).
The process for obtaining an Italian driver's licence is:

Obtain a learner's permit (foglio rosa)
Practice driving
Pass a theory test (multiple choice, in Italian)
Pass a practical driving test (road test with instructor and examiner)

The Learner's Permit

Learner's permits must be applied for at the nearest Provincial Office of Motor Vehicles (Ufficio Motorizzazione Civile), which will will issue the learner's license. The foglio rosa is valid for a period of six months.

Ufficio Motorizzazione Civile di Genoa
At: Via de Marini 1, Genova Torre WTC, Piano 13, Genoa (GE)
Tel: 010 64071
Fax: 010 414084
Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 08:30-12:00; Tuesday and Thursday, 08:30-12:00 and 14:30-16:00
Ufficio Motorizzazione Civile di Imperia
At: Via Littardi 97, Imperia (IM)
Tel: 0183 780 911
Fax: 0183 781 091
Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 08:30-12:00; Tuesday and Thursday, 08:30-12:00 and 15:00-16:00
Ufficio Motorizzazione Civile di La Spezia
At: Corso Nazionale 246, La Spezia (SP)
Tel: 018 751 3161
Fax: 018 752 4411
Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 08:30-12:00; Tuesday and Thursday, 08:30-12:00 and 15:00-16:00

The following must be submitted:

Completed form MC 2112 MEC (available from Motorizzazione Civile offices)
Medical Health Certificate stating the applicant is of sound health and mind (provided by an authorised doctor)
Valid photo identification
At least one photocopy of an existing licence (if applicable)
Proof of residency (Permesso/Carta di Soggiorno) and photocopy
Two passport photographs that match the photograph on the medical certificate, not more than 6 months old
Application fee

The learner's permit allows the holder to practice driving only while accompanied by a person no older than 60 years old (if practicing using a dual-control vehicle, the accompanying driver may be no older than 65 years old). The accompanying driver must have held a valid licence for at least 10 years in the category the driver will be testing for.
Practice vehicles must be marked on the front and back with a vertically and clearly displayed uppercase black letter "P" (principiante) against a reflective white background, indicating to other drivers that the driver is a novice.
Learner drivers may not drive on the Autostrada.

The Theory Exam

The theory exam can only be taken more than a month and one day after the issue of the foglio rosa (and up to a week before the expiration of the learner's permit). The theory exam consists of testing knowledge of the Highway Code (Codice della Strada) with multiple-choice questions.
People unable to take the exam in written Italian may do an oral version; in some places there is an English-language version of the written test (try to establish in advance if this is available). Learner's books with test questions are available at bookshops in Italian only; some driving schools have English translations for sale.
The foglio rosa allows the learner three chances to take a driving test; if they fail the theoretical test twice, the foglio rosa is no longer valid and another must be obtained. If they pass, they may proceed to the practical stage.
The following must be submitted:

Completed form TT 2112 (available from Motorizzazione Civile offices)
Tax code (Codice Fiscale)
Valid photo identification
Proof of residency (Permesso/Carta di Soggiorno) and photocopy
Two passport photographs that match the photograph on the medical certificate, not more than 6 months old
Application fee

The Practical Exam

The practical driving test is usually taken after a period of practice although this is not obligatory for drivers carrying a foreign licence.
At the practical exam, the following documents are required:

Photo identification
Proof of vehicle insurance (and photocopy)
For foreigners, a Permesso/Carta di Soggiorno (and photocopy)

Most drivers who are taking the Italian driving test for the first time opt to hire a licenced driving school for lessons for several reasons: instructors can coach students on questions likely to be encountered on the test; and the practical test must be done on a dual-control vehicle, which can be provided by the school for practice and for the practical exam. Otherwise, the test taker must hire a dual-control car and insurance must be obtained before the practical test can be taken. Hired dual-control vehicles can only be rented for driving tests and cannot be used for practice.
The practical driving test must be undertaken in a dual-control vehicle (unless the driver is disabled and requires hand controls). If a driver passes the practical test in an automatic transmission, dual-control vehicle (which are extremely uncommon), they will be restricted to driving only automatic vehicles thereafter.
If the driver fails the practical exam, the medical certificate, proof of payment and photos will be returned to them so they may be presented again at the retesting.
After successfully completing the practical exam, the Italian licence will be issued on the spot.

Moped licence

Drivers of a moped or motorcycle of 50cc must be at least 14 years old and must pass an exam (Il Patentino) and carry with them the Certificate of Aptitude (Certificato di Idoneità). Minors must attend a training course (at local schools or driving schools) before taking the exam.
Note: only Italian residents are entitled to take this test.

The Italian Driving Licence

The Italian licence is a credit-card sized plastic card.
It has limited validity periods:

Ten years for people under the age of 50
Five years for those between 50 and 70 years of age
Three years thereafter

Renewing an Italian driving licence

In order to renew a licence, present the following at the Provincial Office of Motor Vehicles:

Form DTT 953I (For a downloadable PDF version of this form: Click here)
Certification that the applicant has had a medical examination and has no serious health problems that could impair driving
Receipt of payment for the licence renewal

At each renewal, a doctors' certificate is required as proof that the driver has no serious health problems that could impair driving. The doctor should be affiliated with the National Health Service, be a medical inspector for the state railway, a military medical officer in service, a police doctor, a medical inspector of the Labour and Social Policy Ministry or a medical officer for the National Corps of Fire Fighters.
The renewal could take up to 40 days to process.