United Kingdom → Italy

Driving in Italy when you know the United Kingdom

Differences first, worst-to-get-wrong first. Rules that match are folded away at the bottom.

What's different (11)

Which side of the road you drive on

Critical

United Kingdom · homeLeftChecked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destinationRightChecked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit on the motorway

Critical

United Kingdom · home70 mph — about 113 km/hChecked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destination130 km/h — about 81 mph110 in rain or snow. New drivers are capped lower for three years.Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit on country roads

Critical

United Kingdom · home60 mph — about 97 km/hSingle carriageway roads.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destination90 km/h — about 56 mphSecondary roads outside towns.Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit in towns and cities

CriticalVaries by region

United Kingdom · home30 mph — about 48 km/hEngland and Scotland. Wales uses 20 mph as the default in built-up areas.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Wales20 mph — about 32 km/hThe default in built-up areas. Some roads are signed back up to 30.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destination50 km/h — about 31 mphChecked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

How much alcohol you may have in your blood

CriticalStricter than at homeVaries by region

United Kingdom · home80 mg/100ml — about 0.8 g/lEngland and Wales. Scotland uses a lower limit.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Scotland50 mg/100ml — about 0.5 g/lChecked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destination0.5 g/l — about 50 mg/100mlAbove 0.8 it becomes a criminal offence with licence suspension.Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Whether you need an International Driving Permit

Critical

United Kingdom · homeNot requiredA full foreign licence is accepted on its own for visits.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destinationDepends on where your licence is fromEU and EEA licences are accepted as they are. Licences from elsewhere must be carried with an International Driving Permit or a certified Italian translation.Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit on a dual carriageway

Important

United Kingdom · home70 mph — about 113 km/hChecked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destination110 km/h — about 68 mphMain roads outside towns (strade extraurbane principali). 90 in rain.Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Winter tyres

Important

United Kingdom · homeNot requiredChecked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destinationRequired where signs say soOn signed roads — most mountain and northern routes — from 15 November to 15 April: winter tyres (M+S), or approved snow chains carried on board and fitted when conditions demand.Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Hands-free phone calls

Good to know

United Kingdom · homeAllowedThe phone must be in a holder or fully hands-free, and must not block your view.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destinationAllowed, with restrictionsBuilt-in systems and a single earpiece are allowed if you can still hear with both ears. Headphones over both ears are banned.Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Emergency number

Good to know

United Kingdom · home999112 also works and reaches the same service.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destination112Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Typical fines

Minor

United Kingdom · home

Holding a phone — fine from 200 GBP, 6 points (Drivers who passed their test within the last 2 years lose their licence instead.)

Checked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destination

Holding a phone — fine 250–1000 EUR, possible driving ban (Licence suspended 15 days to 2 months even on a first offence.)

Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Known on one side only (23)

What you must carry in the car

United Kingdom · homeNot yet verified

Italy · destination

Warning triangle
High-visibility vest

The triangle goes at least 100 m behind the car on motorways. The vest must be worn when leaving a stopped vehicle outside towns in poor visibility — passengers included.Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Which side you overtake on

United Kingdom · homeRightChecked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destinationNot yet verified

Speed limit in rain or snow

United Kingdom · homeNot yet verified

Italy · destination

Motorway — 110 km/h
Dual carriageway — 90 km/h

Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit for drivers who passed their test recently

United Kingdom · homeNot yet verified

Italy · destination

Motorway — 100 km/h
Dual carriageway — 90 km/h

For the first three years after passing the test.Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit when towing a trailer or caravan

United Kingdom · home

Motorway — 60 mph
Dual carriageway — 60 mph
Country roads — 50 mph

Checked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destinationNot yet verified

Alcohol limit for drivers who passed their test recently

United Kingdom · homeNot yet verified

Italy · destination0 g/lZero alcohol for the first three years after the test, and under 21.Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Youngest age you may drive

United Kingdom · home17 yearsChecked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destinationNot yet verified

Turning at a red light

United Kingdom · homeNot allowedRed means stop for every direction. A separate green arrow is the only exception.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destinationNot yet verified

Who must wear a seatbelt

United Kingdom · homeEveryone, in every seatA seatbelt must be worn in any seat that has one.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destinationNot yet verified

Age below which a child needs a child seat

United Kingdom · home12 yearsUntil age 12 or 135 cm tall, whichever comes first.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destinationNot yet verified

Height below which a child needs a child seat

United Kingdom · home135 cmUntil 135 cm tall or age 12, whichever comes first.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destinationNot yet verified

What the lines and painted kerbs mean

United Kingdom · home

Double yellow line — no parking. No waiting at any time, even without an upright sign.
Single yellow line — no parking during signed hours. The hours are on nearby time plates, not on the road.
Double red line — no stopping. Red routes. No stopping at any time.
Single red line — no stopping. Red routes. Applies during the times shown on nearby signs.
White zigzag line — no stopping. Marks the approach to a pedestrian crossing.

Checked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destinationNot yet verified

How you pay for motorways

United Kingdom · home

Toll booths
City charges

Almost all motorways are free. The M6 Toll and several bridges and tunnels charge. London and Durham charge to drive in the city centre.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destinationNot yet verified

How long you may drive on your own licence

United Kingdom · home12 monthsCounted from when you last entered Great Britain.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destinationNot yet verified

When you must switch your headlights on

United Kingdom · homeNot requiredHeadlights are required at night and when visibility is seriously reduced.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destinationNot yet verified

Who has priority at a roundabout

United Kingdom · homeTraffic already on the roundabout goes firstGive way to traffic approaching from your right, unless signs say otherwise.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destinationNot yet verified

Parking on the pavement

Varies by region

United Kingdom · homeNo single national answer:

EnglandAllowedExcept London, where it is banned. Discouraged everywhere, and obstructing the pavement can be fined.Checked 3 Aug 2026

ScotlandNot allowedChecked 3 Aug 2026

WalesAllowedDiscouraged, and obstructing the pavement can be fined.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destinationNot yet verified

Parking facing against the traffic

United Kingdom · homeAllowedBy day only. At night you must not park facing against the traffic flow unless in a recognised parking space.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destinationNot yet verified

How far you must park from a junction or crossing

United Kingdom · home

A junction — 10 m

Advisory rather than a fixed law, except where markings say otherwise.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destinationNot yet verified

When winter tyre rules apply

United Kingdom · homeNot yet verified

Italy · destination15 November to 15 AprilOn the signed roads. Fitting is tolerated a month early and a month late.Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Snow chains

United Kingdom · homeNot yet verified

Italy · destinationRequired where signs say soCarried on board they satisfy the winter rule as an alternative to winter tyres.Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Low-emission zones

United Kingdom · homeIn many citiesLondon has its own ultra low emission zone. Clean air zones operate in Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Tyneside, and Scottish cities have separate low emission zones. Most only charge vehicles that miss emissions standards.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destinationNot yet verified

Whether police can fine you on the spot

United Kingdom · homeYes — visitors must pay at the roadsideFixed penalties are normally paid later, not at the roadside. A driver who cannot give a UK address must pay a deposit on the spot.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destinationNot yet verified

Same in both (2)

Holding a phone while driving — Not allowed official source
Congestion charges — In some cities official source