United Kingdom → Italy

Driving in Italy when you know the UK

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

Driving to Italy from the UK: what to check before you go

These are the key destination rules to check first. The comparison below shows every verified difference. Follow local signs and instructions on the road.

Which side of the road do you drive on in Italy?: In Italy you drive on the right.
What is the speed limit in Italy?: 130 km/h on motorways, 110 km/h on dual carriageways, 90 km/h on country roads and 50 km/h in towns and cities. Those are the national default limits, which apply where no sign says otherwise.
What is the drink driving limit in Italy?: The legal limit in Italy is 0.5 g/l. Above 0.8 it becomes a criminal offence with licence suspension. Drivers who passed their test recently are held to 0 g/l.
What do you have to carry in your car in Italy?: You must carry a warning triangle and a 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.

Read the full driving rules in Italy and the required car equipment in Italy .

Looking to rent a car? Rental agencies often have there own rules on driving ages and equipment, make sure you check with them before you travel.
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What's different (17)

Which side of the road you drive on

Critical

UK · homeLeftChecked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destinationRightChecked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit on the motorway

Critical

UK · 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

UK · 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

UK · 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

UK · 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

UK · 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

What you must carry in the car

Critical

UK · homeNothing — no equipment is legally requiredNothing is legally required. Drivers arriving from most of continental Europe expect a triangle and a vest to be compulsory here; they are not.Checked 20 Aug 2026

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

Speed limit on a dual carriageway

Important

UK · 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

Youngest age you may drive

Important

UK · home17 yearsChecked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destination18 yearsThis is the EU-wide minimum for a category B licence, taken from the EU's own page rather than from an Italian one. Italy has not been checked for a lower national age.Checked 16 Aug 2026 · official source

Winter tyres

Important

UK · 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

Largest motorbike or scooter you may ride on a car licence

Important

UK · home

Engine up to 50 cc

A full car licence lets you ride a moped up to this engine size without L plates or a moped test. If you passed your car test on or after 1 February 2001 you must first complete a compulsory basic training (CBT) course. Anything larger needs CBT and the motorcycle tests. The Highway Code's Annex 2 defines the two-wheeled moped class by a maximum design speed of 45 km/h (28 mph) rather than by engine size; that figure is not on the page cited here. Stated for licences issued in Great Britain; the source does not say whether foreign car licences get the same allowance.Checked 2 Sep 2026

Italy · destination

Engine up to 125 cc
Power up to 11 kW

An Italian category B licence lets you ride motorcycles up to these limits with nothing added to it, but only inside Italy. The ministry page also caps the power-to-weight ratio at 0.1 kW/kg, which the value has no slot for. All three limits apply together. The page does not say whether a foreign B licence gets the allowance, and it does not mention the AM moped class at all.Checked 2 Sep 2026 · official source

Hands-free phone calls

Good to know

UK · 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

Youngest age you may ride the smallest class of scooter

Good to know

UK · home16 yearsCategory AM. CBT, a theory test and a practical test are needed for a full moped licence.Checked 2 Sep 2026

Italy · destination14 yearsFrom 14, on Italian territory only and with no passenger. From 16 the AM licence is valid without those limits.Checked 2 Sep 2026 · official source

Smallest motorbike allowed on the motorway

Good to know

UK · home

Engine at least 50 cc
Power at least 4 kW

The rule is set by engine size, not vehicle class: riders of motorcycles under 50 cc (4 kW) must not use motorways, so a machine of exactly 50 cc is allowed. The Highway Code gives the power figure in brackets as the equivalent of the engine size rather than as a separate test. Riders holding only a provisional motorcycle licence must not use motorways either.Checked 2 Sep 2026

Italy · destination

Engine at least 150 cc
Power at least 11 kW

Art. 175 bans motorcycles below these thresholds from motorways and main roads outside towns: the engine limit is for combustion engines, the power limit for electric ones. The boundary itself is allowed (150 cc or 11 kW may enter; anything under may not). Mopeds are banned as a class whatever their size. Exception (para 2-bis): motorcycles of at least 120 cc, or at least 6 kW if electric, may enter when ridden by an adult.Checked 2 Sep 2026 · official source

Headlights on a motorbike in daytime

Good to know

UK · homeNot requiredDipped headlights in daylight are advised to make the rider easier to see, but they are not required.Checked 2 Sep 2026

Italy · destinationRequired at all timesMopeds and motorcycles must ride with dipped headlights on at all times, inside towns as well as outside.Checked 2 Sep 2026 · official source

Emergency number

Good to know

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

Italy · destination112Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Typical fines

Minor

UK · 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)

Which side you overtake on

UK · homeRightChecked 3 Aug 2026

Italy · destinationNot yet verified

Speed limit in rain or snow

UK · 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

UK · 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

UK · 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

UK · 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

Turning at a red light

UK · 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

UK · 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

UK · 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

UK · 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

UK · 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

UK · 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

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

Italy · destinationNot yet verified

When you must switch your headlights on

UK · 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

UK · 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

UK · 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

UK · 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

UK · 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

UK · 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

UK · 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

Riding between lanes of slow traffic

UK · homeAllowedNo law bans filtering. The Highway Code tells riders to take care and keep their speed low when filtering in slow-moving traffic, and tells drivers to expect it.Checked 2 Sep 2026

Italy · destinationNot yet verified

Low-emission zones

UK · 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

UK · 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

What you should carry, but do not have to

UK · home

Warning triangle
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher
High-visibility vest

Advised, not required. One motorway exception is worth knowing: do not set a warning triangle out on a motorway hard shoulder — get behind the barrier instead.Checked 20 Aug 2026

Italy · destinationNot yet verified

Same in both (4)

Holding a phone while driving — Not allowed official source
Helmets on a motorbike or scooter — Required for rider and passenger official source
What a rider must wear or carry — Nothing beyond a helmet official source
Congestion charges — In some cities official source