Driving in Italy is a recommended experience. Renting a car for self-driving will lead you to special places, scenic corners, and viewpoints that may not always be possible in an organized tour. To make the most of the driving experience in Italy, it is advisable and recommended to familiarize yourself with the laws, rules, and guidelines, avoid taking risks and prepare in advance everything needed for this purpose.
Driver's License:
Italy recognizes a lot of foreign driving license (plastic). However, it is also recommended to carry an international driving permit issued in the country by different companies.
Rental companies often require the international license. Therefore, to avoid starting your long-awaited trip on the wrong foot, ensure that you have both licenses in your possession. In any case, check the travel insurance you purchased to confirm the requirements for car rental to be fully covered.
Driving on the highway:
First, it’s important to know that the term “autostrada” originated in Italy. The combination of the words Auto (car) and Strada (road) began with the stretch of road between Milan and Lake Como.
The Italian intercity road system is very convenient and allows for quick travel between two distant destinations in a safe and short manner.
The autostradas in Italy offer three different entry systems:
The first:
The closed system on the highway (Sistema autostradale chiuso) – This is the most common method in Italy. When entering the autostrada, you pass through a checkpoint with a barrier, take a ticket through the car window (which marks the entry point, date, and time) that you must keep safe, and at the point where you exit the autostrada, you will need to insert the ticket you saved into the machine at the barrier. Here, you will pay based on the distance traveled. Payment methods: cash, credit card, or subscription. Please note that there is a dedicated lane for subscribers marked by a large sign (TELEPASS on a yellow background). Do not enter if you are not a subscriber, as the only way to get out of it is to reverse among all the cars in line.
At the cash payment booths (sign with an image of coins and banknotes on a white background) or credit card (sign with an image of credit cards with a blue background and the word CARTE), almost all have a computerized booth. In some, there is still an employee who will collect your payment (there will be an image of a hand with money). Recommendation for cash payers: always keep some small change (coins) available for payment.
The second entry type:
The open system on the highway (Sistema autostradale aperto) – This method exists on a small number of highways in Italy. Here, the toll is prepaid for the specific segment you will travel on. At the entrance barrier of this segment, you will pay a fixed amount and receive a payment receipt. Again, payment methods are prominently marked at each entry point.
The third entry type:
Free Flow Free Flow – As its name suggests, it is known in Israel as Highway 6. The entry to this section is between Milan and Switzerland and the exit is without barriers, just by photographing the vehicle’s number plate. The payment request will appear on the website pedemontana.com and must be paid within 15 days.
Important:
It is strictly prohibited to pick up hitchhikers on the autostrada.
Emergency stops are only allowed in pull-off areas marked with SOS signs located every few kilometers.
On an autostrada with three lanes, the left lane is designated for overtaking and for those driving fast. The middle lane is for driving at average speed or as defined. The right lane is for those wishing to exit the autostrada at the nearest exit or for heavy vehicles, or those who, for any reason, are driving slower than the speed defined on that road.
Travel Speed in Italy:
It is important to respect speed limits on both sides. This means driving at the maximum allowed speed, but not lower. What is the minimum speed on each type of road?
Highway – 130 km/h.
Main extra-urban roads – 90-110 km/h.
Secondary extra-urban roads – 90-70 km/h.
Urban roads – 50 km/h.
Residential areas – 30 km/h.
Speed cameras, AUTOVELOX, allow a “tolerance” of 5 km/h above the speed limit up to 90 km/h and up to 5% over 90 km/h.
Under special conditions, with three lanes in each direction + an emergency lane in each direction, the speed limit can reach up to 150 km/h.
Pay attention to the road signs on each road.
Speed Traps:
There are two methods for checking vehicle speed in Italy.
Autovelox and Telelaser are methods that measure speed at a specific moment.
Tutor is a method that measures average speed between one point and another over a distance of 10 to 25 km.
Popular navigation apps (Google Maps or Waze) indicate the locations of speed cameras. Waze goes further by alerting users when entering a road with a speed camera.
Italian law requires clear signage to alert drivers of camera presence, including mobile police cameras.
Access to City ZTL Centers:
The acronym ZTL stands for: Limited Traffic Zone (Zona Traffico Limitato) and it is an area where entry is allowed only for residents of the zone, marked by cameras and signs. The signage can be electronic or a stationary sign of a white circle with a red border. Entering this zone without permission will result in a fine.
How can you avoid this?
– Keep a close eye as you approach the city centers.
– Check online before you arrive via websites.
– Waze is currently the only app that has added alerts for these areas.
– If your hotel is located in such an area, contact the reception in advance, send your vehicle number to be entered into the computerized system.
If you receive a ticket? Pay it and close your account. It’s a shame to incur interest and delays. Sometimes people receive tickets for a small difference of 10 minutes, due to two cameras that caught them.
Milan is special for the service it provides, allowing parking in area C (which is part of ZTL) by purchasing a ticket at a Tabacchi and sending a text message with the vehicle number. Execution instructions can be found on the website: https://www.comune.milano.it/servizi/area-c-acquisto-ticket-attivazione-ricarica<br>
Parking in Cities:
How do you know where it is allowed to park and whether you need to pay? Let’s clarify.
Parking marked on the street with a white line – this is free parking, but it may be time-restricted. How do you know? Check the sign posted on the street, and in any case, mark the start time of parking using the clock displayed on the front windshield.
Parking marked on the ground with a blue line – you can park for a fee. Until when and how much? Check again at the signs placed along the street or at the beginning of the parking area. Payment is made via a parking meter, where you first have to enter your vehicle number.
Parking marked in orange-yellow and a combination with blue – this is designated parking for local residents during specified hours, again according to the sign posted.
The ticket issued by the parking meter should be placed clearly on the dashboard (and not on the driver’s door as is customary in the country).
Worried about not understanding the parking meter instructions? You can use the app https://easyparkitalia.it/it which is useful in Italy and other countries in Europe. You need to load funds onto your credit card in advance, and when you find a parking spot, make sure to mark its location in the app, and you’ll be charged accordingly for the location and duration of the parking.
Another app that is active mainly in larger cities is http://www.mycicero.it
On weekends, in most of Italy, parking is free, but it’s always a good idea to check in advance and confirm this ‘gift’.
Finally, don’t hesitate to ask a local (a shop worker, a passerby) about the parking rules in the area where you are staying. They usually know best.
Payment of Fines:
If luck is not on your side and you’ve received a fine, our recommendation is to pay it and move on. You can find the payment site on the form that will be sent to you directly. If you didn’t pay during the initial phase, the fine will be processed through the rental company (which will charge an additional fee of about 50 Euro for this ‘service’).
Fines tend to increase and grow if not paid, postponed, or forgotten.
Car Safety:
According to a law from 2006, anyone inside a vehicle while driving, both the driver and the passengers, are required to wear a seatbelt. This applies to both front and rear seat occupants.
Children: up to the age of two or weighing up to 13 kg – must use a car seat or infant carrier.
Ages two to six or weighing up to 25 kg – must use a child seat.
Ages six and above – must use a booster seat.
Children up to 9 kg must be seated facing the rear of the vehicle.
In all cases, the seat must be properly installed and secured in the vehicle.
Since 2009, it has been mandatory to install a mechanism to prevent leaving a child (up to age 4) in the car: Dispositivo Anti Abbandono Bimbo Seggiolino Auto. This must be in all vehicles with an Italian license plate, including rental cars.
Fines for non-compliance can reach up to 326 Euro.
Winter Driving:
During the winter period, defined in Italy from November 15 to April 15, all vehicles are required to carry snow chains for driving in snow, or alternatively to switch to suitable tires (which will be returned to storage in the summer as they are not suitable for warm weather). Anything else (like tire socks) is in addition to those chains and not a substitute.
It is strongly recommended to check, ask, and see for yourself that the chains are in the trunk of the vehicle. A vehicle caught by the police, or at any checkpoint without chains, receives a fine.
Winter days also bring heavy fog. Pay attention to signs indicating slow driving and in extreme cases, also turn on hazard lights so that vehicles in front and behind can notice your presence on the road.
Fuel:
Fuel prices in Italy are high, similar to those in Israel. Here too, the ability to charge additional taxes plays its part. One way to check fuel prices near your location is through the app https://www.prezzibenzina.it, which compares fuel prices at various stations in real-time.
Many stations have switched to self-service, including the payment process. You can pay in cash, but most do not provide change. Therefore, the preferred method is by credit card. Typically, the credit terminal is number 1, servicing several fuel pumps at the station. Pay close attention to which pump number you are using and ensure it matches the pump you select at the credit service. Again, in most places, you need to activate the credit service first (and sometimes set an amount) before the pump will operate.
Exit from Italy
In some countries bordering Italy, there is a toll for using the road network. The responsibility lies with the driver. There is not always a clear barrier for this (like in Austria), but the payment is still required.
In any case, the proof of payment is a sticker that is received and affixed to the vehicle’s windshield.
Switzerland: the price for 14 months (latest was 100 francs).
Austria: the price varies according to the expected length of stay in the country (10 days, 60 days, or 14 months).
Slovenia: the price varies based on the duration (week, month, year).
Beware of Thieves!
Yes, there are car burglars in Italy, just like in many places with tourists (and even locals). The methods of theft are diverse and evolve over time. As you travel further south in Italy (especially from Rome and south), the risk of car break-ins increases.
Important:
1- Do not leave luggage visibly in the car. Use a trunk cover to hide the sign of ‘tourists’.
2- Take advantage of the luggage storage at the hotel. It’s better to go straight to the hotel, store your belongings, and then head out calmly for a city tour.
3- On intercity roads, leave one or two of the passengers in the car while the others go for coffee. The effort is worth it.
4- Make sure your insurance includes coverage for theft and damage to windows.
5- Don’t be lazy and file a police report. It’s very important for the sake of insurance.
Italian Phenomenon
Narrow Roads or Uphills:
In most areas of Italy, particularly in rural regions, there is a strong awareness regarding driving on narrow roads and paths. The locals are used to it, but for tourists, it can seem like a life-threatening situation.
First and foremost, don’t hesitate to drive slowly, safely and with confidence. Secondly, make use of the pull-offs along the road to allow oncoming vehicles to pass. The ascending vehicle has the right of way.
Creating a Traffic Jam:
A vehicle going slower than the speed limit for any reason (safety, unfamiliarity with the road, etc.) with 4-5 cars trailing behind is considered to have created a traffic jam. Therefore, at the first opportunity, the driver should pull over to a lay-by to let the cars behind pass and continue their journey.
Turning Left:
Sometimes, in the interest of allowing the flow of traffic without stoplights or roundabouts, a left turn may be made even when oncoming vehicles have a green light. This requires patience, skill, courtesy, and good judgment to execute the turn safely.
