Driving in Italy is fun Italy road trip is the best way to explore its lesser known regions and beautiful towns. Driving in Italy is not for the unadventurous. While most forgo driving in the cities and rely on public transportation, driving is the main way to access and explore remote areas and small towns and is most often the only way to take in the beauty of the Italian countryside.
Learning when to use a GPS, understanding Italian traffic laws, and knowing how to avoid being caught speeding will help you navigate the roads on your vacation in Italy.

Italians have a reputation for fast and dangerous driving; along with the narrow and cobbled streets in the historic towns, you'll need to have your A game on.
Be careful while walking around town, pedestrians make up many of Italy's road fatality statistics. Pedestrians or cyclists often hit or are hit by scooters and cars.
Traffic will speed by without stopping, offering few safe chances to actually cross the road. Motorbikes, Vespas, or mopeds, which are very popular in Italy, do this as often as vehicles. Even more difficult, sidewalks can be narrow and tempt you to walk in the road.
The cultural approach taken by Italians to crossing the road is to wait for a gap in the flow of cars and start crossing. Watch the locals and follow their lead. Some nominally one-way roads let buses travel in the opposite direction, so you should still look both ways before crossing.

If you’re relying on Italian public transport, it can be tough to visit the off-the-beaten-path villages and rural areas that make Italy so special.
It is possible, and easier than you might think explore areas like Umbria and Tuscany by train and bus (don’t miss our guides for getting around Umbria by train and bus or the navigating Cinque Terre by train), renting a car gives you more flexibility and freedom.
Depending on the number of people you’re traveling with, it can be the cheapest option.

Driving in Italy can be intimidating, especially given the fearsome reputation of Italian drivers.

Checklist for Driving in Italy
Driver's license (required)
IDP (recommended)
Proof of liability insurance (required)
ID/passport (required)
Reflective safety vest (required to have in car)
Reflective triangle (required to have in car)
Spare tire (recommended)
Fire extinguisher (recommended)

Some Rules of the Road in Italy
If you know Italian law, you can avoid being stopped by police or photographed by speed and red-light cameras, and return home without incurring a traffic fine. While some of the rules are similar to driving laws in the U.S., some, like the Zona Traffico Limitato, are particular to Italy.
Seatbelts in Italy
According to Italian law, any time you ride in a vehicle that has seat belts, it is compulsory to wear them.
Children and car seats
Children who are under 36 kilograms (97 pounds) or 150 centimeters (4 feet, 9 inches) must use appropriate car seats or booster seats and must ride in the back of the car.
Distracted driving in Italy
You cannot text or talk and drive while holding a phone. Recent changes to Italy's highway code include stricter penalties for anyone caught using a mobile phone while driving. Fines for drivers caught texting or talking on the phone are hefty, and drivers could also face a suspension of driving privileges of up to two months.
Zona Traffico Limitato (ZTL)
Do not drive in an area with a ZTL sign or one marked Area Pedonale (limited traffic or pedestrian zones). Most cities have these zones, and even in small towns, you may find them in the historic center, or centro storico.
A special permit is needed to drive in a limited traffic zone (which your hotel can usually provide if it's within one).
There is usually a camera that takes a photo of your license plate as you enter and you may get a fine in the mail, sometimes months later, even if you don't get stopped right away. Look for a parking lot outside the center—you'll often find one within walking distance or with a shuttle to take you to the center of a town.
Speed limits in Italy
Except when posted otherwise, speed limits apply throughout Italy, including 130 kilometers per hour (81 miles per hour) on highways, 110 kph (68 mph) on non-major highways outside of major urban areas, and 90 kph (56 mph) on local roads.
Traffic lights in Italy
In Italy, it is illegal to make a right turn on a red light even if you stop first.
Italy has a three-light system like in the U.S., although there are not many traffic lights.
Parking in Italy
When parking on an urban street, park on the right-hand side. In marked "blue zone" areas, you must display a parking disc, valid for one hour, which can be obtained in tourist offices.
Headlights in Italy
Even on sunny days, the law requires you to drive with your headlights on outside of urban areas.
Always drive with your headlights on while on the autostrada.

In case of emergency in ITALY
Emergency numbers in Italy are 113 for police, 115 for the fire department, and 118 for an ambulance. 

Documents required to drive in Italy
Driving licences issued by any of the EU member states are valid throughout the European Union, including Italy.
Drivers in possession of a licence issued by any EU country do not require an international driving permit or a sworn translation of their own licence.

General rules for driving in Italy
Driving licences issued by any of the EU Member States are valid throughout the European Union, including Italy.
Drivers with a licence issued by any EU country do not require an international driving permit or a legal translation of their own licence. To drive in Italy, you must be over 18. Keep right and overtake on the left. Dipped headlights must be used on two-lane motorways. When driving through towns and villages, the horn may be sounded only in the event of an emergency. Trams and trains have right of way.
The use of seatbelts in both the front and rear seats is compulsory, and failure to keep them fastened may result in fines for both drivers and passengers. On three-lane motorways, the lane on the right is reserved for slow vehicles and vehicles that are not overtaking. At crossings, vehicles approaching from the right always have right of way. Seatbelts must be fastened both in the front and the rear (provided the vehicle is fitted with them). Fines may be issued on-the-spot to drivers and passengers stopped by the police and found travelling without their seatbelt fastened. 

Speed limits in Italy
Cars and motorbikes (vehicles with engine size over 150 cc):
urban areas 50 km/h (31 mph); minor out-of-town roads 90 km/h (56 mph); major out-of-town roads 110 km/h (68 mph);  motorways 130 km/h (81 mph). In the event of rain on snow, the limit is lowered to 110 k/h on motorways and 90 k/h on trunk roads.

DRIVING IN TUSCANY REGION
Renting a car in Tuscany is a great idea. A Tuscany road trip is a popular way to see the gorgeous hill top towns and vineyards the region is famous for. Tuscany is a large region and traveling by public transport outside the major cities – Florence, Pisa and Lucca – can be slow. Don’t forget to look for and avoid the ZTL zones in Siena, Arezzo, Cortona, and Pisa as well as Florence.
DRIVING ON THE AMALFI COAST
Out of season, doing an Amalfi Coast road trip is definitely a travel highlight, especially for those who love driving on winding and scenic roads. Come summer and high season (June – September) when the same roads are packed with locals and tourists, the situation is reversed. Then, it can be a bit of a nightmare. Traffic moves at a snail’s pace and parking is incredibly difficult to find.
DRIVING TO THE CINQUE TERRE (Five lands in Liguria region) AND BETWEEN THE VILLAGES
If you want to include the villages of the Cinque Terre in your Italian road trip be aware that there isn’t a lot of parking. These are tiny villages and the roads are rough, narrow and designed for local traffic only.
The best way to see the villages is to park your car at one of the nearby towns such as La Spezia or Levanto and catch the local train or ferries to the Cinque Terre villages.
In La Spezia there is a secure car park under the station and another close to the harbour if you are taking the ferry. You will find a large parking area behind the train station at Levanto.

Italians drive on the right-hand side of the road (the same as the U.S. and much of Europe).
And equally important, the steering wheel is on the left side as well.
If you were fretting making a mistake on the road due to it being different in that respect, your biggest mental hurdle to driving in Italy is behind you!
When it comes to navigating from one destination to the next, driving in Italy as a tourist has never been easier. The only way to confidently explore the country is with a solid GPS. Consider the following navigation options for a stress-free time on the road:
Rent a Car with a Built-in GPS System – Odds are your rental car in Italy includes the option to include a GPS navigation system for an additional cost.
Bring a Stand-Alone GPS Unit
Bringing your own GPS unit not only saves you money, but also makes departing to your destination easier. Why? Few things are more frustrating than trying to program a rental car’s GPS system when you’re jet-lagged and its default language is Italian or German. You can also save time in Italy by programming sights and destinations into your GPS unit before arriving.
Italians are competent and decisive drivers. By knowing the basic rules of driving in Italy, you can hold your own behind the wheel. Just recognize that they will rule the road. And that’s just fine.
Driving in Italy as a tourist means you’re not in a race.
When traveling on multi-lane highways such as Italy’s autostrade, only use the left lane if you are passing. Just like in the U.S., the left lane is not the place to act like you’re on a Sunday drive. But unlike in the U.S., cars can come up behind you at incredible speeds on a regular basis.
The best thing to do is just get out of their way by keeping to the right.
Even though Italians drive fast, all roads in Italy do have speed limits. 
On country roads the speed limit is 90 km/h (56 mph), on freeways it is 110 km/h (68 mph) and on the autostrade it is 130 km/h (81 mph). Your best bet is to obey the posted speed limit signs, but apply common sense. Go with the flow of traffic.

Autostrade are toll roads - Green signs indicate the road is an autostrada
You must take a ticket when you enter the autostrada, and pay when you exit. If you want to budget for tolls, enter your route on www.Viamichelin.com for an estimate.
When you exit the autostrada you must pay the toll in cash. Do not go into the Telepass lane.
Pay attention to the speed limit when driving Italian autostrada
There seems to be a misconception that speed limits in Italy are high or that you can drive as fast as you want. Not so and be careful. Speed is monitored by cameras on the highways and tickets are issued automatically and sent to drivers (or car rental agencies) in the mail. Car rental agencies will add their own processing fee to any ticket you receive as a driver.
Filling the car with petrol if you’re driving on the autostrada is pretty simple. The pumps are self-service (“fai da te”) and easy to use. 

RENTING A CAR IN ITALY CAR RENTAL
Renting a car in Italy is the best choice if you want to explore the countryside and small villages and regions such as Tuscany, Puglia, Sicily and the Italian Lakes.
If you are only visiting Italy’s major cities – Rome, Florence, Milan, Venice and Naples – renting a car is not the best way to get around. High speed trains connect the cities and major towns quickly and you are dropped right into the center of town with no need to negotiate traffic or find car parking which is expensive and can be difficult to find.
Sometimes it is the little details that can make a big difference to your trip. Here are our top tips for choosing cars to rent in Italy:
Choose the type and size of car wisely and avoid large cars. Getting stuck in small streets is almost a rite of passage for anyone driving in Italy but you can make things a little easier for yourself if you rent a smaller car.

DRIVE IN ITALY - Driving Travels blogs - Guides to driving in Italy - Selected websites to Useful links italian roads tips on Moving in Italy by Car Rules to drive in Italy
Rules to drive in Italy Documents required to drive in Italy General rules for driving in Italy.
If you are thinking about driving or renting a car in Italy it is a good idea to prepare yourself with information about how to drive in a country whose drivers and roads have a somewhat challenging reputation.
Key road rules for driving and parking in Italy - What you legally need to drive in Italy - What to do in case of a roadside emergency - Rental car tips and Italy rental car insurance requirements - How to easily handle tolls on the Autostrada - Money and time-saving tricks - How to easily navigate Italian roads & more....

Driving in Italy Made Easy Guaranteed - Anyone with a dose of common sense, a little pre-trip prep and a solid smartphone or GPS can easily handle driving in Italy. Here are the top Italy driving tips to handle the roads like a pro.
https://throneandvine.com/driving-in-italy-made-easy/

Tips for How To Drive in Italy
https://www.walksofitaly.com/blog/travel-tips/drive-in-italy

Motorways in Italy - Autostrade in Italia
http://www.autostrade.it/

Automobile Club d'Italia
http://www.aci.it/  

http://www.italia.it/en/useful-info/rules-to-drive-in-italy.html

https://www.tripsavvy.com/tips-for-driving-in-italy-1547237

GUIDE TO DRIVING IN ITALY – CAR RENTAL AND TOURING ITALY BY CAR MADE EASY
https://www.untoldmorsels.com/driving-in-italy/

Things Travelers Should Know Before Driving in Italy
https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/europe/italy/driving-in-italy

Travel Blog Tips on driving Italian Autostrada or toll roads
https://www.italybeyondtheobvious.com/the-italian-autostrada-tips-for-foreigners

Maps of Italy - Mappe Italiane

http://www.geoplan.it/

https://maps.google.it/

http://mappe.virgilio.it/

https://en.mappy.com/

https://www.informagiovani-italia.com/Mappa_Italia.htm

https://www.viamichelin.com/