6 Tips for How To Drive in Italy

Dreaming about the chance to drive in Italy? Hitting the open road is one of the most rewarding ways to experience the country. With a car, you can take in rolling hills and vineyards, winding roads, and breathtaking countryside while traveling entirely at your own pace. Driving lets you stop whenever something catches your eye, whether that’s a charming village café, a scenic overlook, or a hidden winery tucked among the hills.

While Italy’s trains and buses can certainly connect you to many destinations, choosing to drive in Italy gives you the freedom to explore beyond the main routes and discover the quieter corners that make regions like Tuscany and Umbria so magical. It’s a flexible, scenic, and often surprisingly affordable way to travel, especially if you’re sharing the journey with friends or family.

Read on for some tips and tricks that are useful for visitors who choose to drive in Italy…

Some of the countryside views are so stunning, they don´t even seem real!

What To Know When Renting A Car

Yes, you can wait until arriving in Italy to rent a car, but you’ll usually get better prices and a wider choice of vehicles if you book in advance. Reserving online before your trip also lets you compare options calmly and avoid wasting precious travel time once you arrive.

Booking online is often the easiest route. Many travelers use comparison websites that show vehicles from several rental companies at once, allowing you to filter by price, car size, transmission type, and included insurance. This can help you quickly find the best deal or the type of car that suits your trip, whether that’s a small compact car for navigating narrow Italian streets or something larger for a family road trip.

Pick Up / Drop Off Locations

When booking, pay close attention to your pickup and drop-off locations. Airports often have the biggest selection of vehicles and can sometimes be cheaper because multiple companies compete there. However, picking up a car in a city center location can be more convenient if you plan to start driving after a few days of sightseeing. Keep in mind that returning the car to a different city (one-way rental) usually adds an extra fee, so it’s often cheaper to pick up and drop off in the same place.

Optional Extras

You’ll also see several optional extras during the booking process. For example, you can add an additional driver if more than one person plans to drive, which is useful on longer road trips. Families traveling with children can reserve car seats in advance, and some companies offer GPS navigation systems, although these days many travelers simply rely on smartphone navigation apps.

Other useful filters to look for when booking include unlimited mileage and the fuel policy, both of which can affect the final cost of your rental.

Unlimited Mileage V Daily Limit

This means you can drive as far as you like without paying extra. This is usually the best option if you’re planning a road trip across several regions or visiting rural areas. Some cheaper rental deals include daily mileage limits, and if you exceed them you may be charged a fee for every extra kilometer driven.

Fuel Policy

The most common and traveler-friendly option is “full-to-full”, which means you pick up the car with a full tank and return it full. This is usually the most economical choice because you only pay for the fuel you actually use. Some companies offer “full-to-empty” or prepaid fuel policies, where you pay for a full tank in advance and can return the car empty. While convenient, this can sometimes be more expensive since fuel prices charged by rental companies may be higher than at local gas stations, and most travelers don’t end up returning the tank completely empty.

Insurance Coverage

Finally, review the insurance coverage carefully. Basic insurance may be included, but many travelers choose to add extra coverage for peace of mind. It’s also worth checking whether your credit card or travel insurance already provides rental car coverage, which could save you money. And if you’re planning to explore the countryside for several days, renting the car for a longer period often lowers the daily rate, making it a better value overall.

With a little planning, renting a car in Italy can be simple—and it opens the door to incredible scenic drives, charming villages, and unforgettable countryside adventures.

A Fiat 500 is the perfect small car to enjoy city streets and quaint cobbled plazas of places like Verona!

Remember – Automatic Cars Don´t Come Automatically!

Don’t drive a stick shift? You might be surprised to know that most Italians (and Europeans) do! Therefore, the majority of cars in Italy are stick-shift (aka: manual), not automatic. That means automatics often have a limited availability, and usually cost more. (Another good reason to book in advance!). Make sure you use the filter which gives you the option to check automatic transmission only, to ensure your search is focused on availability for automatic cars and that you do not make a mistake and book a manual car by accident!

The coastal roads of the Amalfi Coast are stunning to drive.

Also… Beware Regarding Motorbikes and Scooters!

Motorcycles and scooters are also widely available for rent throughout Italy, especially in larger cities and coastal areas. While they can be a fun and convenient way to get around for short distances or quick trips along the coast, we generally don’t recommend them for long-distance travel or in places you’re unfamiliar with. Italian traffic can be fast and unpredictable, city streets are often narrow, and road signs or local driving habits may take some getting used to.

Scooters can be especially tempting in scenic destinations like Rome, Florence, or along the Amalfi Coast, but they require confidence and experience to handle safely, particularly in busy traffic circles, steep hills, or cobblestone streets. If you do choose to rent one, make sure you wear a helmet, understand local traffic rules, and check whether your license is valid for scooters or motorcycles in Italy.

And one final piece of advice: never try to learn to drive a scooter for the first time in a foreign city. Between the traffic, unfamiliar roads, and energetic Italian drivers, it’s definitely not the place for your first lesson. You have been warned!

This means… you can’t drive here! (Photo Credit: Elliott Brown)

Technically, you need an international driving permit

When you rent a car, you probably won’t be asked for it. But if you’re stopped? You might be. Or you might not. Really, there’s no knowing. But technically, you’re supposed to have it (along with your normal license) when you drive, and it’s easy to get; applications are open through the AAA website, and permits are valid for one year.

Have a good map, or better yet, a GPS

On the road in Italy, signs often won’t indicate north, south, east, or west; instead, they’ll use a city sign. So if you want to drive north from Rome, for example, you might look for a sign for “Firenze” or “Milano.” As you might expect, this can be incredibly confusing for anyone not intimately familiar with Italian geography (especially when you get to smaller roads, which often indicate their direction with smaller towns and villages!).

We recommend having a good map or, using GPS, either on your phone, or by adding it as an optional extra with your car (if it’s not already included), at the cost of about 10-15 euros a day. GPS systems are programmed in English as well as Italian, and can be a godsend for guiding you through winding roads and small streets.

Street signs indicating which way you should go… according to the city located in that direction. Photo by David McSpadden

Know The Rules of the Italian Road

Italians drive on the right side of the road, just like Americans. That may seem basic, but you’d be surprised how many people don’t know.

• Traffic lights and stop signs work the same as most other countries, but, like most of Europe, right turns during red lights are ALWAYS ILLEGAL.
• Zona traffico limitato and zona pedonale indicate pedestrian streets that are not open to cars.
• An inverted red and white triangle means that you DO NOT have the right of way at the intersection.
• While driving in Italy, some useful words to know include destra (right), sinistra (left), dritto (straight), uscita (exit) and pedaggio (toll).

You will enjoy the contrast of architecture and nature as you drive through Italy!

Mind the Speed Limit!

All Italian roads – from city streets to highways—have speed limits, usually indicated by a white and red circle with the number (by kilometers, NOT MILES, per hour) written in the center.

Police officers usually do not patrol the roads; instead, cameras are set up to register a car’s speed, automatically issuing a ticket. And there are lots of them, especially on the highways!

If you’ve rented a car in Italy, the ticket will be sent to the agency and the cost automatically taken from your credit card! So no, you can’t get out of it just because you’ve left the country.

Keep an eye out for signs that show a police officer with a hand raised, or for orange autovelox boxes, which indicate speed traps and check points.

Read More: The Biggest Mistake People Make when Planning a Trip to Italy (and How to Avoid It)

The roads in the heart of the cities are often cobbled and limited access, make sure you check pedestrian zones too!

FAQs – Drive in Italy

How expensive are toll roads in Italy?

Many highways in Italy, known as autostrade, are toll roads. Costs vary depending on distance, but most travelers pay €5–€20 for longer drives between cities. Tolls can usually be paid by credit card, cash, or at automated machines. It’s a good idea to keep some small bills or coins handy just in case.

Is parking difficult when you drive in Italy?

Parking can be tricky in historic city centers, where space is limited and many areas are restricted to residents. Look for blue-lined spaces, which indicate paid public parking, or consider using parking garages near city centers. In smaller towns and rural villages, parking is generally much easier to find.

Do I need an International Driving Permit to drive in Italy?

Yes. Non-EU visitors are technically required to carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) along with their regular driver’s license when they drive in Italy. While rental companies don’t always ask for it at pickup, police may request it during a traffic stop. The permit is easy to obtain before your trip and is usually valid for one year.

What documents should I carry when driving in Italy?

When you drive in Italy, you should always have your passport, driver’s license, International Driving Permit (if required), rental agreement, and proof of insurance with you. Keeping these documents easily accessible can make things much smoother if you’re stopped or asked to show them.

Check your route in advance to make sure you do not enter prohibited zones!

Planning to drive in Italy and explore at your own pace?

Having a car is a wonderful way to discover the country and go from place to place. But once you arrive in a new destination, sometimes the best thing to do is park the car, step away from the wheel, and explore on foot. That’s where expert-led walking tours can make all the difference. From historic city centers to food-focused experiences, the local guides at Walks of Italy help you uncover the stories, flavors, and landmarks that make each destination special.

Take a look at the full range of experiences across Italy to find the perfect walking tour to complement your Italian road trip.