How US nationals can get an Italian driving license

Americans planning to move to Italy will need to take their Italian driving test if they want to continue driving on Italy’s roads. Here’s the essential guide on how to get an Italian permit and who needs to.

For US nationals who make the move to live in Italy, the clock is ticking on being able to continue using an American driver license if you intend to drive.

However, if you decide to become an Italian registered resident, you’ll need to study for those Italian theory and practical driving exams to get an Italian driver license within  12 months after your residency registration.

Italy and America do not have a reciprocal agreement of recognising driving licenses, which means you could not simply exchange your American permit for an Italian one. Instead, you’ll need to pass exams, show medical eligibility to drive and be prepared for a stack of paperwork.

There are fines for those who fail to show a valid driver license and it’s not possible to simply extend your IDP. So, if you want to keep traveling around Italy, your options are, public transport, getting your Italian license or cancel your registered residency.

If a person is NOT a tax resident of Italy, they still do need to get an Italian driver’s license IF he/she has been registered as a resident of an Italian Comune for more than 12 months.

If a person has his/her center of vital interests elsewhere and is not an Italian tax resident, it does not represent an exemption: the 12-month term restriction still applies. The Italian Traffic Code expressly refers to the Comune residency registration record when establishing fines for people driving on a non-EU driver license after 12 months of being an Italian resident (art. 135, section 11, of D.Lgs. 285/92). Additionally, in other parts of the Traffic Code, there are provisions, with respect to other situations, where what is relevant, for the application of fines, is the center-of-vital-interest residency concept, instead of the Comune residency registration record (see article 118-bis). Therefore, with respect to a person who is registered as a resident of Italy for more than 12-months and driving on a non-EU driver license, it seems reasonable to expect that law enforcement will apply those fines regardless of the fact that his/her center of vital interests might be outside of Italy.

How do you take your driving test in Italy?

The good news is, you have some grace period when you move to Italy and can keep driving on Italy’s roads with your American license and an IDP for 12 months after beginning your application for residency.

If you choose to drive on your American license in this 12-month period, you’ll also have to show a copy of it officially translated into Italian.

Be aware though that getting an Italian driver permit is time-consuming and known to be tricky, so it’s recommended you give yourself at least six months to get through the bureaucracy and to prepare for and pass the driving exams.

To apply for a Patente B, which is the license for cars (and motorbikes up to 125cc), you have to be at least 18 years old and be medically fit to drive. To prove that, you need to obtain a medical certificate for your eyesight, physical condition and mental health.

You can’t go to any doctor – they need to be authorized to evaluate your health for driving in compliance with article 119 of the Highway Code, as detailed by the Italian Ministry of Transport, which is available here in Italian.

Then you can apply for a permit at one of the ministry’s agencies known as ‘uffici della motorizzazione civile’.

How do I take the exams?

Once you’ve begun the process and have your temporary driver permit, you’ll have six months to pass the theory test and you’ve got two goes at it. Should you fail twice, you’ll need to start the process again.

On the other hand, as long as all goes well with proving you understand Italy’s rules of the road, you’ll get a pink slip, ‘foglia rosa’. This document shows you passed the theory and it means you can proceed to your practical driving test.

You’ve got three chances to pass this in an eleven-month timeframe and can take your first shot one month after passing the theory exam.

Regardless of how long you’ve been driving, bear in mind there are six hours of mandatory driving lessons before you can take your Italian practical driving test.

You can see how time can run away, so it’s advised to make getting your Italian driver license a priority in order to complete all the steps within the 12 months you have from the start of your residency application.

Fortunately, you don’t have to muddle through it all alone and many choose to go with a driving school, or ‘autoscuola’, to prepare for the tests.

It’s worth noting that the final theory test cannot be taken in English, so you’ll need to account for the Italian language comprehension too. The only translations available are in French and German, as stipulated in a circular by the Italian Ministry.

What if I cancel my residency in Italy?

If you decide in the end not to live in Italy full time, you can use your American driver license along with  an IDP if you want to drive in Italy.

However, if you already went through the driving exams and successfully obtained an Italian driver license, you will also retain your American license.

This is because, lacking a reciprocity driver license agreement between Italy and the US, the two driver license processes are completely independent.

What other implications are there of canceling my residency?

Doing this will have various knock-on effects – for further information about residency, read our guide here.

What if I have a EU driver’s license?

The issuance of driving licenses within the EU is regulated at country level, i.e., according to the national law of each EU country. If a person has a valid EU driver’s license, there is no requirement to convert it into an Italian driver’s license nor to have an international translation. A person can drive with a EU driver’s license in Italy until its expiration regardless his/her Italian registration as a resident for 12+ months.

READ ALSO:

• New Italian driver license: driving restrictions
• Italian Residency Requirements
• Permit to stay

How can I get more advice on my personal circumstances?

We have a solid record of helping our clients to secure residency in Italy and getting them on the road to explore their beautiful surroundings.

If you want to find out more, we can guide you on areas such as:

• How do I apply for residency?
• What permits do I need for that?
• How will it change the taxes I need to pay if I become a resident of Italy?
• Can I buy a car when I arrive in Italy?
• How do the costs compare when it comes to insurance and registration?
• What documentation do I need to apply for an Italian driver license?
• What are the fees for this?
• Once I get an Italian permit, can I drive any kind of vehicles?
• What if I don’t get an Italian driver license within 12 months of my residency application?
• I’m not registered as a resident of Italy but spend most of my time there. Does this mean I can keep using my American driver license?

Related information

• Restrictions on new driver licenses
• Italian residency application timing
• Italian elective residency visa