DRIVING LICENSE IN ITALY

Driving license in Italy is a governmental right given to those who request a license for any of the categories they choose. It is required for every type of motorized vehicle. The minimum age to obtain a driving license is as follows:

  • 16 years for a motorcycle of 125cc with a limit of motor power of 11 kW; a quadricycle motor (cars with a weight of 400 kg – 550 kg if it is for freight transport) and a motor power not exceeding 15 kW)
  • 18 years for a car or motorcycle without a limit for the engine cylinder capacity and a limit of motor power of 35 kW
  • 21 years for minibuses, three-wheelers without a limit of motor power, and cargo vehicles
  • 24 years for motorcycles without limits of motor power; buses

The so-called “patentino” (small driving licence) was an Italian licence given to young people with a minimum age of 14 years. This licence permitted teenagers to drive scooters and “micro-cars” (small cars with a maximum motor power of 4 kW and a maximum speed of 45 km/h). In 2013, this was replaced with a new category of driver’s licence

The Italian driver’s license can be obtained after finishing a driver’s education course and passing a two-stage test: a theory test and a road test. An elementary school diploma is also required to obtain a valid driving license.

In order to pass the theory test, an applicant cannot make more than three mistakes on a total of thirty questions related to road signs and street code articles. The test is timed and must be completed in twenty minutes. A failed theory test can be retaken once. After passing the theory test, the applicant receives a foglio rosa (learner’s permit) that allows them to drive accompanied by an adult with ten or more years of driving experience. The permit is valid for twelve months, within which a road test must be taken. A failed road test can be retaken twice (three attempts overall).

European driving license

The European driving license is a driving license issued by the member states of the European Economic Area (EEA); all 27 EU member states and three EFTA member states; Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, which give shared features the various driving license styles formerly in use. It is credit card-style with a photograph and a microchip. They were introduced to replace the 110 different plastic and paper driving licenses of the 300 million drivers in the EEA. The main objective of the license is to reduce the risk of fraud.

A driving license issued by a member state of the EEA is recognized throughout the EEA and can be used as long as it is valid, the driver is old enough to drive a vehicle of the equivalent category, and the license is not suspended or restricted and has not been revoked in the issuing country. If the holder of an EEA driving license moves to another EEA country, the license can be exchanged for a driving license from the new EEA country. However, as all EEA driving licenses are recognized throughout the EEA, it is usually not necessary to exchange it.

The exception is for those holding EEA driving licenses issued in exchange for a non‑EEA license. When holding a converted license, one should not assume the license can be exchanged when moving to another EEA country. This only applies when permanently relocating to a different EEA country. As a tourist, an EEA-license issued in exchange of a non-EEA license is recognized throughout the EEA.