Your driving licence in Italy

If you move to Italy, you may want to know if the driving licence taken in your country allows you to legally drive in Italy.
Unfortunately, not all driving licences can be converted into an Italian one.

Driving licences issued by an EU country are valid in Italy until their expiry date, when they will have to be converted into an Italian driving licence. The EU driving licence can be converted into an Italian driving licence even before the expiry date. If they don’t have an expiry date, they have to be converted into an Italian one within two years after establishing Italian residency.

If the driving licence has been issued by a non-EU country, you can drive in Italy with your driving licence and your international driving licence, or a sworn translation of your DL, for one year after establishing residency.

If your driving licence has been issued by a non-EU country that Italy has an agreement with, the driving licence can be converted into an Italian one within one year after establishing residency (art.136 CdS)

If the country issuing your driving licence does not have an agreement with Italy, then you need to sit the driving test in Italy to be able to legally drive in Italy.
Among others, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the USA do not have an agreement with Italy.
You can find the full list of countries which have a bilateral agreement with Italy at this link

If you convert your driving licence issued by a country that Italy does not have an agreement with into a driving licence of a country Italy does have an agreement with, your driving licence won’t be converted into an Italian one.

In order to convert your driving licence or to sit the exam, the appropriate authority to refer to is the local Motorizzazione Civile. However, you may find it easier, though a bit more expensive, to contact your local scuola guida, agenzia pratiche auto or delegazione ACI.

to know mora about importing a car in Italy, see here.

This article is not exhaustive and is a guidance only.

If you need assistance with your move, please do get in touch.

Barbara De Benedittis Relocation and Legal in Italy