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Travel answers · Italy · Getting around

Driving in Italy: rules, tolls, ZTL zones, fuel prices — and how long the drive really takes

What to carry, how tolls and camera zones work, city by city — and why Google Maps is optimistic.

PROTOTYPE · SEO/GEO article v1 · facts from the EmweGo guides (checked 2026-09-23) · question source: Transport deep research T01–T10 (23 Sep 2026) (T06) + traveller questions A09/A10
Short answer

Carry your licence plus an International Driving Permit (or certified translation) if it’s non-EU. Limits: 130 motorway, 110 main roads, 90 other roads, 50 in town; lights on outside towns day and night; alcohol 0.5 g/l. Most fines can be paid with a 30% discount within 5 days. Tolls are per km, paid at the exit by card or cash; an unpaid toll can be settled within 15 days without fees (ignore urgent SMS “unpaid toll” links — phishing). Fuel on 23 Sep 2026: about €2.15/l petrol, €2.33 diesel. ZTL zones are camera-enforced: Rome centre Mon–Fri 06:30–18:00, Milan Area C 07:30–19:30; a hotel inside may register your plate, but ask first. Winter tyres or chains 15 Nov–15 Apr where signed. Plan scenic roads at about 45 km/h — the official Gallura route is 99 km in 2 h 13.

Checked 2026-09-23 · Italy · Getting around

At a glance
Non-EU licence+ IDP or certified translation
Limits130 · 110 · 90 · 50 km/h
Fines−30% if paid within 5 days
Unpaid tollPay within 15 days, no fee
Fuel 23 Sep 2026~€2.15 petrol · ~€2.33 diesel
Scenic roadsPlan ~45 km/h

Rules and documents

Watch out

Winter equipment

Verified 2026-09-23
15 Nov–15 Apr on signed roads: winter tyres or chains on board. Rental companies don’t automatically fit winter tyres — get it in writing and check the tyres at pick-up.

MIT · winter equipment directive ↗

Tolls and fuel

Watch out

Unpaid tolls and fake SMS

Verified 2026-09-23
Missed payment? Settle the Unpaid Toll Report within 15 days without fees; ignoring it can mean €87–344 and 2 licence points. Autostrade never asks for card details by urgent SMS — pay only on the official site.

Autostrade · unpaid toll ↗ · Autostrade · phishing warning ↗

ZTL camera zones by city

Watch out

Rome

Verified 2026-09-23
Five central ZTLs. Centro Storico: Mon–Fri 06:30–18:00, Sat 14:00–18:00; night Fri/Sat 23:00–03:00 (not in August). EV rules changed on 1 July 2026 — don’t assume an EV is exempt. Blue-line parking €1–1.20/h.

Roma Mobilità · ZTL ↗ · ATAC · parking ↗

Watch out

Milan · Area C

Verified 2026-09-23
Mon–Fri 07:30–19:30, all year except holidays, cameras read plates. Pay by midnight of the next day; a late “within 7 days” ticket costs €22.50.

Comune di Milano · Area C ↗

How long it really takes

Route

Is Sardinia driving stressful?

Partially verified · 2026-09-23
It’s slow rather than dangerous: mostly state roads (SS) and mountain roads, few motorways. The official Gallura coastal route is 99 km in 2 h 13 — about 45 km/h. Travellers report fast locals and overtaking on solid lines; stay right, don’t chase the car behind, and plan fewer beaches per day.

Sardinia beaches without a car →

SardegnaTurismo · Gallura itinerary (99 km, 2 h 13) ↗ · Reddit r/ItalyTravel · driving in Sardinia (Mar 2025) ↗ · Los Viajeros forum · beaches in Italy (Jun 2025) ↗

Route

How much to add to Google Maps?

Candidate · not verified · 2026-09-23
No official rule. On motorways Maps is close; on scenic and mountain roads use ~45 km/h (the Gallura benchmark) and add breaks, parking and ferries. Travellers who avoided motorways report adding 3–4 hours a day; one reports La Spezia–Corvara at 5 h 30 without traffic. Plan 3–4 hours of driving a day.

10 road-trip routes →

SardegnaTurismo · Gallura itinerary (99 km, 2 h 13) ↗ · Reddit r/Polska · driving in Italy (Apr 2024) ↗ · Reddit r/ItalyTravel · La Spezia–Corvara drive (May 2025) ↗

Research gapEditor Florence’s exact 2026 summer ZTL night dates weren’t published on the official page (it still shows 2022) — recheck before quoting.

Quick answers

Is driving in Sardinia stressful?

It’s slow: mostly state and mountain roads — plan about 45 km/h and fewer stops per day.

How much time should I add to a Google Maps estimate in Italy?

Little on motorways; on scenic roads plan ~45 km/h plus breaks and parking — about 3–4 hours of driving a day.

Do I need an International Driving Permit in Italy?

Yes with a non-EU licence, or a certified Italian translation.

What happens if I miss a toll payment in Italy?

Pay the Unpaid Toll Report within 15 days on the official site — no fee.

What are Rome’s ZTL hours?

Centro Storico Mon–Fri 06:30–18:00 and Sat 14:00–18:00, plus Fri/Sat nights.

How much is petrol in Italy?

About €2.15 per litre on 23 Sep 2026 (self-service average).

Go deeper in our guides

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Road trips

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Tuscany

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Sardinia

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Related answers

Sources: ACI · documents, equipment and rules (PDF) ↗ · ACI · Highway Code art. 142 (speed) ↗ · Autostrade · how tolls are calculated ↗ · Autostrade · unpaid toll ↗ · MIMIT · regional average fuel prices ↗ · Roma Mobilità · ZTL ↗ · Comune di Milano · Area C ↗ · SardegnaTurismo · Gallura itinerary (99 km, 2 h 13) ↗