Guide to Driving in Italy
Planning on renting a car and spending some time driving in Italy? Here are few tips and some helpful information to make your experience easier.
If you have a U.S. driver’s license it is strongly recommended that you buy an International Driving Permit before leaving for Italy. An IDP is simply a translation of your license into 11 different languages. In the U.S. they’re easy to obtain for a small fee from your local AAA office, no driving tests or exams required. This should be carried in addition to your regular driver’s license. You should also have insurance papers, car documents, and any required equipment. Italian law mandates that all cars are equipped with a warning triangle and a reflective vest or jacket in the event of a breakdown; car rental suppliers provide these items for each rental car.
Don’t rely too heavily on your GPS. Double check a map to be sure you’re going in the right direction; not to another town with the same name. Also, your GPS may not denote a ZTL.