Explore Italy
Italy rewards a bit of preparation. The roads are generally good, the food lives up to every word you have heard about it, and the campsites around the lakes and along the Amalfi coast are among the best in Europe. The main thing that catches people out is the ZTL zones in historic city centres: fines arrive by post weeks after you have already driven home. There are also a few speed and weight rules that apply to motorhomes over 3,500 kg. Below is the practical detail worth reading before you head south.
Last verified: 3 April 2026
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Driving rules
If your motorhome is over 3,500 kg, you must fix speed limit stickers to the rear before driving on Italian roads. Order them online before you leave the UK. If you forget, any Italian motoring retailer will stock them.
Driving tips
- If you buy a bus or metro ticket from a kiosk, stamp it in the machine before you board. Inspectors issue on-the-spot fines for unvalidated tickets.
- Watch for ZTL signs (Zona a Traffico Limitato) in city centres. Cameras record every entry automatically. If you do not have a permit, a fine will arrive in the post back home, sometimes months later.
- Use pedestrian crossings. If there is a crossing within 100 metres, Italian law requires you to use it. Fines apply.
- Do not leave bags or valuables in a parked vehicle, including the boot. Opportunist theft from parked vehicles is common in popular areas.
- In Rome, check the fascia verde rules before driving in. This is a broader low-emission zone that wraps around much of the city and restricts older or more polluting vehicles.
Required kit
Non-Italian vehicles
All non-Italian registered vehicles must show a speed limit sticker on the rear. This displays the Italian limits that apply to your vehicle. The Angles Morts blind-spot stickers you may have used in France are not required in Italy.
Towing a caravan
Third-party liability insurance is required for skiing in Italy. You can usually add it when buying your lift pass at the resort.
Tolls and vignettes
Tolls
Italian motorway tolls are distance-based. Take a ticket when you join and pay when you leave. Milan operates a separate congestion charge called Area C. Venice charges a day-visitor access fee on peak days.
Check the official CDA website before visiting Venice to see whether a fee applies on your date. Most motorhomers find it easiest to park at Punta Sabbioni or Mestre and take the vaporetto across to the city.
Vignette
Italy has no national motorway vignette. You pay tolls as you go. What does catch people out are the ZTL zones in city centres. Cameras log every entry, and fines land on your doormat back home weeks after the trip. Leave the motorhome outside the historic centre, walk or take public transport in, and you will not have a problem.
Low emission zones
Order online: https://romamobilita.it/en
ZTL boundaries are marked by signs with black text on a yellow background. If you see one, do not pass it without a permit. Cameras operate around the clock, fines run from 80 EUR to 300 EUR per entry, and they are posted to your UK address, sometimes months after the trip. Park outside the zone and walk or use public transport.
Supermarkets and shopping
Budget
Mid-range
Premium
Opening hours
Small-town shops close for lunch, typically from 12:30 to 15:30, and this is not negotiable. Tourist areas tend to stay open longer in peak season, but do not rely on it in spring or autumn.
Alcohol
Wine is very affordable. A decent table wine costs 2 EUR to 3 EUR in most supermarkets.
Local tips
- Italian supermarkets expect you to use the plastic gloves provided before handling fruit and vegetables. It is not optional.
- Order your coffee at the bar and you will pay roughly half the price of sitting at a table. Most Italians do it that way.
- For medicine, look for the green cross of a pharmacy (farmacia). Supermarkets cannot sell even basic painkillers.
- Every village has an alimentari, a small grocery shop that sells bread, cheese, cold cuts, and the essentials. Useful when the big supermarket is miles away.
Motorhome LPG and gas in Italy
Italy uses the Dish fitting for Autogas refills. LPG stations (signed as GPL) are reasonably common on motorways and in larger towns, but filling a motorhome domestic bottle is a different story.
Italian tax law draws a hard line between LPG used for vehicle propulsion and LPG used for domestic heating. Many station attendants will refuse to fill a motorhome habitation tank rather than risk a fine from the Guardia di Finanza, the financial enforcement authority. UK motorhomers regularly report calling at four or five stations before someone agrees to help. The practical answer is simple: cross into Italy with a full tank from France or Austria.
LPG vehicles are also banned from some underground car parks and from some ferry routes. Check both before you book.
UK Calor bottles cannot be exchanged anywhere in Europe. Bring a 3-piece adapter kit, or fit a refillable system before you leave home. Read our complete guide to motorhome gas and LPG in Europe.
Motorhome electric hook-ups in Italy
Most Italian campsites offer 6A to 10A hook-ups, which is enough for everyday use. Rural agricampeggios (farm sites) can drop as low as 3A or 4A. That will keep your lights on and your phone charged, but not much more. A kettle or hairdryer will trip the bollard immediately on a low-amp supply. On those sites, run the fridge, heating, and water heater on gas instead.
As in France, the bollard cabinet is often locked. If you trip the breaker, you need the site manager to reset it. On a quiet rural site at 10 pm that can mean a long wait. Better to avoid tripping it in the first place.
Read our complete guide to motorhome electric hook-ups in Europe.
Documents you need
Your own vehicle
- Passport (issued within the last 10 years, valid for at least 3 months beyond your return date)
- UK Photocard Driving Licence
- Vehicle Registration Document (V5C)
- Motor Insurance Certificate
- Travel Insurance (include cover for adventure or winter sports if your trip involves skiing or similar)
Rental or hire vehicle
- Passport
- UK Photocard Driving Licence
- VE103 Vehicle on Hire Certificate
- Rental Agreement or Letter of Authority from the hire company
- International Driving Permit (required if you hold a paper licence, or if the rental company asks for one)
Travelling with dogs
What to pack
- Dog lead
- Muzzle (must be available at all times; only needs to be worn if an official asks)
- Vaccination records
- Animal Health Certificate (AHC)
Food import rules
EU rules apply at the Italian border. You cannot bring meat, dairy, or any product containing them into Italy from the UK. That includes sandwiches, cheese, butter, and cured meats. Leave them at home or finish them before you cross.
Border and entry
Useful links
Common questions
What is a ZTL zone in Italy and will I get fined in my motorhome?
ZTL stands for Zona a Traffico Limitato. These are camera-enforced restricted zones in Italian city and town centres. Enter one without a permit and the fine is typically 80 EUR to 300 EUR, arriving by post weeks after you have left. The signs are circular with a red border. Park outside the zone and walk in.
Do I need speed limit stickers on my motorhome in Italy?
If your motorhome exceeds 3,500 kg, Italian law requires you to display speed limit stickers on the rear. They show the reduced limits that apply to your vehicle on each road type. You can buy them from motoring shops in Italy or order them online before you travel.
How much are Italian motorway tolls for a motorhome?
Tolls are calculated by distance and vehicle category. Expect to pay roughly 8 EUR to 12 EUR per 100 km. Milan charges a separate Area C congestion fee for driving into the city centre. Venice charges a day-visitor access fee. Most motorhomers park well outside both cities and use public transport or the vaporetto to get in.
Can I take my dog to Italy in a motorhome?
Yes. The standard EU requirements apply: microchip, rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel, and an AHC signed by your vet within 10 days of entry. Italy asks you to carry a lead and muzzle at all times. The muzzle does not need to be on your dog unless an official requests it.