Driving rules, and the ones that bite.
- Drive onRight
- Motorway limit130 km/h
- Drink drive0.5 g/L · about 1 pint or 1 small wine
- Emergency112
Italy drives on the right. The motorway speed limit is 130 km/h. The emergency number is 112.
Italy's limit is 0.5 g/L blood alcohol, lower than the England and Wales limit of 0.8 g/L. Bear in mind that Italian measures are often larger than UK pub measures.
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.
Worth knowing before you go.
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.
The toll system, and the city emissions rules.
- TollsDistance 8-12 EUR
- VignetteNot required
- Emission zoneYes · ZTL Pass
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.
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.
Read our complete guide to motorhome tolls and vignettes in Europe, and our guide to low emission zones.
What to carry, and what to bring.
- Required kit6 items
- Over 3,500 kgspeed stickers, blind-spot stickers
- Documents5 items
Italy requires a set of kit to be carried in the vehicle. Most of it is cheap and worth having anyway, so pack it before you leave rather than buy it at a roadside price.
- Photo ID.
- Reflective Jacket. Carry 1 per occupant.
- Warning Triangle.
- UK Sticker.
- CE-certified Helmet. Carry 1 per person.
- Off-piste Safety Kit. Carry 1 set.
- UK Sticker.
Towing a caravan or trailer.
Required
Towing a caravan or trailer.
UK trailers over 750kg need DVLA registration for international travel from August 2025.
Read this before you go.
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.
Read this before you go.
Third-party liability insurance is required for skiing in Italy. You can usually add it when buying your lift pass at the resort.
Documents to bring
For your own vehicle, carry your 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 and Travel Insurance (include cover for adventure or winter sports if your trip involves skiing or similar).
For a rental or hire vehicle, you also need your Passport, UK Photocard Driving Licence, VE103 Vehicle on Hire Certificate, Rental Agreement or Letter of Authority from the hire company and International Driving Permit (required if you hold a paper licence, or if the rental company asks for one).
Gas, electric, and the weekly shop.
- LPG fittingDish
- CurrencyEUR
- Emergency112
- Sunday shoppingVaries, many close afternoon, touri...
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.
Electric hook-ups
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.
Where to shop
Supermarkets here: budget chains are Eurospin, Lidl; mid-range chains are Conad, Coop, Esselunga.
Typical opening hours: weekday 08:00-20:00; saturday 08:00-20:00; sunday Varies, many close afternoon, tourist areas open; where to buy Supermarkets.
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.
Wine is very affordable. A decent table wine costs 2 EUR to 3 EUR in most supermarkets.
- 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.
More detail in our guides to gas and LPG and electric hook-ups across Europe.
Taking a dog, and crossing the border.
- SchengenYes
- AHC requiredwithin 10 days
- Tapeworm on UK returnYes
- Dog leadRequired
To take a dog to Italy, the standard pet travel rules apply. The detail below covers what your dog needs.
- AHC required. Yes, signed by your vet within 10 days before you enter Italy
- Rabies vaccination. Yes, given at least 21 days before travel
- Tapeworm treatment for return to UK. Yes, administered by a vet between 24 hours and 120 hours before your scheduled UK arrival
- Breed restrictions. None that are specific to Italy
Pack the dog's Dog lead, Muzzle (must be available at all times; only needs to be worn if an official asks), Vaccination records and Animal Health Certificate (AHC).
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.
Italy is in the Schengen area.
Schengen area: Yes. EES biometric checks: Yes. Once the Entry/Exit System is live, you will register fingerprints and a photograph on first entry and again on exit. Budget extra time at the border on your first trip. Trailer registration (UK): UK trailers over 750 kg must be registered with the DVLA before travelling internationally. This requirement comes into force in August 2025. If you tow a car or a trailer tent, check whether yours is above that threshold.
Useful links
- Venice Access Fee Official Site
- Italian State Tourist Board
- Civil Protection Department (Wildfire/Earthquake Info)
- Milan Congestion Charge (Area C)
See also our complete guides to the Schengen 90-day rule and taking a dog to Europe.
The questions people ask most.
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.