We found it very odd that one of the most frequent bits of advice offered from others prior to setting off for Italy was to make sure to avoid driving at all costs. This definitely went against our nature as we’re more the type to drive whenever possible and will typically wander far off course for good food and good views. There was no way we were going to visit the birthplace of Enzo Ferrari and a nation renowned for its motoring history and not drive! That said, after racking up many gorgeous miles of fine Italian roadway, here are some of our top tips to help you conquer your Italian road trip!
Avid Tip # 1: Have Your Documents Together
It goes without saying that you should bring your valid driver’s license, however driving in Italy also requires you to bring an International Drivers Permit.
A what? Yes, an IDP.
The International Drivers Permit can be obtained from AAA (American Automobile Association) here or the AATA (American Automobile Touring Alliance). The simple application process can be completed online, and at this time, requires a fee of $20 (USD). It is required by several other European countries and if you’re feeling extra adventurous and decide to drive across borders, you’ll be covered.
The purpose of the IDP is essentially to communicate the validity of your local state driver’s license to international governments. It does not require any sort of additional written or road testing. The IDP may be required to rent or “hire” a vehicle. La Polizia will be sure to ask for yours if you find yourself pulled over after getting a little overzealous with the gas pedal on the beautiful Italian highways.
Avid Tip #2: Learn The Road Signs
We must admit we were guilty of not properly preparing ourselves to speak the language in any meaningful capacity beyond some toddler level Italian. However, since we were planning on doing a fair bit of driving, we at least made sure to learn the common road signs especially so we could spot the more problematic ones such as no entry signs and other more subtle warning signs. Road signs throughout the European Union have been simplified and for the most part devoid of text for universal understanding regardless of language. For example, a typical “Do Not Enter” sign is represented by a horizontal white bar in a red circle – and no words.
Be careful to look out for restricted zones. The “Zono Traffico Limitado” or ZTL is typically represented by a red ring with white in the middle. You may find these ZTL’s in several cities including Milan, Florence, Pisa, and Rome. Many of Italy’s cities are old, fortified cities with limited space for traffic. Sometimes streets are too narrow for trucks and the signage will often reflect restrictions to large vehicles only. ZTL’s serve to preserve the integrity of older infrastructure and protect pedestrian areas. There may be roadways that are open to locals with special permits allowing them to drive into and park within the city walls so be sure to look out for these signs as you may inadvertently follow a permitted vehicle into a ZTL. While this might not seem like a big deal, we urge you to learn from our mistakes as you’re apt to be just as unpleasantly surprised when you receive a violation ticket in the mail 3-6 months later!
Avid Tip # 3: Prepare To Enjoy The Ride
It can be a little daunting entering another country and preparing yourself to adapt to a new set of signage, laws, etiquette, distances in meters, speed limits in km/h, gas prices in liters, roundabouts– phew! What can you do to overcome to make the task of driving in a new country less daunting? Simple: make sure you’re comfortable and know your limits! Italian roads vary from wide, well-maintained freeways to tiny cobblestone roads. That said the smaller the car the better. Set yourself up ahead of time by making sure you bring your handy navigation device and charger and allow yourself plenty of time to plan your routes. This trip was our first test of Maps.me which did very well getting us to and from our various destinations, however, it did underestimate our arrival times in most cases by 10-30 minutes. Check out our blog article about some of our favorite apps we use while traveling here. As previously mentioned, the Italian roads are in exemplary condition, and this is the result of multiple tolls along the major roadways so make sure to have cash on hand if your car does not have a toll plate. Finally, now that you have what you need to head out just put down your windows, put on your sunshades and get ready to see Italy like a local!
