With an area of 301,340 sq. km, Italy is the third most populous member state of EU. Located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, along the shores of the Tiber River, Rome is the capital and the largest city of Italy. It has a population of 60 million people. Italy shares land borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, and the enclaved microstates of Vatican City and San Marino.
Abnormal Road Movements
Vehicles moving indivisible loads that exceed the dimensions noted below will require special authorisation. Applications should be made a minimum of 15 days in advance. It is advisable that this should be undertaken at least 3 weeks prior to the movement. It is also advisable to use a local agent, as the procedure for anything of a legislative nature in Italy is bureaucratic, complex and time-consuming.
All abnormal load operators will require a keeper’s certificate to prove ownership of the trailer, which must be carried as part of the vehicle documents at all times.
EU Directive – Within the European Union (EC), the Council Directive 96/53/EC gives information about the permissible dimensions and weights for road vehicles in international traffic. Vehicle combinations (trucks with ordinary trailers or semi-trailers) which comply with the criteria specified here may travel on roads within the EU without a special permit. The size and weight limits set by the Council Directive are summarised in the tables at the link here
Carriage of Dangerous Goods
Main Competent Authority
Ministry of sustainable infrastructure and mobility
Department for sustainable mobility
Direzione generale per la motorizzazione e per i servizi ai cittadini e alle imprese in materia di trasporti e navigazione
Via G. Caraci
36 I – 00157
ROME
E-mail: segreteria.dgmot@mit.gov.it – a.simoni@mit.gov.it
For further information, download – Italy_2022-05.pdf (unece.org)
Speed Limits for vehicles carrying Dangerous Goods
The following speed limits are applicable:
Heavy Goods Vehicles Road Tolls
The toll in Italy depends on the category of vehicle and the distance travelled. You can find the exact amount of tolls on the official autostrade.it website, where a toll calculator is also available.
After entering the city, where you connect to the motorway and your destination, the exact amount of motorway tolls will be automatically displayed.
Tunnel Tolls
The following links are to the toll tunnels noted below:
If you are shipping dangerous goods, you must also complete a dangerous goods declaration. See guidance on moving dangerous goods
Weekend and public holiday Driving Bans
Driving ban for vehicles and road trains exceeding 7,5 t gross vehicle weight on Sundays and on public holidays on all roads: Sundays in the months of January, February, March, April, May, October, November and December from 09:00 until 22:00 hrs; Sundays in the months of June, July, August and September from 07:00 until 22:00 hrs.
Driver & Vehicle Documentation
Check what other vehicle documents and driver documents the driver needs to carry on international journeys.
Permits
Check which international road haulage permits you need.
Check which international road haulage permits you need – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Find out how to apply for bilateral international road haulage permits and the rules you have to follow at the link below.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/international-road-haulage-permits-for-some-non-eu-countries
To find out more about ECMT Permits, please visit the link below.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ecmt-international-road-haulage-permits
To find out more about ECMT International Removal Permits, please visit the link below.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/international-road-haulage-removal-permits
Speed Limits for HGV’s over 3.5t
The following speed limits are applicable to HGVs:
Drink Driving
The general limit for drivers of private vehicles is 0.05% blood alcohol content. In July 2010, the Highway Code was modified to introduce a lower drink-driving limit of 0.0 g/l for young (under 21), novice (less than three years of driving licence) and professional drivers.
Other Items Required
In addition to required documents, motorists are also required by law to carry the following items when driving to avoid hefty on-the-spot fines:
A first aid kit is only recommended. A fire extinguisher is not required.
Items you should not take into Italy
Be aware that you cannot take the following with you:
You cannot take the following unless you pay to have them inspected before you leave and get a ‘Phytosanitary certificate’:
Priority
As a general rule, priority must be given to vehicles coming from the right or on rails unless indicated. Pedestrians on crossings and cyclists near cycle paths also have priority. Emergency vehicles and vehicles on rails have priority over other road users.
On some mountain roads where two vehicles are unable to pass each other, the descending vehicle must reverse to a passing point. If two vehicles cannot pass on a road, priority should be given to the heavier vehicle.
Seat belts
Seat belts must be worn at all times. The fine for failing to wear a seat belt is set between €80 and €323.
In an emergency
112 – You can dial 112 from anywhere in Europe and an operator will connect you to an emergency service in the country you are visiting. Operators can answer your call in their native language, English or French.
Low Emission Zones
A number of regions have low emission zones for Lorries. These LEZs also affect the cities within those regions. For further information on LEZ’s
Transport Organisation
Confederazione Generale Italiana dei Trasporti e della Logistica (Confetra)
Via Panama, 62 – 00198 Roma
Tel: +39 06 8559151
Web: https://www.confetra.com/
British Embassy
Via XX Settembre 80/a
00187 Rome
Italy
Contact form:
https://www.contact-embassy.service.gov.uk/?country=Italy&post=British%20Embassy%20Rome
Telephone: +39 06 4220 0001
