Italy is a country that can be enjoyed in so many different ways. One of the best ways though, has to be exploring by car. Whether you’re driving the Amalfi Coast, the winding roads of Tuscany or the magical Puglia region, having the luxury of a car is a wondrous way to enjoy this country. Beyond being able to drive wherever you choose, Italy’s hidden gems are often rewarded by those that drive. Trains and buses might be economical, but they likely won’t get you to that hidden Tuscan village or pristine beach. We’ve had the pleasure of driving around Italy on a few occasions now and have amassed quite a few driving in Italy tips.
With that said, driving in Italy comes with its own set of…challenges. It is a different experience from my home in Australia. And that’s what travel is all about isn’t it? Different experiences. But preparation is always helpful. If you’re new to driving in Italy, we’ve pulled together some of our very best driving in Italy tips to help you make the most of your driving experience.
Hiring a car in Italy
Not so dissimilar to anywhere else in the world, the usual car rental agencies like Hertz, Europcar and Budget exist here. It is our experience however that the ‘economical’ car range tends to be a lot smaller than anywhere else. On one trip, we opted for a Fiat 500 to have a very Italian experience. This was excellent for the two of us.
It did require some luggage Tetris though with the back two seats down, so be sure to check the size of the vehicle you’re booking and it’s boot/trunk space. For the record, the Fiat 500 was exceptional to drive around the winding roads of Italy, but took a little of bit of acceleration to get up a few hills!
Line markings appear optional
What to say about line markings!? Where marked, these can appear to be optional. The number of drivers I have seen ‘create’ lanes is endless. Whilst Italy is often known for a slower pace of life, something changes when they hit the road. Italian drivers are always in a hurry, and if there is no way through they will create one.
This only adds more confusion when some parts of the road are not marked at all. Is it one lane or are there multiple? I never worked that out. My best tip would be stick right and out of the way of those cars who want to push through.
Some of the roads are rough
In Tuscany, you can expect to drive on some rough goat tracks as you head to the vineyards. Slowing down in these parts isn’t all that bad. There are a few dips and bumps in this part of the world, and it’s particularly worth noting if driving in the evening. You’ll likely have to contend with the odd animal as well, so keep those lights on!
In the south of Italy, I found in Basilicata and Puglia, you’ll get some rough main roads too. Some of the roads look like patchwork such is the amount of work that has been done to fill potholes.
We drove on one freeway in particular which was bizarre. Firstly, it had patchy asphalt. Secondly, it looked like the scrub in the middle and on the sides of the road hadn’t been attended to for years. The most odd point though is that for some 30-40kms, we only passed 2-3 cars in the middle of the day. It was like a scene from The Walking Dead. I’m not quite sure what the deal was with the road. A freeway built for industry that never came perhaps. Regardless, it appeared the locals used alternatives to this ghost road.
You will no doubt encounter a variety of roads on your trip, but it pays to be prepared!
The Autostrade
Whilst there are some shocking roads, you also have one of the best- the Autostrade. The various Autostrades total over 6500kms of road. There is absolutely no doubt about this- the Autostrade is a first class road.
Of note, the speed limit is 130km/h, but you’ll regularly find drivers whizzing by you. Keep an eye out for some luxury vehicles and see them hit some top speeds.
My first encounter with the Autostrade was a confusing one, but once you know the process is simple.
Upon entering the Autostrade, take a ticket from the machine. The gate won’t open until you do. This is your golden ticket, hold onto it until your planned exit.
When you leave the Autostrade, your best bet is to select the ‘Carte’ lane. Here, you can pay by card. You insert your ticket and it presents the cost. It will be a unique cost based on the length of your trip. You then insert your card into the same part of the machine as you did the ticket.
If you don’t abide by any of my driving in Italy tips, abide by this one. We witnessed someone going through the telepass lane without a telepass it would seem. It didn’t look like a fun experience once the traffic had backed up behind them!
I had no success with MasterCard at one terminal, but my American Express card worked. At another, it was the opposite way around. So my best advice is make sure you’ve got good coverage across the card brands. Try another card if at first you don’t succeed.
Lastly, a reality that might be a shock to a few. The Autostrade is a wonderful road. Excellent tunnels, sweeping bridges and a smooth drive. These things come at a cost. I drove around 90kms from Bologna to Tuscany at a cost of €8.90 one way. I also drove from deep in the south to San Marino (around 450kms) for a cost of €58. Those sorts of costs aren’t in line with what I’d pay at home, but it’s the price of a quality road in Italy. Is it worth it? It beats those other roads I mentioned earlier. The Autostrade is well maintained and will get you to your destination quicker.
Be sure to factor the toll roads into your budget.
Eating on the Autostrade
Having spent a fair bit of time on the Autostrade, it’s also been a place where you’ll enjoy a meal as well. Alongside the gas stations you’ll find a restaurant. There are a few of note including Chef Express, Sarni and our all time favourite, Auto Grill. Now I’ve never known road side eating to be better than what they serve up at Auto Grill.
Grab a slice of pizza or a hot panini for a few euro. I promise you it will be worth the pit stop. Kristen and I often joked that the best part of the road trip was our stop at the Auto Grill. Cheap and perfect Italian food.
Beware the sudden turn off
This is one of the driving in Italy tips you’ll want to get a handle on early. Good or bad roads, the turn offs creep up on you quickly. There often isn’t a long lane to exit. On more than one occasion I missed my exit as it came so quickly and didn’t have a chance to readjust.
Whilst you might tick off the occasional Italian driver, slow down in the right lane if you know your turn is due. They are easy to miss.
Filling up
Even filling up your car is a different experience in Italy. Unless you’re in a major city or on the Autostrade, you may struggle to find an open gas station between 12-3pm. Be sure to fill up before or after. You may find a self serve/automated paying station during these hours. In some of the more regional areas these weren’t the norm, so it helps to know when the station is open.
You may also find stations where attendants still fill your car up. You may not be aware that there is a different cost per litre for assistance. I loved having an attendant wipe down the windscreen and fill my tank up, but it wasn’t worth the extra 20c per litre. I didn’t realise until I paid the bill, but lesson learnt!
Small towns are often pedestrian only
The charm of Italy is often its small towns. Sweeping country views, piazzas and easy going restaurants and bars. When you’re living la dolce vita, the last thing you need are cars whizzing by you. This is why you’ll find most towns have limited traffic areas or zona a traffico limitato. These areas are well sign posted and don’t creep up on you, but sometimes Google Maps isn’t so proficient! Be sure not to drive in these areas as the limited traffic is for residents and businesses with permits.
This doesn’t mean you can’t drive to these towns, you’ll just need to find parking and wander into town from there. Where pedestrian zones exist, there tends to be reasonable parking available. The smaller towns at high season may require an early visit to secure a park.
Familarise yourself with the road signs
There are a few different road signs consistent across Europe. The couple to be aware of in particular are the no parking and no stopping signs. There are some places you’ll no doubt want to stop and take in the view, but you won’t want that fine, so it helps to know!
Parking – do I have to pay?
Whilst access from town to town differs, there is typically good access to parking. The biggest hurdle will be whether you have to pay or not!
There’s an easy way to tell. If the parking spot is painted blue, your parking fees are due! This means you need to pay, generally by meter or attendant. It pays to have coins handy as I have found the card machines to be something of a lottery. If the parking spot is painted white, you’re alright! White spots means no parking fees.
What is interesting is sometimes you can find a host of white spots near some blue ones. Even in these situations, white spots are fee free. So wherever you can, look for the white spots!
With all its quirks and differences, driving in Italy is still a wonderful pleasure. We hope our driving in Italy tips prove useful. Have you got any others that you’d add?
Like what you read? We’d love to keep you up to date with the latest travel tips, insights and inspo. We don’t spam – we promise!
Like it? Pin it for later!
This site may contain affiliate links which may provide a commission. Our reviews and commentary remain independent and commission comes at no cost to you. Income derived help us create more content to help travellers like you make the most of your travel experiences. Thank you!