Daily Life

Holding a Non Eu driving licence?

First of all if you want to drive in Italy on a license not issued by a Eu member state, it is recommended to contact the Italian Embassy in your country before moving.

Driving in Italy with a valid Non Eu licence is allowed ONLY IF the licence is:

  • accompanied by an International Driving Permit (IDP), issued by the foreign country that released the driving licence
    OR
  • accompanied by a certified translation

The driving licence should be translated by:

  • the diplomatic representative of the country having issued the driving licence and then legalized by the local competent Prefettura offices
    OR
  • a translator (anyone who has the language skills to translate the document) and then certified (asseverata) at the local Courthouse.

 

N.B. If you move your residence to Italy, you have 1 year time to exchange (conversione) your driving licence (a sticker will be stuck on your original licence) provided that:

  • there is a mutual recognition agreement between Italy and the country that had issued the driving licence
  • the licence is still valid;

 

Things to Know


Exchange procedure
is managed by Motorizazzione Civile.

Check here the agreement of mutual recognition with Italy (read Conversione patente non comunitaria).

To exchange you should be permanent resident in Italy. 

If it is not possible to exchange it, you need to get an Italian driving licence. Theory and practical tests are required.