Australia on an Italian Licence 2026: IDP or Translation
Italy
Australia
Yes, with an IDP or English translation, as an Italian licence is not in English; NSW allows visitors six months. Traffic keeps left, the limit is 0.05% as in Italy, and 000 is emergencies.
Australia is one of the great self-drive countries, but for an Italian arriving from Rome or Milan two things change at once: the side of the road, and the sheer scale of the distances. Get those right and the rest is straightforward.
The verdict for Italian licence holders
Licensing in Australia is a state matter, but the rule for visitors is consistent: you may drive on an overseas licence, and if it is not in English you must carry an International Driving Permit or an approved English translation with it. An Italian licence is not in English, so one of the two is part of the deal, not an extra. New South Wales allows visitors up to six months on an overseas licence; other states set their own windows, so check the state where you land. Get the IDP from the Motorizzazione before you fly and carry your licence, IDP and passport together.
The biggest adjustment: switching to the left
Italy drives on the right; Australia drives on the left. The danger window is your first day: leaving a fuel stop, joining a roundabout that now flows clockwise, or the reflex glance the wrong way at a junction. Take the first hour somewhere quiet rather than in Sydney or Melbourne traffic.
Distance, wildlife and enforcement
Towns default to 50 km/h; open-road limits are set by each state and signed, and the highest anywhere is 130 km/h. The real hazards are distance and wildlife: outback drives run for hundreds of kilometres between fuel stops, and kangaroos and other animals crossing at dawn and dusk cause serious collisions, so avoid rural night driving where you can. The 0.05% alcohol limit matches Italy’s and is policed by random breath testing. In an emergency call 000.
Confirm your paperwork with our Driving Permit Checker, estimate any penalty with the Speeding Fine Calculator, and read the country detail on our Australia driving guide.
Sources
- Transport for NSW, visiting NSW from overseas (six months; English translation or IDP for licences not in English): nsw.gov.au
- Queensland Government, driving in Queensland on an overseas licence (recognised English translation): qld.gov.au
- WHO Global status report on road safety 2023, Australia profile (50 km/h urban; 130 km/h maximum; 0.05 g/dl; random breath testing): who.int
- WHO Global status report on road safety 2023, Italy profile (0.05 g/dl): who.int
- Australian Government, Triple Zero (000): infrastructure.gov.au
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, as a visitor. Licensing is run by each state, and the rule is consistent: a licence not in English must be carried with an International Driving Permit or an approved English translation. New South Wales lets visitors drive on an overseas licence for up to six months. Get the IDP from the Motorizzazione in Italy before you fly.
On the left, the opposite of Italy. The side switch is the single biggest adjustment, so take your first hour on quiet roads, not in city traffic.
0.05%, the same general limit as Italy, enforced by random breath testing across the country.