Italy on a UK Licence — The Right-Side Switch, ZTL Cameras & a 0.05 Limit
United Kingdom
Italy
British drivers can use the UK photocard in Italy with an IDP recommended since Brexit. The things that actually catch you are switching to right-hand traffic, the ZTL camera zones in historic city centres that fine you by post weeks later, and a 0.05 alcohol limit well below the UK's 0.08.
A British driver in Italy juggles two unfamiliar things at once: the car is on the wrong side of the road, and the cities are wired with cameras that fine you weeks after you have flown home. Sort both in your head before you collect the keys and Italy is a joy to drive.
Switching to the right
The UK drives on the left; Italy drives on the right. Sitting on the left of the car and joining roundabouts anticlockwise feels backwards on day one, and the riskiest moments are pulling out of a fuel station or junction when no oncoming traffic corrects your instinct. Take the first hour on open roads, not in central Florence, and be deliberate at every turn.
The ZTL trap nobody warns you about
Italy’s Zona a Traffico Limitato are camera-controlled zones covering the historic heart of most cities — Rome, Florence, Milan, Bologna and dozens more. Drive past a ZTL sign without a permit and a camera logs your plate; the fine, around EUR 80-100, reaches the rental company and lands on your card with admin fees, often months later. Sat-nav routing straight to a central hotel walks you right into one. Park outside the centre and walk in. This single mistake costs British visitors more than speeding does.
Paperwork, alcohol and speeds
Post-Brexit, a UK photocard works for a tourist stay but a 1968 IDP is recommended and some desks insist on it — carry one. The drink-drive limit is 0.05, below the UK’s 0.08, with zero for newly qualified drivers. Motorways run to 130 km/h, faster than the UK’s 70 mph, and speed cameras (including average-speed Tutor systems) are everywhere; a 10 km/h overshoot costs roughly EUR 42-173. Check the full picture on the Italy driving guide, gauge a penalty with the Speeding Fine Calculator, and remember 112 covers all emergencies. Fuel is about €2.02 a litre.
Speed limits, fines, equipment & license requirements
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Winter tyres in Italy — 2026–27 season
Winter tyres are required in Italy whenever conditions are wintry — 15 Nov - 15 Apr (varies by region and road).
- Tread minimum: 1.6 mm — Italy sets no separate winter figure.
- Accepted marking: M+S / MS / M-S / M&S (3PMSF not required)
- Studded tyres: restricted
- Penalty: €87–345
In Italian the rule is pneumatici invernali, and snow chains are catene da neve — that is the wording on signs, in hire-car paperwork and on any penalty notice.
Verified against national legislation, August 2026 · Full Italy tyre law · Compare all countries
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. A UK photocard licence is accepted for tourist stays; since Brexit an International Driving Permit (1968 type) is recommended and some rental firms ask for it, so carry one to be safe along with your passport.
A ZTL is a limited-traffic zone in an old city centre, monitored by cameras. Driving in without a permit triggers a fine of roughly EUR 80-100 sent to the rental firm and passed to you — the single most common British tourist penalty in Italy.
Italy's limit is 0.05, lower than the UK's 0.08, and new drivers face zero. Treat it as no alcohol before driving.