Driving Licence Information
Australian driving licences cannot be automatically converted into Italian driving licences, as there is no reciprocal arrangement between our countries on recognition of driving licences.
The Australian Embassy in Rome recognises the inconvenience that this may cause to Australian residents living in Italy. Despite thorough and long running engagement with Italian authorities to come to such an arrangement, these discussions have not resulted in a feasible outcome. Accordingly those discussions have now concluded.
The following FAQs provide further information to questions that you may have.
Do I need an Italian driving licence?
According to article 135 of the Italian road code, foreigners in Italy who are not registered with Italian local councils may drive indefinitely in Italy, provided they have an International Driving Permit or official translation of their original licence. However, if you do register as a resident in Italy, after one year you will no longer be allowed to drive using an Australian licence with a translation or International Driving Permit and will need to apply for an Italian driving licence.
In order to obtain an Italian driving licence you are required to sit a driving test in Italian (nationwide), French (in the Val D’Aosta region) or German (in the Trentino Alto Adige region). These rules do not only apply to Australians residing in Italy, but also to most nationalities.
Why do Italians get to exchange their licences in Australia?
Most Australian state and territory driving licensing authorities individually recognise certain overseas countries as having comparable licensing standards to Australia, thus making it simpler to exchange a driving licence. Italy is one of these countries.
These local policies are based on decisions made by the relevant state and territory authorities and have no impact upon the policies of driving licensing agencies in countries outside of Australia.
You can see the full list of recognised countries and jurisdictions here: www.austroads.com.au/drivers-vehicles/overseas-driver-licences/applying-for-a-licence.
What about reinstating the English test?
The Italian Government has confirmed that the written exam is limited to the country’s official languages: Italian, French (in Val d’Aosta) and German (in Trentino-Alto Adige).
What about other countries?
Citizens of most countries outside Europe cannot exchange their driving licences into an Italian one. For example, this issue also affects those coming from the United States, New Zealand and a number of other countries.
Why have you stopped discussions?
Several factors impeded the feasibility of a reciprocal arrangement, including differing legal requirements.