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Getting around long-term

Getting a driving licence in Italy

Patente B covers cars and is the one most students need; the A-series covers motorcycles and scooters by engine size, each with its own minimum age. Most first-time applicants go through an autoscuola (driving school), which bundles lessons with both exams; studying independently and just paying to sit the exams (da privatista) is allowed but far less common.

The four-step sequence

  1. 1

    Medical certificate

    A visita medica confirming you're fit to drive — the first thing any autoscuola (driving school) will ask for.

  2. 2

    Theory exam

    Multiple-choice questions on the highway code (the quiz), usually after a course of lessons at the driving school.

  3. 3

    Foglio rosa

    Your learner's permit once the theory exam is passed — valid six months, and for two attempts at the practical exam.

  4. 4

    Practical exam

    A driving test with an examiner in the car; pass it within the foglio rosa's window and the licence is issued.

Already hold a licence from home?

Whether you can drive on it here, or convert it into an Italian one without resitting everything, depends entirely on whether Italy has a reciprocity agreement with your country. That list is limited and changes, so it's worth confirming directly with the Motorizzazione Civile rather than assuming either way — without an agreement, a first Italian licence generally means the full theory and practical exams, same as any new driver.

What it costs

Budget for several separate costs adding up rather than one bill: the lesson package, the medical certificate, the exam fees for both tests, and a retake fee if either one isn't passed the first time. A full course commonly lands somewhere in the €900–€1,500+ range, but it varies by region and school — treat that as a planning range, not a quote.