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Driving in Italy from the UK: tolls, ZTL zones and rules

Italian motorways charge by distance: take a ticket on entry and pay at the exit by cash, card or Telepass. A car pays about 0.079 EUR per km on flat Autostrade stretches (2026). Camera-enforced ZTL zones close many historic centres, and Milan Area C costs 7.50 EUR a day. Carry a hi-vis vest and warning triangle.

Checked on 11 November 2026 against official sourcesPrices in EUR unless shown otherwise

Toll system
Distance tolls
Vignette
None
Low-emission zones
Yes4 listed below
Currency
EUR
On this page

How do tolls work in Italy?

Most Italian motorways are tolled by distance and run by concession companies, the largest being Autostrade per l'Italia. On closed systems you take a ticket on entry and pay on exit for the kilometres driven; a few open-system stretches (for example A8 Milan to Laghi and A12 Rome to Civitavecchia) charge a fixed amount at a single station. The price is the unit rate per km for your vehicle class multiplied by the distance, plus 22 percent VAT, rounded to the nearest 10 cents. The Mont Blanc and Frejus tunnels to France charge separate tolls.

Who runs the roads

How to pay

  • Payment methods at Autostrade per l'Italia toll stations: electronic toll collection (Telepass and similar devices), credit card, prepaid Viacard and cash.[1]
  • Closed systems: take a ticket when you join and hand it in when you leave; you pay for the route covered. If you have no entry ticket you can self-certify your entry using the operator's form.[3]
  • If you cannot pay in full at the exit, the booth (staffed or automatic) issues an Unpaid Toll Report (rapporto di mancato pagamento) with the report number, plate, transit details and amount. Your plate is photographed.[3]
  • Ways to pay an Unpaid Toll Report: online on autostrade.it or in the Autostrade app (from 24 hours after the transit, by credit or prepaid card, no online fee), at more than 40,000 Mooney points in bars, tobacconists and newsagents (commission charged), by bank transfer quoting plate and report number, at staffed toll booths, or through PagoPA (fee charged).[4]
  • After 15 days an administration fee is added and a reminder is posted to the registered keeper. If it stays unpaid the debt is recovered with extra costs and the traffic police can issue a fine of 87 to 344 EUR plus 2 penalty points for not paying a motorway toll.[3]

Example toll prices

  • Any Autostrade per l'Italia flatland stretch to per km

    0.07869 EUR[2]

    Distance: 1 kmVehicle: Class A (two-axle vehicle with front-axle height up to 1.30 m: cars), unit rate including 22% VAT, updated 1 January 2026

  • Any Autostrade per l'Italia mountain stretch to per km

    0.09315 EUR[2]

    Distance: 1 kmVehicle: Class A (cars), unit rate including 22% VAT, updated 1 January 2026

Bridges, tunnels and other tolls

  • Mont Blanc Tunnel, one way, paid on the Italian side (tariff from 1 January 2026)

    56.40 EUR[5]

    Vehicle: Class 1: car, or car with trailer

  • Mont Blanc Tunnel, one way, paid on the French side (tariff from 1 January 2026)

    55.50 EUR[5]

    Vehicle: Class 1: car, or car with trailer

  • Mont Blanc Tunnel, return ticket valid 7 days, paid on the Italian side (from 1 January 2026); 69.20 EUR on the French side

    70.40 EUR[5]

    Vehicle: Class 1: car, or car with trailer

  • Frejus Tunnel (T4), one way, Italian side (tariff from 1 January 2026)

    56.40 EUR[6]

    Vehicle: Class 1: vehicle with front-axle height under 1.30 m and total height up to 2 m

  • Frejus Tunnel (T4), return (andata e ritorno), Italian side (tariff from 1 January 2026)

    70.40 EUR[6]

    Vehicle: Class 1

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

Low-emission zones and stickers

Many Italian cities close their historic centres to unauthorised traffic with a ZTL (zona a traffico limitato), marked by the letters ZTL in black on a yellow background and enforced by cameras that read number plates; driving in without a pass leads to a fine. Milan has two camera-controlled zones: Area C in the centre (a daily charge) and the much larger Area B (a ban on the most polluting vehicles, no charge for permitted vehicles). Rome restricts some vehicles in its green band (fascia verde) at times to cut pollution.

  • All Italian historic centres: ZTL limited traffic zones

    You need a pass to drive into the historic centre of many Italian cities in a private or hire car. Boundaries are marked ZTL in black on a yellow background; if you pass the sign your plate is likely to be caught on camera and you will be fined without a pass. A valid UK Blue Badge is recognised and may give ZTL access where local rules allow.[7]

    Official page (opens in a new tab)

  • Milan: Area C (ZTL Cerchia dei Bastioni)

    Paid limited traffic zone in central Milan, active all year Monday to Friday 7:30 to 19:30 (not public holidays), with electronic gates reading plates. A ticket costs 7.50 EUR and covers unlimited entries the same day with the same vehicle; after buying, activate it by linking its PIN to your plate (online activation open to all). If you pay after midnight of the day after entry and by midnight of the seventh day, the late ticket costs 22.50 EUR. The most polluting vehicle classes are banned (calendar to 2030); check your plate and nationality on the Area C portal.[8]

    Official page (opens in a new tab)

  • Milan: Area B (low-emission zone)

    Active Monday to Friday 7:30 to 19:30, public holidays excluded, with camera gates (blue gates on the map). The most polluting vehicles are banned; admitted vehicles pay nothing. Check online by plate which access your vehicle has; owners of non-compliant vehicles must register them to request derogations.[9]

    Official page (opens in a new tab)

  • Rome: Fascia verde (green band)

    City authorities sometimes restrict traffic in the green band, which covers most of Rome, to reduce pollution; certain vehicles are then not allowed on the roads.[7]

    Official page (opens in a new tab)

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

What must I carry in Italy?

  • Reflective vest and warning triangle.[10]
  • Daytime running lights (or dipped headlights) are listed as mandatory even in daylight.[10]
  • Winter tyres are listed as mandatory; the dates and roads are not given on the EU page (see “Not confirmed yet” below).[10]
  • Misusing the emergency lane can be fined up to 1,500 EUR and 10 penalty points.[10]

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

Speed limits and alcohol

Built-up areas
50 km/h[10]
Outside built-up areas
90 km/h[10]
Motorways
130 km/h[10]
Drink-drive limit
0.5 g/l (mg/ml); 0.0 for novice drivers and professional drivers.[10]

Car with trailer: 50 urban, 70 non-urban, 80 on motorways.

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

What UK drivers need

  • You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Italy. With an old paper licence you may need to update it or also get the correct international driving permit (IDP). A licence from the Isle of Man needs an IDP in Italy.[11]
  • FCDO: there is a congestion charge for Milan city centre, ZTL camera zones in many historic centres, and pedestrian crossings where drivers do not always stop. Transport strikes are often called at short notice.[7]
  • Display a UK sticker on the back of the car unless your number plate shows the UK identifier with the Union flag. Cover or remove any old GB sticker.[12]
  • Take your log book (V5C) and insurance certificate if you are taking your own vehicle.[13]
  • You do not need a green card to drive in the EU, but you must have valid vehicle insurance.[14]

For documents, insurance, pets and border checks that apply to every country, see the driving to Europe checklist.

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

Sources

Every fact above links to one of these official pages. The numbers match the small links next to each fact.

  1. 1.
    Toll: payment methods (opens in a new tab)

    Autostrade per l'Italia (motorway concessionaire), autostrade.it. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  2. 2.
    How the toll is calculated (unit rates including VAT updated 1 January 2026) (opens in a new tab)

    Autostrade per l'Italia (motorway concessionaire), autostrade.it. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  3. 3.
    Unpaid toll: pay online, payment deadlines and administration fee (opens in a new tab)

    Autostrade per l'Italia (motorway concessionaire), autostrade.it. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  4. 4.
    Unpaid toll: other payment methods (opens in a new tab)

    Autostrade per l'Italia (motorway concessionaire), autostrade.it. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  5. 5.
    Vehicles classification and tolls; tariff table from 01.01.2026 (IVA 22% / TVA 20% included) (opens in a new tab)

    GEIE-TMB (Mont Blanc Tunnel European grouping), tunnelmb.net. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  6. 6.
    Tariffe e abbonamenti T4: tariffe dal 01/01/2026, lato Italia, IVA 22% inclusa (opens in a new tab)

    SITAF S.p.A. (A32 and T4 Frejus concessionaire), sitaf.it. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  7. 7.
    Italy travel advice: Safety and security (updated 3 November 2026) (opens in a new tab)

    GOV.UK (FCDO), gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  8. 8.
    Area C (updated 15/10/2026) and Area C ticket price list in force from 30 October 2023 (PDF) (opens in a new tab)

    Comune di Milano (City of Milan), comune.milano.it. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  9. 9.
    Area B (updated 15/10/2026) (opens in a new tab)

    Comune di Milano (City of Milan), comune.milano.it. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  10. 10.
    Road rules and safety - Italy (opens in a new tab)

    European Commission, Your Europe (content supplied by Italian authorities, last checked by them 18/09/2024), europa.eu. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  11. 11.
    Driving abroad: check if you need an international driving permit (Italy row) (opens in a new tab)

    GOV.UK, gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  12. 12.
    Displaying number plates: flags, identifiers and stickers (opens in a new tab)

    GOV.UK (DVLA), gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  13. 13.
    Driving abroad (opens in a new tab)

    GOV.UK, gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  14. 14.
    Vehicle insurance: driving abroad (opens in a new tab)

    GOV.UK, gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.