Getting an Italian driving license

Theory and practical tests

In you decide to move permanently to Italy you should covert you driving license or if you don’t possess one you have to obtain it by taking the appropriate test. The simple driving license (that which allows you to drive a car) is called “patente B”.

In Italy, there are different types of driver’s licenses: A, A1, B, C, D, and E. The category of driver’s license for driving a simple automobile is B.Driving an automobile without a category B driver’s license is subject to very severe penalties.The minimum age for obtaining a category B driver’s license is 18 years.There are different procedures which have to be followed in order to obtain a driver’s license.

In order to obtain a category B driver’s license, you must be 18 years of age.It is also necessary to show that you are in a suitable physical condition to drive, which requires you get a medical certificate to show this.Two types of examinations must be passed in order to get the driver’s license: the theoretical examination, which confirms your knowledge of the Highway Code and the practical examination which confirms your manual competency in driving.

We advise you to attend a driving school: this will allow you to get your driver’s license within a shorter time.After having taken the eye examination and proving be in the proper mental and physical conditions, you can ask for the foglio rosa (literally the ‘pink paper’); this is a document which will authorize you to practice driving the vehicle for which you have made an application and is valid for six months.At the end of this term, the document will be revoked.The foglio rosa gives you three chances to pass the examination. If you fail the test two consecutive times, the foglio rosa will be revoked, but if you passed the theoretical part of the examination, you can apply for the foglio rosa again within two months, as long as the favorable outcome of the test already taken is maintained as valid.

Theoretical examination

The theoretical examination cannot be taken until one month and a day after the issue of the foglio rosa.

The theoretical examination requires general preparation on the basics of driving (right-of-way, accidents, emergencies, etc.) and the highway code.The candidate must pass a test containing 10 multiple-choice questions (each question has three true/false answers).A maximum of 4 errors out of the 30 answers is allowed but you must be careful: any erasures or corrections are considered errors.If you fail the test, you can take it again however, not before a month and a day have passed, but again, careful: the foglio rosa may expire or it could be revoked due to too many failed tests.

On an exceptional basis, the test can be taken orally by candidates who:

·have not received a required minimal educational diploma

·are not Italian citizens (but reside in Italy) and who state that they do not know the Italian language in written form

·have a middle school diploma, but suffer from medical difficulties in the comprehension of written texts or deaf-mute candidates.

The practical driving test is generally taken after a period of practice driving “behind the wheel”.Practice can be done within the national