Road Signs in Italy

Sign colors

GREEN signs are for the Autostrade, Italy’s toll highways. The A in the title of the highway let’s you know its a tool road. The maximum speed limit is 130.

BLUE signs are for Major roads – Strade Extraurbanana. The E in the title of the highway let’s you know its a principle road. The maximum speed limit is 110. 

WHITE signs are for 

Maximum /. Minumiun Speed Limit

Round signs with a red border show the maximum speed limit.

Solid blue signs with white numbers show minimum speed limit. — you’ll see on highways only.

The red or black slash means the temporary change in normal speed limit has ended

Most Common Road Signs

No Parking or Stopping

No parking signs (on the left) mean NO PARKING. (The first photo means No Parking 24 hours a day or you will be towed.)
No stopping (on the right) means no parking and no stopping. (The photo with the X sign and arrows underneath means no anything for the entire street.)
Passo Carrabile (far photo) means do not block for any reason.

You need to know in the direction of what city your heading.

One of the most important things to know about navigating Italian roads is that Italian road signs don’t use north/south/east/west indicators (like Interstate 5 in the US has northbound and southbound directions). Instead, signs show cities in that direction.

So, if you’re getting on the Autostrada in Florence, you can choose to go toward Bologna or Roma (vs. North or South). 

Required Documents and Equipment in Your Car in Italy

  • Required documents (EU license or non-EU license with International Driving Permit, car registration and insurance
  • Reflective safety vest – Make sure your rental car has one 
  • Reflective safety triangle Make sure your rental car has one 
  • Winter tires (or snow chains in the car) for certain roads during specific periods of the year. For example, in Tuscany, on many roads, we are required to carry snow chains (or have winter tires on) from November 15 – April 15.

Good To Know:  Make sure your reflective vest and triangle are stored in the car, not in the trunk. If you need to stop on the road, you need to be able to use the items immediately (exit the car already wearing your vest).

Parking in Italy

Parking in Italy can be stressful, especially in town or city centers.  If you have the option, park on the edge of town and walk to the center. 

You’ll need to pay attention to the colored lines on the ground:

  • BLUE spaces are paid parking.  Payment is typically done via a nearby machine.  Have coins handy, but now you can often pay by credit card or with an app (info posted on the machine).  Pay and display your ticket on the dash of your car.
    Good To Know:  Many machines now require your license plate.  If you don’t have it memorized, keep a photo on your phone.
  • WHITE spaces are free, but sometimes only for residents.  Check the signs carefully!  Even if it’s free parking, it may be for a limited period, and you’ll need to display your arrival time on a parking disco (disc orario – see phot far right).  If you don’t have a disco, you can buy one at a tabacchi or newsstand.
  • YELLOW spaces are disabled parking or loading zones (look for symbols of a wheelchair or person loading goods).
  • WHITE LINES defining the edge of the road mean do not park there.
  • NO LINES on the ground? Be sure to read the posted signs.

Parking Tips

  • Take a photo of the street you’re parked on or the intersection you’re at.  Or take a screenshot with Google Maps if you have data on your phone.
  • Don’t follow the locals’ lead.  You may see cars parked in strange places, but often those drivers know the area and how to avoid fines.
  • Don’t park in front of the passo carrabile sign.  You’ll be towed.
  • Don’t leave valuables unattended in your car, even hidden in your trunk.
  • Note street sweeping days/hours.
  • Fold in your mirrors when you parallel park.  If you don’t, you risk not finding them attached to your car when you return.

ZTL stands for zona traffico limitato – limited traffic zone. It’s an area that’s off-limits to all vehicles without an appropriate permit (like residents, taxis, and buses).

If you drive in the ZTL without permission, you’ll have a nice fine waiting for you on your arrival home (or months later!). You’ll also have an additional administrative fee from the rental car agency. If you don’t pay the fine, a collections agency in your home country may be hired to collect the fees (rare, but it happens). Travel forums are teeming with posts on the infamous ZTL tickets.

Need to call the rental car agency from home? Read Calling Italy From the USA.

Important – you may see cars entering the zone – that doesn’t mean you can!

Also, don’t follow your GPS blindly – the ZTL may not be marked on its map. You also can’t rely on maps with ZTLs marked – the zones sometimes change. The important thing is to keep your eyes open for the ZTL signs when you’re driving in city centers.

What to do if you need to park at your hotel in the center? Don’t fear – you can get a permit if you’re staying in a hotel or parking in a garage in the ZTL. When you arrive, the hotel or garage staff will inform the parking authorities to authorize your car, so you won’t be fined.

Sometimes the ZTL is inactive/open (often on Sundays). The open days/hours are usually noted on the sign at the entrance of the ZTL, or there will be a green light (vs. red when the ZTL is active). You are allowed to drive into the zone when it’s open.

Vocabulary to know:

alt stazione – stop to pay toll
aperto – open
area pedonale – pedestrian area 
Autostrada – toll road
carta di credito – credit card
centro – city center
chiuso – closed
contanti – cash 
corsia – lane
Dogana – customs
deviazione – detour
entrata – entrance
eccetto – except for / excluding
passo carrabile – keep clear pedaggio – toll
ospedale – hospital
raccordo – connection

raccordo – connection
senso unico – one way
servizio – service station (gas)
solo – only area
stazione – station
successiva – next area
uscita – exit
ZTL – limited traffic zone

Days of the week:
lun / lunedì – Monday
mar / martedì – Tuesday
mer / mercoledì – Wednesday
gio / giovedì – Thursday
ven / venerdì – Friday
sab / sabato – Saturday
dom / domenica – Sunday