Hi, my husband and I are traveling to Italy next month. He is a 100% disabled vet and has a US disabled parking placard (not in wheelchair, but due to COPD and cardio issues).
- Is his US placard valid in Italy? I searched the forum here, but everything was at least 10 years old, so not sure if still accurate.
- Will he be permitted to drive in ZTLs to get close to our hotel and other sites? Do we need to do anything special to register his placard/rental car license plate in Italy or with local authorities?
- Any other advice on traveling with a disabled person is most appreciated!
Posted by
Alsenborn, Germany
2140 posts
You will need to get a placard from an Italian doctor. This is a standard requirement for US citizens and contractors in Italy (and every other EU country I know of.) They do not recognize foreign plates.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
901 posts
I haven't tried it before, but my brain tells me that taxis should be able to go into at least CERTAIN ZTLs, right? That might be easier to deal with than figuring out a way to get INTO the ZTL and THEN find parking as well.....train station to hotel, and then private tours and transfers to smaller cities without the disability assistance at the train stations.....
Posted by
Surrey, UK
468 posts
The information you need is here
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16797 posts
ZTLs are enforced by cameras. Tickets are issued to all cars with license plates not registered in the "City White List". Each jurisdiction has a procedure to register a disabled person's car in the White List, however one needs the license plate number to do so. I presume that you won't have that until you pick up your rental car.
I don't know if the disabled status in the US would be honored by the local jurisdiction in Italy (possibly yes), but placing a placard on the dashboard would not be sufficient, because the ZTL cameras take a photo only of the license plate, hence the necessity to have the license plate number registered in the White List.
In any case the best option might be to have accommodations outside the ZTL (parking is also very scarce, even for disabled persons and many streets are off limits to all except pedestrians), and take a taxi or bus into the city when necessary from the accommodations to the sights. From what you write your husband appears to be able to get into a taxi or bus.
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
1924 posts
For example, in Florence there is a procedure for disabled people certified by other municipalities to register for temporary ZTL access; it is explained at https://www.serviziallastrada.it/servizi-al-cittadino/autorizzazioni-disabili/residenti-fuori-comune (in Italian, you can try to translate it with google). The thing is geared to Italians from other cities, but you could ask the email if it will work with a foreign certification. I am afraid this procedure is to be repeated for every municipality and you need to know your rental licence plate number.
Posted by
Uppsala, Sweden
7707 posts
Regarding hotels, are you sure that staying inside the ZTLs is a good idea if you husband is disabled? How does he handle stairs?