Driving in Italy - what do I need to know?

Use the Search function to look at the recent posts on international driving permits, you get them at AAA. You must have this for Italy.

First, it's an international permit, not a license (no test, just a translation of your state license). Any AAA office can sell you one. Each driver needs one.

Second, can't help with specifics but it seems recommended to buy insurance when you rent the car. Repair costs can be high even for the simplest thing.

Third, for Austria, you need a medallion or decal to attach to your front windshield (I think that's where it goes); the car rental company should know about this.

Finally, in Italy, you need to pay attention to signs that say Zona Traffico Limitato; these are restricted areas for residents and taxis and driving in them will result in a big fine, of which you may not be aware for about a year.

First, It is an "International Driving Permit" (not a 'licence'). Yes, all holders of non-EU licences need it. It is a certified translation of your licence, and must be carried along with your licence, in case you are stopped by the police.

Second, The base rental charge usually does not cover damage to the car itself. The company usually offers additional insurance for this (so-called "Collision Damage Waver" or CDW). CDW can cost nearly as much as the rental, but if you do not get it, damage, including scratches, on the car is chargeable to you.

Third, I think you are refering to the Austrian "Autobahn Vignette". This is a toll for the use of Austrian Autobahns. Instead of paying per Km at toll booths, you pay per day or week (unlimited Km) in the form of a sticker which you put in the windscreen. You can buy these at the border.
Italian Autostrade have tolls charged at toll booths.

For Austria, you need a sticker if you travel on motorways, but from Dolomites you are likely to go only as far as Lienz (no motorway) or Innsbruck. The motorway from Brenner to Innsbruck is an exception as it is paid directly at a toll booth, so you do not need a sticker as long as you travel as far as Innsbruck-Süd. - If you do not have the sticker, be sure not to drive past Innsbruck-Süd as fines really sting.

Thanks, everyone. And thanks for giving me the correct term for the permit. :D

Has anyone used Garmin European maps in Italy? Are they decent? We won't be going into any cities - just from Venice to the Dolomites - if that matters.

I'll look more into the decal for Austria. I thought you needed it on every road - I didn't realize it was a toll payment, of sorts.

Also, is there a place at the airport to drop off cars, like we have in the US?

Thanks for all your help!

Theresa, it is not a decal, it is a Vignette! Info and prices here (official Austrian government website. It is not strictly speaking compulsary, but if you don't have one, you are not allowed to drive on Autobahns (fine over €100), so you would have to get off the "Autostrade" before the border and just drive on normal roads, which would be a lot slower.

Hi Theresa-in case there was any question, AAA will sell you an International Driver's Permit (each driver needs their own) even if you're not a member. You'll need 2 passport-type photos, but they can likely take the pictures at the AAA office. The IDP is good for one year. You'll still need to bring your regular, actual driver's license form home with you to Europe.

Rental car drop off situations can vary from one rental company to the next, but we've dropped off at airports (and train stations). When you book your rental, you'll get information and a return office address, but you may need to be prepared to look for signs directing you to the car return lot or parking spaces. Are you dropping off the car at a different place than where you're picking it up? The original rental office may have information for you about where/how to return the car, to make the return easier for everyone.

The rental company will also list what insurance they offer, and how you're covered, plus whatever deductibles you'd be liable for in the event of a bad accident. You may have a credit card that offers insurance protection, but there could be restrictions and specific procedures to follow - call them for the details.

Some rental companies even provide free (but sometimes not sufficiently detailed) maps when you first collet your rental car. For covering lots of gound in a country, we've found Michelin spiral-bound atlases to be very helpful - available thru Rick Steves' Website and other places where maps are sold.

Be sure you know whether your rental takes unleaded gas or diesel, the Italian words for that type of fuel, and whether you're expected to return the car with a full tank or not, to avoid getting charged for a refill at prices even higher than the normal price in Italy!

As far as driving. The TLZones have been mentioned and can be deadly expensive if you slip up. Second, you will encounter photo radar everywhere. I think we saw one at the entrance to every town so be sure you are under the limit when entering any town or village. Third, the express ways use a rolling average in some area. At an unknown location a photo is taken of very car, ten minutes or so later another photo is taken and a computer matches cars and average speed. Over the limit you get a ticket six months or so later. The traffic laws in Italy are very strict with little defense available should a ticket show up in the mail much later. Finally the inside lane on a divided four lane road is passing only. You don't sit there cruising. Except for the cities, you will find the driving in Italy very orderly.

I believe that insurance for car rentals in Italy cannot be covered with your credit card. Apparently Italy requires that the insurance be with an Italian company. So when you rent in Italy, you must get the CDW and other insurance from the rental company. It is easy---when we have rented there (3 times now) it is just added on (but quoted separately).

You have two options for picking up a rental car in Venice (and for returning it): Piazzale Roma ( as far as you can drive into Venice itself) and the airport. It is much easier to pick up at Piazzale Roma, which you can reach by vaporetto (line 1 or 2). To get to the airport you would have to use the Alilaguna which is more expensive and takes longer! or vaporetto plus land bus.

If you do pick up at Piazzale Roma, take care to observe the speed limit on the bridge. There are three speed cameras and it is possible to get tickets from all three!

If you are flying out of Venice, you should be able to return the car at the airport with no drop fee.

Far from the dreamy idea of Italians driving carelessly in their Lambo's, the speed limits are actually low compared to US Speed limits and strictly enforced with many a traffic camera. There are usually signs that tell you a camera is ahead. And it will record you if you are speeding. These cameras are one of few mechanical devices that are routinely maintained..... The natives know exactly where all these are, and speed terribly in the blind spots. Italy is also a nation of tailgaters. You will begin to notice that they bunch up in close trains of cars, with large open spaces between these groups. If you see one of these groups coming up from behind, pull over and let the whole train go by. You'll then have the whole road to yourself till the next train catches up to you, then pull over again.
The Scooterinies and the Motorcyclists do not obey any traffic rules. Always be aware when you open a car door and aware that motorbikes will pass you on the inside of your own lane if they see an opening.
Oh and PS: When asking directions, never use a road NUMBER, ask how to get to the next village or a destination, and they will give directions in the manner of VILLAGE TO VILLAGE TO DESTINATION.

In addition to what was already said above, print these pages for reference.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_signs_in_Italy

When driving on freeways, don't cruise in the left lane. the left lane is only for passing and you must clear it as soon as possible for faster vehicles behind you so that they can pass you (on your left side). I know Americans enjoy cruising in the left lane at 50 miles per hour while traveling parallel to other cars on the slower lanes so that they form a wall that nobody can pass, but doing so in Europe that might cost you a hefty fine. And that is if you are lucky because sometimes the cars behind you will bump you from behind as it happened to me in France since I wasn't passing fast enough.

I don't believe that Lola is correct about credit cards not covering insurance for rental cars in Italy. It's true for American Express; but when I called my Chase Mileage Plus Visa office, I was assured that they do cover damage to or theft of a rental car. Italy has mandatory liability insurance, which will be part of the rental fee. I suggest you check with your cc provider to get clear on what they do and don't cover. Also, be aware that deductibles are generally very high . . around $1000 . . if you get the rental company's insurance that includes deductibles (sometimes called excess). If you're going to get it, it makes sense to pop for the no-deductible level of insurance.

Roberto has outlined many of the quirky habits of Italian drivers. There is one more: they use their horns A LOT! Don't let it frighten you. They're not carrying guns with which to express their road rage. I find that, especially in hilly or mountainous areas, they want to go faster than I feel comfortable doing. I just pull over when I can and let them speed away.

The title of this post reminded me of a line from Gumball Rally... as the Italian driver rips down the rearview mirror, he tells his racing teammate: "The first rule of Italian driving is 'what is behind you is not important'". : )

And if those aren't enough, see a few more driving tips at http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation.

Don't let your gas tank run low on a Sunday or late at night if you are in a small village where gas stations are often closed at those times.

We rented a car in Sicily, and drove to Tropea, where we spent a week with lots of driving. Our biggest concerns were the bad passing (they pass on curves!) and some very narrow streets in the medievil towns. The smaller the car you can rent, the easier it will be! Be sure to take a copy of something that shows all the traffice signs with translations. Alta means stop, which will be obvious by the red octagon, but some others not so much. One time, courtesy of the GPS in the car, we were driving down a road that had giant pot holes, major washouts (such that we had to drive on the wrong side of the road) and friendly work crews along the way. When we got to the end of that section, the road was mostly blocked with a big pile of dirt! When we turned around there was a rectangular white sign with a big red circle, nothing else. When I looked it up in a guidebook, we found out it means No Vehicles! Which of course brings me to the answer about GPS in Italy...

Updated? No, they cannot keep up with all the new/ongoing construction. They show 4 lanes where the 4 lanes are far in the future. The reason we were on the above mentioned road in the first place was because that is how the GPS directed us to get to the little town of Zambrone. It took us an a very scenic drive, but was truly the most inefficient way to get there. Through Tropea would have been much better. This year, we don't plan on driving on any of our 6 week trip!

Good luck!

Jan