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Handicapped Parking in Italy

We are renting a car for month. One of us qualifies as a handicapped person in the US. We have the blue plastic handicap sign with the wheel chair symbol that you hang in the rear vviewmmirror. Will the police honor this placard? If not, is there a way to obtain the equivalent in Italy?

Posted by
21381 posts

If all you needed was a little blue sign with a wheel chair on it to get preferred parking in Italy, I guarantee every driver in Italy would have one.

Posted by
23666 posts

The US symbol is not honored. A few have have gotten away with use it once or twice. See the local police.

Posted by
1501 posts

Sagetravel.com gives information to people with various disabilities for travel in Europe.

Posted by
16240 posts

Since 2012 there is a blue EU placard that is valid throughout the EU. It is issued by the competent authorities in each member state (in Italy by the City of residence of the disabled person) and the placard is recognized throughout the EU. It is valid for up to 5 years and is renewable. Italy's placards used to be orange, but will be replaced by the new EU ones gradually in 3 years from the enactment of the EU norms.
If you don't reside in the EU however, I don't know if you can get such EU wide placard issued by someone. Your US issued placard would not be valid.
The new EU placard displayed in the link below. Note that they are equipped with RFID technology, therefore police agents can verify remotely the validity of the placard.

https://www.comune.roma.it/wps/portal/pcr?contentId=NEW438080&jp_pagecode=newsview.wp&ahew=contentId:jp_pagecode

Posted by
4 posts

Sam, I am sure your reply to my sincere concern regarding handicapped parking was not intended to be curt; however, it was. My wife lost both legs in an automobile accident and moving about can be difficult at best. Yes, she is in a wheelchair. I am sure those European individuals with various mobility problems appreciate what can be done for them to alleviate similar parking limitations. I hope you never find yourself in a similar situation. It is not an easy life but travel is one of the joys she finds rewarding.

Posted by
91 posts

Our Nevada placard has been accepted each time we have driven in Italy (5 times). This includes Rome, Siena, Milan among the various small villages. We also make a copy and show it at entrances to museums, events, wherever there is a line and we are let in immediately. This is from personal experience. Take it and use it.