Waze in Italy for ZTL

We used Waze to drive from and return to Naples airport to San Marco Argentano and Mongrassano Calabria (small villages). It was easy to use for two technophobic old ladies, easier than Google Maps. We did not drive through any ZTL zones. It did let us know when we approached a speed zone and what our mph were.
Note about ZTLs: in Old Rome the ZTL signs were about 6 inches square and very difficult to see (we were walking). I really suggest parking the car and not driving in any city that has ZTLs.

Thanks Horsewoofie!

Only in city driving will be to get to the Airbnb and perhaps to supermarket. But will watch closely for those little signs.

I didn't notice them as small as horsewoofie has described. Here is one I found in Google Images which is pretty similar to all those I saw. Note the electric sign behind saying it is active, and all the rules and times and exceptions on the main large sign:-
http://followmckinsey.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/ztl-rome.jpg

We tried both apps in May and found Google Maps to be easier to follow. In our opinion, Waze was harder to follow because it gave less detailed instructions such as which lane to switch to in a cloverleaf or how far to the next turn. Waze also gave incorrect info on 2 of the 3 traffic speed cameras in our town. Based on our experience in some smaller cities, I don't think either of them can be trusted to give accurate ZTL directions. Just today, Google announced that the Maps app will now provide speed camera info in 40 countries, including Italy.

I don’t normally use Waze in the US because I don't like the graphics and it drains my phone battery in a minute (I prefer Google Maps) but I use Waze in Italy for speed camera detection. If it’s true that Google also will start reporting speed cameras, I would use Google. I noticed that Google knows the ZTL at least in Florence. But regardless of which system you use, I would still rely on watching out for the round white with red border ZTL Road sign.

The road signs for ZTL are pretty clear to me and the ZTL camera overhead is very conspicuous, therefore it’s hard to miss.
Read below:

http://www.athomeintuscany.org/2011/10/15/pisa-ztl-limited-traffic-zone/

I don't use Waze when I'm traveling because I have limited data and it's a data hog. If you are relying on it, be sure you have a generous data plan.

I have found that GPS tools are useless for avoiding ZTL zones. In fact, because they proritize either least-mileage or least-time, I found that they repeatedly gave me instructions to go directly into a ZTL. No one, including Garmin, is willing to take the RESPONSIBILITY for entering, maintaining, and guaranteeing this data! (It's particularly interesting because I've read, every time there is a truck stuck under an overpass, that you can buy a "Truck GPS" for use in the USA. But, then, overpasses never change their heights! You are assuming that because, say, Google Maps can merge restaurant addresses or weaving shop locations or wood carver shops into their geographical data, someone has done so for ZTLs. Alas, fuggeddaboutit.

My particular effort was to get to a big public parking lot (that was perhaps ... ) on the opposite side of Siena. But the GPS kept telling me to take a straight line through the city, which would have been multiple ZTL tickets. Luckily, I found a paralle-parking street space and we just had to hike 200 feet vertically to get to the city for our daytrip visit.

I personally prefer WAZE (used it extensively last fall in Italy) since it provides additional info such as traffic delays, accidents, road hazards, speed tutors and speed cams. But it’s not perfect. I’ve also used Google Maps with great success. I would trust neither for ZTL info. Those restrictions can be quite complex limiting accessibility from none to only certain hours, certain days, weekend schedules, etc. I’ve never been asked for a “pass” and have no idea what that is. Every rental car I’ve used in the last few years has had a USB port so I plug in and don’t drain my battery.

Bottom line is be observant. You can review ZTL zones on this website. Check the city you want to visit to get an idea of where your destination is and what area is the prohibited zone. Then plan accordingly.

I didn’t take my advice when I visited Paestum a year and a half ago. Arriving at my B&B late in the afternoon, after dinner I wanted to see where the Museum and entrance to Archaeological Site was. I drove down to the museum. Made a U turn and returned to the B&B. Next morning I drove back and I saw the very large ZTL sign with four flashing yellow lights. I guess I was staring at the lighted temples and was not paying attention. DUMB! But lucky. I received a notice that Europcar was going to charge me for research. They never did and I never received a ticket. That made up for the 2 I got in Rome 16 years ago - 5 minutes apart, same sign, 5pm, Christmas Eve. Ho, Ho, Ho!

All you need to know re ZTL issues, need to get an IDP for anyone driving:

http://driventoit.blogspot.com/