Italy Driving Licence Renewal at a Glance
How to Renew Your Driving Licence in Italy
The Motorizzazione Civile handles licence renewals in Italy. Your licence lasts 10 years (5 years for ages 50–70, 3 years for 70–80, 2 years for 80+). Follow these steps to renew.
You should start early. Do not wait until the last week. Plan ahead so you have time to get your photo and forms. Most people finish in one visit. The process is simple if you have the right papers.
Available Renewal Methods
- In person — visit your local government office with the required documents.
Step-by-Step Renewal Process
- Get a medical examination — Visit your family doctor, an ASL clinic, or a driving school (autoscuola) for a medical fitness certificate. Cost varies from €30–€100. You should book your visit at least 2 weeks before your licence expires.
- Pay the renewal fees — Pay the €10.20 fee and €16 stamp duty (marca da bollo) at a post office or via PagoPA. You can also pay at a tobacco shop that sells stamps.
- Submit your application — You can submit through the ACI, a driving school (autoscuola), or directly at the Motorizzazione Civile office. The autoscuola is the easiest option. You fill out a short form and hand in your documents.
- Receive a temporary certificate — You receive a temporary receipt valid for driving while your new card is produced. You should keep this receipt in your car at all times.
- Receive your new licence — The new EU-format card arrives by registered post in 5–15 business days. You must sign for the delivery at your home.
Italy Driving Licence Renewal Fees.
| Standard renewal fee. | €10.20 + €16 stamp duty. |
| Currency. | EUR. |
| Validity period. | 10 years (5 years for ages 50–70, 3 years for 70–80, 2 years for 80+). |
Required Documents
Bring these documents to renew your licence in Italy.
- Valid identity card (carta d'identità) or passport.
- Current driving licence.
- Medical fitness certificate from an approved doctor or ASL.
- Two passport-style photographs.
- Proof of payment of fee and stamp duty.
Make copies of all your papers. Bring both the copies and the originals. Check that none of your ID cards have expired. If any are out of date, renew them first.
Photo Rules
Two passport-style photos (35×45mm), recent, with a white background and neutral expression. You must remove glasses and hats for the photo. You can get photos at any photo shop or train station booth.
Medical Rules
Required for every renewal. You can get the medical certificate from your family doctor (medico di base), an ASL (local health authority) doctor, or a doctor at a driving school (autoscuola). The check includes vision and basic fitness assessment. You read a vision chart and answer health questions. The whole visit takes about 15 minutes.
If Your Italy Licence Expires
Driving with an expired licence carries a fine of €160–€644. You must also pass a new medical exam before receiving a renewed licence. Police can stop you at any time and check your licence. You may also lose points on your record.
No formal grace period. You should renew before expiry. However, you can renew up to several years after expiry without retaking the driving test, as long as you pass the medical. You can start the renewal process 4 months early. This gives you plenty of time to book your medical.
Important: Do not drive with an expired licence in Italy. Renew before your expiry date. This avoids fines and keeps your insurance valid.
Swapping a Foreign Licence in Italy
EU/EEA licences are recognised. Non-EU licences are valid for 1 year after establishing residency. Some countries have bilateral agreements for exchange; others require taking the Italian theory and practical tests. You must translate your foreign licence into Italian. You also need an official stamp from your consulate.
To learn about swapping licences across the EU, see our EU driving licence exchange guide.
Common Italy Licence Renewal Mistakes
Watch out for these mistakes.
Not knowing about the stamp duty
The renewal fee is only €10.20, but you also need to pay a €16 stamp duty. Plus the medical exam (€30–€100) and any autoscuola service fee.
Missing the shorter renewal period after 50
At age 50, your renewal period drops from 10 to 5 years. Many people are caught off guard by the earlier expiry.
Trying to renew at the Motorizzazione directly
While possible, most Italians use an autoscuola or ACI office, which is much faster and easier than dealing with Motorizzazione bureaucracy directly.
What Makes Italy Different
Italy has the most age-dependent renewal schedule in the EU: 10 years until age 50, 5 years until 70, 3 years until 80, and 2 years after 80.
Driving schools (autoscuole) act as intermediaries for licence renewal, handling all paperwork for a service fee (€50–€80).
Italy still requires a separate stamp duty (marca da bollo) of €16 in addition to the renewal fee.
Your new licence is sent by registered post (raccomandata) and cannot be collected in person.
You start with 20 points on your licence. You lose points for each traffic offence.
You can check your point balance online at the Portale dell'Automobilista website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Licence Guides for Nearby Countries
Driving licence renewal in Italy is simple. Start early. Get your photo and forms ready. Pay the fee. Then wait for your new card. Most people finish the whole process in less than a day. Do not let your licence expire. Set a reminder now so you renew on time.