Translation of Driving Licences for Italy

Anyone organizing a trip abroad certainly has no intention of violating the laws, regulations and principles of the country they are visiting. Moreover, anyone who is not careful with the rules of driving in Italy may incur in hefty fines and loss of driving privileges, these surely are not nice souvenirs to take home.

The goal of our translation agency is to guarantee that your trip, temporary stay or move to Italy is exactly what it should be, pleasant and without any ugly surprises. We have already written an article on the translation of vaccination certificates necessary for flights abroad and on the translation of diplomas and degrees and the recognition of academic qualification in another country; in this article we will cover the translation of driving licences.

First, we will look at the possibilities for driving in Italy, the rules and requirements for sitting in the driver’s seat with no worries and driving on Italian roads.

Rules

Citizens of non-EU countries with a driving licence issued by other countries can freely drive in Italy if they have a sworn translation of their driving licence in Italian.

On the other hand, if you only have an Italian licence and want to drive in a country that is not part of the European Union, you must obtain a sworn translation of your driving licence in the language of the country you will be visiting (for more information visit the website of the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport).

Furthermore, if the holder of a driving licence issued by a non-EU country obtains residence, they can drive a vehicle in Italy for a year, starting from the day they obtained residence. After a year from the time residence is obtained, the non-EU citizen can continue to drive a vehicle in Italy only if they replace their driving licence with an Italian driving licence and if the old driving licence is surrendered (additional information is available here in Italian and English).

Practically, this means that if a foreign citizen does not officially register as a resident with the city offices the one-year limit is not applied.

If your driving licence was issued by an EU member country, you can drive without any problems with a sworn translation, and substituting the driving licence is not required even if you remain in Italy for longer than a year. The driving licence will need to be replaced after two years.

Fines

For driving with a foreign driving licence without a sworn translation, according to Italian road traffic regulations, a fine will be issued in an amount ranging from Euro 400 to 1600.

For driving with a foreign driving licence, a year after obtaining residence, fines are issued just like for people driving with an expired driving licence, i.e. the licence is withdrawn and a fine is issued in an amount ranging from Euro 168 and 674.

Although the English language is by now global, unfortunately even driving licence issued in countries with English as their official language must be accompanied by the mandatory Italian translation: without a translation the risk is a fine for driving without a licence.

Questions and answers

Who handles the translation of the driving licence?

Our translation agency handles the official translation of the documents in Italy. To obtain a sworn translation of the driving licence, it is NOT necessary for you to send us your original driving licence, by post for example. To carry out an official translation, scanned copies of both sides of the document are sufficient (more information on “How It Works”). The original driver’s licence remains in your possession. Additionally, we will take care of paying any necessary taxes and fees in your name.

How much time is required?

It’s crucial to manage expectations realistically. Translating official documents, such as a driving permit, involves a sworn translation process, which is overseen by the courts. This procedure ensures both accuracy and authenticity, but it also entails certain time constraints and legal protocols that must be followed. For example, translations can only be certified in court on weekdays, and the same applies to mail delivery.

Turnaround times depend on the court, which requires appointments for certifications to be made in advance. As soon as you confirm your order, we’ll contact the court and request an appointment for certification. Once certified, the sworn translation is complete and will be sent to you immediately by express mail. Delivery times are 1–2 business days within Italy and 3–9 business days for international shipments.

Is it necessary to bring the translation to a Consular Office or Notary?

The translations provided by our agency are official and ready for use. No additional certification, registration, or swearing before a notary, consular office, or driver and vehicle licencing agency is required.

The translation should always be submitted together with the original licence in your possession.

What is the cost?

The cost will be defined in a personalised quote for every document.

Get a Free Quote Now

Take a picture or scan your document and send it via WhatsApp to +39 351 400 9010, on Telegram or via e-mail to info@olexica.com. We shall examine it and send you our no obligation quote.

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