Italy Forum

Sergios
Joined 2010
Posts: 1476

6 years ago

Italian Driver's License

6 years ago

Hello All. An update on the Italian drivers license. As some of you know I consider the process that italy requires to get a driver's license to be ridiculously stupid. For those who do not know, Italy requires all immigrants to obtain an Italian license within one year of obtaining residency. Since the USA, as a nation, does not have a reciprocal agreement with Italy, americans must take a written test and then take drivers education before taking the road test. Typical cost is 800 euros. At least I have a bit of good news. It seems that as long as you have a valid AAA international license you can drive in Italy. Typically these are good for 1 year from date of issuance. If you have an american address in the states where your motor vehicle mail goes to, and somebody in that state that can apply for a new international license for you, that new license is then still valid in Italy until it expires. At which point you can do it again. I obtained this information from the driving school near me. I did not believe them at first so I asked if they could confirm this information by calling the government agency involved. They did and it was. Since residency in Italy is a more rigorous concept than it is in the USA, italians think that once you are resident in Italy you will be unable to renew your american license so the assumption is that after the year is up you no-longer have a valid license unless you get the italian one.. Comments?

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