Driving in Italy: licence, roads and tolls

Tolls at barriers on the autostrade, and a ZTL fine waiting in every historic centre.

• The ZTL is the real hazard. Limited-traffic zones cover the middle of Florence, Rome, Milan, Bologna, Pisa and dozens of smaller towns. A camera reads the plate, and the fine reaches the hire company months later with an administration fee on top. If the hotel is inside one, it must register your plate in advance.
• Tolls are collected on exit. Take a ticket entering, pay by card at the white or blue lanes; the yellow Telepass lanes are for transponders.
• The alcohol limit is 0.5 g/l, and zero for drivers with less than three years' experience.
• Motorway speed is 130 km/h, reduced to 110 in rain.
• Winter tyres or chains are compulsory on many roads from 15 November to 15 April, signed at the start of the route.