What does code 01 on an Italian driving licence mean?

Harmonised code 01 means you must use a visual correction or device recorded on your licence when driving. Check any subcode and personal prescription: they may distinguish glasses, contact lenses or other conditions. Follow the medical instructions you received as well.

The code is a condition of driving

The Italian Portale dell’Automobilista lists code 01 among the harmonised codes for lenses or visual correction. Article 173 of the Italian Road Code also requires drivers to use the lenses or devices prescribed to correct a visual limitation. It is therefore more than a reminder: it is a condition attached to your driving entitlement.

The number 01 may appear with a more specific code. A subcode can clarify which type of correction is allowed. Do not assume that any pair of glasses, contact lens or device meets the prescription: read the full code entry and compare it with the advice from the clinician who assessed your vision.

What to do if the code is unclear

Read the back of the licence, including its category and code column. If you have a newer medical prescription, ask the clinician or the issuing office how it applies. Article 173 requires the prescribed aid, while a more specific code may narrow the acceptable aid. If the licence distinguishes glasses from contact lenses, do not substitute one for the other based on guesswork.

For example, if the licence specifies glasses, do not assume that contact lenses are automatically equivalent. Use the correction shown and clarify any difference before driving. A code is not a diagnosis: it records a driving prescription and does not replace an up-to-date health assessment or medical advice.

Study and review harmonised licence codes with the theory quizzes in Quiz Patente Ufficiale.