Foreign driving licences
Italian resident with a foreign licence and car: what to check
Check licence validity and conversion separately from the vehicle's foreign plates, residence deadline, REVE and insurance obligations.
A foreign licence and a foreign-registered vehicle raise separate Italian requirements. Check the licence's validity and conversion deadline under MIT rules, then check whether the vehicle must be registered in Italy or entered in REVE. The rules depend on residence, ownership and how long the vehicle is available in Italy.
Check the driver's licence status
For an EU/EEA licence, MIT generally recognises an ordinary valid document until expiry, while special no-expiry or longer-validity cases can require conversion after two years of residence. For a non-EU/EEA licence, Article 135 limits driving to one year after acquiring Italian residence and requires an international permit or official Italian translation alongside the valid licence. Check the current instructions for the issuing country.
If your licence has expired or the conversion period has passed, do not assume that a vehicle registration procedure restores your right to drive. Licence status and vehicle status are distinct. Confirm your own eligibility with the competent Motorizzazione office and keep proof of the relevant residence date.
Check vehicle registration and REVE separately
ACI explains that an Italian resident who owns a vehicle registered abroad must generally register it in Italy within three months of acquiring residence. A resident who is not the owner but uses a vehicle registered abroad to a non-resident must carry a dated document showing the legal basis and duration of availability. If the vehicle is available for more than 30 days in a calendar year, including non-consecutive periods, REVE registration may be required, subject to the stated exceptions.
The exact duty can depend on ownership, use, residence and the vehicle documents. Check the current ACI REVE instructions and Article 93-bis rather than treating the 30-day rule as the same as the owner's three-month registration period. Also confirm insurance and authorisation to use the vehicle. Quiz Patente Ufficiale supports Italian theory and category revision with quizzes.
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Frequently asked questions
Are licence conversion and REVE the same registration?
No. Conversion concerns the driver's licence; REVE and vehicle registration concern the foreign-registered vehicle.
Does the 30-day threshold apply to every foreign-registered car?
It concerns a resident's availability of a non-resident-owned vehicle and has stated conditions and exceptions. Check ACI's current guidance.