Documents
What to do straight away if your driving licence is stolen
Report the theft to the police, check how to get a replacement and protect your personal data. A report alone does not authorise you to drive.
If your driving licence is stolen, report it to the police, ask them to check whether it can be replaced through the direct procedure, and keep any temporary driving permit they issue. Do not drive on the strength of the report alone; check the replacement procedure on the Portale dell’Automobilista.
Report the theft and keep the reference details
Go to a Police or Carabinieri station and explain when and where the theft happened. Report any other documents or belongings that were taken. Bring another form of ID if you have one and ask for a copy or the report number: you will need it to follow up the replacement and for any later correspondence.
When you report the theft, the competent authority checks through the Ufficio Centrale Operativo whether your licence can be replaced directly. If it can, the replacement may be started without a separate application from you; if it cannot, you will be given instructions for the UMC. Before leaving the station, ask which procedure applies to you.
Use only a permit that has been issued
Where the procedure provides for it, the police issue a temporary driving permit. Check its conditions and carry it with you: the permit, not the theft report, is evidence of your temporary authorisation. If you do not receive a permit or are unsure how long it is valid, ask the office that recorded the theft.
Do not use the stolen licence if someone finds or returns it unless you have checked its validity with the authorities. Once the theft has been reported and a replacement is under way, the previous document may no longer be valid. If you are stopped or travelling, carry the temporary document and observe its limits.
Track delivery and protect your data
Check the address and delivery method recorded in your application. The Portale dell’Automobilista explains that the card may be sent to the address provided when reporting the theft or renewing the licence, and describes payment on delivery. If you change address or delivery fails, contact the service through an official channel.
If your phone, wallet or other documents were stolen along with your licence, secure your accounts and consider notifying the relevant organisations. Do not post the report or a photo of your replacement licence online: they contain personal data and identification numbers. When it arrives, check that the card shows the correct details and expiry date.
Quiz Patente Ufficiale lets you keep revising with chapters, exam-style quizzes and mistake review while your application is being processed.
Frequently asked questions
Is reporting the theft enough to keep driving?
No. Ask whether the police will issue the temporary permit provided for under the procedure. Do not drive without a valid authorisation, even if you have a copy of the report.
Do I have to apply for the replacement myself?
It depends on whether the document can be replaced directly. The police check whether they can start the simplified procedure; otherwise, they will tell you how to apply through the UMC.