Tuscany Travel Answers

Take a look at this site for tips and information. theaa.com/motoring_advice/to...

Yes, quite a lot is different. First off, where are you planning on visiting in Italy, and are you old enough to hire a rental car? Sorry, don't mean to be nosey with that last bit - it's just that we often have younger adults who are not aware that many companies won't rent to ages under 25 or so, or not without paying a large premium so just checking! :O) My first question pertains to the actual need for a car if you're really only visiting cities. The no-drive (ZTL) zones, no parking zones, and other headaches make using public transport a MUCH better option for that type of trip. The ZTL zones can be very confusing for foreigners, and the fines are significant if you wander into them. That can be easy to do as residents are allowed to drive/park in some places that visitors are not so it can be tough to tell the difference on the fly. Our members who have driven Italy will have lots of good info here but just getting the ball rolling here.

Hi. We drive in Italy and the only real difference is that the AutoStrada is a toll road and tolls can be high. Gas is actually more expensive than here. The only problem we've found (besides the aforementioned ZTL zones) is tailgating. The Italians like to drive 2 inches from your back bumper and it's very disconcerting until you realize they are used to it and don't want to hit you any more than you want to be hit. We've stopped worrying about it. On the AutoStrada, if you choose to use it, be aware that the left lane is a passing lane. You don't just get out in the left lane and cruise like you do in the USA. You come up to a car, move left, pass the car and then move back to the right lane. Don't know where you're from in the USA but we are used to 6 and 8 lanes in each direction. You won't see that in Italy. Two lanes in each direction is standard for their superhighways. We avoid the Autostrada because of the tolls and because we like to go through the little towns and villages along the way. Historic districts are usually no cars (marked ZTL) but they will have parking outside the district. You park and then walk through the historic center. Some are free parking but most require payment of some kind. If in doubt, ask someone there. The roads are good and well marked so you should be fine. Get a good map and, if possible, a GPS to accompany it. Neither is perfect, but the two together are close to failsafe. Enjoy Italy; it's beautiful.

For some reason it is difficult to find a set of driving rules for a particular country or county/city in Europe. I just spent a day driving from Bergamo to Verona and then in the wine area North of Verona. I just followed what everyone else was doing. It appears that you can make a right hand turn against a red. So I didn't. No one honked or gave me a salute... but it would be nice to find a summary of regulations translated to English. Most of the traffic on the Autostrada kept at 10 KM above the posted limit which I figured was pretty safe. As mentioned, the drivers pull right up on your tail and I was surprised at how fast they did when I was in the left hand lane. I made it a practice to pull over as soon as I saw them coming up as there were mostly trucks in the right lane. If you have an iphone, the maps function as loaded works pretty good and we had no problem getting to wineries in some really off the main road places. But it does use a lot of data so be sure you have a data plan big enough. I haven't bothered with the International Drivers License in years. I bring my California photo license, proof of insurance and my passport. Karl

I just noticed I wrote you can make a right against a red....that should be you can not make a right against a red.....

Hi Barbara! Thanks for that link...... I have printed it. We will only be driving whilest in Tuscany (for a week) but these tips will come in handy. Hope you are well.... Hugs

beausoleil gives you a lot of accurate information in relatively few sentences...reread her reply carefully and ask questions if something is not clear. I would have only one update (haha, y'all know better than that!). When she says "Gas is actually more expensive than here", what she really meant is "Gas is actually A LOT more expensive than here". ;-) Gas in Italy is something like9USD/gallon...hmmmn, the euro has dropped in the last year, so it may even be worse since oil is still tied to the US dollar. Driving on the autostrada is actually relaxing, because Italians are so well behaved. They really do have the slower traffic in the right lane(s) (I drove on some that had three lanes in each direction) and pass only on the left, unlike we Americans who pass in any lane whatsoever. Honestly, all you do is pick a lane that suits your speed and sit in it. As she notes, never stay in the leftmost lane unless you are passing people. Driving in the cities, of course, is totally different. In the small towns, even where you are allowed to drive, the streets are very narrow and may be reduced to one lane because of parked cars. I remember one fine day in Spoleto wherein I drove as far as I could into town (no limited traffic zone), but finally found a lane I physically couldn't continue on...so I stopped, told all my passengers to get out, then parallel parked within inches of a wall...my wife is constantly amazed that I can parallel park, but it's handy ;-). As for larger towns, the rules are quite different. First, as beausoleil says, there are limited traffic zones (ZTL) in more than 30 Italian towns - non-residents can't legally drive in the center. But the rules vary from city to city, by day of the week, by night and day, and by part of the city. Second, the rules of the road aren't the rules on the signs. In Rome, while the streets are striped for lanes, in fact, this means nothing as a car can exist anywhere within the flow forward as well as at least 10%-20% into the OTHER flow of traffic. In 2000, my wife and I (Americans, but I had lived in Rome) met my sister and her husband in Rome to visit their son who was studying architecture. As we were walking out to the Avis counter, my wife took my sister aside and told her, "He really knows how to drive here; just do what I do and close your eyes while he's doing it." hahaha, driving in Rome can indeed be quite a shock for US drivers. hahaha, I loved it, but the only places like it are places like Boston and Manhattan...and even Manhattan is too easy because most of the city is on a grid whereas Rome is total chaos. Bill

Yeah, Karl, I asked at the Avis desk if you could do right turn on red. The young woman stared at me as if I had just asked if it was OK to dine on human babies. Seriously, my Italian is not THAT bad. Obviously, she had never heard of such a bizarre idea...which is probably why their rules don't talk about it...why should they, since no civilized country would allow it... ;-) (glad I don't live in a civilized country) Bill

One more difference: If you prefer driving an automatic car, book well in advance.There are not too many automatic cars for rent and they are more expensive.

In addition to the excellent "driving" advice above I have some "parking" advice :-) Markets are regularly held in Italian towns and cities. Mostly once per week. During the market day, parking is not permitted in the part where these markets are being held. So watch for signs like this: "Tuesday is market day!!" - Gubbio Tourist Trap Tip by Trekki before you park the car in a parking zone. The "tow away" sign is serious :-) I just came back from middle Italy and .... run into my own "trap". I know this "non parking" during market days, but somehow I have completely forgot it - just to arrive at the parking one morning to find ... not my car. It was towed away.... Cost: 60 Euro for the towing service and 40 Euro for the parking ticket (called "multa" in Italian). The first to be paid cash at the towing service when you appear there to get the car back, the second at the police station or the post office, within 4 weeks. That was for a town in Umbria. Quick and efficient :-) And I surely will always remember it and learn to *think* of the signs......

driving.drive-alive.co.uk/dr... has useful information about Italian driving laws. It is my understanding that Italian law also requires that you carry a legal Italian translation of your licence (but not if you are an EU or Swiss citizens). An International Driving Permit fulfils this function, but you must get it from your own country before you leave. It is very unlikely that the hire company will ask to see an IDP but it is possible that the police might, should you come into contact with them.

in US I noticed it's possible to turn right at red traffic light, of course if the way is clear, only when the traffic light itself is located beyond the junction; if "on corner" or before, you've to stop at red and no turn is possible and it's also said. Beside I do agree that allowing people to turn right most of the case is good, I have no memories to have found this anywhere else in the little part of the world I've been till today. About Italy I suggest to be very careful at red traffic light, nowdays italians stop also in Rome and Naples, it must be a reason. Then pay attention at the speed limit, you may not be stopped, you'll learn to be fined once at home and it's not really true you can do 10 km/h more then speed limit, I met people who have been fined for 2km/h above the 5% of tolerance, devices are very accurate (btw most of the speed detectors in the world are made in Italy or under italian licence, also the ones in US). Since some years ago the most used from mobile stations are... *I don't know the world in English*, the same used for races, once you see them, you'll be already caught. Last but non least, alcoholic drink... if diver will be positive and anybody else is allowed to drive, the car must be left there or towed away at driver's expense. you cannot refuse the test! Driving in Italy is not difficoult, like in US just don't be in a hurry, don't drink, be carefull, the main difference is (beside don't eat/drink while driving) don't "sleep" and know where you've to go otherwise do not complain if other will do "soundly". Enjoy driving in Tuscany, imho the best way to visit the region but pay attention on the hilly narrow roads, stay on the right also if it seems there's nobody coming in front of you. Once you'll be to Siena, Florence, Pisa, Lucca... forget the car, park where it's allowed and take a bus or walk.

Everything you've been told above is good advice. One item worth mentioning however is to make sure you take out FULL insurance on the rental car. You may not cause an accident or even be involved in one, but from experience(many times), if you park in parking lots, you may come back to a dent in a door. This has happened to me in both public and private lots.

well you have a good ton of advice already. My five cents worth is ,where did you learn to drive in the USA? I got my first license ever in the NJ/NYC border, first trip withlicense was going to NYC times square lol!!! Many years have passed and I have driven in Italy a lot,last was in April. NO problems at all. YOu have the priority at right so let them go first, the tolls and gas are a lot more expensive than the USA. And you need to park outside city center to avoid given the govt extra money to go in. Speeds in city when you can do it lol! 50 km/h State roads (strade regionale, strade provinciali) 90 km/h Highway (autostrade) 130 km/h You should also know that there are many speed control devices installed on the roads. You can be photographed and receive a fine by post. here is the Italian highway site in English, you can get lots of info there http://www.autostrade.it/en/ Enjoy it, you will be glad you drove a car. Cheers