📰 Guides & articles · Updated 30 August 2026

Phone at the wheel in Italy: what you actually risk now 📵

Q: How much is the fine for phone use while driving in Italy?

From €250 up to €1,000 at the first violation, with a licence suspension tied to the points balance; repeats reach €1,400 and a one-to-three-month stop.

Q: Can I use the phone stopped at a red light?

No: stopped in traffic you are still driving and the ban fully applies.

Q: Is hands-free allowed?

Yes, as are earphones, provided the device is never handled while driving.

Q: How many points does phone use cost?

On a repeat offence the deduction reaches 10 points — doubled for new drivers.

📌 In short: The new Code made phone use one of the most expensive violations on Italian roads: a fine of €250 up to €1,000 at the first offence, with a licence suspension tied to your points balance; a repeat within two years raises the fine to €1,400, with a 1–3 month suspension and 10 points deducted. Holding the phone is banned even when stopped in traffic or at a red light; hands-free and earphones are allowed, as long as you never handle the device.

Updated 30 August 2026 · Sources: Italian Highway Code (L. 177/2024), Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, official portals cited in the text. Leggi in italiano 🇮🇹

What's banned and what's allowed (table)

Situation	Rule
Phone in hand while driving	❌ Banned, even «just checking a notification»
Stopped at a light or in a queue	❌ Banned: you're still driving
Hands-free or earphones	✅ Allowed, if you don't handle the device
Sat-nav on a mount	✅ Allowed: set it before departure
Parked with the engine off	✅ Outside driving: no ban

Why the crackdown: the distraction numbers

Distraction is among the top crash causes in Italy, and the phone is its main engine: reading a message at 50 km/h means covering dozens of metres blind. Hence the legislator's choice to attach licence suspension to the very first violations — a leap from the past, when the stop arrived only on repeat offences. Tourists and expats: the rule applies to foreign licences too, and rental-car fines follow you home with admin fees on top.

How to never get caught out

Set the navigation and music before departure. Switch on «Do Not Disturb while driving»: notifications go silent and senders get an auto-reply. If you really must use the phone, pull over safely and switch the engine off. And note the topic has entered the quizzes: questions on distraction and device use are among those refreshed by the new Code.

📖 Useful definitions

Repeat within two years — committing the same violation again within two years of the previous one.
Short suspension — a licence stop applied on the basis of the points balance for certain violations.
Deduction — the subtraction of points from the licence after a violation.

❓ Frequently asked questions

How much is the fine for phone use while driving in Italy?

€250–1,000 first time; repeats up to €1,400 and a 1–3 month stop.

Can I use the phone stopped at a red light?

No: at a red light you're still driving.

Is hands-free allowed?

Yes, provided you never handle the device.

How many points does phone use cost?

On repeats, 10 points — doubled for new drivers.

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