Driving licence examination

To obtain a driving licence in Italy, it is not enough to submit the required documents. A person must prove that they have both the theoretical knowledge and the practical ability to drive correctly and safely. For this reason, technical fitness is obtained only after passing two separate tests: one test that checks knowledge and one test that checks driving skills and behaviour. In practice, the candidate must first show that they know the rules, road signs, and principles of road traffic, and then show that they can actually drive properly.

The examinations are carried out according to rules, procedures, and programs established by the Ministry of Transport, in line with European directives. To ensure equal judgment, questionnaires, audiovisual tools, and other necessary means are used so that all candidates are assessed according to the same standards. This means that the exam must be organized in a way that ensures consistency and fairness.

The exams for driving licences, certain professional qualifications, and the professional suitability certificate for trolleybus drivers are conducted by Ministry employees who are specifically qualified for this role. These examiners cannot work without special preparation. They must attend an initial qualification course, pass an enabling examination, and regularly attend refresher training. This ensures that the people who assess candidates are properly prepared and remain up to date over time.

A person who has attended a driving school may also take the theoretical examination at that driving school, provided that it has rooms officially recognized as suitable by the competent office, or at legally established training centres connected to the driving school. This helps with the organization of the exam, but always within the official legal requirements.

The examination tests are public. This means they are not secret or arbitrary procedures, but official activities that must take place transparently. The public nature of the tests is intended to guarantee fairness in the assessment process.

The practical driving test cannot be taken immediately after receiving the learner’s driving authorization. At least one month must pass. This rule ensures that the candidate has a minimum period for practice before facing the road test. In other words, receiving the authorization to practice is not enough on its own; the candidate must use that time to gain real preparation.

For almost all licence categories, the practical test must be carried out in vehicles equipped with dual controls. The only exceptions are categories AM, A1, A2, and A. Dual controls allow the instructor or examiner to intervene in case of danger, thus increasing safety during the practical examination.

If the candidate does not pass an exam test, it cannot be repeated immediately. At least one month must pass between an unsuccessful attempt and the next one. This mandatory interval is meant to give the candidate time to improve their preparation and correct the mistakes made previously.

The exams must be booked no later than the fifth day before the test date, and they may be taken only within the validity period of the learner’s authorization. Within that period, the practical driving test may be repeated no more than two times. This means that the candidate has a limited number of attempts and must manage time and preparation carefully so as not to lose the validity of the authorization.

When the candidate passes the driving test successfully, the competent office issues the driving licence at the same time, provided that the proper application has been submitted. In other words, passing the test directly leads to the issue of the licence, without the need for further tests.

In summary, the fitness examination is designed to verify that the future driver knows the traffic rules and can apply them in real driving. The system establishes precise rules on timing, testing procedures, examiner training, and the number of permitted attempts, with the aim of ensuring that the driving licence is issued only to people who are truly prepared to drive safely.

❓ Frequently asked questions

What is driving licence examination?

Driving licence examination is regulated by Art. 121 of the Italian Road Code, within the chapter "IV. Driving Vehicles and Handling Animals". You'll find the complete explanation above with all the essential details to pass the Italian driving theory exam.

In which chapter of the Italian Road Code is Art. 121?

Art. 121 of the Italian Road Code is in the chapter IV. Driving Vehicles and Handling Animals. You can read the original article on the official ACI portal at this link.

Is this topic important for the Italian driving licence exam?

Yes, all articles of the Italian Road Code may be subject to questions in the theory exam. To practice with real quiz questions on this topic, access our platform with 7,000+ official questions.