EU/EEA Licenses: validity, conversion and rules

Driving licences issued by a Member State of the European Union or the European Economic Area are considered valid in Italy as if they were Italian licences. This means that drivers holding such licences must comply with all Italian traffic laws and are subject to the same penalties as holders of Italian licences in case of violations.

When a person establishes residence in Italy and holds a valid EU or EEA licence, they may request either recognition or conversion of the licence. Recognition allows the use of the foreign licence under Italian rules, while conversion enables the driver to obtain an equivalent Italian licence without taking a new driving test, provided the licence is still valid. During the conversion process, the motor vehicle office verifies the licence category and validity and returns the original licence to the issuing country, explaining the reason.

If the licence does not have an administrative expiry date, the holder must convert it within two years of becoming resident in Italy. Furthermore, if the driver is required to undergo a licence review (for example, due to doubts about driving fitness), they must first obtain recognition or conversion of the foreign licence.

Recognition or conversion is not allowed if the licence has been suspended or revoked in the issuing country. If the licence is lost or stolen after becoming resident in Italy, a duplicate can be issued by the Italian authorities based on available information or data requested from the issuing country.

Driving without the required professional qualification leads to penalties. Similarly, driving with an expired licence results in a fine and withdrawal of the document. These rules apply both to residents in Italy and to non-residents, although additional provisions may apply to non-residents.