While stationed in Italy, you should know about these special driving laws, including ZTL enforcement and using your NATO fuel card. (NBLX (Adobe Stock))
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The 2026-2027 Stars and Stripes “European Road Guide” includes country-specific driving laws, vehicle purchase information and other essential details for drivers while stationed in Europe.
Service members and dependents stationed in Italy must have a valid AFI or SETAF driver’s license.
Valid U.S. driver’s licenses.
Proof of insurance.
Vehicle registration.
IDP is recommended.
Minimum driving age is 18.
The Army in Europe publication AEREG 190-1 is applicable for all Army DOD ID card holders in Italy. Find the most up-to-date version at www.aepubs.eur.army.mil/AE-Regulations.
Only cars with permits may drive in a ZTL, or limited-traffic zone. Be cautious when driving to Italian cities, as these restricted areas are not always well marked, and signage may be obscured. Look for a white sign with a red circle and the words “Zona Traffico Limitato.” Large cities will have a light system indicating when the ZTL can be accessed without a permit. Red lights indicate that the restriction is active, “Varco Attivo.” Green lights indicate that the restriction is non-active, “Varco Non Attivo.” Do not rely on GPS or Google Maps to navigate around a ZTL.
Cameras record license plates and send tickets in the mail for driving in a ZTL. Fines can be €100-400.
There are ZTL boundaries in over 350 Italian cities. If you have booked a hotel or parking garage inside the ZTL, they will typically request your license plate to send to the authorities so you will not be ticketed.
Large cities will have a light system indicating when the ZTL can be accessed without a permit. (Marco Taliani (Adobe Stock))
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It is helpful to understand colors of Italian road signs: green signs indicate motorways, blue signs are for suburban roads and white signs are for urban roads.
Here are a few Italian words you may see on road signs in Italy.
“Deviazion” – Detour
“Dogana” – Customs
“Entrata” – Entrance
“Incidente” – Accident
“Nebbia” – Fog
“Neve” – Snow
“Polizia” – Police
“Senso Unico” – One-way street
“Traffico” – Traffic (congestion)
“Uscita” – Exit
NATO Forces Fuel Cards allow you to exclude Italian taxes when buying fuel. Sign up at your local NEX or AAFES store.
Only available to be used with one primary vehicle.
Vehicle’s engine size, engine base, horsepower and fuel equipment determine the ration amount.
Only accepted at ENI and AGIP stations. There are no on-installation gas stations in Italy.
To use the card, swipe or insert the card and enter your secure PIN.
Fuel transactions are billed to the payment method provided during registration.
You will receive a bi-weekly invoice as well as a monthly statement.
