Patente B · Italy

Italian Driving Licence for India Citizens

How to get your Italian Patente B if you are from India — 12-month rule, exam process, costs, and how to study in English.

✗ No exchange agreement — exams requiredNon-EU / Long-stay visa required

Licence Exchange Status for India

India has no reciprocal licence exchange agreement with Italy. Full theory and practical exams are required.

⏰ 12-month rule: You can drive in Italy on your Indian licence for up to 12 months after you register your residency. After that, you need an Italian licence to drive.

Step-by-Step: Getting Your Patente B from India

Get your codice fiscale and complete the iscrizione anagrafica at your local comune. This starts the 12-month clock on your foreign licence.

Obtain a medical certificate

Required for all applicants. Get it from a recognised doctor or ASL centre. Cost: €20–€50.

Study the theory

Learn the Italian Highway Code in English with Driving Freedom. The official exam is in Italian but studying in a language you know well first is far more effective.

Book and pass the theory exam

Apply at your local Motorizzazione Civile office (form TT 2112, fees paid through PagoPA) or let an autoscuola apply for you. The exam takes place at the Motorizzazione: 30 true/false statements in 20 minutes, with at most 3 errors.

Complete practical driving hours

Before the practical exam you must complete compulsory driving lessons at an autoscuola (driving school), with a qualified instructor. The new decree DM 294/2025 sets them at 8 hours in four modules: 2 hours of vehicle and safety basics, 3 hours of urban driving, 2 hours on motorways or extra-urban roads and 1 hour of night driving. It is not applied in practice yet: it applies only once the implementing decree of the Ministry is in force, and only to learners whose foglio rosa is issued after that. Until then the previous rule (at least 6 hours, including motorway or extra-urban roads and night driving) still applies, and some autoscuole still accept 6 hours. Ask your autoscuola which rule applies to you.

Pass the practical exam

Conducted by a Motorizzazione Civile examiner. You must book through an autoscuola or driving instructor.

Receive your Patente B

Valid for 10 years (shorter for drivers over 50). Issued by the Motorizzazione Civile.

Cost Breakdown

Item	Cost
Theory study (Driving Freedom app)	€0–€120
Medical certificate	€20–€50
Theory exam fee (Motorizzazione)	~€16
Practical driving lessons (8 h under DM 294/2025; some autoscuole still accept 6)	€180–€450
Practical exam fee	~€80
Licence issuance fee	~€30
Total (estimate)	€300–€800

Frequently Asked Questions

Does India have a reciprocal licence exchange agreement with Italy?

India has no reciprocal licence exchange agreement with Italy. Full theory and practical exams are required.

How long is my India licence valid after I move to Italy?

You can drive in Italy on your Indian licence for up to 12 months after you register your residency. After that, you need an Italian licence to drive.

Can I study for the Italian theory exam in English?

Yes. Driving Freedom teaches the Italian Highway Code (Codice della Strada) with study support in English. The official exam is in Italian, but learning the concepts in a language you know well first is the most effective preparation strategy.

What is the Italian theory exam like?

30 questions from the Codice della Strada. 20 minutes. Maximum 3 errors allowed to pass. Topics include road signs, right-of-way, vehicle safety, speed limits, and penalties.

How much does it cost to get a Patente B in Italy?

Total cost ranges from €300–€800 (Driving Freedom estimate, October 2026) depending on whether you use an autoscuola (driving school) or study independently (privatista). The state fees are €10.20 + €16 for the theory exam application and €16 for the practical exam, paid through PagoPA. Driving lessons at an autoscuola (8 compulsory hours under DM 294/2025, not yet applied in practice; some autoscuole still accept 6) cost €180–€450 (Driving Freedom estimate, October 2026).

How do I get an Italian driving licence as an Indian citizen?

India has no licence exchange agreement with Italy. After registering your residency, obtain a medical certificate, study the Italian Highway Code using the Driving Freedom app, pass the theory exam at your local Motorizzazione Civile (30 questions, max 3 errors), complete the compulsory driving lessons at an autoscuola with a qualified instructor (8 hours under DM 294/2025, not yet applied in practice; some autoscuole still accept 6 hours, so ask yours), and pass the practical test. Total cost ranges from €300–€800 depending on whether you use an autoscuola or the privatista route (Driving Freedom estimate, October 2026).

Can I prepare for the Italian Patente B exam in Hindi?

Partly. Our website guides are available in Hindi, but the Driving Freedom app explains the rules in English, Persian and Arabic, not Hindi. The official exam is in Italian (French or German in some regions), but learning the concepts in a language you think in is far more effective than trying to memorise answers in a foreign language.

How long is my Indian driving licence valid after I move to Italy?

Your Indian licence is valid for exactly 12 months from the date of your official residency registration at your local comune. After that, it expires for use in Italy.

Is an International Driving Permit (IDP) enough to drive in Italy long-term?

An IDP is only valid alongside your original Indian licence and only for the first 12 months of Italian residency. After 12 months, neither your Indian licence nor the IDP is valid in Italy. You must obtain an Italian Patente B through the full exam process.

Codice della Strada

→ Italian Highway Code in English — Complete Glossary → Traffic Signs in Italy → Right of Way Rules in Italy → Speed Limits in Italy → Drink Driving Laws Italy — BAC Limits

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From the Blog

→ 12-Month Rule for Non-EU Drivers in Italy → How to Convert Your Foreign Licence to Patente B → How to Register as a Privatista → Pass the Italian Exam Without Fluent Italian → Your 3-Month Patente B Study Plan → What to Expect from the Theory Exam → How to Prepare for the Practical Exam → Best Apps for Patente B — 2026 Comparison

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Driving Freedom teaches the Italian Codice della Strada in English. 10-minute daily sessions. AI tutor. Exam simulator in the real exam format.