Transportation to Italy – What should you keep in mind?

Italy is a country located in Southern Europe. The official language in this country is Italian. On the territory of Italy there are two mini-states, i.e. San Marino and Vatican City. So how does transportation to Italy differ from transportation to other countries? What should you pay attention to when arranging transportation to Italy? The following article is the first part of a guide answering the above questions. We invite you to read it!

What currency is used in Italy?

The first important aspect is the currency that can be used to pay within Italy. Currently, all transactions in Italy are done using the Euro. Road tolls and any fines and parking are paid in this currency. Having cash can be helpful, although credit cards are honored in most places.

How high are fines in Italy?

Typically, questions from transportation implementers are about fines. Wondering how high are fines in Italy? Where are the most common weight checks made in Italy? The answer can only be one: , “it depends”. To begin with, history shows that Italy does not stand out from other European countries in terms of the number of road-weight inspections. It can be said with all responsibility that these are sporadic situations. The tariff is variable, but speeding fines at the beginning of 2023, for example, range in amounts from €39 to values exceeding as much as €3,000. Just as in Poland, the amount of the fine depends on how much the speed limit was exceeded. As for weight checks, it is hard to find a tariff, as well as companies fined for overloading a car in Italy.

Transport to Italy
Transport to Italy – What should be kept in mind?

What does the driver need to carry with him in Italy?

It is worth remembering that on the territory of Italy the driver must carry a driver’s license, a vehicle registration certificate, a third-party liability policy. Car equipment should include: a reflective vest for the driver and passengers, a first aid kit, a triangle and a fire extinguisher. Carriers who use leased vehicles should also equip the driver with an authorization to use the vehicle in Italy from the lessor. This document is very often controlled by the Italian police, in addition to which roadside inspections are also carried out by carabinieri and the Guardia di Finanza.

When inspecting cars carrying out transport services, the police pay great attention to the transport documents – the CMR, or international waybill. If the driver does not carry the aforementioned document, a fine of up to 5,000 euros may be imposed. In addition, the car performing the transport, is detained for a period of 3 months in a special depository parking lot. The carrier also has the right to find a place where the car will await release. The cost of parking designated by the police can oscillate around several thousand euros for a period of 90 days. In addition, there are the costs of towing the car and a complicated system of paying the fine. The carrier must arrange for the driver’s return to his transport base and transport to Italy after the period for which the car was detained to pick it up. A similar penalty can also be imposed on carriers who have an incomplete CMR document, that is, one in which not all mandatory fields are completed.

Future articles will cover further topics including:

  1. Toll roads in Italy.
  2. Where not to park a car with goods, within Italy?
  3. Do you buy vignettes for expressways and highways within Italy?
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