Italy Car Insurance (2024)

Yes, you will have to have an international driver’s permit in order to drive legally in Italy. This applies even if you’re just renting a car for a short trip past the Italian border.

It’s also important to keep in mind that you need to apply for your permit prior to your trip. Once you are in Italy, you will be ineligible to apply for one. You can apply for an international driver’s permit via these automobile associations before you leave: AAA (American Automobile Association) or AATA (American Automobile Touring Alliance).

Finally, in addition to the legal requirements mentioned above, an international driver’s permit is genuinely useful. It translates the information on your domestic driver’s license, which will be extremely helpful if you get pulled over by the authorities while driving in Italy.

The Italian ‘No Claims Bonus’ system is structured in classes, ranging from Class14 to Class 1. When drivers start a new policy, they are automatically categorized in ‘Class 14’. For each subsequent claim-free year, drivers graduate a class (the second year: Class 13; the third year: Class 12; etc.).

If you have a claim for which you are at fault, your policy will go up two classes. So, for example, if you are in class 10, and are at fault for a claim, the following year you will be in class 12.

If you have bought Third Party Liability coverage, you will be provided with a Green Card (“Carta Verde”). This Green Card allows you to drive in any of the European Union countries and Schengen Area. The same level of cover provided for Italy will be also valid within the EU and Schengen Area.

For example, if you purchased theft and fire coverage with your Third Party& Liability insurance, your car will be covered for these even if you are not in Italy.

Countries covered by the Green Card provided with your insurance include: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France (including Monaco), Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland (including Liechtenstein).

For Italy (including San Marino and the Vatican City) we will provide you with an Italian certificate of insurance.

Currently, we can only issue annual policies. We can offer an annual contract, split into two instalments (6 months each) and put the policy on hold for up to 18 months.

If you choose to put your policy on hold, the expiry date will be postponed. For example, if you defer the policy by one month, the expiry date will be postponed by one month.

To defer your policy, you must send us an email. Please note, to defer your policy there is a €10 free. There is also no limit to the number of times that you can defer your policy.

Dual citizenship does not change anything for you, and we can provide you with insurance coverage.

To purchase insurance in Italy, you must have the following documents:

1. A copy of both sides of the logbook of the car (libretto di circolazione)
2. A copy of both sides of your driving license
3. A copy of certificate of ownership of your car

Upon receiving these documents, our team will issue your contract and policy immediately. Your contract and certificate of insurance will be issued via email.

Our process is conducted entirely via phone and email.

We will send you the contract first, after which we process your payment, and then you will receive your original contract and certificate of insurance.

These documents are in PDF format and you must print a copy of each and keep them in your car with you as proof of insurance.

We accept electronic bank transfers as well as payments via debit and credit cards over the phone through our secure lines.

If you are paying with a credit or debit card, one of our licensed agents will request your phone number to call you on a secure line. They will then take your payment and send you a certificate of insurance via email.

There is no need to stress about adding additional drivers to your policy when buying car insurance coverage for Italy.

In accordance to the Italian regulations, in Italy there are no restrictions on drivers – instead, the vehicle itself is insured. The policyholder must be the legal registered owner of the car, and with your consent, anyone with a valid driver’s license can drive your car and be covered by your insurance policy, including your spouse and children.

Please note, you must disclose if anyone under the age of 26 will drive the vehicle.

If you need to file a claim, always contact your Clements representative. We will help guide and assist you through the entire process.

Your Clements representative will also help you with translations and any reports you must file under Italian law.

If you: sell, scrap or export your car, we will cancel your contract at no cost and we will refund you the premium left to the expiry date, without the taxes. – *Subject to official proof of sale, scrap or export.

Please note that there is no proportional refund for Theft, fire and/or accidental damage coverage in the event of cancellation.

You can purchase the car without an Italian driving license, however, please check that the license that you hold is valid to drive in Italy. This needs to be checked wither with the local authorities or the office ACI or PRA (www.aci.it). However, it is mandatory to have an Italian fiscal code (tax code) in order to purchase a car in Italy.