There are several types of car parking areas in Italy, so drivers travelling on the country's roads should research this issue in advance. Find out more about where to park your car in Italy to avoid fines

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There are three main types of parking in Italy: free, paid and parking for certain categories of vehicles. Read more about the rules of parking, how to avoid a fine and how much it costs to leave your car in a paid parking space in the article below.

Parking in Italy: what do drivers need to know?

To better understand the rules of parking in Italy, it is worth remembering how free and paid parking spaces are marked. There are three colours of markings on Italian roads: white, blue and yellow. White markings on the road allow you to park your car for free, blue markings imply a parking fee, and yellow markings are prohibited.

White markings on Italian roads

Free parking is the dream of every motorist, but it is usually not easy to find a free space.

On sections of Italian roads marked with white markings, you can park your car for free. However, keep in mind that many free car parks have time limits. It is worth checking the information signs to avoid a fine, and, if necessary, leaving a piece of paper with the time you parked your car or a special parking disc under the glass.

In addition, it is worth knowing that some free parking is only valid for residents of the area or for visitors to certain establishments.

Photo: Trieste Salario

Parking in Italy: blue line 

Paid parking is widespread in Italy, especially in large cities and tourist areas. As a rule, they are marked with blue lines on the road. This means that parking in this area is allowed only after payment.

Compliance with parking rules in Italian cities is regulated by municipalities. Parking a car in blue lanes without paying a fee can result in verbal warnings and sometimes even heavy fines.

Parking costs vary from city to city and also depend on the region. For example, in one area, the fee may be €2 per hour, while in another, possibly less visited area, it may be €0.50 per hour. The price usually decreases from the centre to the outskirts.

Photo: Giornale Motori

Paying for parking in Italy

The main ways to pay for parking:

● parking machines. The most common option. You find the nearest parking meter, enter your licence plate number and the duration of parking, and then pay for the service in cash or by credit card;
● mobile applications. Many Italian cities offer special mobile applications that allow you to pay for parking using your smartphone. This is convenient because you do not need to look for a parking machine.

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Yellow parking line in Italy

Yellow markings on Italian roads indicate special parking spaces that are intended for certain categories of vehicles:

● parking for the disabled. Most often, the yellow line indicates parking spaces that are exclusively for disabled vehicles. A special permit is required to park in such spaces;
● parking for company vehicles. Yellow lines may also indicate parking for service vehicles, such as police, fire, ambulance, etc;
● parking for loading/unloading goods;
● in some cases, a yellow line may indicate parking for taxis, buses or other types of transport.

Parking in the yellow line is prohibited, as these spaces are intended for special categories of vehicles or for certain operations. Violation of this rule may result in the vehicle being towed away and a fine imposed.

Photo: Madonie Press

Prohibition on parking and stopping in Italy

As in Ukraine, there is a list of places in Italy where parking and stopping is strictly prohibited. The main ones are:

● at railway crossings and on or near railway tracks;
● in tunnels, under streets, under overpasses;
● on or near curves;
● on sidewalks, pedestrian and bicycle paths;
● at the exit of driveways and near intersections;
● wherever the car will interfere with access to other vehicles;
● in the second row of vehicles;
● on lanes or carriageways reserved for public transport;
● in front of municipal rubbish bins or similar containers.

Keep in mind that these are general guidelines, and there may be exceptions indicated by road signs or local regulations.

Anyone who violates the parking rules is subject to an administrative penalty in the form of a fine in the amount corresponding to the seriousness of the violation, from 41 to 335 euros. However, anyone who pays the fine within 5 days of the date of the notice may benefit from a 30% ‘discount’.

Remember. In order to travel from Ukraine abroad and to legally move around Europe, you need to take out a Green Card insurance policy.

If you have a Green Card, if you get into an accident abroad, you can expect to receive compensation from an insurance agent.

It is better to buy insurance online because it is quick and easy. You can apply for a Green Card online on the Visit Ukraine portal. Packages are available for different periods from 15 days to 1 year for cars and trucks, trailers and semi-trailers for trucks, as well as motorcycles and scooters.

Remember. Before any trip to another country by your own car, you should familiarise yourself with the traffic rules in order to avoid unpleasant situations. Read more about the specifics of traffic rules in Europe and what you should pay attention to here.

Photo: Freepik

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