On 10 July 2018, George Clooney got into a scooter accident when his motor scooter collides with the Mercedes at 60 mph and hurls him into the air. Luckily, his injuries were not serious.
We don't want that to happen to you so we will offer more information and guide about riding scooters in Italy.
What is Scooter in Italy
Scooter is popularly known as "motorino" in Italy. Almost every Italian own a scooter as it serves as a smooth and fast movement in during traffic jam.
What is the most popular scooter in Italy
Although Italian manufacturers are coming up with their scooters like Vespa from Piaggio, the Japanese brands such as Honda is still more popular. The most popular being the Honda SH150i Scooter.
Valerio Boni (Italy) holds the Guinness World Record for the greatest distance on an electric motor scooter in 24 hours, having achieved 1,158.72 km (720 mi) in Zuera, Spain on 7 October 2022. The most expensive retail Vespa was from Christian Dior with a Vespa 946 model limited to 946 units worldwide and retailed for $10,000
Scooter Laws in Italy
The following are the rules for riding a scooter in Italy
- A car license will do for bikes up to 125cc and an EU or international motorcycle license for above 125cc
- Drive on the right
- Overtake on the left
- Wearing a helmet is compulsory on all two-wheeled vehicles.
- Motorbikes can enter most restricted traffic areas in Italian cities, and traffic police generally turn a blind eye to motorcycles or scooters parked on footpaths
- The blood alcohol limit is zero for those under 21 and had their license for less than three years and 0.05% for others
- Many cities like Rome and Florence have Limited Traffic Zones (ZTL). These areas are off-limits to unauthorized vehicles and entry points are covered by street cameras. If you're caught entering one without the necessary permission you risk a fine.
Should I Rent a Scooter in Rome
There are many pedestrian-only streets and Limited Traffic Zones in Rome. Therefore, riding a scooter will end up missing lots of detail.
Also, based on traffic in Rome and the difficulties to find parking, I would not consider renting a scooter. We even heard of stories from TripAdvisor of people ending up with broken arms after their adventure with scooters.
The reasons to ride a scooter is that
- It is romantic to experiment for a young couple
- You are already over 20 and have an international driving license and wish to try
- You are a good navigator
The alternative is to buy a scooter in Italy but to do so, you will need a proof of address (such as a rental agreement or utility bill), and an Italian tax code (codice fiscale). An International Driving Permit (IDP) might also be required if your driver's license is not in Italian.
Do you need a license to drive a Vespa in Italy?
To drive any scooter in Italy, you need your driving license and an International Driving Permit (IDP) that is applied prior to leaving your country. The IDP is only valid for 1 year and need to be reapplied thereafter.
Most rental companies only rent a Vespa if you are at least 18 years old. Most rental companies also impose a 3 year driving experience for 3-wheel scooters.
Driving a scooter without a valid driver's license or International Driving Permit in Italy can result in 400 euros fine. Additionally, if you're involved in an accident while driving without a proper license, your insurance may not cover the damages or injuries sustained by yourself or any passengers.
The test is known as the "Ciclomotore" license or AM license, which grants you the authorization to ride scooter in Europe. To obtain the AM license, you must pass a theoretical exam, which covers topics such as road rules, traffic signs, and safety regulations specific to mopeds. The exam can be taken at the Motorizzazione Civile (Department of Motor Vehicles) or at authorized driving schools.
How to rent a Scooter in Italy
Based on Statista, Italy is the #5 country in terms of the scooter-sharing market, just behind Germany, France, Spain, and the USA.
You can mimic Audrey Hepburn in the movie "Roman Holiday" by exploring the capital on a scooter after the city council unveiled a brand new scooter rental program. It is the most convenient way to rent a scooter as
- You just download the eCooltra app and set up a profile,
- The app charges by the minute,
- No need to buy insurance separately,
- The scooter is eco-friendly and fully charged,
- Helmets are provided, and
- Maintenance included.
Road Accidents in Italy
From the Italian National Institute of Statistics, although injuries and fatalities are dropping, motorists make up 24% of the death (861) in 2014, with car drivers and passengers were being first (1491).
Simple Tips To Take Note Of When Driving A Scooter In Italy
There are several tips to take note of when driving a scooter in Italy
- Wear Sunglasses - You must wear sunglasses during day time. If you are driving a scooter, endeavor to wear light and friendly glasses. This ensures that your vision is not affected by the sunset. Sunglasses offer you an extra protective layer against the sun. Always wear sunglasses when driving a scooter in Italy.
- Park well - Park well In order not to break the law or pay a fine, ensure you position your scooter in the appropriate place.do not park in the wrong direction. Always do the right thing. The best place to park is scooter designated parking spots. Don’t park on the pavement, it is against the law. Also, avoid parking in disabled spots. Parking on Zebra crossings is illegal. The best place to park scooter is the bays marked by white lines, this is an alternative of designated scooter parking spots.
- Keep Your scooter Clean - It is important to keep your scooter clean at all times. The neatness of your scooter will define who you are. Ensure you keep a small towel in your scooter, to mop up rain, dirty. This will make people want to rid you.
- Have a pair of Glove - If you plan to drive long hours, invest in a glove. This helps to protect your palms and knuckle from abrasion.
- Ensure your document are complete - To avoid embarrassment, do ensure your scooter license and every other related document are up to date. Always carry all the necessary documents along each time you go on a scooter drive. Your ownership, insurance documents and license are your saving grace in the days of trouble
- Wear Helmet - There are no two ways about this. This is not negotiable. You must always put on a helmet before driving a scooter. This doesn’t revolve around you, but both you and your passenger
- Always Avoid Drinking - It is prohibited to drink while you drive. It is against driving ethics. Do not indulge in drinking when driving the scooter, it can be disastrous and can lead to accident or death. So you should avoid drink when driving a scooter.
- Drive Safe - Ensure you drive safely when overtaking, do it from the left side, and try to be generous with your indicators when stopping. You have the same right with car drivers to drive in the center of the road. But be sensitive when doing this. You should drive on a moderate speed at the right-center lane
Conclusion
We hope you find this information about scooters in Italy useful. At Venice Life, We will continuously update this as we find more useful content over the Internet.
