Converting a Foreign Driving Licence in Rome: Step-by-Step Guide

In a nutshell

If you hold a driving licence from a non-EU country and have moved to Rome, you can get an Italian licence without taking any exams — but only if your country has a reciprocity agreement with Italy. The process is called a conversion, it's handled at the Motorizzazione Civile (Italy's vehicle and driver licensing authority) at Via Salaria 1351, and costs between €80 and €180 if you do it yourself. After 30–90 days your Italian licence arrives by post.

At a glance

Cost	€84.60 in mandatory fees + €50–150 for the medical exam + certified translation if needed. DIY total: €80–180.
Timeline	Appointment wait: 30–60 days. Licence in hand: 30–90 days after your counter visit.
Where in Rome	Motorizzazione Civile — Via Salaria 1351, 00138 Roma. Appointment only.
Documents	Original licence, certified translation, passport, permesso di soggiorno (residence permit for non-EU citizens), codice fiscale (Italian tax ID), residency certificate, 2 passport photos, Form TT 2112, medical certificate

Who can convert (and who can't)

You're eligible if:

• Your country has a reciprocity agreement with Italy (check the updated list on the MIT website)
• You are resident in Rome (registered at the Anagrafe — the civil-registry office at the Comune, which handles residency)
• You are within the first 12 months of registering your residency
• Your foreign licence is currently valid

You cannot convert if your country isn't on the reciprocity list, if your licence has expired or is suspended, if you already hold an Italian licence, or if more than 12 months have passed since you registered residency. In any of those cases, you'll need to get an Italian licence from scratch — learner's permit, theory test, and all.

If you hold an EU or EEA licence, there's nothing to convert: it's already valid in Italy. After 2 years of residency you can optionally have it recorded in the Italian register.

Documents you need

Bring everything in original, plus 2 photocopies of each document:

1. Original foreign licence (must be valid)
2. Certified translation of the licence, sworn before the Tribunale di Roma (Viale Giulio Cesare 54) — not needed if your licence is already in Italian
3. Valid passport
4. Valid permesso di soggiorno
5. Codice fiscale (Italian tax ID — your personal 16-character code, used for almost everything) — the card itself or a printout
6. Residency certificate or self-declaration
7. 2 passport-format photos (white background, 35×40 mm)
8. Form TT 2112 completed (downloadable from the Portale dell'Automobilista)
9. Medical certificate of fitness to drive

For the fee payments you also need:

• 1 marca da bollo (revenue stamp) of €16 on the application form
• 2 marche da bollo of €16 on the medical certificate
• Postal order (bollettino c/c) 9001 for €10.20 (Motorizzazione fee — write "conversione patente" as the reason)
• Postal order (bollettino c/c) 4028 for €26.40 (licence issuance fee — write "duplicato patente per conversione")

Postal orders can be paid at any post office or tobacconist. Keep the original receipts.

Some countries require additional documents from their Consulate (authenticity declaration, clearance letter, driving history). Check your country's specific sheet on the MIT website before you head out.

Medical exam: required for everyone

Even if your foreign licence is brand new, a medical examination is compulsory. It must be conducted by an authorised single-assessor doctor (medico monocratico) or at an ASL (Azienda Sanitaria Locale — your local public-health authority) service.

In Rome, you can go to:

• ASL Roma 1 — Borgo Santo Spirito 3, tel. 06 68352318
• ASL Roma 2 — Via Filippo Meda 35, tel. 06 51008600
• ASL Roma 3 — Via Casal Bernocchi 73, tel. 06 56487800
• Many private authorised clinics (search "medico monocratico patenti Roma")

Cost: €30 at the ASL (with longer waiting lists) or €50–100 at a private clinic. The doctor checks vision, hearing (for professional categories), and general health.

The medical certificate is valid for 3 months — you must submit your application at Motorizzazione before it expires.

Booking your appointment and what happens at the counter

Access to the Motorizzazione counter is by appointment only. Book via:

• Online at the Motorizzazione Booking Portal — you'll need SPID (Italy's digital identity for accessing online public services) or CIE (Italian electronic ID card); select "Ufficio Roma — Via Salaria 1351" and the reason "Conversione patente estera"
• Phone: 06 41581 (switchboard UMC)
• Through a driving school or vehicle-licensing agency (paid service, €80–200 extra, but they handle all the paperwork for you)

At the counter, the officer checks your documents, scans and retains your foreign licence. In return you get a provisional receipt, which is valid as a driving licence for about 90 days. Within 30–90 days your Italian licence is mailed to your registered home address. Your original foreign licence is sent to the Consulate of the issuing country — it won't be returned to you.

Mistakes to avoid

1. Turning up without an appointment. The counter doesn't accept walk-ins. Book first and arrive on time with all your documents.
2. Bringing a non-certified translation. The translation of your licence must be sworn (asseverata) at the Tribunale di Roma. A standard translation or an online one will not be accepted.
3. Waiting too long. Conversion is only possible within 12 months of registering your residency. Miss that deadline and your application will be rejected — you'll have to get a new Italian licence from scratch.

Special cases

Refugees and internationally protected persons: you can convert your licence even if your country of origin has no reciprocity agreement with Italy, by presenting a refugee travel document and the certificate from the Territorial Commission. DM 11/01/2017 applies.

Professional categories (C, D, E, CQC): direct conversion applies only to categories A and B. For higher categories and for the Certificate of Professional Competence (Carta di Qualificazione del Conducente — CQC), additional practical examinations are required.

Incomplete documents: the Motorizzazione can suspend your application and send you a request for additional materials by PEC or registered post. You have 30 days to respond. If the problem is fundamental (country not on the list, expired licence, residency registered more than 12 months ago), the application will be rejected. You can appeal to the MIT within 60 days.

Change of address during the process: notify the Motorizzazione immediately with your new address, since the licence is sent by post.

Official sources

• MIT — Foreign driving licence conversion
• Portale dell'Automobilista — Foreign licence conversion
• Motorizzazione Civile
• Motorizzazione appointment booking
• Portale dell'Automobilista — Forms

Legal references: D.Lgs 285/1992 (Highway Code) art. 136; DPR 495/1992 artt. 238–239-bis; DM 25/01/2013; DM 11/01/2017.