School Bus Service in Rome: How to Enrol Your Child and What It Costs
Rome's school bus service is income-based and free for children with disabilities. Here's how to sign up, when to do it, and where to go in your district.
In a nutshell
Rome's municipal school bus service (trasporto scolastico) picks children up from home — or from a nearby stop — and drops them at school, then brings them back, with a dedicated bus and an on-board attendant. It operates mainly for nursery school (ages 3–6) and primary school (ages 6–11); for secondary schools it is reserved for children with certified disabilities. The fee is tied to your family's ISEE (Italy's income-and-wealth indicator used to qualify for means-tested benefits): the lower your income, the less you pay — and children with a disability recognised under Legge 104 always ride free.
At a glance
| Cost | Income-based (ISEE): from free up to roughly €600 per year. Always free for pupils with a Legge 104 disability. |
| Timeline | Enrolment window: May–July. Service starts in September. Mid-year sign-ups: activation within 4–6 weeks. |
| Where in Rome | Rome Capital online portal, your district (Municipio) office, or the school's administrative office (segreteria) |
| Documents needed | Valid ISEE certificate, school enrolment proof, parent's ID, child's Codice Fiscale (Italian tax ID) |
Who can use the service
The service is primarily for children attending state or municipal schools in Rome in nursery school (ages 3–6) and primary school (ages 6–11). For middle and high schools, it is only available for children with a certified Legge 104 disability.
Access is open to all children living in Rome — Italian, EU, and non-EU, with or without a permesso di soggiorno (residence permit for non-EU citizens). The right to school transport follows the right to education: citizenship is not a requirement. You only need to be domiciled in the municipality, even without formal residency registration at the Anagrafe (civil-registry office at the Comune, which handles official residency).
For children with disabilities the service includes an adapted vehicle (ramp, special seatbelts), a specialist attendant on board, and door-to-door pickup and drop-off — from your front door to the school entrance — even to schools in other municipalities if required.
How to enrol
When
Ordinary enrolment runs from May to July for the school year starting in September. Families already using the service must renew every year — it does not roll over automatically. Mid-year enrolment is possible if seats are available on your route.
How
Online. Log in to the Roma Capitale portal using SPID (Italy's digital identity for accessing online public services) or CIE (Italian electronic ID card). Fill in the form with your child's school details, personal data, and ISEE certificate.
In person at your Municipio. The Education Services office (Ufficio Servizi Educativi) of your local district handles enrolments for that area. Bring a parent's ID, the child's Codice Fiscale, and the completed enrolment form.
At the school office. Some schools collect applications and forward them to the Municipio.
Documents you need
| Document | Where to get it |
|---|---|
| School transport enrolment form | Roma Capitale portal or Municipio office |
| Parent's identity document | — |
| Child's Codice Fiscale | Agenzia delle Entrate (Italy's tax-revenue agency) |
| School enrolment certificate | School administrative office |
| Valid ISEE certificate | Free at any CAF (free assistance offices for tax forms and benefits applications) or INPS online |
| Legge 104 certification + Functional Profile | Only if the child has a disability |
The ISEE is the most important document for determining your fee. If you don't submit one, you'll be charged the maximum rate. Getting your ISEE is free at any CAF and takes roughly 10–15 days.
What it costs
Rates are updated each year by Rome Capital by formal resolution (delibera). The indicative annual fees by ISEE bracket are:
| ISEE bracket | Indicative annual fee |
|---|---|
| Up to €5,500 | Free or nearly free |
| €5,500 – €11,000 | Approx. €80–150 |
| €11,000 – €17,000 | Approx. €200–300 |
| €17,000 – €25,000 | Approx. €350–450 |
| Over €25,000 or no ISEE submitted | Up to approx. €600 |
| Pupils with Legge 104 disability | Always free |
Payment is made via PagoPA (online) or postal order (bollettino postale), usually in two six-monthly instalments.
School transport costs are tax-deductible at 19% on your annual tax return (Modello 730 — Italy's simplified annual tax return for employees, or Modello Redditi) up to a maximum of €800 per child per year. Keep all receipts.
Routes and stops
Each Municipio runs fixed routes with set stops at strategic points. A child must be accompanied to and collected from the stop by an adult (up to roughly ages 8–9). The bus schedule is fixed, with a 5–10 minute tolerance window.
If you need to change your designated stop — for example, because you've moved — contact the Municipio or the transport operator. If your area isn't covered by an existing route, you can request a route extension, especially if other families in the same area make the same request. For children with disabilities, a dedicated door-to-door service is set up even outside standard routes.
Mistakes to avoid
- Waiting until September to enrol. Ordinary enrolment closes in July. Mid-year sign-ups take 4–6 weeks to activate — you'll need to make other arrangements in the meantime.
- Skipping the ISEE. Without an ISEE you pay the maximum rate. Getting one at a CAF is free and can significantly cut your costs — or eliminate them entirely.
- Assuming middle school is included. In Rome, the service covers nursery and primary school. Secondary-school pupils only qualify if they have a certified disability.
Special cases
Foreign family without registered residency. You can enrol using your domicile by submitting a self-declaration (autocertificazione) and a document proving where you live (rental contract, utility bill). The service is accessible even without a permesso di soggiorno.
Family without an ISEE. If you only have foreign income or lack Italian tax documentation, you can submit a self-declaration of no Italian income at a CAF. Without an ISEE the maximum rate still applies — but it's worth trying, as partial documentation can sometimes reduce the amount charged.
Child arriving mid-year. Mid-year enrolment is possible if seats are available on the route. Activation takes 4–6 weeks. In the meantime, consider ATAC (Rome's public-transport operator) buses or family drop-off.
Problems with the service. If the bus doesn't arrive on time, first contact the transport operator (the number is provided when you enrol), then the Ufficio Servizi Educativi of your Municipio. For formal complaints: 06 06 06 (Roma Capitale freephone line).
Rome's 15 Municipi — where to enrol
| Municipio | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| I — Centro, Trastevere | Via della Greca 5 | 06 696012 |
| II — Parioli, Nomentano | Via Dire Daua 11 | 06 6960212 |
| III — Montesacro, Fidene | Piazza Sempione 15 | 06 696034 |
| IV — Tiburtino, San Basilio | Via Tiburtina 1163 | 06 6960452 |
| V — Prenestino, Centocelle | Via di Torre Annunziata 1 | 06 6960502 |
| VI — Tor Bella Monaca | Viale Duilio Cambellotti 11 | 06 6960652 |
| VII — Tuscolano, Cinecittà | Piazza di Cinecittà 11 | 06 696072 |
| VIII — Garbatella, Ostiense | Via Benedetto Croce 50 | 06 6960823 |
| IX — EUR, Spinaceto | Via Vaiano 53 | 06 6960923 |
| X — Ostia, Acilia | Via Passeroni 24 | 06 696110 |
| XI — Portuense, Corviale | Via Severini 56 | 06 6961123 |
| XII — Monteverde | Via Fabiola 14 | 06 6961223 |
| XIII — Aurelia, Boccea | Via Aurelia 470 | 06 6961323 |
| XIV — Monte Mario, Primavalle | Piazza S. Maria della Pietà 5 | 06 696142 |
| XV — Cassia, Prima Porta | Via Flaminia 872 | 06 6961523 |
For up-to-date office hours: Roma Capitale — I 15 Municipi.
Central coordination: Dipartimento Servizi Educativi e Scolastici, Via Capitan Bavastro 94, Roma — comune.roma.it.
Official sources
- Roma Capitale — Trasporto scolastico (scheda servizio)
- Roma Capitale — Iscrizione trasporto scolastico
- Roma Capitale — Dipartimento Servizi Educativi e Scolastici
- Roma Capitale — I 15 Municipi
- INPS — ISEE online
- Legge 448/1998
- Legge 104/1992
Legal references: Legge 448/1998 art. 27; D.Lgs 285/1992 artt. 47, 81, 82; DM 1/04/2010; TUIR art. 15 c. 1 lett. e-ter; Legge 205/2017 art. 1 c. 219; Legge 104/1992; DPCM 159/2013.