I studied for and sat the Italian drivers license test over 16 years ago as a foreigner who moved here. I signed up with a driving school and the minimum time it would take if all went perfectly was 3 months at a cost of €900 - group lessons with 18 year old learners every day, 5 days a week for 3 months. I did it and passed. What is so different in Italy is the theory test. 275 signs to memorise , tractor speeds, the meaning of chemical numbers printed on trucks, motor and tyre information about cars - all quickly forgotten after you pass the test. The driving school made us sit random sample tests until we got less than two errors - only then could we sit the test. This took weeks of practise tests but EVERYONE passed. Not so with the practical test. The day I did the practical test - note I had been driving for over 30 years - it was raining and none of the 18 year olds had driven in rain. They mounted the curb and did all manner of silly things. Only myself and one other from a group of 11 passed that day.
I think you may have exaggerated with having to learn/memorise thousands of questions. You can download the book online. It's mainly street signs. It can also be done in French & Belgium I believe. To be honest the fact it can only be done in Italian makes sense. People planning to live in Italy should start learning the language before they go. It's common sense.
Loved your video and plain discussion of the facts. I am glad I came across the information. I started an Italian Language course and this reinforces why I will keep on!
Ciao Stijn, thank you so much for all your help. We are looking forward to our retirement in Italy as well. We will still be young enough to enjoy driving, this is very good to know, the international driving license is a good way to start but as I do my research, I find it sometimes very daunting, the rules they have, but they have them for a reason, it's up to us to decide if it's worth it. We both have family in Italy, but we don't want to depend on them to live our lives there. So, it's on to more research, Thanks so much for this, every bit of information is a huge help.
Italy does have arrangements with some countries (non EU) where you can exchange your driving licence without the need to take a test, The UK for example, a list is available on the ACI website
Yes we know. I (Debbie exchanged my US licence for a Belgian one, which Italy will exchange, however, not a previously exchanged one. So we're out of luck there. Thank you so much for your input, we truly appreciate it.
Extremely helpful especially with the horsepower restrictions and being a "new driver" - had no idea about that. I was planning to bring my Jeep Wrangler over but now I think I will have to sell it here in the US and get something there when we plan to move.
@@ouritaliandestiny7955 Yep, that's our plan. We will probably be moving next year and I plan to sell my Jeep here (CO) and then buy something there later. Plus I need to learn Italian first to pass the test so I won't be worrying about a car until then. I like the Toyota Yaris Cross as it fits the requirements but it seems the newer 2024 is just a little over the HP requirements. Guess I'll figure it out when we get to that point. Thanks for all the info - SUPER helpful.
Wow! That was quite interesting. I had no idea it was so challenging and expensive to get a car and drivers license in Italy. It just reinforces the idea of living where we could walk or take public transportation wherever we settle down. Thanks for the great info!
Wow! It seems very overwhelming and complicated! We have the International drivings license and it was easy and $25 US and worth it. What an informative helpful video guys!!!!!! Great job! ~Cara ❤
Very useful video content! Everyone should know this . Driver licence is definetely a challenge for foreigner like us … who did not know much Italian especially ..
We would love to see videos on Elective retirement visa or how you are able to get residency in Italy. Or “a day in the life of” videos!! We are also looking for a country house in Umbria or Abruzzo with a yard or a little bit of land. We are planning on retiring now. We have started the search for a Home in Italy now!!! Wish we could find a villa like yours! Maybe you could show us around some parts of Umbria!!
So in theory, on the HP/LW limit and a new license, I could drive what ever on an international license while simultaneously having my 'new' license? Get pulled over, just hand them the international license?
As an American or Canadian you can only drive on an international permit for 1 year after becoming a resident. At that point you must get the Italian license, obtained in the Italian language.
The fear that’s been instilled in us about the Italian drivers license test is why, when we hopefully retire there in a year, we are looking for a location with easy access to buses and trains and services within walking distance :). I want to take road trips to nearby countries also so planning those in the first year! Thanks for sharing. I think there is a slightly easier test to drive a small scooter.
Absolutely, we are also looking into our retirement in Italy. That sounds like a great idea. Even though we are looking into retiring, we still have plenty of years left to drive. looks like it's the bus.
Good reminder for us to check the PT requirements...looks like we are good to go until we turn 60 or our DLs expire. But the int'l permit might be good to have regardless.
Thank you for this extremely informative video. We are US citizens with property in Italy, and we are finally moving there full-time. Frankly, we hadn’t paid a lot of attention to the new driver restrictions and had been planning on shipping over our cars, which are way, way over 55kw. Well, not anymore. I guess we’ll be getting a couple of Fiat 500s instead.
While I don't have personal experience I just found through an online search that you do also need a drivers license to drive a scooter. A standard B license will do for scooters up to 125cc. Beyond that you need a motorcycle-specific license.
How do they calculate the 1 year of driving on your national licence? Does it reset each time you enter Italy ? Is it cumulative over a calendar year? If we are in Italy for 3 months then back in UK 3 months, then back in Italy for 3 months have we used 3 months or 6?
Excellent topic. Very relevant. Study your Italian before leaving! Plan on a long term lease while waiting for your residency card. When able, purchase a properly powered car. Probably a Fiat 500. There will be a good resale market in the expat community for obvious reasons. Don’t drink and drive. Spend the night. That’s a no brainer anyway. Slow down! Isn’t that the point anyway? Going far? Take the train. Did I say learn the language first? You can get the drivers license book ahead of time and there are options for training to prepare for this most daunting task. Lastly, keep your fingers crossed….there is talk of a possible agreement between Italy and the US for a similar situation that just occurred with the UK for drivers license transfer. Probably not for a couple years though. This has to be one of the most important components of your move/retirement to Italy. Yet I hear so many stories of surprised expats!? Do your research. Plan ahead. Did I say plan ahead? Yep. I did.
Where did you hear about a possible arrangement with the US? Part of the problem is that there is no ‘national’ US driver license for the country. Each state is separate. So Italy would have to make an agreement with each state. That’s what I heard anyway.
I read it on The Local. Worse case scenario is only some states could make agreements. It is true that each state would have to be addressed separately. All states certainly meet the same requirements that the UK met. I am optimistic that at least a dialog is taking place.
@@brianfilkowski Ah, I subscribe to The Local but I don't always read everything. That would be great if they would. I'll keep my fingers crossed for Missouri :D Second best would be offering the test in English.
Hi Stein, in Italy fines can arrive up to 5 years after the infringement. Usually by this time they have put them out to a debt collector who sends a notice by Certified mail without saying what it's for. If you collect it you must pay it. This happened to me. One thing you did not mention is the time it takes to get the Italian driving license - 3 months minimum from signing up with the driving school and the high price of the lessons. For me, 16 years ago over €900.
Hi Leanne, thanks for your comment. I had the chance to speak to the head of police of one of the local towns and he told me that they have 365 days to deliver the tickets so perhaps it depends on the commune (my resource was from Panicale) or the rules may have changed. The towns seem to use a collections agency based out of Florence, that is where our tickets came from. I knew there would be things I'd forget or be unaware of. You're right about the cost, I have heard this from expats but I would imagine there is some variance in cost between the various places in Italy. I wasn't aware of the timelines so thanks again.
Ours were 2 fines from Naples - they arrived a week before 5 years by certified mail. I was told that was legal and totally normal.@@ouritaliandestiny7955
I'm loving reading all the comments. After 25 years of living here and having so many crazy stories to tell regarding my experiences, my conclusion is it's still worth it - I love living in Italy - no matter how frustrating and illogical its bureaucracy can be.
You're right about the speeding and we have cleaned up our act but I certainly didn't drive any different from the US yet here it resulted in a few tickets.
@@ouritaliandestiny7955 having those cameras around and not knowing where they are I am sure here in the USA we would get tickets in the mail all the time if we had them like Italy Some places they do have them but it will notify you on a app when driving
I'm Italian (an old Italian..) and curious and suspicious. Where you were asked to pay in cash the fine/ticket? In the cop's hands ? Or at Police station? Did they give you a receipt with all the data? Never ever pay the cops cash for any reason. It is not accepted and there is always time to pay within 5 or sometimes a fortnight in various ways with a 30% reduction of the original amount.
So we've been renewing the international driving permit the last couple of years it is good only a year. I'll be starting driving school actually next week😢😢😂
We are Canadian , My husband was born in Italy . We are trying to obtain our citizenship for Italy. If we bought a car would we still have to go through another drivers test after a year?
Yes, buying a car in Italy doesn't offer any sort of relief from the license challenges so I would probably buy a small vehicle that fits within the 55kw/ton requirement. These are also advertised as 'neo patente'.
Hi , Wayne in Houston here. I was watching your story on heating today and its a year old so I'm posting a question here on your latest. I see you reply to them. First I was wondering if solar is common there and cost effective for electrical or heating your hot water and stuff? Also you seen to have turned your home into a heating Lab. so to speak, I thought that was funny. Second , we just got back from Scotland. I'm hoping Italy is our next trip, and really I think I'd like to move there. Things are getting pretty ugly here in the US. We noticed first hand in Scotland, and on u tubes I'm watching on Italy that it seems no one owns a dryer. why is that? Seriously that sucks in wet dreary Scotland. nothing wanted to dry in the time we had. Good luck with your endeavors, and I'll keep following. I'm living vicariously through you guys who actually do this. Where Y'all from actually?
Hi Wayne, thanks for your kind words. In recent weeks I have actually been looking at solar panels (possibly with a battery system) to run the math. I did not ask for quotes on a hot water system through solar, although that is a pretty common thing over here. We recently had to have our gas hot water heater replaced so we're not looking at that option currently. Because our home is located in a protected (forested) area we are unfortunately subject to some rather strict limitations which make the solar conversation a lot more complex. We have to embed any panels into our existing tile roof and can only install red panels rather than standard black ones. Between the added cost for the embedded install (roughly 4000 euro) and the need for more panels (red panels only produce about 75% of what black ones do) it has made it prohibitively expensive. The total cost without a battery system would be somewhere around 18000 euro. Add another 10 for the battery system. Given that we spend well below 1000 euro per year on electricity and it's clearly not worth the investment for us at this time. As far as the driers are concerned it usually boils down to the power use of these units. Any appliance that heats or cools generally consumes a lot and a drier is no different. I would hate to have to dry my clothes indoors in Scotland year round. Thankfully in Umbria the weather is very sunny and even on relatively cold winter days there is sun and clothes do dry fairly quickly. We actually have to pay closer attention to our irrigation schedule than the weather forecast. That said, many expats do own an electric drier so it's not like they are hard to find. We lived in Nevada most of our lives, but I (Stijn) was born in the EU so that made the visa application process much easier.
@@trave7644 yes Portugal was easier, although I heard they were not too happy to have all these expats lately and some laws were changing. Italy is just full of twists and turns very tricky to navigate. If I had to do it over again I would hire and attorney who takes care of all of it! Took us over about 16 months to be able to breath easier and only because I bugged them constantly every day😁
@@giiggii11 How easy is it hire and attorney, and who who know a good one. There are some cammers. How much would it cost. Most people who move to Portugal are happy. but yes getting expensive there because expats driving up prizes.
A very small one! The roads are very narrow in most smaller towns. City's and highways are of course wider. Besides the obvious Fiat recommendation a brand called Dacia is nog extremely popular since they offer excellent value for money.
I start the video and I see a person from the US wearing a baseball cap. That hat is an immediate signal to Europeans that you are from the US and are not trying to blend in. There is a saying; when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Learn the culture from the locals. See how the locals do things including with transportation.
If you actually pass the driving test to get a German license, then you can exchange it for an Italian license. Otherwise you will not be able to get an Italian license with a simple exchange.
I have heard the same thing, unfortunately. Here is the quote. "Restrictions on the use of a European driving licence provided in exchange for a non-European driving licence Driving licences issued by another Member State of the European Union or European Economic Area for converting a licence issued by a non-EU country allow you to drive in Italy. However, if you have been officially resident in Italy for more than a year and hold a licence issued by a European Union or European Economic Area Member State for converting a licence issued by a non-EU or non-EEA country with which Italy has not drawn up mutual conversion agreements, you will have to obtain an Italian driving licence by taking the required qualification tests (theory and practical tests)."
Thanks for this video. I am italian, fluent in italian, but never lived in Italy (except years 1-4 but those hardly count).. If I were you I'd try to befriend the local mafia/politician/consulente comunale/whatever guy a get all these issues solved. I have no idea why you're trying to do the right thing in a place where no one does the right thing. Do you really think that italians behave like you ? And that story of the pay cash get a discount sounds soooo fishy. Be like the italians, misstrust everyone. You can't move to Italy with a trusty american attitude. You'll get scammed and re-scammed and re-scammed. Every time I am there I'm fighting with a controllore, a carabiniere, a tabbacaio that sold me an expired bus ticket etc etc. Continuous fighting and I speak Italian. They treat me like crap because I have no accent but ask stupid questions due to my lack of understanding of how the system works. I have to constantly explain that I am a tourist. At first they think I am pulling their leg but my american wife with an accent changes their tone. If it wasn't for the lifestyle and the food I would run a million miles away from that place. I wish you well and I hope you can endure all that maddening bureaucracy. Think of all the waste in the publlic administration, all that wasteful manpower doing nothing, solving nothing ... your car import story sounds like a total nightmare. At my age (61) I would never pass that stupid driver's license test ... just to learn all those cryptic traffics signs sounds like an exercise in futility. Italians are dying and the country is depopulating but they don't seem to be aware of this nor care .. at least none of my aunts or cousins talk about it. They all still seem to care about what they wear and of course what they eat. They should be re-admitting their own "oriundi" en-masse (from the USA, Argentina, Brasil, Australia etc) instead they scam those who are willing to come and invest, improve and contribute. Proprio rincoglioniti ! Sorry for the rant but your video touched a dissonant chord in my dream of retiring in Italy even though all my remaining family lives there. Ciao. Nice channel.
And you say you are Italian? You are not Italian you are just a poor fool. if you have never been to Italy shut your mouth and spare us B-movie American clichés. Does the mafia exist in Italy? sure! does corruption exist? Yes: just as mafia and corruption exists where you live too! Give Italy and Italians a gift: stay a million miles away and don't come back for any reason in the world,thank you!
I'm with you! I'm Australian and have lived here for 25 years - live and behave like Italians or you will go mad. Italian bureaucracy will drive you insane anyway but boy, is the food good!
I studied for and sat the Italian drivers license test over 16 years ago as a foreigner who moved here. I signed up with a driving school and the minimum time it would take if all went perfectly was 3 months at a cost of €900 - group lessons with 18 year old learners every day, 5 days a week for 3 months. I did it and passed. What is so different in Italy is the theory test. 275 signs to memorise , tractor speeds, the meaning of chemical numbers printed on trucks, motor and tyre information about cars - all quickly forgotten after you pass the test. The driving school made us sit random sample tests until we got less than two errors - only then could we sit the test. This took weeks of practise tests but EVERYONE passed. Not so with the practical test. The day I did the practical test - note I had been driving for over 30 years - it was raining and none of the 18 year olds had driven in rain. They mounted the curb and did all manner of silly things. Only myself and one other from a group of 11 passed that day.
Holy smoly!
I think you may have exaggerated with having to learn/memorise thousands of questions.
You can download the book online. It's mainly street signs.
It can also be done in French & Belgium I believe.
To be honest the fact it can only be done in Italian makes sense. People planning to live in Italy should start learning the language before they go. It's common sense.
Yes, total common sense😊
Very interesting!
Loved your video and plain discussion of the facts. I am glad I came across the information. I started an Italian Language course and this reinforces why I will keep on!
Thank you! Yes, learning italian is very useful, especially if you will live here💞🇮🇹
Thank you! Great info.
Thank you for watching 💞🇮🇹
Great info as always guys, thanks for sharing your experience :)
Thank you! 💞🇮🇹
Excellent video for this type of information!! Thank you guys!!
So glad you enjoyed our video!
Thoughtful and honest content - - grazie mille!
Thank you!
Very informative. I see the challenged you guys faced.
So glad you enjoyed our video!
Very helpful video. Thanks.
Thank you!
Ciao Stijn, thank you so much for all your help. We are looking forward to our retirement in Italy as well. We will still be young enough to enjoy driving, this is very good to know, the international driving license is a good way to start but as I do my research, I find it sometimes very daunting, the rules they have, but they have them for a reason, it's up to us to decide if it's worth it. We both have family in Italy, but we don't want to depend on them to live our lives there. So, it's on to more research, Thanks so much for this, every bit of information is a huge help.
You're very welcome 💞🇮🇹
Yes, this is great information. I had no idea about the horsepower requirement.
So glad you enjoyed our video!
Italy does have arrangements with some countries (non EU) where you can exchange your driving licence without the need to take a test, The UK for example, a list is available on the ACI website
Yes we know. I (Debbie exchanged my US licence for a Belgian one, which Italy will exchange, however, not a previously exchanged one. So we're out of luck there. Thank you so much for your input, we truly appreciate it.
Extremely helpful especially with the horsepower restrictions and being a "new driver" - had no idea about that. I was planning to bring my Jeep Wrangler over but now I think I will have to sell it here in the US and get something there when we plan to move.
Definitely agree, just buy a car here. But remember, you must an Italian resident before you can buy a car💞🇮🇹
@@ouritaliandestiny7955 Yep, that's our plan. We will probably be moving next year and I plan to sell my Jeep here (CO) and then buy something there later. Plus I need to learn Italian first to pass the test so I won't be worrying about a car until then. I like the Toyota Yaris Cross as it fits the requirements but it seems the newer 2024 is just a little over the HP requirements. Guess I'll figure it out when we get to that point. Thanks for all the info - SUPER helpful.
Wow! That was quite interesting. I had no idea it was so challenging and expensive to get a car and drivers license in Italy. It just reinforces the idea of living where we could walk or take public transportation wherever we settle down.
Thanks for the great info!
You're very welcome 💞🇮🇹
God bless u..thanks for sharing useful info.
Thank you!
Wow! It seems very overwhelming and complicated!
We have the International drivings license and it was easy and $25 US and worth it.
What an informative helpful video guys!!!!!! Great job! ~Cara ❤
So glad you enjoyed it!
This is very very helpful thankyou
Thank you so much!
Very useful video content! Everyone should know this . Driver licence is definetely a challenge for foreigner like us … who did not know much Italian especially ..
So glad you enjoyed our video!
Very interesting - sucks that it takes years. Definitely a consideration as my wife and I consider moving to Italy in retirement...
This is very useful, I know about the difficulty of getting an Italian driver's license, it is a fear about moving! IT is hard to pass.
Thank you💞🇮🇹
Amazing!
Thank you 💞🇮🇹
We would love to see videos on Elective retirement visa or how you are able to get residency in Italy. Or “a day in the life of” videos!!
We are also looking for a country house in Umbria or Abruzzo with a yard or a little bit of land. We are planning on retiring now. We have started the search for a Home in Italy now!!! Wish we could find a villa like yours! Maybe you could show us around some parts of Umbria!!
Those videos are in the thought process😊
We'd love to meet you if you come our way! 💞🇮🇹
So in theory, on the HP/LW limit and a new license, I could drive what ever on an international license while simultaneously having my 'new' license? Get pulled over, just hand them the international license?
As an American or Canadian you can only drive on an international permit for 1 year after becoming a resident. At that point you must get the Italian license, obtained in the Italian language.
The fear that’s been instilled in us about the Italian drivers license test is why, when we hopefully retire there in a year, we are looking for a location with easy access to buses and trains and services within walking distance :). I want to take road trips to nearby countries also so planning those in the first year! Thanks for sharing. I think there is a slightly easier test to drive a small scooter.
Absolutely, we are also looking into our retirement in Italy. That sounds like a great idea. Even though we are looking into retiring, we still have plenty of years left to drive. looks like it's the bus.
So glad you enjoyed our video!
Good reminder for us to check the PT requirements...looks like we are good to go until we turn 60 or our DLs expire. But the int'l permit might be good to have regardless.
It's very inexpensive so we recommend just getting the international DL💞
Thank you for this extremely informative video. We are US citizens with property in Italy, and we are finally moving there full-time. Frankly, we hadn’t paid a lot of attention to the new driver restrictions and had been planning on shipping over our cars, which are way, way over 55kw. Well, not anymore. I guess we’ll be getting a couple of Fiat 500s instead.
It doesn't necessarily need to be a fiat 500. Our fiat tipo (wagon) is also suitable due to its small engine and it has a ton more storage than a 500
Thanks for the tip@@ouritaliandestiny7955 - we'll look at the Tipo!
Stijn, thanks for the valuable info! What about driving a Vespa?
While I don't have personal experience I just found through an online search that you do also need a drivers license to drive a scooter. A standard B license will do for scooters up to 125cc. Beyond that you need a motorcycle-specific license.
Thanks for sharing "Driving in Italy "
great information share Thanks for sharing !
L147
So glad you enjoyed our video, thank you so much for watching ❤️🇮🇹
How do they calculate the 1 year of driving on your national licence? Does it reset each time you enter Italy ? Is it cumulative over a calendar year? If we are in Italy for 3 months then back in UK 3 months, then back in Italy for 3 months have we used 3 months or 6?
Excellent topic. Very relevant.
Study your Italian before leaving! Plan on a long term lease while waiting for your residency card. When able, purchase a properly powered car. Probably a Fiat 500. There will be a good resale market in the expat community for obvious reasons. Don’t drink and drive. Spend the night. That’s a no brainer anyway. Slow down! Isn’t that the point anyway? Going far? Take the train. Did I say learn the language first? You can get the drivers license book ahead of time and there are options for training to prepare for this most daunting task. Lastly, keep your fingers crossed….there is talk of a possible agreement between Italy and the US for a similar situation that just occurred with the UK for drivers license transfer. Probably not for a couple years though. This has to be one of the most important components of your move/retirement to Italy. Yet I hear so many stories of surprised expats!? Do your research. Plan ahead. Did I say plan ahead? Yep. I did.
Where did you hear about a possible arrangement with the US? Part of the problem is that there is no ‘national’ US driver license for the country. Each state is separate. So Italy would have to make an agreement with each state. That’s what I heard anyway.
I read it on The Local. Worse case scenario is only some states could make agreements. It is true that each state would have to be addressed separately. All states certainly meet the same requirements that the UK met. I am optimistic that at least a dialog is taking place.
@@brianfilkowski Ah, I subscribe to The Local but I don't always read everything. That would be great if they would. I'll keep my fingers crossed for Missouri :D Second best would be offering the test in English.
@@cherin6703 Like in US they put everything also in Italian ;) What would you think of a new Us resident who refuse to speak in English?
@@cbuatalDid I miss a post? Who’s refusing to speak Italian?
Hi Stein, in Italy fines can arrive up to 5 years after the infringement. Usually by this time they have put them out to a debt collector who sends a notice by Certified mail without saying what it's for. If you collect it you must pay it. This happened to me. One thing you did not mention is the time it takes to get the Italian driving license - 3 months minimum from signing up with the driving school and the high price of the lessons. For me, 16 years ago over €900.
Hi Leanne, thanks for your comment. I had the chance to speak to the head of police of one of the local towns and he told me that they have 365 days to deliver the tickets so perhaps it depends on the commune (my resource was from Panicale) or the rules may have changed. The towns seem to use a collections agency based out of Florence, that is where our tickets came from.
I knew there would be things I'd forget or be unaware of. You're right about the cost, I have heard this from expats but I would imagine there is some variance in cost between the various places in Italy. I wasn't aware of the timelines so thanks again.
Ours were 2 fines from Naples - they arrived a week before 5 years by certified mail. I was told that was legal and totally normal.@@ouritaliandestiny7955
I'm loving reading all the comments. After 25 years of living here and having so many crazy stories to tell regarding my experiences, my conclusion is it's still worth it - I love living in Italy - no matter how frustrating and illogical its bureaucracy can be.
You all need to stop speeding 😂
That sounded complicated with the car , I won’t move there , I’ll just visit 🥳
You're right about the speeding and we have cleaned up our act but I certainly didn't drive any different from the US yet here it resulted in a few tickets.
@@ouritaliandestiny7955 having those cameras around and not knowing where they are
I am sure here in the USA we would get tickets in the mail all the time if we had them like Italy
Some places they do have them but it will notify you on a app when driving
Great stuff Stijn. Are you required to convert your Belgian license now that you reside in Italy? If yes, is this a 'relatively' painless process?
Yep you can simply exchange a European license without any tests. From 50 years old they do require an eye test but thankfully I'm not 50 yet.
I'm Italian (an old Italian..) and curious and suspicious. Where you were asked to pay in cash the fine/ticket? In the cop's hands ? Or at Police station? Did they give you a receipt with all the data? Never ever pay the cops cash for any reason. It is not accepted and there is always time to pay within 5 or sometimes a fortnight in various ways with a 30% reduction of the original amount.
I've lived in Italy for 25 years and would NEVER pay police cash.
So we've been renewing the international driving permit the last couple of years it is good only a year. I'll be starting driving school actually next week😢😢😂
Good luck, we know it's not easy
I have dual American/Italian Citizenship. Is the process for getting a license any different?
Citizenship has no bearing on the license requirement unfortunately
We are Canadian , My husband was born in Italy . We are trying to obtain our citizenship for Italy. If we bought a car would we still have to go through another drivers test after a year?
Yes, buying a car in Italy doesn't offer any sort of relief from the license challenges so I would probably buy a small vehicle that fits within the 55kw/ton requirement. These are also advertised as 'neo patente'.
Hi , Wayne in Houston here. I was watching your story on heating today and its a year old so I'm posting a question here on your latest. I see you reply to them. First I was wondering if solar is common there and cost effective for electrical or heating your hot water and stuff? Also you seen to have turned your home into a heating Lab. so to speak, I thought that was funny.
Second , we just got back from Scotland. I'm hoping Italy is our next trip, and really I think I'd like to move there. Things are getting pretty ugly here in the US. We noticed first hand in Scotland, and on u tubes I'm watching on Italy that it seems no one owns a dryer. why is that? Seriously that sucks in wet dreary Scotland. nothing wanted to dry in the time we had.
Good luck with your endeavors, and I'll keep following. I'm living vicariously through you guys who actually do this. Where Y'all from actually?
Hi Wayne, thanks for your kind words.
In recent weeks I have actually been looking at solar panels (possibly with a battery system) to run the math. I did not ask for quotes on a hot water system through solar, although that is a pretty common thing over here. We recently had to have our gas hot water heater replaced so we're not looking at that option currently. Because our home is located in a protected (forested) area we are unfortunately subject to some rather strict limitations which make the solar conversation a lot more complex. We have to embed any panels into our existing tile roof and can only install red panels rather than standard black ones. Between the added cost for the embedded install (roughly 4000 euro) and the need for more panels (red panels only produce about 75% of what black ones do) it has made it prohibitively expensive. The total cost without a battery system would be somewhere around 18000 euro. Add another 10 for the battery system. Given that we spend well below 1000 euro per year on electricity and it's clearly not worth the investment for us at this time.
As far as the driers are concerned it usually boils down to the power use of these units. Any appliance that heats or cools generally consumes a lot and a drier is no different. I would hate to have to dry my clothes indoors in Scotland year round. Thankfully in Umbria the weather is very sunny and even on relatively cold winter days there is sun and clothes do dry fairly quickly. We actually have to pay closer attention to our irrigation schedule than the weather forecast. That said, many expats do own an electric drier so it's not like they are hard to find.
We lived in Nevada most of our lives, but I (Stijn) was born in the EU so that made the visa application process much easier.
I had heard about about how moving to Italy is really difficult for Americans.
The best way to move to Italy is to hire an attorney here to help you! It's too hard on your own.
@@giiggii11 how long did the paper work take for you guys? I know moving to Portugal is much easier.
@@trave7644 yes Portugal was easier, although I heard they were not too happy to have all these expats lately and some laws were changing. Italy is just full of twists and turns very tricky to navigate. If I had to do it over again I would hire and attorney who takes care of all of it! Took us over about 16 months to be able to breath easier and only because I bugged them constantly every day😁
@@giiggii11 How easy is it hire and attorney, and who who know a good one. There are some cammers. How much would it cost.
Most people who move to Portugal are happy. but yes getting expensive there because expats driving up prizes.
Do you have any car suggestions?
A very small one! The roads are very narrow in most smaller towns. City's and highways are of course wider.
Besides the obvious Fiat recommendation a brand called Dacia is nog extremely popular since they offer excellent value for money.
Just get an international dl and keep it is the moral of the story
It's only good for 1 year😊
I start the video and I see a person from the US wearing a baseball cap.
That hat is an immediate signal to Europeans that you are from the US and are not trying to blend in.
There is a saying; when in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Learn the culture from the locals. See how the locals do things including with transportation.
Thank you for your advice, I'll keep it in mind.
i hate ball caps walking billboards
I am going to have my Virginia DL converted to a German one. Then when I move to Italy, I will have the right to use my German one.
I think because your license didn’t originate in Germany but converted from the US you will still only be able to drive on it for a year.
If you actually pass the driving test to get a German license, then you can exchange it for an Italian license. Otherwise you will not be able to get an Italian license with a simple exchange.
I have heard the same thing, unfortunately. Here is the quote.
"Restrictions on the use of a European driving licence provided in exchange for a non-European driving licence
Driving licences issued by another Member State of the European Union or European Economic Area for converting a licence issued by a non-EU country allow you to drive in Italy.
However, if you have been officially resident in Italy for more than a year and hold a licence issued by a European Union or European Economic Area Member State for converting a licence issued by a non-EU or non-EEA country with which Italy has not drawn up mutual conversion agreements, you will have to obtain an Italian driving licence by taking the required qualification tests (theory and practical tests)."
@@bryanneatwood4261 I looked it up. Germany accepts licenses from Virginia without retesting.
Thanks for this video. I am italian, fluent in italian, but never lived in Italy (except years 1-4 but those hardly count).. If I were you I'd try to befriend the local mafia/politician/consulente comunale/whatever guy a get all these issues solved. I have no idea why you're trying to do the right thing in a place where no one does the right thing. Do you really think that italians behave like you ? And that story of the pay cash get a discount sounds soooo fishy. Be like the italians, misstrust everyone. You can't move to Italy with a trusty american attitude. You'll get scammed and re-scammed and re-scammed. Every time I am there I'm fighting with a controllore, a carabiniere, a tabbacaio that sold me an expired bus ticket etc etc. Continuous fighting and I speak Italian. They treat me like crap because I have no accent but ask stupid questions due to my lack of understanding of how the system works. I have to constantly explain that I am a tourist. At first they think I am pulling their leg but my american wife with an accent changes their tone. If it wasn't for the lifestyle and the food I would run a million miles away from that place. I wish you well and I hope you can endure all that maddening bureaucracy. Think of all the waste in the publlic administration, all that wasteful manpower doing nothing, solving nothing ... your car import story sounds like a total nightmare. At my age (61) I would never pass that stupid driver's license test ... just to learn all those cryptic traffics signs sounds like an exercise in futility. Italians are dying and the country is depopulating but they don't seem to be aware of this nor care .. at least none of my aunts or cousins talk about it. They all still seem to care about what they wear and of course what they eat. They should be re-admitting their own "oriundi" en-masse (from the USA, Argentina, Brasil, Australia etc) instead they scam those who are willing to come and invest, improve and contribute. Proprio rincoglioniti ! Sorry for the rant but your video touched a dissonant chord in my dream of retiring in Italy even though all my remaining family lives there. Ciao. Nice channel.
And you say you are Italian? You are not Italian you are just a poor fool. if you have never been to Italy shut your mouth and spare us B-movie American clichés. Does the mafia exist in Italy? sure! does corruption exist? Yes: just as mafia and corruption exists where you live too! Give Italy and Italians a gift: stay a million miles away and don't come back for any reason in the world,thank you!
I'm with you! I'm Australian and have lived here for 25 years - live and behave like Italians or you will go mad. Italian bureaucracy will drive you insane anyway but boy, is the food good!