Cost of driving in Italy

Toll roads

Toll roads (autostradas) are common across Italy and can be a great way to get from A to B quickly. The way these work is quite simple: you take a ticket when you enter and pay at the booth when you leave.

And, if you’re planning to do a lot of driving, it’s well worth adding the costs to your budget as they can soon add up, and you don’t want to be left short of funds at the exit booth.

A useful source for planning your journeys is the Autostrade website, which allows you to find the best routes, and offers real-time traffic and weather information. It even gives locations of the best fuel prices.

Things to remember:

• Green signs indicate the road you’re using is an autostrada
• Be aware of the speed limits
• The further left the lane, the faster the speed Avoid the
• Telepass lane at the pay station (this is only for those who have arranged to pay on a monthly basis)

A little research before you get behind the wheel can make all the difference and ensure your time on Italy’s toll roads runs as smoothly and surprise-free as possible.

Average fuel prices

If you’re planning on doing a lot of driving while you’re overseas, the cost of fuel could have a significant impact on what you spend. For that reason, it’s definitely a good idea to have a reasonable idea of the sort of prices you can expect.

A good place to keep an eye on the cost of fuel across Europe is the Autotraveler website, which updates prices for Super 95, Premium 98, Diesel and LPG on a daily basis. It also offers data on historical maximums.

To give you a rough idea of costs in Italy, as of April 2015, Super 95 hovered around the €1.67 mark.

How easy is filling up?

Italy isn’t short of places to get fuel, with filling stations all across the country. Whether you want petrol or diesel you should find you’re able to get it, although it’s worth noting some smaller garages have limited opening hours on Sundays. However, in some cases self-service pumps with the option of paying at the machine are on offer, so it might not be as much of a problem as you’d expect.

Insurance from Swinton and Safeguard

• Car Hire Excess Insurance - Protect your finances from costly excess charges on insurance for rental cars
• Car Insurance - A flexible range of policies for a wide range of cars and drivers
• Breakdown Cover - Flexible cover to help get you back on the road
• Touring Caravan Insurance - European cover included as standard
• Motorhome Insurance - European cover included as standard

Driving abroad

Be sure to check out our other driving abroad guides:

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