:: Driving Licence
EC Citizens can use their former driver's license to drive in Italy. Some non-EC citizens need only to have their license translated and notarized to be able to use it here, depending on whether or not their country and the Italian government have agreed to reciprocal recognition of driver's licenses. Others, including citizens of the United States, must get an Italian driver's license within one year of becoming a resident.
Driving with an International Driver's License or your home license after this period expires is risky because no Italian insurance policy will cover you if you have an accident while driving without an Italian license.
How to get your licence
You can have foglio rosa (driving permit) even before passing a written exam. This permit gives you the right to drive only when accompianied by a licensed driver, and lasts for six months. About the writtern exam, you cannot take the test with an interpreter. You have to wait at least a month after receiving this permit before you are eligible to take a driving test.
You can find driving schools in the yellow pages under the listing scuola guida:
www.paginegialle.it
ACI or Automobile Club Italiana can also give you list of their schools.
ACI Automobile Club Italiana
Via Marzabotto, 2
Tel. 0039 051/389908
www.acibologna.com
Although it's expensive, many people decide to go to a driving school rather than attempt to prepare for the tests on their own.
It is difficult, but not impossible to prepare for the driving test on your own. This is referred to as doing the exam da privatista. You can get "Patente A e B Multilingue", a preparation manual with translations in various European languages, at Feltrinelli International Bookshop - www.lafeltrinelli.it.
Buying an additional book of practice quizzes is a good idea, as the format of these quizzes is identical to that of the written exam. Some people who prepare for the written test on their own will take a few driving lessons through a school for good measure.
:: NEW OR USED CAR?
Both new and used cars can be found at dealerships or through newspaper ads. For dealerships, see the yellow pages under the listing AUTOMOBILI www.paginegialle.it
A note: small cars are the best at handling the narrow streets and tight parking spaces of the city center.
Once you have settled the payment issues, you'll need to get insured. Shop around for the best rate. Insurance agencies are listed in the white pages - www.paginebianche.it/ - under the heading ASSICURAZIONI.
If you buy a used car, you will have to change the name on the libretto (title). This title transfer is called "trasferta di proprieta". The easiest way to do it is to go through. You can also go directly to the Motorizazzione Civile. You will need to bring proof of insurance, the libretto, and your permesso di soggiorno.
Motorizazzione Civile
via dell'Industria 34
Tel. 0039 051/6018711
You can also find information on the site of the Automobile Club Bologna
www.acibologna.com (Italian version)
Finally, you will have to buy another marca da bollo, which you will keep in your libretto along with the insurance certificate. The staff at ACI or in your local tabaccheria can tell you the current (rates often change from year to year) and print out a new bollo for you. Keep this certificate in your libretto along with your insurance certificate.
Contact the anagrafe office in your local quartiere for information about getting a parking permit for your neighborhood. You have to be a resident to obtain one.
Quartieri: www.comune.bologna.it/comune/index.html#quartieri (Italian Version)
:: PARKING LOTS
Like in every Italian City, even in Bologna there is the big problem of the traffic and, consequently the matter of finding a parking. Here you have a link with the touristic pages of Iperbole, in order to find a list of the parking lost in bologna and an interactive map:
* Parking lots in Bologna, addresses and phone numbers
iat.comune.bologna.it/IAT/IAT.nsf/f8ab29d881752507c1256e6f003574e0/2c9792b2744815b8c125707600310589?OpenDocument&Highlight=0,parking or iat.comune.bologna.it/IAT/IAT.nsf/f8ab29d881752507c1256e6f003574e0/91c92f26cb29899541256b7a00489c57?OpenDocument&Highlight=0,parking
:: RENT A CAR
If you a have to rent a car look in the touristic pages of Iperbole: iat.comune.bologna.it/IAT/IAT.nsf/f8ab29d881752507c1256e6f003574e0/82529f73c84d6a7bc1256d08002bfdbc?OpenDocument&Highlight=0,car*
