Italy campervan hire: quick facts
| Typical hire price | About €55 to €180 a night, €400 to €1,250 a week; highest in July and August |
|---|---|
| Best months | May, June, September and October; August is hot and crowded on the coast |
| Drive on the | Right |
| Licence | A UK photocard licence is accepted; vans up to 3,500 kg are covered by a car licence |
| Tolls | Most autostrade charge by distance; a motorhome is usually class B, the class above cars |
| Low-emission and traffic zones | ZTL (zona a traffico limitato) in historic centres, enforced by camera |
| Overnight rules | Campsites, aree di sosta and agriturismi; free camping is restricted and varies locally |
Where you can stay overnight
Campsites and aree di sosta
Italian campsites range from simple family-run sites to large coastal villages with pools. The motorhome-specific option is the area di sosta, a parking area set aside for motorhomes. Some are run by councils and some by private owners, and the better ones have a waste-water point, fresh water, electricity and sometimes a shuttle into town. Prices and quality vary a great deal, so look at recent reviews. Aree di sosta in or close to a town are a handy way of avoiding the ZTL, as you park outside and walk or take a bus in.
Agriturismi and Agricamper
Agriturismi are working farms and wine estates, and some let motorhomes park on site, usually if you buy a meal or their produce. Agricamper Italia is a membership network of farms, agriturismi and wineries that offer motorhome visitors a free stopover of up to 24 hours. It is meant for self-contained vehicles, as toilets are not guaranteed on site, and you are expected to support the host by buying from them. Membership is paid, so check the current cost and the host list before you rely on it.
Wild camping in Italy
There is no single national rule that allows free camping, and the position depends on where you are. National law, in article 185 of the Codice della Strada, says a motorhome parked on the road is not camping so long as it is in travel mode: resting on its wheels only, with no waste emitted other than from the engine, and taking up no more road than the vehicle itself. Where parking is allowed, a motorhome may park and sleep. Unfolding an awning, putting out chairs, using levelling supports or emptying waste water turns the stop into camping. It is also an offence to discharge waste water on roads or public land outside proper disposal points.
On top of that, regions, provinces and councils make their own rules. Many coastal and tourist towns, national parks and nature reserves restrict or ban overnight parking by motorhomes with signs or ordinances, and some Italian courts have thrown out blanket bans, so local signs matter more than general advice. Never park on a beach or in a protected area, and obey no-parking and no-overnight signs. If in doubt, use an area di sosta or a campsite. Under the same article, paid parking for a motorhome is charged at 50 per cent more than the car rate.
Driving a campervan in Italy
ZTL zones and camera fines
A ZTL is a limited traffic zone in a historic centre, usually marked with a sign showing ZTL in black on a yellow background, and some run only at certain hours. The UK government warns that if you pass the sign without a permit, your registration is likely to be caught on camera and you will be fined. The fine range is set nationally by article 7 of the Codice della Strada, at roughly €80 to €340 for each pass, plus notification costs, and you can be fined more than once for repeated entries. Notices arrive months afterwards. For a hire vehicle, the owner is asked to pass your details to the authority, and you may be charged an administration fee as well. A large van is rarely a candidate for a ZTL permit, so park outside the centre and walk. Check the GOV.UK Italy travel advice before you go.
Autostrada tolls
Most Italian motorways are tolled by distance. You take a ticket at the entry gate and pay at the exit, by card or cash, or use a Telepass tag if the owner has fitted one. Vehicles with two axles are split by height at the front axle: class A is up to 1.30 m and class B is over 1.30 m. Most campervans and motorhomes sit over that line and so pay class B rates, which are higher than for a car. See the Autostrade per l'Italia vehicle classes. A few city and mountain tunnels and bypasses are tolled separately.
Speed limits and weight
Italian limits for cars are 50 km/h in towns, 90 km/h on ordinary roads, 110 km/h on main dual-carriageway roads and 130 km/h on motorways, cut to 90 and 110 km/h in rain or snow, with lower signed limits in places. The road code sets lower limits for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes up to 12 tonnes, of 80 km/h outside built-up areas and 100 km/h on motorways. The ADAC applies these limits to motorhomes over 3.5 tonnes. Most hire vans are under 3.5 tonnes. If the maximum weight is over 3,500 kg you may need a C1 entitlement; see do I need a special licence to drive a campervan.
Licence and documents
You can drive in Italy on a UK photocard licence, according to GOV.UK. If you still hold a paper licence, you may need an International Driving Permit. Carry a warning triangle and a hi-vis vest, which you must wear if you leave the vehicle on the carriageway outside towns. A rear bike rack or anything else sticking out at the back needs the red-and-white reflective 50 x 50 cm warning panel. In winter, signs on many roads require winter tyres or snow chains on board. Details are on the GOV.UK IDP page and what documents you need to rent a campervan.
Route ideas
- Tuscany and Umbria (7 to 10 days). Hill towns, vineyards and agriturismi stops. Park below the walls of Siena, San Gimignano and Assisi, since the centres are ZTL.
- Dolomites and the lakes (7 to 10 days). Garda, Como and the mountain passes. Mind the height and length limits on narrow bends and old tunnels.
- Puglia and the heel (7 to 10 days). Whitewashed towns and long coast, with aree di sosta near most main towns.
- Sicily (10 to 14 days). Best out of high summer; allow time for slow roads and the ferry crossing.
When to go and booking tips
Book early for July and August and for the weeks around Ferragosto in mid-August, when coastal aree di sosta and campsites fill. In spring and autumn you can pick sites on the day. Before you book, ask about the mileage cap, whether the van has a Telepass tag, and the size, since narrow village streets reward a shorter van. See how much it costs to hire a motorhome and what insurance you need. Insurance and payment protection come with every booking, and 24/7 roadside assistance is optional.
Where to pick up
Pick-up points are most common around Milan, Venice, Rome, Florence, Pisa, Naples and Bari, with more in smaller towns, as vans are listed by private owners and local hire businesses. Use the search box for your dates. Italy pairs well with a trip into France, and the Europe hub covers the rest.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive a campervan into Italian city centres?
Usually not. Most historic centres are ZTL, with camera enforcement and a fine for each entry without a permit. Park outside and walk.
How are Italian motorway tolls charged for a motorhome?
By distance, paid at the exit by card, cash or Telepass. A van over 1.30 m high at the front axle is class B, which costs more than a car.
Is wild camping allowed in Italy?
Not freely. You may park and sleep where parking is allowed, but awnings, chairs and levelling turn that into camping, and local bans are common. Aree di sosta and campsites are the safe choice.
What is Agricamper?
A paid membership giving self-contained motorhomes free 24-hour stops at farms, agriturismi and wineries, with the host supported by what you buy.
Do I need an International Driving Permit?
Not with a UK photocard licence, although some owners and hire businesses ask for one. A paper licence may need one.
Use the search box at the top of this page to see vans available in Italy for your dates.