{"id":230,"date":"2023-04-03T19:29:59","date_gmt":"2023-04-04T02:29:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/conssanfrancisco.esteri.it\/servizi-consolari-e-visti\/servizi-per-il-cittadino-italiano\/autoveicoli-e-patenti-di-guida\/"},"modified":"2026-03-17T16:32:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T23:32:49","slug":"autoveicoli-e-patenti-di-guida","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/conssanfrancisco.esteri.it\/en\/servizi-consolari-e-visti\/servizi-per-il-cittadino-italiano\/autoveicoli-e-patenti-di-guida\/","title":{"rendered":"Motor vehicles and driving licenses"},"content":{"rendered":"

Confirmation of Validity of an Italian Driver\u2019s License
\n<\/strong>
\nPursuant to Circular No. 107 of October 14, 1997, issued by the Italian Ministry of Transport<\/u><\/a>, Italian citizens residing abroad and duly registered with A.I.R.E. may request confirmation of the validity of their Italian driver\u2019s license1<\/a><\/sup> through the competent diplomatic or consular authority.<\/p>\n

Under Article 126, paragraph 9, of the Italian Highway Code, it is possible to renew a driver\u2019s license at this Consulate General starting four months prior to its expiration date<\/u>, provided that the applicant has been registered with A.I.R.E. for at least six months and that the license has not been expired for more than five years<\/u>.<\/p>\n

Application Procedure
\n<\/strong>
\nTo obtain confirmation of the validity of a driver\u2019s license, the applicant must:
\n\u2022 undergo a medical examination with a physician authorized to issue certificates for driver\u2019s license renewal. The cost of the examination is entirely borne by the applicant. The Consulate General does not have affiliated or \u201cdesignated physicians\u201d;
\n\u2022 send the required documentation by mail to the following address:
\nConsulate General of Italy in San Francisco
\n(Attn: Driver\u2019s License Renewal)
\n2590 Webster Street
\nSan Francisco, CA 94115<\/p>\n

The documentation must include:
\n1. a clear photocopy (front and back) of the Italian driver\u2019s license, expired no more than five years;
\n2. a medical fitness certificate issued no earlier than 30 days prior (see medical form<\/u><\/a>). The form may be completed by two different physicians (one for vision and one for hearing). An ophthalmologist is acceptable; an optician is not. Physicians must indicate their professional licensing body on the form and provide their signature;
\n3. a photocopy of proof of residence (e.g., U.S. driver\u2019s license or a utility bill);
\n4. a money order payable to \u201cConsulate General of Italy in San Francisco\u201d for the total amount set forth in the Consular Fee Schedule<\/u><\/a> (Art. 66D);
\n5. a self-addressed, prepaid \u201cPriority Mail\u201d envelope with tracking number (available exclusively through USPS), indicating the applicant\u2019s address for the return of the documentation.<\/p>\n

The Consulate General declines any responsibility for delays or issues attributable to postal services.
\n<\/strong>
\nAfter verifying the documentation and the credentials of the certifying physician, the Consulate General will issue a renewal certificate, which must be kept together with the original driver\u2019s license.<\/p>\n

Please note that Italian Consulates cannot issue a new driver\u2019s license card; only a renewal certificate bearing the Consular seal will be issued.<\/p>\n

\u2e3b<\/p>\n

Return to Italy
\n<\/strong>
\nHolders of a driver\u2019s license who transfer their residence to Italy are required to complete the standard renewal procedure within six months of their return, pursuant to Article 126, paragraph 8, of the Italian Highway Code, even if the certificate issued by the Consulate is still valid.<\/p>\n

Please note that this Consulate General cannot guarantee that the renewal certificate issued by the Consulate will be recognized as valid for driving in the United States.
\n<\/strong>
\nIMPORTANT \u2013 Lost or Stolen Driver\u2019s License
\n<\/u>
\nThe Consulate General cannot issue duplicate licenses or temporary driving documents.
\nFor these cases, please refer to the instructions provided by the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport at the following link:
\n<\/u><\/strong>https:\/\/www.mit.gov.it\/smarrimento-furto-patente<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2e3b<\/p>\n

For further information, please visit the website of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation:
\nhttps:\/\/www.esteri.it\/it\/servizi-consolari-e-visti\/italiani-all-estero\/autoveicoli_e_patenti\/<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
    \n
  1. Category A and Category B driving licences are valid for ten (10) years. If they are issued or renewed for individuals over fifty (50) years of age, they are valid for five (5) years. For those over seventy (70) years of age, they are valid for three (3) years. Driving licences issued to persons with disabilities and Category C licences are valid for five (5) years, and for three (3) years from the age of seventy (70).\u21a9<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Confirmation of Validity of an Italian Driver\u2019s License Pursuant to Circular No. 107 of October 14, 1997, issued by the Italian Ministry of Transport, Italian citizens residing abroad and duly registered with A.I.R.E. may request confirmation of the validity of their Italian driver\u2019s license1 through the competent diplomatic or consular authority. Under Article 126, paragraph […]","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":204,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-230","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/conssanfrancisco.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/230","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/conssanfrancisco.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/conssanfrancisco.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/conssanfrancisco.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/conssanfrancisco.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=230"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/conssanfrancisco.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/230\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7284,"href":"https:\/\/conssanfrancisco.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/230\/revisions\/7284"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/conssanfrancisco.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/204"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/conssanfrancisco.esteri.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=230"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}