Italian Driver’s License 2026 Update: New Rules, 8 Mandatory Hours, and Higher Costs
- Niko
- Jan 16
- 4 min read
If you have been hearing whispers that the Italian driving license rules have changed, you are not imagining things. The rumor mill is correct.
As of early 2026, the path to getting your Patente B has officially shifted. While the theory exam remains its usual tricky self, the practical side of things has become more demanding and, unfortunately for our wallets, more expensive.
Here is exactly what changed, why it happened, and how you can navigate the new system without breaking the bank.
The Big Change: 6 Hours is Now 8 Hours
For years, the standard requirement for mandatory driving lessons with a certified instructor (guide obbligatorie) was 6 hours. As of January 2026, that requirement has increased to 8 hours. This isn't just a matter of adding two random hours of driving around the block. The new Decree (specifically Decreto MIT 17/11/2025, published in Gazzetta Ufficiale n. 297 on Dec 23, 2025) introduces a stricter structure called the "Module System."
Your 8 hours are now split into four specific modules that your instructor must sign off on:
Module A (2 hours): Basic maneuvers and using modern safety tech (ADAS).
Module B (3 hours): City driving, complex intersections, and parking.
Module C (2 hours): Highways and extra-urban roads (driving over 50 km/h).
Module D (1 hour): Night driving.
Why the Change?
The Ministry of Transport didn't do this just to annoy us. The goal is to align Italy more closely with stricter EU safety directives. By forcing new drivers to spend more time in "high risk" scenarios, such as highways and night driving, before the exam, they hope to reduce the accident rate among new license holders.
What Else Has Changed?
The driving hours aren't the only update. The "New Highway Code" (Nuovo Codice della Strada) brought a few other surprises that are now active:
Stricter "Neopatentati" Rules: The restrictions for new drivers now last for 3 years instead of 1. However, there is a silver lining. The power limit for cars you can drive has been raised to 75 kW/t (up to a max of 105 kW), allowing you to drive many modern hybrids and mid-sized family cars that were previously banned.
Driving at 17: If you have an eager teenager, they can now start their training at 17 years old under the "Guida Accompagnata" scheme, provided they drive with an expert supervisor.
Zero Tolerance on Phones: The fines for using a smartphone while driving have spiked, including immediate short-term license suspension if you are caught holding a device.
What About the Theory Exam? (Yes, That Changed Too)
While the format of the exam remains the same (30 true/false questions in 20 minutes with a maximum of 3 errors), the content has quietly evolved.
The Ministry does not release a brand new "2026 Question Bank" book that you can buy. Instead, they use a rolling update system. As of early 2026, they have "obscured" (hidden) old questions that no longer match the new laws and activated new ones that you need to know.
Expect to see specific questions on these modern topics:
ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems): You must now know how features like Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keeping Assist, and Driver Fatigue Detection work.
Blind Spots (Angoli Ciechi): There is a renewed focus on cyclist safety and checking blind spots before turning.
Distracted Driving: Expect stricter questions regarding smartphone use and the specific penalties for holding a device while driving.
If you study with an old textbook or a static PDF from 2025 or before, you risk memorizing answers that are now legally wrong.
The Cost Reality (and How to Beat It)
Here is the tough part. Because you now have to pay for two extra hours of certified instruction plus the new administrative fees, getting a license in Italy just got more expensive. You can expect the total cost at a traditional autoscuola to rise by roughly €150 to €200.
Most people walk into a driving school and pay for the "Full Package" covering both theory classes and driving lessons. That is the most expensive way to do it.
The smarter route is to split the process.
You do not need an autoscuola for the theory part. You can study on your own, book the theory exam as a private candidate (privatista), and pass it for a fraction of the cost. You only strictly need the driving school for those mandatory 8 hours of driving.
This is exactly why we built Ready Set Italia.
Our Patente B prep program is designed to help you crush the theory exam on your own terms. We update our content constantly to reflect the latest law changes, like the new ADAS questions you will see in 2026, so you aren't studying outdated material.
Ready Set Italia is the only Patente B theory prep designed by native English speakers specifically for native English speakers. You can work entirely at your own pace, skipping the confusion of Italian lectures. Plus, our platform uses smart data tracking to let you know exactly when you are ready to take the exam. By streamlining your study process, you save the money usually spent on theory classes and can put it directly toward your mandatory driving hours
Ready to start? Don't let the new rules scare you. Check out our Patente B Prep Program today and get studying!
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