How to get the patente B: from the application to the practical test

To drive the vehicles of the B and BE patente categories you need to be 18 years old: this is established by the Codice della strada (the Italian Highway Code), art. 115.

The Italian patente is also issued to those who have their residence in Italy (art. 116). The residence is the place where you live in a stable way, registered at the registry office of your municipality.

If you have these two requirements, you can start the path to get the patente.

The path starts with the patente application, which you submit to the office of the Motorizzazione civile (the civil motor vehicle office). The Motorizzazione is the public office that deals with driving licences in Italy.

For forms, documents and costs of the application, ask directly the office of the Motorizzazione: there you will find the updated information for your case.

From when you submit the application an important time starts: you must pass the theory exam within 6 months (art. 122).

For the A1, A2, A, B1, B and BE licence categories the theory exam takes place on a computer. There are 30 statements and for each one you must answer True or False, in 20 minutes of time. You pass the exam if you get at most 3 answers wrong.

Pay attention to the times: you must pass the theory exam within 6 months from the patente application, and in this period you have at most 2 attempts available (art. 122).

To prepare yourself you can practise with the material of PatenteInTasca: explanations in simple words and exam simulations with True or False statements, like in the test.

If you pass the theory exam you receive the foglio rosa, that is the authorisation to practise driving. The foglio rosa is valid for 12 months (art. 122).

For the patente B there is an important step: before practising with an accompanying person you must do practice sessions at a driving school, on the motorway or on extra-urban roads and in night-time vision conditions. When you practise you must carry with you the certificate of the driving school that attests these practice sessions (art. 122).

Remember that for driving you need a driving school: PatenteInTasca is not affiliated with the Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti (MIT) (the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport) nor with the Motorizzazione and is not a driving school, but only material to practise the theory.

The last step is the practical driving test. You cannot take it immediately: at least 1 month must pass from the issue of the foglio rosa (art. 121).

If the test does not go well, you can try again: within the validity of the foglio rosa you can repeat the practical test at most 2 times (art. 121).

A practical tip: use the months of the foglio rosa to gain driving experience calmly, so you arrive at the test more prepared.