Foglio rosa: what it is, how long it lasts and how to use it to practise driving

The foglio rosa is the authorisation that lets you practise driving on the road. You receive it after passing the theory exam for the patente, as required by article 122 of the Codice della strada. Before you have it, you cannot practise on the road, not even with an experienced person next to you.

The foglio rosa is valid for 12 months. In this period you can practise driving and take the practical test.

To prepare for the theory exam you can practise with the exam simulations and explanations of PatenteInTasca.

When you practise you cannot drive alone. Next to you there must be a person who acts as an instructor and who has these requirements (Codice della strada, article 122):

• no more than 65 years of age;
• a patente of the same category as the one you want to get for at least 10 years, or a patente of a higher category.

The vehicle you use must carry the sign with the letter P: it is a sign with a clearly visible P that tells others that the driver is practising.

If you want the patente B you cannot start practising straight away with an accompanying person. First you must do driving practice sessions with the driving school in these situations (Codice della strada, article 122):

• on motorways or extra-urban roads, that is outside built-up areas;
• in night vision conditions, that is in the dark.

The driving school gives you a certificate that confirms these practice sessions and you must have it with you when you practise with the accompanying person. PatenteInTasca is not a driving school and does not replace these driving practice sessions: it is material to practise the theory.

If you have the foglio rosa for the patente categories AM, A1, A2 and A, you can never carry passengers (Codice della strada, article 122).

The ban applies for the whole practice period, with no exceptions.

The practical test is the driving exam on the road, the one that gives you the patente. Article 121 of the Codice della strada sets 2 limits to remember:

• you cannot take the practical test before 1 month has passed from the issue of the foglio rosa;
• if you do not pass it, you can repeat it at most 2 times, always within the validity of the foglio rosa.

Keep these times in mind when you organise your driving practice sessions.

Some practical advice to make good use of the practice period:

• Practise regularly: short and frequent sessions are better than rare and long ones.
• Try different situations: traffic, parking, hills, roads you do not know.
• Ask the person sitting next to you to correct mistakes straight away, so they do not become habits.
• Review the theory when needed: signs and rules are useful while you drive.