ItalyvsSwitzerland
Italy and Switzerland share a land border — here's how their driving rules differ, side by side.
VERIFIED 2026-07-29 & 2026-07-29 · METHODOLOGY| RULE | Italy | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| Driving side | Drives on the right | Drives on the right |
| Urban speed limit | 50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural speed limit | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Motorway speed limit | 130 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Alcohol limit (general) | 0.5‰ | 0.5‰ |
| Alcohol limit (novice) | 0.0‰ | 0.1‰ |
| Mandatory equipment | Warning triangle, Hi-vis vest (for driver, if exiting vehicle on a road), Spare bulb kit (recommended) | Warning triangle |
| Tolls | Toll booths | Vignette |
| Headlights | Dipped headlights mandatory on motorways and main roads outside built-up areas at all times, and in all tunnels. | Dipped headlights (or daytime running lights) are required at all times, day and night. |
| Winter tires / chains | Winter tires or snow chains carried on board are required on many roads roughly mid-November to mid-April, but exact dates and affected roads are set locally by each road authority — check signage on your specific route, especially in the Alps and Apennines. | Winter tires aren't mandated by a fixed calendar date, but driving without appropriate winter equipment in wintry conditions can affect fault/liability if it contributes to an incident, and chains may be required (signed) on some Alpine passes. |
| Low-emission / restricted zones | Many city centers (Milan, Rome, Bologna, and others) have camera-enforced restricted traffic zones (ZTL) or low-emission zones — check local signage before entering. | No nationwide low-emission zone network; some town centers and Alpine resort areas restrict general traffic access at certain times. |
| Child seats | Children under 150 cm must use an approved child restraint suited to their size; rear-facing seats must not be used in front of an active airbag. | Children under 12 and shorter than 150 cm must use an approved child restraint suited to their size. |
| Mobile phone use | Hands-free only; holding a phone while driving is prohibited. | Hands-free only; holding a phone while driving is prohibited. |
| Currency | EUR | CHF |
| Emergency number | 112 | 112 |