Driving in a ZTL with a rental car in Italy – Detailed guide (2023)

Ready to take a holiday in Italy, but don't know how to get around by car? Lurento brings you a detailed guide to the ZTL zones in the main Italian cities. ZTL stands for "zona a traffico limitato" (limited traffic zone).

ZTL - zona a traffico limitato (limited traffic zone)

What is a ZTL?

The acronym ZTL stands for “zona a traffico limitato” (eng. limited traffic zone). Vehicular traffic is prohibited within these areas. To combat vehicle traffic and to try to protect areas in the center, heart of the most beautiful Italian cities, many administrations, especially in large cities such as Rome and Milan have introduced the ZTL over the years. The ZTL was created to reduce pollution levels and make it easier for pedestrians to enter the city center. Within the ZTL area, vehicles can only enter and circulate at certain times or upon payment of a ticket. However, there are exemptions.

How do I recognize a ZTL?

All municipalities, in cities where there are ZTLs, provide maps on their websites, which can be consulted online, by means of which you can find out exactly where these areas are. Entrance to the ZTL area is sometimes delimited by mechanical barriers, which are only raised on presenting the appropriate pass or electronic permit. At each entrance and exit there is a closed-circuit camera system that records the number plate of each vehicle and automatically transmits any violations by unauthorised vehicles to the local police station. If these bars are not present, one must watch out for road signs, which will indicate the beginning and end of a restricted traffic zone.

What happens if I drive into a ZTL?

If there are bars positioned at the entrance to the zone, it will be impossible to enter without showing a ticket. If these bars are missing, if you drive through a restricted traffic zone you will incur a fine. The fine will be notified following a check on the cameras by the police and then you will have to go to the appropriate offices and pay the amount due for the offence. Sometimes it’s possible to pay online. The amount of the fine can vary from a minimum of EUR 80.00 to a maximum of EUR 332.00. If you pay immediately (within 5 days of receiving the fine), you will get 30% discount. The fine for driving in the LTZ does not result in any loss of driving license points.

What happens if I stay in a hotel in the ZTL?

If the hotel in which you wish to stay is located in a restricted traffic zone, don’t worry! In this situation, you can contact the receptionist (or concierge) in advance and notify him/her of the time you will be arriving, who in turn will inform the local authorities by providing your licence plate number. In this way, the municipality will enter your licence plate number into its database and when you enter a restricted traffic zone, which is regulated by cameras, it will not send you a warning and you will consequently avoid a fine. The easiest way to go is to book with Lurento and notify us that you will be staying in the ZTL. We’ll contact the hotel on your behalf and provide the plate numbers so you have nothing to worry about.

Different cities, different rules

In Italy, Lurento offers the best selection of supercars, luxury cars, minivans and convertibles in Rome, Naples, Florence and Milan. Let’s see now in detail where the ZTL zones are located in these cities, looking also at the ZTL times, which vary depending on the city and the area.

ZTL zones in Rome, Italy

In Rome, capital of Italy, the ZTL zone is located in the historic centre in the renaissance part of the capital. It extends in a circular shape bounded to the north by Piazza del Popolo, to the south by the Imperial Forums, to the east by Via vittorio Veneto, and to the west by the river Tiber. The ZTL zone is active in specific time slots, in particular from 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM from Monday to Friday, but excluding holidays, and from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Saturdays, excluding holidays, too.

ZTL zones in Naples, Italy

Coming down from Rome, we find other ZTL zones in Naples, the homeland of pizza. Here we find five zones: Tarsia-Pigna Secco-Dante where only allowed vehicles can drive from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Centro Antico, where the ZTL is active from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Considering Belledonne-Martiri-Poerio, except from authorized people, is not possible to drive from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Morelli-Filangieri-Mille has some different rules, as it is active only during the Christmas period. Finally, Chiaia where the ZTL is active only on saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

ZTL zones in Florence, Italy

In Florence, the ZTL is mainly present in the historic centre and consists of 5 sectors A,B,O,F and G. In the A, B and O sectors it is active all year round on weekdays, in particular from Monday to Friday from 7:30 AM to 8:00 PM and on Saturdays from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Different case from 7 April to 2 October, when the summer night ZTL is active, extended to all sectors A, B, O, F, and G also on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, from from 11:00 PM until 3:00 AM of the following day.

ZTL zones in Milan, Italy

Finally, in Milan, if you want to go shopping in the beautiful streets of the capital of fashion, you must pay close attention to ZTL zones. You can find them mainly in the city centre, including Area C, B, the Navigli, L’Arco della Pace, Corso Garibaldi and Via Paolo Sarpi. In the C area it is active from Monday to Friday, from 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM. It is not active on Saturdays and public holidays. In the B area , access is prohibited for the most polluting vehicles, such as euro 0 or 1 cars but also for euro 5.

Cities with ZTL zones in Italy – official information: