Ukrainian License Exchange in Italy: Motorizzazione Guide 2026

90 euros and zero exams - that’s what it costs to swap your Ukrainian driving license for an Italian one. The bilateral agreement between Ukraine and Italy has been in force since January 2022, and if you’ve got a valid license plus a permesso di soggiorno, you just submit your documents to Motorizzazione Civile and pick up your Italian patente 1-3 months later. No theory test, no driving test, no autoscuola. Here’s exactly how it works.

When your Ukrainian license is valid in Italy without conversion¶

It depends on your residence status.

Temporary protection (protezione temporanea)¶

If you came to Italy because of the war and have temporary protection, your Ukrainian license is valid for the entire duration of protection. The EU Council extended it until March 4, 2027, and Italy confirmed this.

In practice:

• Your Ukrainian license is recognized automatically, no additional certificates or translations needed
• Even if your license expired after February 24, 2022 - it’s still valid
• No International Driving Permit (IDP) required

But here’s the thing - temporary protection won’t last forever. If you’re planning to stay in Italy long-term, it’s better to convert now. The process is straightforward, costs are reasonable, and when protection ends - you’ll already have an Italian license in your wallet.

Regular residence permit (permesso di soggiorno)¶

If you hold a regular residence permit - work, family, or study - your Ukrainian license is valid for only 1 year from the date you established residency in Italy.

After that, driving with a Ukrainian license is illegal. The fine ranges from 161 to 647 euros (Article 136, Codice della Strada). And worse - if you’re in an accident, your insurance might refuse to pay out. So that one year is a hard deadline, not a suggestion.

The Ukraine-Italy agreement: the big advantage¶

Ukraine and Italy have a bilateral agreement on mutual recognition and exchange of driving licenses. It entered into force on January 24, 2022, and runs until January 24, 2027 (with the option to extend).

What this means for you:

• Categories A1, A2, A, B, and B+E can be exchanged without any exams - no theory, no practical test
• You only need a medical exam (certificato medico) and a set of documents
• The whole process is administrative - collect your papers, submit to Motorizzazione, wait for your new patente

For comparison: in Germany, Ukrainians have to pass both theory and practical exams from scratch - that’s 1,500-2,500 euros. In France, there’s no agreement yet - just a declaration of intent. In Spain, the agreement has been working since 2010 and the process is similar to Italy’s. In Italy - you submit your documents and wait. Simple.

The main limitation: conversion without exams is only possible within 4 years of obtaining residency in Italy. Miss that window and you’ll have to take revision exams (esami di revisione). Don’t procrastinate on this one.

Step-by-step process at Motorizzazione¶

Motorizzazione Civile (full name: Direzione Generale per la Motorizzazione) is a division of Italy’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. Think of it as Italy’s equivalent of the DMV. You need to submit your documents at the office in your province of residence.

Step 1: Get a traduzione giurata of your license¶

Unlike Spain, Italy requires a sworn translation (traduzione giurata) of your driving license. This is an official translation certified through asseverazione at the court (Tribunale).

How it works:

1. A translator (traduttore) translates your license into Italian
2. The translation is sworn in at the Tribunale - the translator brings it to court and confirms its accuracy under oath
3. The court stamps and registers the translation

Cost of traduzione giurata for a driving license: 50-120 euros (depends on the city and translator). Bigger cities like Rome and Milan tend to charge more. Plus a marca da bollo (revenue stamp) of 16 euros per document.

You can order a translation from a certified translator - find one through the Ukrainian consulate or use ChatsControl for a quick document translation.

Step 2: Get the medical exam¶

A medical certificate (certificato medico) is mandatory for conversion. You can get it from:

• ASL (Azienda Sanitaria Locale) - local health authority
• A military or civilian hospital
• An authorized doctor who’s certified to issue driving medical certificates

What they check: vision, hearing, general health. Nothing complicated - it’s a standard procedure, same as renewing any Italian license.

Cost of the medical exam: 30-60 euros depending on the license category and where you go. ASL is usually cheaper, private doctors are faster.

The certificate is valid for 3 months - don’t get it too far in advance.

Step 3: Gather your documents¶

Step 4: Submit to Motorizzazione¶

Head to the Motorizzazione Civile office in your province with the complete document package. Find your nearest office on the Portale dell’Automobilista.

Some cities let you submit part of the paperwork through a driving school (autoscuola) or an ACI agency - handy if you’d rather skip the queue at Motorizzazione. An intermediary will charge 30-80 euros for the service, but it saves time and hassle.

Step 5: Wait for verification and your new patente¶

After submission, Motorizzazione sends a request through the Ukrainian consulate to verify that your license is genuine. This is a mandatory step - the Italians check that your license is real and hasn’t been revoked.

Wait times: 1 to 3 months, sometimes longer. It depends on how busy Motorizzazione is and how quickly the Ukrainian side responds. On a forum for Ukrainians in Italy, a woman from Milan shared: “I submitted in February, the verification took 5 weeks, got my new patente in April. But my friend in Naples waited 4 months - their Motorizzazione is swamped with applications.”

While you wait, you’ll get a temporary driving permit (foglio sostitutivo) so you can legally drive.

Your original Ukrainian license gets taken away and returned to Ukraine through diplomatic channels. So before you start the exchange process, think about whether you need your Ukrainian license for trips back home - get an International Driving Permit through “Diia” beforehand.

How much does it cost¶

The biggest cost item is the traduzione giurata. If you find a translator at a good price, the whole process can be done for around 150 euros. Still way cheaper than Germany, where the Führerschein alone costs 1,500-2,500 euros.

Categories C, D and “heavy” licenses¶

For categories C (trucks), D (buses), and their subcategories, the no-exam exchange doesn’t apply. You’ll need to pass a practical exam (esame pratico) on the appropriate vehicle.

No theory exam is required - that’s written into the agreement. Just the practical test.

What this means:

• Find a driving school (autoscuola) with the right type of vehicle
• Take a few lessons (5-10 is usually enough if you’re experienced)
• Book the practical exam through Motorizzazione

Cost: 300-600 euros for lessons + exam. Plus the same 145-240 euros for documents.

Comparison: Italy vs Spain vs Germany vs France¶

Italy is more expensive than Spain because of the mandatory sworn translation, but significantly cheaper than Germany. And the key thing - no exams for standard categories.

Special cases¶

“Diia” digital license¶

The digital license from the “Diia” app won’t work for the Motorizzazione exchange - you need the physical original. But for daily driving (while you have temporary protection), the digital version is recognized.

Expired license¶

If your license expired after February 24, 2022 and you have temporary protection - it’s recognized for driving. For the Motorizzazione exchange, you need a valid license. You can renew it through the Ukrainian consulate or the “Document” state enterprise, which has been operating in Italy since 2024.

Been in Italy for more than 4 years¶

If more than 4 years have passed since you got your residency - conversion without exams isn’t possible anymore. You’ll have to take revision exams (esami di revisione) - both theory and practical. It’s basically like getting your license from scratch, minus the mandatory driving school attendance.

Motorcycle licenses¶

Categories A1, A2, and A are exchanged on the same terms as B - no exams. The category is preserved: if your Ukrainian license shows A1, you’ll get an Italian A1, not a full A.

FAQ¶

Do I need a translation of my driving license for the exchange in Italy?¶

Yes, Motorizzazione requires a sworn translation (traduzione giurata) of your license, certified through asseverazione at the court. Cost is 50-120 euros depending on the translator and city.

How much does it cost to exchange Ukrainian rights for Italian ones?¶

If you do it yourself - 145-240 euros (translation 50-120 €, medical certificate 30-60 €, Motorizzazione fees 42.20 €, revenue stamp 16 €, photos 5-10 €). Through a driving school or ACI - 200-350 euros.

How long does the license conversion take in Italy?¶

1 to 3 months. The main delay is the verification of your license through the Ukrainian consulate. Bigger cities (Rome, Milan) usually take longer. You’ll get a temporary driving permit while you wait.

Do I need to pass any exams?¶

For categories A1, A2, A, B, and B+E - no. For categories C and D - you need a practical exam. No theory exam is required for any category.

What happens to my Ukrainian license?¶

Your original Ukrainian license is taken and returned to Ukraine through diplomatic channels. We recommend getting an International Driving Permit through “Diia” beforehand if you plan trips to Ukraine.