Driving in Rome Q & A

Carmine asks: I'm told there are toll charges for driving and parking in downtown Rome. Is this true and if so how much are the charges and are there permits I might be able to obtain?

Marcus from Roman Life Rome Italy responds to driving in Rome:

Hi Carmine, when you are driving in Rome be sure to look out for the electronic signs that say "Varco Attivo" - this means that parts of the center are off limits and only residents or vehicles with special permits are allowed in these areas. If the signs say "Varco non Attivo" then you are OK to drive in the center.

I would love to give you the times when driving in Rome center is permitted but it varies according to the day, time, season, holidays etc. Your best bet would be to consult with the Atac Roma website:
Click on the English language flag at the right. In the top left menu bar you will find information for parking rates, garages, and also a map of the area where you are not allowed to drive in Rome when the "Varco attivo" sign is active (only in the Italian version).

The permits for driving in Rome city center can only be bought by residents or people conducting business in the center. They cost €550 per year, or alternatively €550/month for those with temporary business in the center!! Not a viable option.

Age of cars: Something else to consider is that cars older than 6/7 years of age are not allowed to be driven in the center, you will be fined, so make sure you are driving a relatively new vehicle.

Rates for Rome parking garages vary from a few cents to a couple of Euros per hour, you might want to consider leaving your car in one of the municipal parking garages (the ATAC website has a list of their municipal parking garages) that offer a daily rate.

Here are some Rome parking garages you can consider (they are slightly beyond the city center and therefore cost a fraction of what you would pay in the center):

Roma Parking ,Trastevere area, Via Carcani 32. €1/hour. Open 24 hours.

Garage Olimpico in Via G.Giri 32, near the Vatican, off Via Baldo degli Ubaldi. Phone 06 39750140. It also sits between two main Metro stations (Valle Aurelia and Baldo degli Ubaldi). Price is from 5€ per day.

Termini Parking, Termini Station, Piazza dei Cinquecento, €25/day.

Villa Borghese, Viale del Muro Torto, Cost €1,30 for first 3 hours and 1€/hour after. Open 24 hours.

Parcheggio Partigiani (Park si), Testaccio, Piazzale Partigiani, Cost €0,77/hour. Open 6:00 to 23:00 hours. Phone 060608 (Rome municipality.)

For more enquiries you can also try the Rome tourist office: www.romaturismo.it - Tel 06 488 991. Open Mondays to Saturdays 9:00 Am to 7:00Pm

You will find more information about driving in Rome at Rome car rentals and driving in Rome. There are also some tips about filling up at petrol stations.

For more information about Rome public transport see my pages:

• Public transportation in Rome Italy
• Rome buses
• Rome trains and trams
• Rome Metro

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