Learner’s permit (foglio rosa)
Who can accompany a learner driver with a provisional licence?
For Category B practice, the accompanying driver must meet specific requirements. Check their licence, age, seat and vehicle.
An accompanying driver is not just any passenger: for Category B, the Highway Code sets age and licence-experience requirements, with specific exceptions.
Requirements for Category B practice
During Category B practice, the person beside the learner must meet Article 122 of the Italian Highway Code. Generally, they must be no older than 65 and hold a valid licence in the same or a higher category, obtained at least ten years earlier, except where the law provides otherwise. An experienced adult is not automatically qualified. Check their licence, how long they have held it and any restrictions or suspensions before setting off.
The accompanying driver must sit beside the learner and be able to intervene when needed. The vehicle must meet the category requirements and display the “P” sign when required; check the insurance too. A professional driving instructor follows different rules from a private accompanying driver. Do not confuse the Category B provisional-licence companion with the designated tutors for accompanied driving at age 17: the rules and authorisation differ.
Check for special cases
The accompanying driver’s licence must be valid and in a suitable category. If it was issued abroad, is suspended or has restrictions, ask the Civil Motorisation Office (UMC) whether it qualifies before arranging practice. The companion may supervise one learner at a time and must follow traffic rules; they cannot leave the learner unsupervised or distract them with instructions in traffic.
For practice on motorways, main extra-urban roads or at night, the Highway Code and implementing decrees add conditions, including mandatory driving-school lessons and passenger restrictions. A 2025 decree introduces new certified driving hours, effective once the executive decree activates the platform. Until then, transitional rules based on the provisional-licence issue date apply. Check Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MIT) updates before planning these lessons.
Before you drive
- Check the accompanying driver’s age, licence category, validity and years of experience.
- Make sure they sit in the required seat and the vehicle is suitable.
- Ask the UMC about motorway and night-driving requirements.
Do you need a driving licence? Study and practise with Quiz Patente Ufficiale: exam-style quizzes, topic explanations and a review of your mistakes.
Frequently asked questions
Can a parent always accompany their child?
Only if they meet the requirements for the category and specific practice session. Being a relative does not replace the legal requirements.
Is the age limit 60 or 65?
For ordinary practice with a provisional licence, Article 122 of the Highway Code applies. The 60-year limit concerns tutors designated for accompanied driving at age 17. These are different schemes.