NZ licence 
Vatican CityCan you drive in Vatican City with an NZ license?
Short answer: you cannot drive in Vatican City on an NZ license or an International Driving Permit alone — Vatican City requires a local or temporary licence.
An International Driving Permit is not sufficient to drive in Vatican City. Vatican City does not accept the IDP for foreign visitors — a local or temporary licence is required. Always confirm the current rule before you travel.
New Zealand drivers should carry an International Driving Permit alongside their licence when driving abroad. Your International Driving Permit is a certified multilingual translation of your existing licence, prepared in the Local rules format and carried alongside your national licence.
What driving in Vatican City is like
The riverside Lungotevere drive along the Tiber past Castel Sant'Angelo toward St Peter's offers the iconic approach to the Vatican. For most visitors the real draw is the freedom to reach places trains and tours don't, on your own schedule, with the open road generally capped around 30 km/h (effectively pedestrian). Getting behind the wheel is the easy part: your International Driving Permit is a certified translation of your NZ licence, carried alongside it, so rental staff and officials in Vatican City can read your credentials at a glance.
What applies to NZ licence holders in Vatican City
| NZ licence in Vatican City | |
|---|---|
| Do you need an IDP? | An IDP is not sufficient here |
| IDP format required | Local licensing rules apply |
| Your NZ licence script | Roman (Latin) alphabet |
| New Zealand is party to | 1949 Geneva |
| Drives on the | Right-hand side |
| Minimum driving age | 18 |
| Emergency number | 112 (Italian network) |
| Top speed limit | 30 km/h (effectively pedestrian) |
| Currency | EUR |
Driving rules in Vatican City you should know
- Drive on the right.
- Effectively pedestrian within the walls.
- Italian rules apply on surrounding roads.
- 0.05% alcohol limit (Italian standard).
Local driving facts in Vatican City
Emergency number: 112 (Italian network) (112 also connects from most mobiles). Typical maximum for cars on the fastest road class: 30 km/h (effectively pedestrian). Posted limits always take precedence.
Tolls & road charges in Vatican City
There are no tolls within the city-state; you only encounter Italy's autostrada tolls (Telepass or cash/card barriers) when driving toward Rome.
Parking in Vatican City
No tourist parking exists inside the Vatican; park in nearby Rome garages such as Garage San Pietro or the Vatican Museums lot (around EUR 20/day) and walk in.
Penalties & enforcement in Vatican City
Because tourists drive in surrounding Italy, Italian penalties apply: speeding fines start around EUR 40-170 and rise with severity, handheld phone use and no seatbelt are fined, and ZTL camera fines plus rental admin fees arrive by post.
If you have an accident in Vatican City
For any incident at the edge of the enclave call Italy's 112; in Italy you exchange details on a CAI/European Accident Statement and must not move vehicles before documenting if there are injuries.
City driving in Vatican City
The streets immediately around St Peter's and the Borgo fall inside Rome's camera-enforced ZTL limited-traffic zone, where unauthorised entry triggers automatic fines of roughly EUR 100-500 sent later via the rental firm.
Winter driving in Vatican City
No winter-tyre rules apply in the tiny city-state; in surrounding central Italy winter tyres or chains are required only on specific signed routes during the winter season.
Fuel in Vatican City
The Vatican operates a duty-free service station accessible only to residents/employees with a permit; tourists must refuel at ordinary Italian stations in Rome, where petrol and diesel are self- or attended-serve and card-friendly.
Sources: vaticancityguide.org, autoeurope.com, blog.stayromac.com, drivingdirectionsandmaps.com