How do the 2026 Amalfi Coast driving rules work?

On the SS163 Amalfitana, between Positano and Vietri sul Mare, a rental car can only drive on certain days depending on the last digit of its number plate. The restriction runs from 10:00 to 18:00 on the days the local authorities set. Several towns also have a limited traffic zone (ZTL), where driving is restricted or monitored by camera. Visitors with a licence issued outside the EU should check whether they need an International Driving Permit, because the two sources used for this guide disagree on that point.

How does the alternate number-plate rule work on the SS163?

The rule is called targhe alterne. It is meant to reduce traffic on the narrow coastal road. On an odd-numbered calendar day, cars whose plates end in an odd digit (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) may not drive the stretch. On an even-numbered day, cars whose plates end in an even digit (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) are barred. Check the last digit of your plate before you set off.

Rental cars are not exempt. The rule applies to vehicles from abroad, including foreign-plated cars.

Which days are restricted in 2026?

The 2026 dates below come from the local notices cited by the Off We Gooo guide, which it says it checked in September 2026. Restrictions run 10:00 to 18:00 unless noted.

  • Spring: 30 March to 6 April, and 24 April to 2 May.
  • Summer: 30 May to 31 July, weekends and public holidays only.
  • August and September: every day from 1 August to 30 September.
  • October: weekends of 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, 24-25 and 31 October.

Tomorrow, 31 October, is a Saturday on the restricted list. Because the rule is set day by day, confirm the dates with the Amalfi municipality before you travel.

Where the sources disagree

The Ilcaposuites guide describes a rule that runs from Easter to 31 October on every day of the week. That does not match the dated 2026 schedule above, which is limited to certain weekends in summer and October. The Ilcaposuites guide also gives the road as about 50 km in one place and about 55 km in another. The dated schedule is the more specific source, so this article follows it, but the rule can change with each local notice.

Can I drive to my hotel on a restricted day?

Yes, with conditions. If you have a confirmed booking at a hotel or B&B on the coast, you can drive on the arrival and departure journeys on restricted days. The Ilcaposuites guide suggests asking your host to register your plate with local authorities if needed. The rule does not allow general sightseeing drives on those days.

Fines are real. The Off We Gooo guide reports that a tourist was fined €60 in Amalfi in 2025 for breaking the rule.

Which towns have a ZTL, and when does it apply?

A ZTL (zona a traffico limitato) is a limited traffic zone. Entry is restricted to permitted vehicles, and cameras record plates that enter without permission. The sources name these camera-controlled areas:

  • Naples: a ZTL with its own rules. Check the city's published zones before driving in.
  • Sorrento: active from 1 April to 25 October 2026, from 19:30 to 04:00. On public holidays it also applies from 10:00 to 13:00.
  • Amalfi: the camera-controlled area is Piazza Duomo.
  • Ravello: a camera-controlled centre. The sources do not give its hours.

Rental companies usually pass ZTL and speed camera fines to the driver. The Off We Gooo guide says they add an admin fee of €40 to €60 per fine. Parking in Positano is separate: the sources say private garages charge €6 to €10 an hour in summer.

Do I need an International Driving Permit?

The sources do not agree.

  • The Off We Gooo guide says any valid EU licence is enough, with no International Driving Permit. For other licences, it tells drivers to check whether an IDP is required.
  • The Ilcaposuites guide says Italian law requires a licence issued outside the EU to be carried with an IDP. It warns that failing to show one at a police checkpoint can lead to on-the-spot fines and possible vehicle impoundment.

Given that conflict, a traveller with a non-EU licence should confirm the requirement with official Italian sources or their own government's travel advice before leaving home. Carrying an IDP alongside the home licence costs little, but the choice is yours to verify.

Rental firms also set their own conditions. The Off We Gooo guide gives a minimum age of 21, with a surcharge for drivers under 25, and a physical credit card in the main driver's name.

What are the other driving rules?

  • Speed limits: 110 km/h on expressways and 50 km/h in towns. In rain the limits are 110 and 90. Drivers who have held a licence for under three years are limited to 100 and 90.
  • Headlights: dipped headlights are compulsory outside built-up areas, day and night.
  • Alcohol: the zero limit applies to under-21s and to drivers who have held their licence for under three years.
  • Phones: using a phone while holding it at the wheel carries a fine and a licence suspension of 15 days to 2 months from the first offence.
  • Blind bends: the Ilcaposuites guide advises stopping before a blind hairpin when a large coach or bus is coming, and giving a short horn tap when you cannot see oncoming traffic.
  • Small cars: the same guide recommends the smallest car category. The Off We Gooo guide makes the same point about buses and tight parking.

What closes seasonally?

  • The SS163: the alternate-plate restrictions above are the main seasonal limit.
  • Capri: non-residents' vehicles, including rental cars and foreign plates, are banned from landing and driving on the island from 30 March to 2 November 2026, and from 28 December to 3 January. The Off We Gooo guide suggests leaving the car in Sorrento and taking a ferry from Marina Piccola.
  • Fiordo di Furore: the Ilcaposuites guide says there are no parking spaces beside the bridge and that police patrol it. Use a private garage in Praiano or Conca dei Marini and walk or take the bus.

What does it cost to drive the route?

The Off We Gooo guide gives these figures for September 2026:

  • Petrol: about €2.15 per litre, and diesel about €2.34. Prices change weekly.
  • A3 Naples-Pompeii-Salerno: €2.30 flat fee per car. Visa and Mastercard were refused at the barriers from May 2024 and were still refused in March 2026, so bring cash.
  • A2 Salerno-Padula: toll-free.
  • A30 Salerno-Caserta: ticket toll, paid on exit.
  • COSTIERASITA bus: €10 for 24 hours of unlimited travel from Sorrento to Salerno, including Positano, Amalfi and Ravello. The ticket must be validated.

Driving times from the Off We Gooo route plan, which assume no stops and no traffic: Sorrento to Amalfi is 31 km, about 40 minutes. Naples to Sorrento is 54 km, about 1 hour 5 minutes. Amalfi to Paestum is 71 km, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Allow more time for photo stops and summer traffic.

If you are comparing rental cars for the route, you can check current offers at live price search. For how rental pricing is built, see how rental pricing works.