Italian traffic fine: how to read, pay and appeal
Updated 2026-09-16
An Italian traffic fine is paid at the minimum within 60 days of notification, or with a 30% discount within 5 days when no licence suspension applies (art. 202, Codice della Strada). An appeal to the Prefetto is free and due within 60 days; one to the Giudice di Pace within 30 days, with a court fee.
Data as of 2026-09-16. Source: Codice della Strada on Normattiva, arts. 201, 202, 202 bis, 203, 204, 204 bis.
How much with the discount, and how many days are left?
An estimate based on the minimum shown on the notice. The discount does not apply to offences with licence suspension or confiscation. Source: art. 202.
How do you read an Italian fine notice?
The notice follows a fixed layout, and the first things to check are the notification date and the article breached: the deadlines and any discount depend on them. If the offence was not contested on the spot, the notice must arrive within 90 days of detection for residents of Italy and within 360 days for residents abroad (art. 201). Late notification is one of the strongest grounds for appeal.
| Field | What to check |
|---|---|
| Date, time and place | That they match where the vehicle was; the 90 days for notification start here |
| Article breached | The Codice reference, for example art. 142 for speed or art. 7 for a ZTL |
| Amounts | The minimum due within 60 days and, where allowed, the reduced amount within 5 days |
| Additional penalties | Licence suspension or confiscation: if present, the 30% discount does not apply |
| Points | How many points will be deducted (art. 126 bis) and whether the owner must name the driver |
| Issuing authority | Local Police, Traffic Police, Carabinieri: which office to contact |
| Appeals | Competent authorities and deadlines: 60 days for the Prefetto, 30 for the Giudice di Pace |
When does the 30% discount apply?
Article 202 cuts the minimum fine by 30% when payment is made within 5 days of the notice being handed over or served. The clock starts on delivery, not on the day of the offence: a fine incurred in March and served in May keeps the discount for 5 days from the May notification. The discount is excluded when the offence carries a licence suspension or vehicle confiscation, for example speeding by more than 40 km/h. Paying means accepting the fine, so anyone planning to appeal should not pay.
What are the options after notification?
| Option | Deadline | Cost | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reduced payment | 5 days | Minimum less 30% | Closes the case; not available with suspension or confiscation |
| Payment of the minimum | 60 days | Statutory minimum | Closes the case; points are deducted |
| Appeal to the Prefetto | 60 days | Free | If rejected, order of at least double the minimum |
| Appeal to the Giudice di Pace | 30 days (60 from abroad) | Court fee | Judge's decision after a hearing |
| No action | After 60 days | Half the maximum plus costs | The notice becomes enforceable |
How do you appeal to the Prefetto?
- Check the notice: notification date, place, article, plate, any clerical errors.
- Write the appeal with the notice details, the grounds (for example notification after 90 days, missing signs, wrong vehicle) and a request for annulment. Attach a copy of the notice and the evidence.
- File it within 60 days of the notice: in person at the office of the issuing authority, or by registered letter with return receipt or PEC (art. 203). A hearing can be requested.
- Wait for the decision. The Prefetto must decide within the time limits of articles 203 and 204; if not, the appeal is deemed accepted.
- If rejected, the Prefetto issues an injunction order for a sum not lower than double the minimum (art. 204). That order can be challenged before the Giudice di Pace.
How do you appeal to the Giudice di Pace?
- Prepare the opposition: a lawyer is not required for traffic fines, but can help in cases with suspension or high amounts.
- File it with the Giudice di Pace of the place of the offence within 30 days of the notice, or 60 days for residents abroad (Legislative Decree 150/2011, art. 7). It can also be sent by post.
- Pay the court fee through pagoPA and attach the receipt. The fee is calculated on the total value of the fines opposed.
- Attend the hearing. The judge upholds the opposition when evidence of liability is insufficient.
| Value of the fine opposed | Contributo unificato | Flat-rate advance |
|---|---|---|
| Up to €1,033 | €43 | none |
| €1,033.01 to €1,100 | €43 | €27 |
| €1,100.01 to €5,200 | €98 | €27 |
| €5,200.01 to €26,000 | €237 | €27 |
General information, not legal advice: legal notes.
What happens if an Italian fine is not paid?
If within 60 days there is neither payment nor appeal, the notice becomes an enforceable title for half of the maximum fine plus procedural costs (art. 203, paragraph 3). For an art. 142 paragraph 8 offence, with a maximum of 694 euro, the amount moves from 173 to 347 euro plus costs. The authority then starts enforced collection, through a payment demand or injunction. The right to collect administrative fines expires after five years (Law 689/1981, art. 28), but each collection act served interrupts that period.
How do you ask to pay in instalments?
Art. 202 bis allows instalments for fines above 200 euro when taxable income is within the statutory threshold (10,628.16 euro in the text published by ACI; the threshold is subject to updates). The request is due within 30 days of the notice: to the Prefetto for offences recorded by state bodies, or to the President of the Region or Province or the Mayor for offences recorded by those bodies.
| Fine amount | Maximum monthly instalments |
|---|---|
| Over €200, up to €2,000 | 12 |
| Up to €5,000 | 24 |
| Over €5,000 | 60 |
Each instalment must be at least 100 euro. Missing the first instalment, or two later ones, cancels the plan and the balance becomes due in one payment.
What happens if...? Four worked cases
If a student from Milan enters a ZTL by mistake, she receives a notice for 83 to 332 euro (article 7, paragraph 14, of the Codice della Strada); with no suspension, paying within 5 days of notification costs 58.10 euro plus costs, and within 60 days 83 euro plus costs (article 202 of the Codice della Strada).
If a tradesman from Naples exceeds the limit by more than 40 and up to 60 km/h, the fine runs from 543 to 2,170 euro with a licence suspension of 1 to 3 months (article 142, paragraph 9, of the Codice della Strada), and because of the suspension the 30% discount is excluded: within 60 days he pays the 543 euro minimum or files an appeal.
If an office worker from Florence believes a tree hid the speed limit sign, appeals to the Prefetto within 60 days and the appeal is rejected, the injunction order sets a sum of at least double the minimum (article 204 of the Codice della Strada), and he can still challenge that order before the Giudice di Pace.
If a pensioner from Palermo leaves a speeding notice under article 142, paragraph 8, in a drawer (minimum 173 euro, maximum 694) and 60 days pass with no payment or appeal, the notice becomes an enforceable title for half the maximum, 347 euro plus costs (article 203, paragraph 3, of the Codice della Strada), and collection begins.
What mistakes do people make with fines?
- Paying and then appealing: payment closes the dispute.
- Counting the 5 days from the offence: they run from contest or notification.
- Appealing to both authorities: the Prefetto and the Giudice di Pace are alternatives for the same notice.
- Filing with the Giudice di Pace after 30 days: the appeal is inadmissible, while the Prefetto allows 60.
- Not naming the driver within 60 days when the notice asks: a second fine follows.
What are the common questions about fines and appeals?
What is on an Italian fine notice (verbale)?
Date, time and place of the offence, the Codice della Strada article breached, the amount due and the reduced amount, points to be deducted, vehicle and owner details, the authority that recorded the offence, payment methods and appeal deadlines.
How does the 30% discount on a fine work?
Paying within 5 days of the notice being handed over or served cuts the minimum by 30% (art. 202). The discount does not apply to offences carrying vehicle confiscation or licence suspension.
How long is there to pay a fine?
Within 60 days of the notice the minimum is due. If neither payment nor appeal happens within 60 days, the notice becomes enforceable for half of the maximum fine, plus costs (art. 203, paragraph 3).
How long does the authority have to send the fine?
If the offence was not contested on the spot, the notice must be served within 90 days of detection for residents of Italy and within 360 days for residents abroad (art. 201).
How do you appeal to the Prefetto?
Within 60 days of the notice, by filing it at the office of the authority that issued the fine, or by registered letter with return receipt, or by certified email (PEC) (art. 203). It is free. If rejected, the injunction order cannot be lower than double the minimum.
How do you appeal to the Giudice di Pace?
Within 30 days of the notice (60 for residents abroad), before the Giudice di Pace of the place of the offence (Legislative Decree 150/2011, art. 7). A court fee (contributo unificato) is due, starting at 43 euro for fines up to 1,100 euro.
Can you appeal to both the Prefetto and the Giudice di Pace?
Not against the same notice: the two routes are alternatives (art. 204 bis). If the Prefetto rejects the appeal and issues an injunction order, that order can be challenged before the Giudice di Pace.
What happens if you do not pay an Italian fine?
After 60 days without payment or appeal, the sum due becomes half of the maximum plus costs, and the authority starts enforced collection. Ignoring the notice does not cancel it.
Can a fine be paid in instalments?
Yes, if the fine exceeds 200 euro and taxable income is within the threshold of art. 202 bis. The request must be made within 30 days of the notice. The maximum is 12, 24 or 60 instalments depending on the amount, each at least 100 euro.
Who must report the driver's details?
When the offence costs licence points and the driver was not identified, the vehicle owner must state who was driving within 60 days of the notice (art. 126 bis). Failing to do so brings a separate fine.
Sources: Codice della Strada, articles 201, 202, 202 bis, 203, 204 and 204 bis; Legislative Decree 150/2011, article 7; ACI; Giudice di Pace di Firenze.