Patente Quiz B
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Lesson and quiz, category B licence

Overtaking (Sorpasso)

On the exam this topic tests which side you overtake on, the checks before starting, the duties of the driver overtaking and the driver being overtaken, the gap to leave cyclists, and the places where overtaking is banned; this site has 21 true or false statements to practise on it.

The theory exam has 30 statements in 20 minutes and you pass with at most 3 mistakes. Source: Codice della Strada.

Skip to the quiz Study the rules

The real theory exam is in Italian, with French or German available on request. Lessons here keep the Italian terms in italics, and the quiz shows each statement in Italian with English help underneath. Switch to Italian only in the quiz to practise under exam conditions.

The rules

Question 1 of 1

Rule 1

Normally on the left; when on the right

You overtake on the left. You must pass on the right a vehicle that has signalled a left turn and started moving across, and a moving tram outside a reserved track where the road is wide enough. A tram stopped mid-road to let passengers on or off, with no island (salvagente), must not be passed on the right.

Example

The car ahead signals left and moves towards the centre line to turn. You pass it on the right, without crossing into oncoming traffic.

Legal reference: CdS art. 148, c. 3, 7, 8, 9

Passing on the right a car turning left Signalling left, moving to the centre You: pass on the right
The car ahead has signalled and moved to the centre: you pass it on the right.

Exam traps

  • «It is consentito (allowed) to pass on the right a car turning left»: true, and the Codice actually says the pass deve (must) be on the right.
  • «On motorways passing on the right is sempre (always) banned, even in queues»: when traffic is queuing, a right hand line moving faster is not overtaking, so «always» makes the statement false.

Rule 2

Before you overtake

Before starting you must check that visibility allows a safe manoeuvre, that the driver ahead has not signalled the same intention, that nobody behind has already started to overtake you, and that the road is clear for a long enough stretch, given the speed difference and oncoming traffic. The Codice sets no visibility distance in metres.

Example

Ahead is an articulated lorry at 70 km/h on a two way road. The opposite lane must be clear for the whole stretch needed to pass all of it and pull back in, which is far longer than for a car.

Legal reference: CdS art. 148, c. 2; CdS art. 142

Exam traps

  • Be wary of any statement that puts a figure in metres on the visibility needed to overtake, such as 200 metres: art. 148 speaks of enough space, not a number.
  • «Anche se (even if) the vehicle ahead has its left indicator on»: false, that vehicle is about to move exactly where you would pass.
  • The speed limit still applies while overtaking. If finishing the manoeuvre would mean breaking it, do not start.

Rule 3

During and after the manoeuvre

The overtaking driver signals in good time and keeps the indicator on throughout, moves left, passes quickly with a suitable side gap and moves back right as soon as it is safe. The driver being overtaken makes it easier and does not speed up. On carriageways with at least two lanes each way you may stay left only to pass another vehicle straight away, without holding up faster traffic behind.

Example

After passing a van on the motorway you return to the right hand lane as soon as you can do so without endangering or hindering the van, instead of staying in the left lane.

Legal reference: CdS art. 148, c. 3, 4, 6; CdS art. 154, c. 2

Exam traps

  • «It is better to stay in the left lane»: false, the left lane must be freed as soon as possible.
  • «The driver being overtaken should speed up»: false, even if the road ahead clears.
  • «The indicator may be left off on an empty road»: false, you always signal.

Rule 4

Passing a cyclist: at least 1.5 metres

When a motor vehicle overtakes a bicycle, the side gap must suit the speeds and sizes involved and allow for the cyclist being less stable. Ove le condizioni della strada lo consentano (where road conditions allow) the minimum gap is 1.5 metres. The rule applies on every road, inside and outside built up areas.

Example

On a narrow country road you catch up with a cyclist while a car is coming the other way. You stay behind until you can pass leaving at least 1.5 metres.

Legal reference: CdS art. 148, c. 9-bis (Legge 177/2024)

Side gap when passing a cyclist cyclist overtaking car at least 1.5 m
Where road conditions allow, on every type of road.

Exam traps

  • «Solo (only) in built up areas»: false, the 1.5 metre gap is not limited to built up areas.
  • The words «where road conditions allow» are no licence to pass closer: the gap must still be adequate, which often means waiting.

Rule 5

Where overtaking is banned

Overtaking is banned on bends, near hill crests (dossi) and wherever visibility is limited, unless the carriageways are separate, one way, or have at least two marked lanes each way. It is also banned at and near junctions, except in the cases of paragraph 12, including a car ahead that has signalled and started a left turn, and a priority road that also has separate carriageways, one way traffic or at least two marked lanes each way. Priority alone is not enough. You may not overtake a vehicle that is already overtaking, overtake at a level crossing without barriers, or pass a vehicle that has stopped or slowed down to let pedestrians cross.

Example

On a two way main road the road climbs towards a crest and the car ahead is slow. You stay behind until, past the top, you can see the road again.

Legal reference: CdS art. 148, c. 10, 11, 12, 13

Hump
Hump (Dosso)

Exam traps

  • «If no pedestrians can be seen» or «if the lights are not flashing»: added conditions that do not lift the ban.
  • A vehicle stopped at a zebra crossing hides the people crossing, so overtaking it is banned.

Rule 6

What can go wrong

Three typical cases collect the most common overtaking mistakes, from the gap to cyclists to overtaking on a bend and reckless side passes. First case: on the state road through Chianti the road climbs with the view blocked by a hump. Ahead is an articulated lorry going slow and the queue is growing. A car tries to pass just before the crest. Past the top a car comes the other way with no room to pull back in. A head on collision at reduced speed, but with heavy damage. Art. 148 of the Codice della Strada bans overtaking on humps for this reason: with no visibility the manoeuvre never starts. Second case: a provincial road in Emilia with cyclists riding single file. A car catches the group and passes leaving about seventy centimetres, without moving towards the centre. A cyclist hits a pothole and wobbles. Contact with the mirror, and a fall. The 1.5 metre side gap set by art. 148, c. 9-bis is not a hint: when road conditions do not allow it, you wait. Third case: on the A1 in a queue near Modena the right hand lane runs faster. A car takes the chance to pass on the right vehicles standing in the left lane, instead of waiting. Another car changes lanes without looking, and a side impact follows. In a queue the two lines can move at different speeds, but a deliberate pass on the right stays banned outside the cases the law allows. The common thread is haste. Overtaking means having space, time and visibility together; if even one is missing, the pass is not a manoeuvre, it is a risk. Pulling in late, without an indicator, or within a metre and a half of a cyclist, is quiz material and courtroom material.

Legal reference: CdS art. 148

CdS: Codice della Strada (d.lgs. 285/1992). Reg.: its implementing regulation (d.P.R. 495/1992). c.: comma, the numbered paragraph of an article.

Full text of the Codice: www.aci.it/i-servizi/normative/codice-della-strada.html

Trap words

False statements on the exam often repeat a true rule and change a single word. These are the Italian words to read carefully in this topic. They stay in Italian because that is how they appear on the exam.

Words for this topic

impegnare
to enter and occupy an area such as a junction. You do not enter a junction you cannot clear quickly.
«A driver with priority may impegnare (enter) the junction even if they cannot clear it»: false (art. 145(7)).
in prossimità
near, approaching. Many bans apply «in prossimità e in corrispondenza», that is near the spot and on it.
Overtaking is banned in prossimità (near) a hump, not only on its crest.
a destra
on the right. You normally overtake on the left; passing on the right is only for the cases art. 148 lists.
You pass a car a destra (on the right) when it has signalled left and moved towards the centre.
dosso
hump, crest. A rise that hides the road beyond its top. Not to be confused with cunetta, a dip.
On and near a dosso (hump) overtaking, stopping and parking are all banned.
velocipede
pedal cycle. A vehicle moved by pedals, such as a bicycle; it is not a motor vehicle.
The no overtaking sign covers motor vehicles, so a velocipede (bicycle) may be passed if it is safe.

Words that appear in every topic

sempre
always. An absolute: the statement is true only if there is no exception at all.
«Keeping to the limit sempre (always) guarantees a safe speed»: false, in fog or on ice you go slower.
solo, soltanto, esclusivamente
only. It rules out every other case, so a single exception makes the statement false.
«The children sign is placed soltanto (only) outside primary schools»: false, it also appears near parks and sports grounds.
mai, in nessun caso
never, in no case. The statement is true only if the behaviour is not allowed in any situation.
«A driver with priority may in nessun caso (never) give it up»: false, they may, as long as they make it clear.
ovvero
In the language of the Codice it means «or» and introduces an alternative. It does not mean «that is».
Emergency stop: the vehicle has broken down ovvero (or) the driver must stop because they feel unwell (art. 157). Two separate cases; either one is enough.
obbligatoriamente, è obbligatorio
compulsory. A duty: it is not enough for the behaviour to be allowed, it must be required.
«Overtaking on the left is obbligatorio (compulsory) even past a driver turning left»: false, in that case you pass on the right.
è consentito, è ammesso
allowed, permitted. A permission, not a duty. «È consentito» does not mean «è obbligatorio», and the reverse.
«It is consentito (allowed) to pass on the right a driver who has signalled a left turn»: true, and art. 148(7) actually requires it.
di norma, di regola
as a rule, normally. It states the general rule, which allows exceptions, so the statement does not claim to hold in every case.
«Outside built up areas warning signs are placed di norma (as a rule) 150 metres ahead»: true, and a panel gives any other distance.
anche
also, even. It stretches the rule to one more case; ask whether that added case really belongs.
«The no parking sign anche (also) bans stopping»: false, a brief stop is still allowed under a no parking sign.
automaticamente, di per sé
automatically, in itself. It suggests an effect that applies on its own, when the effect usually depends on a sign or a specific condition.
«In fog the motorway limit automaticamente (automatically) drops to 90 km/h»: false, the automatic cut applies to rain and snow.
qualsiasi, qualunque, in ogni caso
any, in every case. It generalises; look for the category or situation the rule leaves out.
«The safe distance is the same at qualunque (any) speed»: false, it grows with speed.
corsia
lane. The part of the carriageway wide enough for one line of vehicles (art. 3).
A two way carriageway (carreggiata) usually has two corsie (lanes), one for each direction.
carreggiata
carriageway. The part of the road for vehicles, made up of one or more lanes (art. 3). It does not include the verge or the pavement.
A speed limit applies to the whole carreggiata (carriageway), not only to the lane next to the sign.
banchina
verge, hard strip. The strip beside the carriageway and outside it, not meant for driving (art. 3).
Outside built up areas you park off the carriageway, for example on a suitable banchina (verge) (art. 157(3)).
fermata
stop. A brief halt to let people get in or out, with the driver present and ready to move off (art. 157).
Pulling in to drop off a passenger and leaving straight away is a fermata (stop), not a sosta (parking).
sosta
parking. A prolonged halt during which the driver may leave the vehicle (art. 157).
A divieto di sosta (no parking) does not ban stopping; a divieto di fermata (no stopping) bans parking too.
arresto
halt. An interruption caused by traffic, such as a red light or a queue. It is not the driver's choice (art. 157).
Stopping at a red light is an arresto (halt); no stopping ban prevents it.

Check yourself

Three statements on the topic. Answer and see straight away whether the rule has stuck. These answers are not saved.

Question 1 of 1

  1. Il sorpasso a destra è consentito quando il veicolo che precede ha segnalato la svolta a sinistra e si è spostato verso il centro.

    Overtaking on the right is allowed when the vehicle ahead has signalled left and moved towards the centre.

  2. Durante il sorpasso è ammesso superare il limite di velocità per accorciare la manovra.

    While overtaking it is allowed to exceed the speed limit to shorten the manoeuvre.

  3. È consentito sorpassare in prossimità di un dosso su una strada a doppio senso con una sola corsia per senso di marcia.

    Overtaking near a hill crest is allowed on a two way road with a single lane in each direction.

Topic quiz: 21 statements

Untimed. After each answer you see the solution, the explanation, the trap words highlighted and a link back to the rule. At the end you get your score and can retest just the ones you missed.

Question 1 of 1

  1. Il sorpasso si esegue di regola a destra del veicolo da superare.

    Overtaking is normally done on the right of the vehicle being passed.

  2. È consentito sorpassare un veicolo che ha rallentato davanti a un attraversamento pedonale per far attraversare i pedoni.

    Overtaking a vehicle that has slowed at a pedestrian crossing to let pedestrians cross is allowed.

  3. È vietato sorpassare un veicolo fermo davanti a un attraversamento pedonale per dare la precedenza ai pedoni.

    It is forbidden to overtake a vehicle stopped at a crossing to let pedestrians pass.

  4. L'indicatore di direzione sinistro può essere omesso durante il sorpasso se la strada è libera.

    The left indicator can be omitted when overtaking if the road is clear.

  5. Il sorpasso è vietato in curva su strada a doppio senso con visibilità limitata.

    Overtaking is banned on bends of two way roads where visibility is limited.

  6. Chi viene sorpassato deve accelerare per ridurre la durata della manovra.

    A driver being overtaken must accelerate to shorten the manoeuvre.

  7. Il sorpasso a destra è consentito quando il veicolo che precede ha segnalato la svolta a sinistra e si è spostato verso il centro.

    Overtaking on the right is allowed when the vehicle ahead has signalled left and moved towards the centre.

  8. Prima di iniziare un sorpasso occorre accertarsi che nessuno stia già sorpassando il proprio veicolo.

    Before starting to overtake a driver must check that nobody is already overtaking them.

  9. In prossimità delle intersezioni il sorpasso è consentito su qualunque strada con diritto di precedenza.

    Near junctions overtaking is allowed on any road with priority.

  10. In autostrada la corsia più a sinistra è destinata al sorpasso e va lasciata libera una volta conclusa la manovra.

    On a motorway the leftmost lane is for overtaking and must be left free once the manoeuvre is over.

  11. Su una carreggiata a doppio senso, un tram in movimento che non circola in sede riservata si sorpassa a destra, se la larghezza a destra del binario lo consente.

    On a two way carriageway, a moving tram not running on a reserved track is overtaken on the right, if the width to the right of the rails allows it.

  12. Il conducente che sta per essere sorpassato non deve accelerare, neanche se la strada davanti si libera.

    A driver about to be overtaken must not accelerate, even if the road ahead clears.

  13. In presenza di code l'avanzamento più rapido della fila di destra rispetto a quella di sinistra non è considerato sorpasso.

    In queues, the right hand line moving faster than the left is not treated as overtaking.

  14. Per superare un veicolo fermo a causa di un ostacolo occorre prima accertarsi che non sopraggiungano veicoli dal senso opposto.

    To pass a vehicle halted by an obstacle a driver must first check that nothing is coming the other way.

  15. È consentito sorpassare in prossimità di un dosso su una strada a doppio senso con una sola corsia per senso di marcia.

    Overtaking near a hill crest is allowed on a two way road with a single lane in each direction.

  16. È consentito sorpassare in corrispondenza di un passaggio a livello privo di barriere se le luci non lampeggiano.

    Overtaking is allowed at an unguarded level crossing when the lights are not flashing.

  17. Durante il sorpasso è ammesso superare il limite di velocità per accorciare la manovra.

    While overtaking it is allowed to exceed the speed limit to shorten the manoeuvre.

  18. In autostrada il sorpasso a destra è sempre vietato, anche quando i veicoli procedono incolonnati.

    On motorways passing on the right is always banned, even when vehicles are queuing.

  19. Dopo aver sorpassato conviene restare nella corsia di sinistra per non disturbare chi sopraggiunge.

    After overtaking it is better to stay in the left lane so as not to disturb following traffic.

  20. Sorpassare un autoarticolato richiede lo stesso spazio necessario per superare un'autovettura.

    Overtaking an articulated lorry needs the same space as passing a car.

  21. Se il veicolo che precede ha segnalato e iniziato la svolta a sinistra, lo si sorpassa a sinistra.

    If the vehicle ahead has signalled and started a left turn, it is overtaken on the left.

What next

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Educational content. For the official rules, see the Codice della Strada and legal notes.