Road rules
Can you ride a 125 cc motorcycle on the motorway? The current rule
In Italy, a motorcycle of at least 120 cc may enter if its rider is an adult; licence and road restrictions still apply.
Yes. Since 14 December 2024, a motorcycle with an internal-combustion engine of at least 120 cc may use motorways and main extra-urban roads when ridden by an adult. The vehicle must also be covered by the rider's licence, and route restrictions still apply.
The current threshold is 120 cc, with an adult rider
Law 177/2024, in force since 14 December 2024, amended Article 175 of the Italian Highway Code. It allows motorcycles with an engine capacity of at least 120 cc on motorways and main extra-urban roads, provided the rider is an adult. A 125 cc motorcycle therefore meets the technical threshold, but age is a separate condition: at 17, the engine size alone is not enough.
The exception applies to motorcycles, not every two-wheeled vehicle. Mopeds remain excluded, and a microcar or quadricycle does not become eligible just because it reaches a particular speed. Check the vehicle category and technical details on its registration certificate rather than relying on a model name or advertisement. For example, a registered 124 cc motorcycle ridden by a 20-year-old meets these two Article 175 conditions, but the rider still needs a valid licence for that motorcycle and the vehicle must be roadworthy.
Check the licence, road class and signs
The 2024 change is an access rule, not a blanket authorisation for every scooter. Confirm that your licence covers the exact vehicle, then check route signs and any restrictions for the road. Article 175 also covers main extra-urban roads and other roads designated by decree and marked with start and end signs.
Do not rely on an old article or sign as the only evidence that 150 cc is still the national threshold. The earlier rule had a different threshold; the later law added an exception for adults riding motorcycles of at least 120 cc, or electric motorcycles of at least 6 kW. If a sign or local order creates a real conflict, identify the road section and check the full current restriction before entering. Quiz Patente Ufficiale offers exam quizzes and review of mistakes on traffic rules and vehicle categories. Use it to study; the vehicle papers and signs remain decisive for a particular trip.
Quiz Patente Ufficiale lets you practise exam quizzes and review mistakes on traffic rules and vehicle categories.
Frequently asked questions
Does the 120 cc rule also apply if I am 17?
No. Article 175 requires both at least 120 cc for a combustion motorcycle and an adult rider. An A1 licence at 17 does not remove the age requirement.
Can a 125 use every ring road?
No. “Ring road” is an informal name. Check the road class, signs and any section-specific restriction; the exception covers the roads described in Article 175.