New drivers: which cars can they drive, and for how long?

For category B licences obtained from 14 December 2024, the limits last three years: a maximum of 75 kW per tonne and, for M1 passenger cars, 105 kW. For licences obtained earlier, they generally last one year and are 55 kW per tonne and 70 kW for M1 cars.

Check the car by registration number

The rules on vehicles new drivers may drive changed with Law No. 177 of 25 November 2024. The period and power limits also depend on when the category B licence was obtained and on the vehicle category. Since the law was amended recently, the most reliable way to check a specific car is to use the “Check limits for new drivers” service indicated by the MIT: enter the registration number and check the result before driving.

Power in relation to unladen mass and maximum power may both count towards the limit; knowing the horsepower in an advert or the commercial model name is not enough. Different versions of the same model may have different figures. Also check the licence issue date: transitional provisions may distinguish between licences obtained before and after a change in the law. The official service reduces the risk of applying an outdated table.

To check whether a particular car may be driven, enter its registration number in the official “Check new-driver limits” service on the Portale dell’Automobilista. The result takes the vehicle data into account. The new thresholds apply to category B licences obtained from 14 December 2024; earlier licences generally remain subject to a one-year period and the previous limits, except where special rules apply.

To check whether a particular car may be driven, enter its registration number in the official “Check new-driver limits” service on the Portale dell’Automobilista. The result takes the vehicle data into account. The new thresholds apply to category B licences obtained from 14 December 2024. Earlier licences remain subject to the one-year limit: 55 kW per tonne and 70 kW for M1 cars; specific rules apply to some electric and plug-in hybrid cars depending on when the licence was obtained.

• Enter the registration number in the MIT/Portale dell’Automobilista service.
• Check the date your licence was obtained and the exact version of the vehicle.
• Do not rely on a model list without a date and source.

Duration and exceptions

The limits apply for the period set by law to the drivers concerned. Exceptions may apply, for example to vehicles serving people with disabilities or when a qualified accompanying driver is present, in the cases and under the conditions set out by law. Do not assume an exemption applies to every journey: check the requirements for the driver, vehicle and accompanying person against the current text.

The MIT page, updated in 2026, specifically points to the registration-number check. If the service gives an unexpected result, compare it with the registration certificate and ask the UMC. Before renting a car or driving a family car, clarify compliance in advance.

Prepare for responsible driving

The online check is especially useful when the car is hybrid or electric, or when the model has several engine versions. Enter the exact registration number, since different trims may have different power figures. If the vehicle has just been registered or the service returns no result, do not rely on an equivalent model: ask the seller for the figures on the registration certificate and confirmation from the UMC. Save the result for reference, but check again if the car or rules change.

Quiz Patente Ufficiale helps you revise new-driver rules through chapters, timed quizzes and review of mistakes.