Driving in Hungary vs. Italy: Key Differences Explained
When exploring Hungary and Italy, understanding their distinct driving regulations is essential for a safe journey. Key contrasts include lane markings, speed limits, and traffic signal practices. While Hungary emphasizes strict adherence to rules like zero tolerance for alcohol, Italy allows slight flexibility. Equip yourself with this knowledge for a smoother travel experience.
Lanes
| Hungary | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used for separating traffic in opposite directions. | Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except in special cases. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSZ'. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Rare | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Occasionally used, usually on electronic signs. | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
hungary:
Used for separating traffic in opposite directions.
italy:
Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
hungary:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
italy:
Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions.
Overtaking: On Right
hungary:
Not allowed except in special cases.
italy:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
hungary:
List length: 4
italy:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage
hungary:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
italy:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
hungary:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSZ'.
italy:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
hungary:
Rare
italy:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hungary:
Occasionally used, usually on electronic signs.
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Hungary | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Displayed on electronic signs in controlled areas | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; issued by traffic police | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hungary:
20-30 km/h
italy:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hungary:
70 km/h
italy:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hungary:
70-80 km/h
italy:
70 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
hungary:
80 km/h
italy:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hungary:
Displayed on electronic signs in controlled areas
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hungary:
Yes; issued by traffic police
italy:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Hungary | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Prepares traffic for a green signal. | Used; prepare to go when green appears |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use is prohibited; local ordinances may apply. | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Hungarian; symbols are standard | Italian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with a red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
hungary:
Prepares traffic for a green signal.
italy:
Used; prepare to go when green appears
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
hungary:
Unnecessary use is prohibited; local ordinances may apply.
italy:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
hungary:
Hungarian; symbols are standard
italy:
Italian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
hungary:
Triangular with a red border
italy:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Hungary | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; only allowed at designated areas. | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
hungary:
Not allowed.
italy:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
hungary:
Restricted; only allowed at designated areas.
italy:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Hungary | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; ID card or passport needed | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof must be in the vehicle | Mandatory for vehicles over four years old |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the license plate or windshield | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Required | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
hungary:
Accepted for short visits; ID card or passport needed
italy:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
hungary:
International Driving Permit recommended
italy:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hungary:
Annual inspection required; proof must be in the vehicle
italy:
Mandatory for vehicles over four years old
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hungary:
Displayed on the license plate or windshield
italy:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hungary:
Required
italy:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hungary:
Required
italy:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Hungary | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Limited use | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
hungary:
Limited use
italy:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
hungary:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crosswalks
italy:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
hungary:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
italy:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Hungary | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; alcohol checkpoints are frequent | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe; license suspension is a possibility | Substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
italy:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
italy:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
italy:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
hungary:
Common; alcohol checkpoints are frequent
italy:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
hungary:
Severe; license suspension is a possibility
italy:
Substantial
Emergency Services
| Hungary | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 107 | 113 (State Police) |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 188 or specific insurance hotline | 116 (ACI) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Required | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
hungary:
107
italy:
113 (State Police)
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hungary:
188 or specific insurance hotline
italy:
116 (ACI)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hungary:
Required
italy:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hungary:
Required
italy:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Hungary | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines start from 30,000 HUF and increase with severity | Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply for non-compliance | Varies; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Prohibited without hands-free; fines apply | Fines apply, strict enforcement |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Severe fines and potential demerit points | Fines apply, may include points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually paid on the spot or online | Possible, especially for foreign drivers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; often within 15-30 days | Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
hungary:
Varies; fines start from 30,000 HUF and increase with severity
italy:
Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Alcohol
hungary:
Severe; substantial fines, possible license suspension
italy:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hungary:
Mandatory; fines apply for non-compliance
italy:
Varies; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
hungary:
Prohibited without hands-free; fines apply
italy:
Fines apply, strict enforcement
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hungary:
Severe fines and potential demerit points
italy:
Fines apply, may include points on license
Payment: On The Spot
hungary:
Possible; fines usually paid on the spot or online
italy:
Possible, especially for foreign drivers
Payment: Deadline
hungary:
Varies; often within 15-30 days
italy:
Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days