Expired Car Insurance in Italy: Grace Period and Fine

If your car insurance has expired and you have not renewed yet, every day on the road counts. In Italy, driving without insurance is one of the costliest Highway Code offences, and since 13 October 2026 a draft decree has been on the table that could change how uninsured vehicles are caught. Here is what really happens, how the 15-day grace period works and what to do.

Expired car insurance: what the law says

The duty to insure every vehicle that is driven or parked on a public road comes from article 193 of the Italian Highway Code. Paragraph 2 punishes driving without compulsory third-party (RC) cover with an administrative fine that trade sources put between 866 and 3,464 euros, plus seizure of the vehicle. Amounts are revalued periodically, so always check the current figure.

Seizure is not a formality: removal, transport and storage costs are charged to the owner. If the offence is committed at least twice within two years, the second can also bring a licence suspension of one to two months.

The 15-day grace period: how it works

The main guides describe a grace period (periodo di comporto) of 15 days after expiry, during which the insurer keeps the cover active while you renew. Three caveats:

• it generally applies to annual policies; for temporary policies the date on the contract rules;
• it is not an invitation to procrastinate: some contracts and instalment plans have their own terms, so read your policy;
• once it ends, the vehicle is uninsured and driving it is an offence.

If in doubt, the safest course is to leave the car parked until you hold the new certificate.

What you risk after the 15 days

Beyond the fine and seizure there is a risk many people underestimate: an accident. If you cause a crash without cover, the injured party is compensated by the Road Victims Guarantee Fund, which then claims the money back from you. You can end up repaying far more than the fine.

How to reduce the fine

The fine can be cut by 25% if you renew within 30 days of expiry, or if you scrap the vehicle within 30 days of the violation being recorded. Timing matters again: the longer you wait, the more discounts you lose.

How to check when your policy expires

• Look at the date on your contract or insurance certificate. Your insurer must send an expiry notice at least 30 days ahead, with a renewal offer and your risk certificate.
• Use the Verifica Copertura RCA section of the Ministry's Portale dell'Automobilista, entering your plate number.
• Set a phone reminder or use an app that tracks the expiry date.
• Keep the certificate in the car: the windscreen sticker has not been mandatory since 2015, but proof of cover is useful at a roadside check.

What may change: the October 2026 decree

On 13 October 2026 the Government approved in preliminary form a draft legislative decree (Atto del Governo n. 448) aimed at tightening checks. It is a proposal, not law in force, and it still needs opinions from the Conferenza unificata, the Council of State and parliamentary committees, so amounts and procedures may change.

As reported, the Ministry of Infrastructure would cross-check databases every month to spot uninsured vehicles. Owners would have 30 days to take out a policy or document an exemption, such as sending the car to scrap. Otherwise an open-ended driving ban would be recorded in the databases and lifted only once cover is in place. Proposed penalties include fines of 1,000 to 4,000 euros and more licence points, plus penalties for lending a car without checking its cover.

Today, by contrast, an uninsured vehicle is usually found only at a roadside check or after a crash. If the decree passes, the difference would be huge.

Buying and selling: watch the policy

If you buy a used car, remember the policy does not automatically transfer with the vehicle: insure it in your own name before driving it, even for the trip home from the registration office. If you sell, tell your insurer to suspend or close the contract.

Quick summary

• The 15-day grace usually applies to annual policies, but do not rely on it.
• After expiry you risk a fine of roughly 866 to 3,464 euros and seizure.
• Renew within 30 days to cut the fine by 25%.
• Check cover on the Portale dell'Automobilista.
• The monthly-checks decree is still under discussion: follow its progress.

Fonti / Further reading

• [1] SicurAuto: Assicurazione auto scaduta, cosa fare per evitare la multa
• [2] Autoblog: Assicurazione auto scaduta, copertura e sanzioni
• [3] Diritto.it: Auto senza assicurazione, controlli automatici e stop dopo 30 giorni