Used cars for new drivers in Italy: kW limits

If you have just passed your driving test in Italy, the power limits for new drivers decide which used car you can legally buy. Since 14 December 2024, the new Codice della Strada loosened the numbers but stretched the period: the limits now last three years instead of one. This guide shows how to check any used car in two minutes, which common models usually pass, and where buyers go wrong.

The current limits: 75 kW/t and 105 kW

For the first three years after getting a category B licence, you may drive only a vehicle that meets both parameters: a power-to-weight ratio of no more than 75 kW per tonne, and a maximum power of 105 kW (about 142 hp). Before the reform the caps were 55 kW/t and 70 kW for a single year, with 65 kW/t for electric and plug-in cars [1][2].

The two limits work together. At a kerb weight of 1,000 kg, 75 kW/t equals 75 kW. The absolute 105 kW cap only becomes the binding constraint from 1,400 kg upward. A car with 100 kW and 1,200 kg is at about 83 kW/t, so it is out, even though 100 kW is below 105. Always run the numbers for the exact version, not the model name.

Where to find the data: boxes P.2 and G

There is no official list of cars banned for new drivers. The only document that counts is the registration certificate (carta di circolazione): power in kW is in box P.2 and unladen mass in box G [3]. The sum is simple:

1. Take the kW from box P.2.
2. Convert the mass in box G into tonnes (divide by 1,000).
3. Divide kW by tonnes. The result must be 75 or less.
4. Also check that the kW do not exceed 105.

Example: a supermini with 51 kW and 1,000 kg gives 51 kW/t, comfortably inside the limits. Do not trust the ad: horsepower figures, engine size and trim names can be imprecise. Ask the seller for a photo of the certificate before you drive out to see the car.

Petrol, hybrid or electric: what gets measured

For petrol, diesel, LPG, methane and for mild and full hybrids, what counts is the power of the combustion engine. That favours full hybrids: the combined system output may be high, but the combustion engine is the figure considered [4].

Electric and plug-in cars are different. The relevant number is the power approved over 30 minutes, usually far below the advertised peak. Ayvens gives the electric DS 3 Crossback as an example: 100 kW peak, but 57 kW approved and roughly 35.7 kW/t [2]. The 105 kW ceiling now applies to electric and plug-in cars too, whereas before only the power-to-weight ratio did. Sources are not fully aligned on this point, so check the continuous-power value on the certificate and, if in doubt, ask the motorisation office or a driving school before you sign.

Which used cars usually fit

Base versions of common superminis and small cars on the Italian market almost always pass. Examples cited by the specialist press include the Fiat Panda and 500, Dacia Sandero, Volkswagen Polo and up!, Renault Clio, Toyota Yaris (the full hybrid is a strong city choice), Opel Corsa, Ford Fiesta, Citroën C3, Hyundai i10 and i20, and Kia Picanto [3]. Under 10,000 euro you can often find five-to-eight-year-old examples with 50–75 kW engines [3].

That does not mean every version qualifies. A sporty Clio or Polo, a high-output turbo or a Mini Cooper S can exceed 105 kW or 75 kW/t. The same badge covers very different engines, so always check the exact variant.

Fuel type: match it to how you drive

Pick the fuel according to the kilometres you will really do [3]:

• Petrol: simplest for short city trips.
• LPG: sensible for high mileage on a tight budget; check the tank test date.
• Full hybrid: efficient in urban traffic, and only the combustion engine counts for the limit.
• Diesel: only worth it for lots of out-of-town driving; in the city the particulate filter becomes a cost.

Exceptions and risks: experienced passenger and insurance

The limits do not apply when an experienced driver is on board: at least ten years of category B licence or higher, and no older than 65 [2][5]. It is a useful exception for occasionally driving the family car, but not a way to buy an over-limit car and use it alone every day.

On penalties, article 117 of the Codice della Strada attaches administrative consequences to breaching the limits. We do not quote amounts because the sources we checked are dated and disagree; read the current text on Normattiva. There is also an open question for people licensed before 14 December 2024: the cautious reading is that the new rules apply to licences issued after the reform took effect, and the specialist press flags interpretive uncertainty [5]. If that is you, confirm with your driving school or the motorisation office.

On insurance, the first years are generally pricier and your merit class matters. Get quotes from several insurers before buying, and compare the car with a lower-powered alternative [3].

The pre-purchase checklist

1. Get a photo of the registration certificate and compute kW/t and kW.
2. For hybrids and electric cars, use the correct approved value.
3. Get an insurance quote with your real licence data.
4. Check road tax, MOT-style revisione and service history.
5. Verify mileage and history: a cheap used car with tampered mileage is no bargain.
6. If you doubt the limits, stop and ask: a mistake costs more than waiting.

Bottom line: for your first three years, look for a used car under 105 kW and under 75 kW/t, check boxes P.2 and G on the registration certificate, and favour the base version of a common supermini. The biggest saving is the calculation you do before you buy.

Sources and further reading

1. Sicurauto, Neopatentati: cosa possono guidare col nuovo Codice della Strada (20 Nov 2024)
2. Ayvens, Auto elettriche e ibride: limiti di potenza per i neopatentati (20 Mar 2025)
3. Il Giornale Digitale, Auto usate per neopatentati (30 May 2026)
4. Motor1 Italia, Auto per neopatentati 2026: lista modelli (Apr 2026)
5. Motorionline, Neopatentati, in vigore da oggi i nuovi limiti (14 Dec 2024)