U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Kevin Tran, 31st Security Forces Squadron defender, directs traffic at the north gate of Aviano Air Base, Italy, Feb. 27, 2025. (Brooke Rogers/U.S. Air Force)
NAPLES, Italy — U.S. military bases in Italy are reminding their communities to obey Italian motor vehicle licensing laws or risk serious consequences, including the potential loss of their automobiles or scooters.
The alerts come ahead of strict enforcement starting Saturday of a law requiring license plates and insurance for electric scooters.
Italian officials also are emphasizing adherence to similar laws, violations of which can carry fines of up to 400 euros.
The scooter law also requires helmets for riders 14 and under, and the vehicles must have working lights, brakes and a bell, Naval Support Activity Naples said in a Facebook post Wednesday.
“Non-compliance may result in heavy monetary fines or vehicle impoundment by authorities,” the base said in the post. Those fines can range from 100 to 400 euros, according to Italian news site LaMilano.it.
People who own electric scooters should contact base motor vehicle offices for more information, NSA Naples said.
The reminder about the new law followed a similar recent announcement by Naval Air Station Sigonella, on the Italian island of Sicily, that warned owners to properly display license plates on cars, trucks and other vehicles.
Italian law requires a license plate to be physically secured to the front and rear of all four-wheel vehicles, NAS Sigonella said in a May 5 Facebook post.
Violators risk fines of up to 250 euros and potential impoundment of their vehicle for up to 90 days. Repeat offenders could permanently lose their vehicle, according to the post.
The post is intended to make base community members aware of potential penalties whether they are driving on or off base, said Lt. j.g. Vianni Paquian, a NAS Sigonella spokeswoman.
Drivers who have vehicles with bumpers that don’t easily accommodate the typically longer, narrower Italian license plates may unknowingly violate the law by improperly displaying them in a car window or another location, Paquian said.
U.S. Army Garrison Italy, Aviano Air Base and NSA Naples each said people are advised of the requirement when registering their vehicles at an installation motor vehicle office.
Public information campaigns also offer periodic reminders. For example, vehicle owners at Aviano must sign an acknowledgment that they understand the license plate requirements, the base said.
