Driving Tips The exact calendar, fines, and survival rules for Amalfi Coast driving. The SS163 Amalfitana is the coastal state road that links Vietri sul Mare, Cetara, Maiori, Minori, Amalfi, Conca dei Marini, Praiano, Positano, and Sorrento across the Costiera Amalfitana, with the cliffs of the Lattari Mountains above and the Valle del Dragone in the Praiano sector. In practical terms, the road is a narrow, winding corridor with bus traffic, blind bends, and limited passing space, and the route is commonly paired with ferry legs to reduce stress. Road width: many sections are under 6 metres wide, which means two private cars cannot always pass a SITA Sud bus without one vehicle using a passing bay. Speed profile: the posted limit is often 50 km/h, but town approaches and tight curves are frequently signed at 30 km/h under the Codice della Strada and local safety orders. Traffic reality: on summer afternoons, average movement can drop to 25-35 km/h, especially between Maiori and Positano. ⚠️ Warning: The SS163 is not a motorway, and the A3 autostrada Napoli-Salerno does not “merge” into coastal comfort; once you leave the motorway network, the road becomes a local-feeling mountain coast route with buses, scooters, and frequent stops. If you want to plan parking before you choose an overnight base, compare your hotel against our Amalfi Coast parking map and our SS163 and ZTL survival rules. Targhe alterne is the alternating-plate restriction used on selected dates along the SS163, and it is enforced by Anas Ordinance 340/2019 plus municipal traffic decrees from towns such as Amalfi, Positano, and Praiano. The rule is simple: on odd calendar dates, odd-ending plates may circulate in the restricted window; on even calendar dates, even-ending plates may circulate in that same window. Restriction window: 10:00-18:00 on enforced days. Penalty bracket: approximately €83-€332 under the Codice della Strada framework, plus any rental handling fee. Common exemption classes: residents, licensed NCC chauffeurs, taxis, buses, scooters, and motorcycles. Period Enforcement pattern Notes 30 Mar - 6 Apr Every day Holy Week and Easter Monday traffic control 24 Apr - 2 May Every day Spring holiday restriction block 1 Jun - 31 Jul Weekends and public holidays Plate parity check only on active days 1 Aug - 30 Sep Every day Peak-season restriction block 1 Oct - 31 Oct Weekends and public holidays Reduced autumn enforcement 💡 Tip: If you collect a rental car at Naples Capodichino Airport and your plate is blocked on your departure day, leave before 10:00 or after 18:00, then use SITA Sud or TravelMar ferries for mid-day movement between Amalfi, Positano, and Sorrento. ⚠️ Warning: A hotel booking does not create a full-day exemption from targhe alterne; the practical exemption is usually limited to arrival and departure movements when the plate has been pre-registered through the Sportello Telematico process. A hotel exemption on the Amalfi Coast is narrow, and the operational detail matters more than the booking confirmation. Most properties must transmit the guest’s plate to the local authority through a Sportello Telematico or equivalent municipal portal, usually within a short administrative window, so arrival and departure journeys can be validated. Operational value: the plate registration can protect the route to the hotel and the route leaving the hotel, but it does not authorise sightseeing loops through Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, or Praiano on unrestricted days. Typical control point: camera systems at ZTL entrances and municipal gateways in historic cores. Practical result: if you drive from Amalfi to Ravello for dinner after check-in, the journey may still be enforceable if the route crosses active ZTL or plate-restricted segments. For trip planning, the safest pattern is to park once, then switch to ferries, buses, or walking for short hops into pedestrianised centres such as Piazza Duomo Ravello, Piazza Flavio Gioia, Nocelle, or Montepertuso. Every major town on the Amalfi Coast uses a ZTL to protect the historic centre, and the enforcement tool is a camera or gate system that records entry plates. Under the Codice della Strada, unauthorised entry can trigger a fine in the €83-€332 range, and the local police can process multiple infractions if a vehicle enters and exits after a mistaken manoeuvre. Positano: entry gates and cameras cover the central access routes, including evening controls on busy weekends. Amalfi: the main town centre ZTL is active, and the pedestrian micro-closures around the seafront and main street are especially sensitive near the cathedral area. Ravello: the central core around Piazza Duomo Ravello, Villa Rufolo, and Villa Cimbrone is managed as a highly restricted access zone. Praiano and Vietri sul Mare: both towns operate camera-based enforcement at key approaches. Town Access pattern Operational note Amalfi Continuous ZTL and timed pedestrian closures Watch the Isola Pedonale windows carefully Positano Camera-monitored historic core Avoid spontaneous U-turns near gate lines Ravello Restricted centre with limited delivery access Use authorised access only Praiano Route-controlled entry points Check local signs before descending into the centre Vietri sul Mare Town-centre enforcement near the main approaches Do not assume coastal signage means free passage ⚠️ Warning: If you cross a ZTL line and then reverse to “fix” the mistake, the camera can record both the entry and the reverse movement, and the result may be two fines instead of one. For a parking-and-entry strategy that avoids the main camera points, review our Amalfi Coast parking map and our ZTL camera rules for Positano and Amalfi. The Italian Codice della Strada is the legal framework that turns traffic mistakes into payable notices, and rental-car drivers are usually liable even when the rental company pays first and re-invoices later. Under Article 142, speeding fines scale with excess speed; under Article 173, phone use while driving triggers both a fine and penalty points; under Article 193, a missing valid third-party policy is treated as a serious offence; and under Article 201, non-resident notices can be sent well after the trip. Infraction Legal basis Typical penalty Speeding 10-40 km/h over limit Article 142 €173-€694 Speeding 40-60 km/h over limit Article 142 €543-€2,170 plus 1-3 month suspension Handheld phone use Article 173 €250-€1,000 plus points and possible suspension No valid driving document for the driver category Article 135 €408-€1,634 No RCA third-party liability insurance Article 193 €866-€3,464 plus impound risk Notification timing: Article 201 allows up to 360 days for notice to a non-resident, which is why many tourists receive a fine after returning home. Administrative add-on: rental desks may apply a separate €30-€50 processing fee for each fine they handle. Dispute venue: the Prefettura or Giudice di Pace are the usual routes for an objection, while the Polizia Stradale and Polizia Locale are the enforcement bodies most travelers encounter. If you need help checking cross-border enforcement or payment rights, the practical consumer reference point is ECC-Net Italia, especially when a non-refundable charge or a post-trip administrative debit does not match the rental contract. A rental quote on the Amalfi Coast is only useful when the insurance line items are clear, because the headline price often excludes the actual risk transfer. A desk can offer CDW with a high excess/deductible, then upsell SCDW, FDW, Super CDW, or zero excess; some suppliers market this as full coverage, but the contract still matters. Typical mechanic: the agency takes a preauthorisation on the credit card, then releases or converts that hold after return inspection. Deposit logic: a lower daily rate can still carry a larger non-refundable deposit or a larger franchise in case of damage. Coverage difference: third-party liability (RCA) is mandatory, but it does not automatically eliminate the excess on collision or theft unless the contract says so. Europcar: Europcar usually offers compact models such as Fiat Panda or VW Polo, and Europcar can bundle CDW with a separate excess reduction option depending on station and season. Hertz: Hertz often lists crossovers such as Fiat 500X or Nissan Qashqai, and Hertz typically uses a card preauthorisation tied to the booked car group. Avis: Avis commonly prices the Fiat 500, Skoda Octavia, or VW Golf Variant, with optional SCDW or “super” excess reduction. Sixt: Sixt frequently positions automatic city cars and small SUVs, and Sixt can provide zero-excess offers that still require a deposit hold. Budget: Budget often competes on smaller group cars such as Smart Fortwo or Fiat Panda, especially for short rental windows. Goldcar: Goldcar pricing frequently depends on a larger deposit model, so the final card hold can be more important than the headline daily rate. Locauto, Enterprise, Maggiore, and InterRent: these operators may be useful for one-way or airport pickup patterns, but each supplier should be checked for the exact franchise amount and roadside assistance terms. 💡 Tip: Ask the desk for the written values of the excess/deductible, the theft excess, and the damage excess before signing, because “full coverage” can still leave glass, tyres, mirrors, or underbody exclusions. ⚠️ Warning: A low quote with a high franchise can be more expensive than a higher quote with true zero excess, especially if the contract includes a non-refundable deposit and separate admin fees. Parking on the Amalfi Coast is best planned as part of the itinerary, not as a last-minute search, because several towns use limited curb space, timed lots, and municipal enforcement. For examples and operating hours, use InfoParkingAmalfi as a parking reference, then compare hotel access to municipal rules. Amalfi: garages and private lots around the centre are the practical choice when the ZTL is active. Ravello: access is more controlled, so parking near the approach road and walking to Villa Rufolo or Villa Cimbrone is often simpler. Positano: parking capacity is small, and many visitors leave the car in a regulated lot before walking down to the seafront. Maiori and Minori: these towns often work better as overnight bases because the approach is less compressed than in Amalfi or Positano. Sorrento and Salerno: both can work as transfer bases for ferry connections, rail access, and easier pickup at city-edge garages such as Luna Rossa garage, De Gennaro garage, or Mandara garage. For longer day trips, many travelers drive to Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius, Paestum, or Sant'Agata sui Due Golfi, then return before the coastal evening rush. If you want to combine a scenic stop with a short walk, the ceramic district around the Solimene Ceramic Factory is a useful waypoint near Vietri sul Mare. The Amalfi Coast works best when a rental car is just one tool, not the only tool. SITA Sud buses connect the towns on the coast road, TravelMar ferries reduce pressure between seafront stops, and local taxi/NCC services can solve the last mile on high-enforcement days. SITA Sud: best for short inter-town hops when parking is scarce or when your plate is restricted under targhe alterne. TravelMar: best for summer movement between Amalfi, Positano, and Salerno when the sea is calmer and road traffic is slow. ZetaPass: useful where municipal paid-parking systems or access control is integrated with local plate recognition. InfoParkingAmalfi: useful for comparing garage opening hours, hourly rates, and daily caps before you enter a ZTL. 💡 Tip: If you arrive via Naples Capodichino Airport (NAP) and want the simplest first night, consider staying in Sorrento or Salerno before transferring to Amalfi or Positano the next day. 💡 Tip: Use Piazza Flavio Gioia in Amalfi and the lower seafront zones as walking reference points, then leave the car in a garage before entering the busiest historic lanes. Can I drive the SS163 Amalfitana with any rental car? Yes, but the safest choice is usually a small automatic such as a Fiat Panda, Fiat 500, VW Polo, or Smart Fortwo, because the SS163 has narrow sections, bus encounters, and tight bends. The road is under national traffic law, and local enforcement is strongest in the summer and on holiday dates. The exception is that larger cars can still be driven legally if the driver is experienced and the route is timed carefully. Does a hotel booking exempt me from targhe alterne for my entire stay? No, the practical exemption is generally limited to arrival and departure movements that the hotel has registered with the municipality. The legal framework comes from Anas Ordinance 340/2019 and local municipal decrees, and the enforcement window is typically 10:00-18:00 on active days. The caveat is that sightseeing drives during your stay can still be fined if your plate parity does not match the date. What happens if I enter a ZTL by mistake? You can receive an automatic fine because ZTL cameras record entry without a permit. Under the Codice della Strada, the usual penalty range is €83-€332, and the rental company may add a processing fee of €30-€50. The caveat is that a timely objection may be possible if the sign was missing, unclear, or affected by a municipal error, but you should not assume that an error cancels the notice. Is collision damage waiver enough on its own? No, CDW reduces the collision exposure but often leaves an excess, franchise, or separate exclusions unless you buy SCDW, Super CDW, FDW, or true zero excess. A supplier may still take a preauthorisation and enforce a non-refundable deposit even with an upgraded package. The caveat is that the contract wording controls the outcome, not the marketing label. What if I get a fine after I go home? A post-trip notice can still be valid because Article 201 allows authorities up to 360 days to notify a non-resident driver. The fine may arrive months later, and the rental desk can transfer the notice to the car-renter together with an admin fee. The caveat is that disputes are fact-specific, and the Prefettura or Giudice di Pace are the usual channels for a formal challenge. Do I need a legal warning before I book? Yes: if you are a non-EU licence holder, carry a valid International Driving Permit and your original licence, because Article 135 can produce a large fine for non-compliance and can affect insurance validity. The enforcement base is the Italian Codice della Strada, and police checks may occur anywhere on the SS163 or in town centres. The caveat is that rental desks and officers still expect the documents to match the booking and driver details exactly.