More than one sanction in three concerns exceeding the speed limit. Florence, Bologna and Milan are the cities that earn the most from speed cameras. And from European notifications to rental cars, here’s what happens if you get a fine abroad
Boom in speeding on Italian roads. In 2025 the Municipalities have collected more 284 million euros only from the fines given for violating the speed limits of the Highway Code. More than one (high) fine in three concerns excessive speed, according to an analysis by Facile.it. And in the summer there is a surge in accidents. What about those who drive abroad? The risk of a fine is just around the corner: since 2014 a European system allows you to notify fines even at home, months after the trip.
Florence, Bologna and Milan: the ranking of the capitals that earn the most
Florence it is the capital that collected the most from speeding fines in 2025, with 19,718,932 euros. They follow Bologna (9,214,556 euros), Milan (6,948,884 euros), Padua (5,725,268 euros) and Genoa (4,883,831 euros). The top five cities together raised over 46 million euros between speed cameras, tutors and other devices. Palermo, Ravenna, Modena, Treviso and Venice close the top ten. Curiously, Rome stops in twelfth placewith 2,308,276 euros. Among the non-capital municipalities, however, the record goes to Villapiana (CS), with 6,990,889 euros, ahead of Fiumicino (RM, 6,977,786 euros) and Galatina (LE, 5,365,680 euros).
Because accidents increase in summer
The survey numbers also reveal a typically summer phenomenon: over 15 million Italians will use the car to reach their holiday destination. A boom in travel which, according to the latest available ISTAT data, translates into an increase in accidents: in the months of June, July and August there were over 48 thousand, with injuries to people. It means 28% of the annual total, with a peak in the month of July, when more than 17 thousand claims were counted. And speeding is one of the main causes.
Fines abroad: how the Cross Border system works
Those traveling abroad are not exempt from fines. The Cross Border system has been active in the European Union since 2014which allows the authorities of different Member States to automatically exchange data on vehicles registered abroad. In practice, if an Italian motorist commits an infringement in another EU country, the local authorities can trace the owner of the vehicle and deliver the fine directly to his home, with a letter of complaint written in his language. The maximum deadline for notification is 365 days from the infringement: a fine received, for example, in France in July 2026 could last until July 2027.
Which infringements caught abroad are notified to motorists Italians
The Cross Border system does not apply to all violations, but only to those considered to be the most serious: speeding; failure to use a seat belt; passing a red light; driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs; failure to wear a helmet; driving in prohibited lanes and improper use of mobile phones while driving. A parking ban, on the other hand, is normally contested on the spot and only rarely arrives at home afterwards. However, points are not lost on the license for offenses committed abroad. This is because the “points” system is different in the various states; therefore, there are no effects on the Italian driving license if an offense is committed in another European country.
Outside the European Union the rules on traffic fines change
The situation is different for non-EU countries, where there is no single system for recovering sanctions. In these cases, the foreign authority traces the owner of the vehicle via the license plate and sends a translated notification with instructions for payment or appeal. If you do not pay, the case can pass to the local judicial authority and, with bilateral agreements, also to the Italian one, with the risk of international debt collection or seizure of assets.
Rental cars and unpaid fines: what to know before leaving
Those traveling with a rental car are not immune from fines: the notification first reaches the rental company, which is obliged to transmit the driver’s data to the local authorities, which then forwards the fine to the customer, often with additional administrative costs foreseen by the contract. In most cases the amount is charged directly to the card used for the rental: it is therefore better to read the clauses carefully before leaving.
What happens if you don’t pay traffic fines taken abroad
For infringements that fall within the Cross Border system, the collection and seizure of assets are immediately applicable also for an Italian citizen. For other violations, the recovery of the credit by the foreign state is more complex, but the sanctions provided for by local law remain valid. Finally, be careful of those who have unpaid fines and are planning a new trip to the same country: unpaid fines can be entered into data exchange systems between EU states, and local authorities can block entry or exit from the country in the event of serious or repeated violations.
