Patente Quiz B
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Lesson and quiz, category B licence

Licences and documents (Patenti e documenti)

On the exam this topic tests what a category B licence covers, the documents to carry, validity and renewal, the points system, limits for new drivers and the rules of the learner permit; this site has 22 true or false statements to practise on it.

The theory exam has 30 statements in 20 minutes and you pass with at most 3 mistakes. Source: Codice della Strada.

Skip to the quiz Study the rules

The real theory exam is in Italian, with French or German available on request. Lessons here keep the Italian terms in italics, and the quiz shows each statement in Italian with English help underneath. Switch to Italian only in the quiz to practise under exam conditions.

The rules

Question 1 of 1

Rule 1

What a B licence covers

A category B licence can be obtained at 18. It covers motor vehicles with a maximum authorised mass up to 3,500 kg, designed for no more than eight people besides the driver, nine seats in all. Licences issued by another European Union state are recognised and valid in Italy on the conditions written on them. For motorcycles the B licence has strict limits: bikes beyond them require category A2 or A.

Example

A nine seat minibus, driver included, with a 3,200 kg mass can be driven on a B licence; the ten seat version of the same model cannot.

Legal reference: CdS art. 116

Exam traps

  • «It can be obtained at sixteen»: false, at eighteen.
  • «It covers motorcycles of any engine size»: false.
  • «A licence from another EU state is not valid in Italy»: false, it is recognised.

Rule 2

Documents to carry

When driving you carry a licence of the right category and the vehicle's registration document (carta di circolazione), to show traffic police who ask for them. The registration document identifies the vehicle and records its technical data, such as masses and seats. If a licence is lost you report the loss and apply for a duplicate: it is an administrative procedure, with no new exams.

Example

At a checkpoint the carabinieri ask for documents. You hand over the licence and registration document, which must be in the car.

Legal reference: CdS art. 180

Exam traps

  • «A duplicate is issued only after retaking the exams»: false.

Rule 3

Validity and renewal

A category B licence does not last for ever. It is valid for 10 years; 5 years if issued or renewed after age 50; 3 years after 70; 2 years after 80. Driving on an expired licence is not the same as driving without one: it is a different administrative offence, and you may not drive until the licence is renewed.

Example

Someone renewing their licence at 52 gets a document valid for 5 years, until 57.

Legal reference: CdS art. 126

Exam traps

  • «It is valid indefinitely»: false.
  • «An expired licence equals never having one»: false, they are different offences.

Rule 4

The points system

A licence starts with 20 points. Offences that carry a deduction remove points, recorded in the national register of licence holders; for several offences recorded together, as a rule, at most 15 are lost. For new drivers, in the first three years, deductions are doubled. Two years without offences carrying a deduction restore the balance to 20, and a driver who stays offence free with at least 20 points earns bonus points up to a maximum of 30. Refresher courses restore 6 points. Anyone losing all their points must retake the test (esame di revisione).

Example

A new driver in their second year commits an offence carrying 5 points. They lose 10 and drop from 20 to 10.

Legal reference: CdS art. 126-bis

Exam traps

  • «A licence starts with 30 points»: false, 20; 30 is the maximum reachable.
  • «Points come back after one year without offences»: false, after two.

Rule 5

New drivers: three years of limits

The new driver period lasts three years from obtaining the category B licence. Since law 177/2024, in force from 14 December 2024, the power limits apply for all three years: for M1 cars you may not exceed 75 kW per tonne of unladen mass or 105 kW of maximum power, and exceeding either value is enough for the vehicle to be off limits. For three years the limits of 100 km/h on motorways and 90 km/h on main extra urban roads also apply, along with zero alcohol and, for holders with no earlier B or higher licence, doubled point deductions (table annexed to art. 126-bis).

Example

A driver licensed two and a half years ago wants to drive a 110 kW car with 1,600 kg unladen mass. The ratio is about 69 kW per tonne, under the limit, but the power exceeds 105 kW, so they may not.

Legal reference: CdS art. 117; L. 177/2024

Exam traps

  • «After the first year any power is allowed»: false since 14 December 2024, the limits last three years.
  • «Only maximum power counts»: false, both limits apply together.

Rule 6

Licence application and learner permit

The licence application is valid for 6 months and allows 2 theory attempts. Once the theory test is passed you receive the learner permit (foglio rosa), which is valid for 12 months and allows 3 practical test attempts. On a learner permit you never drive alone: beside you sits a companion aged no more than 65, who has held a licence of the same category for at least 10 years or one of a higher category, ready to step in. The vehicle displays the P plate. For category B, practice on motorways or extra urban roads and at night is also required, certified by the driving school.

Example

A young woman gets her learner permit in March. She has until March of the following year and three attempts to pass the driving test.

Legal reference: CdS art. 121; CdS art. 122

Exam traps

  • Do not mix up the two documents: application 6 months and 2 theory attempts, learner permit 12 months and 3 practical attempts.
  • «The learner permit lets you drive alone on the motorway»: false.

Rule 7

What can go wrong

Three scenes show how a licence rule is easy to forget and costly to break. First scene: in Catania a young man on a learner permit takes his parents' car to drive alone to Acireale, thinking that a few days before the test nothing changes. At a carabinieri check on state road 114 he has no companion. Art. 122 of the Codice della Strada provides a fine and, in this case, the vehicle being impounded, and he turns up to his test with a penalty notice for his family to deal with. The learner permit allows practice only with a qualified companion. Second scene: in Genoa a woman licensed two years ago borrows her uncle's 180 kW sports saloon. She thinks the power limits apply only in the first year, as she read on an old forum. Stopped by the traffic police on the A10, she learns that since 14 December 2024 the limits last all three years: the car exceeds 105 kW, and a fine and doubled point deductions follow. Third scene: in Florence a 73 year old man has not noticed that his licence expired two months ago: his last renewal, at 70, was valid for 3 years and he never checked the date. During a check on viale dei Mille he is charged with driving on an expired licence and is not allowed to drive on until he renews it. It is not driving without a licence, but he may not drive again until he renews. The shared lesson is simple. Check the dates printed on the licence, know the new driver thresholds, and on a learner permit always have a companion beside you.

Legal reference: CdS art. 122; CdS art. 117; CdS art. 126

CdS: Codice della Strada (d.lgs. 285/1992). Reg.: its implementing regulation (d.P.R. 495/1992). c.: comma, the numbered paragraph of an article.

Full text of the Codice: www.aci.it/i-servizi/normative/codice-della-strada.html

Trap words

False statements on the exam often repeat a true rule and change a single word. These are the Italian words to read carefully in this topic. They stay in Italian because that is how they appear on the exam.

Words that appear in every topic

sempre
always. An absolute: the statement is true only if there is no exception at all.
«Keeping to the limit sempre (always) guarantees a safe speed»: false, in fog or on ice you go slower.
solo, soltanto, esclusivamente
only. It rules out every other case, so a single exception makes the statement false.
«The children sign is placed soltanto (only) outside primary schools»: false, it also appears near parks and sports grounds.
mai, in nessun caso
never, in no case. The statement is true only if the behaviour is not allowed in any situation.
«A driver with priority may in nessun caso (never) give it up»: false, they may, as long as they make it clear.
ovvero
In the language of the Codice it means «or» and introduces an alternative. It does not mean «that is».
Emergency stop: the vehicle has broken down ovvero (or) the driver must stop because they feel unwell (art. 157). Two separate cases; either one is enough.
obbligatoriamente, è obbligatorio
compulsory. A duty: it is not enough for the behaviour to be allowed, it must be required.
«Overtaking on the left is obbligatorio (compulsory) even past a driver turning left»: false, in that case you pass on the right.
è consentito, è ammesso
allowed, permitted. A permission, not a duty. «È consentito» does not mean «è obbligatorio», and the reverse.
«It is consentito (allowed) to pass on the right a driver who has signalled a left turn»: true, and art. 148(7) actually requires it.
di norma, di regola
as a rule, normally. It states the general rule, which allows exceptions, so the statement does not claim to hold in every case.
«Outside built up areas warning signs are placed di norma (as a rule) 150 metres ahead»: true, and a panel gives any other distance.
anche
also, even. It stretches the rule to one more case; ask whether that added case really belongs.
«The no parking sign anche (also) bans stopping»: false, a brief stop is still allowed under a no parking sign.
automaticamente, di per sé
automatically, in itself. It suggests an effect that applies on its own, when the effect usually depends on a sign or a specific condition.
«In fog the motorway limit automaticamente (automatically) drops to 90 km/h»: false, the automatic cut applies to rain and snow.
qualsiasi, qualunque, in ogni caso
any, in every case. It generalises; look for the category or situation the rule leaves out.
«The safe distance is the same at qualunque (any) speed»: false, it grows with speed.
corsia
lane. The part of the carriageway wide enough for one line of vehicles (art. 3).
A two way carriageway (carreggiata) usually has two corsie (lanes), one for each direction.
carreggiata
carriageway. The part of the road for vehicles, made up of one or more lanes (art. 3). It does not include the verge or the pavement.
A speed limit applies to the whole carreggiata (carriageway), not only to the lane next to the sign.
banchina
verge, hard strip. The strip beside the carriageway and outside it, not meant for driving (art. 3).
Outside built up areas you park off the carriageway, for example on a suitable banchina (verge) (art. 157(3)).
fermata
stop. A brief halt to let people get in or out, with the driver present and ready to move off (art. 157).
Pulling in to drop off a passenger and leaving straight away is a fermata (stop), not a sosta (parking).
sosta
parking. A prolonged halt during which the driver may leave the vehicle (art. 157).
A divieto di sosta (no parking) does not ban stopping; a divieto di fermata (no stopping) bans parking too.
arresto
halt. An interruption caused by traffic, such as a red light or a queue. It is not the driver's choice (art. 157).
Stopping at a red light is an arresto (halt); no stopping ban prevents it.

Check yourself

Three statements on the topic. Answer and see straight away whether the rule has stuck. These answers are not saved.

Question 1 of 1

  1. La patente a punti prevede trenta punti al momento del rilascio.

    The points licence starts with thirty points when issued.

  2. La domanda di patente ha validità di sei mesi e consente due prove di teoria.

    The licence application is valid for six months and allows two theory attempts.

  3. Trascorso il primo anno il neopatentato può guidare un'autovettura di qualunque potenza.

    After the first year a newly licensed driver may drive a car of any power.

Topic quiz: 22 statements

Untimed. After each answer you see the solution, the explanation, the trap words highlighted and a link back to the rule. At the end you get your score and can retest just the ones you missed.

Question 1 of 1

  1. La patente di categoria B si può conseguire a sedici anni compiuti.

    A category B licence can be obtained at sixteen.

  2. La patente B abilita alla guida di autoveicoli con massa complessiva fino a 3.500 chilogrammi e non più di nove posti compreso il conducente.

    A category B licence covers vehicles up to 3,500 kilograms and no more than nine seats including the driver.

  3. La patente di guida deve essere esibita agli organi di polizia stradale che la richiedono.

    The driving licence must be shown to traffic police on request.

  4. La patente B ha validità illimitata nel tempo.

    A category B licence is valid indefinitely.

  5. La patente a punti prevede trenta punti al momento del rilascio.

    The points licence starts with thirty points when issued.

  6. Al neopatentato che commette una violazione con decurtazione di punti si applica la sottrazione raddoppiata.

    A newly licensed driver committing a point deducting offence loses double the points.

  7. La carta di circolazione riporta i dati tecnici del veicolo e deve essere tenuta a bordo.

    The registration document lists the vehicle data and must be kept on board.

  8. Guidare con patente scaduta di validità equivale a guidare senza avere mai conseguito la patente.

    Driving with an expired licence is the same offence as never having held one.

  9. L'autorizzazione a esercitarsi, cioè il foglio rosa, ha una validità di dodici mesi.

    The learner permit, the foglio rosa, is valid for twelve months.

  10. Con il foglio rosa si possono sostenere fino a tre prove pratiche.

    With the foglio rosa up to three practical tests may be taken.

  11. La domanda di patente ha validità di sei mesi e consente due prove di teoria.

    The licence application is valid for six months and allows two theory attempts.

  12. Chi si esercita con il foglio rosa deve essere affiancato da una persona in possesso dei requisiti previsti dalla legge.

    A learner practising with the foglio rosa must be accompanied by a person meeting the requirements set by law.

  13. Il periodo da neopatentato dura tre anni dal conseguimento della patente B.

    The newly licensed period lasts three years from obtaining the B licence.

  14. Le decurtazioni di punti sono registrate nell'anagrafe nazionale degli abilitati alla guida.

    Point deductions are recorded in the national register of licence holders.

  15. Chi perde tutti i punti della patente deve sottoporsi all'esame di revisione.

    A driver who loses all their licence points must sit the review examination.

  16. Il foglio rosa consente di guidare da soli in autostrada.

    The foglio rosa allows driving alone on the motorway.

  17. Trascorso il primo anno il neopatentato può guidare un'autovettura di qualunque potenza.

    After the first year a newly licensed driver may drive a car of any power.

  18. Per i neopatentati conta soltanto la potenza massima del veicolo e non il rapporto fra potenza e tara.

    For newly licensed drivers only the maximum power counts, not the power to tare ratio.

  19. La patente B abilita alla guida di motocicli di qualsiasi cilindrata.

    A category B licence allows riding motorcycles of any engine size.

  20. La patente rilasciata da un altro Stato dell'Unione europea non è valida per guidare in Italia.

    A licence issued by another European Union state is not valid for driving in Italy.

  21. Il duplicato della patente smarrita si ottiene soltanto sostenendo di nuovo gli esami.

    A duplicate of a lost licence can be obtained only by sitting the exams again.

  22. I punti decurtati si riacquistano automaticamente dopo un anno senza violazioni.

    Deducted points are automatically restored after one year without offences.

What next

All exam topics

Educational content. For the official rules, see the Codice della Strada and legal notes.