Patente Quiz B
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Lesson and quiz, category B licence

Vehicle parts and maintenance (Elementi del veicolo e manutenzione)

On the exam this topic tests tyres, brakes and safety systems, lights, warning lights and engine checks, the windscreen and periodic inspection; 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

Tyres

Car tyre tread must be at least 1.6 millimetres deep: below that water drains poorly and the risk of aquaplaning rises. Tyres on the same axle are of the same type and size, otherwise braking and grip become uneven. Pressure is checked with cold tyres: low pressure increases fuel use, wear and flexing, it does not reduce them. A bulge on the sidewall means damage to the internal structure, and the tyre is replaced at once, even if the tread is good.

Example

After hitting a kerb you spot a bulge on a tyre's sidewall. You fit the spare and go to a tyre shop; you do not carry on with the trip.

Legal reference: CdS art. 79

Exam traps

  • «Low pressure reduces fuel use»: false, it increases it.
  • «With a bulge you may use it until the tread wears out»: false.

Rule 2

Brakes, ABS, ESC and shock absorbers

ABS stops the wheels locking under braking, so you can keep steering. Electronic stability control (ESC) corrects a skid by braking individual wheels. Worn brake pads brake less and damage the disc, and brake fluid, which absorbs moisture, is changed as the manufacturer specifies. Worn shock absorbers let the wheel bounce and lose grip: braking distances grow and roadholding gets worse. The parking brake normally acts on the rear wheels only and is not used to slow down while moving.

Example

In an emergency stop with ABS the pedal pulses. You keep your foot pressed hard down and steer round the obstacle.

Legal reference: CdS art. 79

Exam traps

  • «Brake fluid never needs changing»: false.
  • «The parking brake acts on all four wheels»: false, normally only at the rear.

Rule 3

Lights

Side lights (luci di posizione) make the vehicle visible; they do not light the road: to drive at night you need dipped headlights. Main beam is used outside built up areas when outside lighting is missing or insufficient; brief flashing to give warnings remains allowed (art. 153). Rear fog lights are switched on only in fog or particularly intense precipitation, because otherwise they dazzle drivers behind and mask the brake lights.

Example

It is raining normally on the ring road and the car in front has its rear fog light on. It dazzles, and that driver is wrong, because the rain is not particularly intense.

Legal reference: CdS art. 153

Exam traps

  • «The rear fog light goes on whenever it rains»: false.
  • «Main beam may be used in town if there are street lights»: false.

Rule 4

Warning lights, oil, coolant and battery

Oil level is checked regularly, not only when the warning light comes on. The oil pressure light means lubrication is failing: you stop as soon as possible and switch off, because the engine is damaged within a few kilometres. Coolant is checked with the engine cold, because when hot the system is under pressure. The battery light on with the engine running signals a charging fault; a flat battery does not recharge by leaving the car parked, but with a charger or by driving. The catalytic converter gets very hot, so you do not park on dry grass.

Example

On the motorway the red oil light comes on. You pull into the first lay by, switch off and call for assistance instead of pressing on to the toll booth.

Exam traps

  • «With the oil light on you drive on to the garage»: false.
  • «A battery recharges if the car is left overnight»: false.

Rule 5

Windscreen

A chip in the driver's line of sight scatters sunlight and headlight glare, can spread into a crack and weakens the glass. The windscreen is repaired or replaced as soon as possible.

Example

A stone leaves a mark in front of the steering wheel. At night oncoming headlights make a halo right there, so you book the repair straight away.

Exam traps

  • «A chip in the line of sight does not affect safety»: false.

Rule 6

Periodic inspection

A car has its first inspection (revisione) within four years of first registration and every two years after that. There is no grace period of months for an overdue inspection: you are fined and the vehicle is suspended from use until it passes, with the only exception of driving it to the inspection centre for the booked appointment.

Example

A car first registered in May 2022 has its first inspection by May 2026 and its second by May 2028.

Legal reference: CdS art. 80

Exam traps

  • «It can be done up to six months late without consequences»: false.

Rule 7

What can go wrong

Three scenes show how a skipped check becomes a breakdown on the road. First scene: in November, on the Mestre ring road, it is raining hard and a car with 1.5 millimetres of tread on its rear tyres hits standing water at 100 km/h. The tyres lose contact with the tarmac, the car aquaplanes and hits the crash barrier. At the scene the traffic police measure the tread below the 1.6 millimetre minimum set by art. 79 of the Codice della Strada, and a fine is added to the damage. Second scene: on the A3 motorway between Salerno and Reggio Calabria in August the red oil pressure light comes on. The driver decides to reach the next service area, 25 kilometres away. Ten kilometres later the engine seizes: without lubrication the internal parts are ruined, and the repair costs more than the car. Stopping and switching off at once would have been enough. Third scene: in Brescia a woman drives a car every day whose inspection expired five months ago, believing there is a grace period. At a local police check she is fined and the car is recorded as suspended from use under art. 80: she may drive it only to the inspection centre. The shared lesson is simple. Tread gets measured, red warning lights end the trip, and inspection dates have no margin.

Legal reference: CdS art. 79; CdS art. 80

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. Le luci posteriori per nebbia si possono tenere accese ogni volta che piove.

    Rear fog lights may be left on whenever it rains.

  2. La revisione può essere effettuata entro sei mesi dalla scadenza senza conseguenze per la circolazione.

    The roadworthiness test can be taken within six months of the deadline with no consequences for using the vehicle.

  3. Il freno di stazionamento agisce di regola su tutte e quattro le ruote.

    The parking brake normally acts on all four wheels.

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 profondità minima del battistrada per gli pneumatici delle autovetture è di 1,6 millimetri.

    The minimum tread depth for car tyres is 1.6 millimetres.

  2. Il sistema ABS impedisce il bloccaggio delle ruote in frenata e consente di mantenere la direzionalità.

    The ABS prevents wheel lock under braking and lets the driver keep steering.

  3. Una pressione degli pneumatici inferiore a quella prescritta riduce i consumi di carburante.

    Tyre pressure below the recommended value reduces fuel consumption.

  4. La revisione periodica di un'autovettura nuova si effettua dopo quattro anni dalla prima immatricolazione e poi ogni due anni.

    A new car undergoes its first roadworthiness test four years after registration and then every two years.

  5. Le luci posteriori per nebbia si possono tenere accese ogni volta che piove.

    Rear fog lights may be left on whenever it rains.

  6. L'olio motore va controllato solo quando si accende la spia della pressione.

    Engine oil should be checked only when the pressure warning light comes on.

  7. Ammortizzatori usurati allungano lo spazio di frenata e peggiorano la tenuta di strada.

    Worn shock absorbers lengthen braking distance and worsen road holding.

  8. Il liquido dei freni non deve mai essere sostituito.

    Brake fluid never needs replacing.

  9. Il controllo elettronico della stabilità interviene frenando singole ruote per correggere una sbandata.

    Electronic stability control acts by braking individual wheels to correct a skid.

  10. Le luci di posizione servono a rendere visibile il veicolo, non a illuminare la strada.

    Position lights make the vehicle visible, they do not light the road.

  11. Gli pneumatici montati su uno stesso asse devono essere dello stesso tipo e della stessa misura.

    The tyres on the same axle must be of the same type and size.

  12. La spia della batteria accesa con il motore in moto segnala un difetto nel sistema di ricarica.

    The battery warning light on with the engine running signals a fault in the charging system.

  13. Il livello del liquido di raffreddamento va controllato a motore freddo.

    The coolant level must be checked with the engine cold.

  14. Le pastiglie dei freni consumate riducono l'efficacia della frenata e vanno sostituite.

    Worn brake pads reduce braking effectiveness and must be replaced.

  15. Il catalizzatore raggiunge temperature elevate, quindi non conviene fermare il veicolo su erba secca.

    The catalytic converter reaches high temperatures, so a vehicle should not be parked on dry grass.

  16. Nei centri abitati con illuminazione pubblica accesa gli abbaglianti si possono tenere accesi durante la marcia.

    In built up areas with street lighting on, main beam may be kept on while driving.

  17. Uno pneumatico che presenta una bolla sul fianco può essere usato fino al consumo del battistrada.

    A tyre with a bulge in the sidewall can be used until the tread is worn out.

  18. La revisione può essere effettuata entro sei mesi dalla scadenza senza conseguenze per la circolazione.

    The roadworthiness test can be taken within six months of the deadline with no consequences for using the vehicle.

  19. Se si accende la spia della pressione dell'olio conviene proseguire fino alla prossima officina.

    If the oil pressure warning light comes on it is best to carry on to the nearest garage.

  20. Il freno di stazionamento agisce di regola su tutte e quattro le ruote.

    The parking brake normally acts on all four wheels.

  21. Un parabrezza scheggiato nel campo visivo del conducente non incide sulla sicurezza.

    A chipped windscreen in the driver's field of view does not affect safety.

  22. Una batteria scarica si ricarica lasciando semplicemente il veicolo fermo per una notte.

    A flat battery recharges simply by leaving the vehicle standing overnight.

What next

All exam topics

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