Bicycle transport in Italy: What about the mandatory warning sign?

In January 2025, there was supposedly good news for biking holidaymakers in Italy: the mandatory warning sign for labelling bicycles on the rear carrier seemed to be off the table. See our original report below. However, according to ADAC, the Italian automobile club ACI is now warning of impending fines. A U-turn?

The ambiguities were triggered by an amendment to the law in January 2025 and a circular from the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. Our original report was also based on this. While many legal experts had agreed that it would be easier to transport bicycles, it now appears that the Italian authorities could interpret this change in the law differently under certain circumstances - to the detriment of travellers. However, this still needs to be clarified, according to the ADAC report.

However, one thing is clear: the ADAC advises all motorists to affix warning signs when transporting bicycles. In Italy, any load that extends beyond the rear of the vehicle must be labelled with a warning sign. If the load occupies the entire width of the vehicle, two warning plates are required, which must be attached to the left and right side of the load.

Regulations for the warning sign

A Warning sign The ADAC writes on its website that the label must be made of sheet metal, be at least 50 x 50 centimetres in size and have red and white stripes (five red stripes). Violations of the labelling requirement are punishable by a fine of 87 euros.

Warning plates are also required if bicycles are transported on a rear carrier on the trailer coupling. This applies even if the carrier has a replacement licence plate and its own lighting. The ADAC recommends fitting warning plates anyway for safety reasons.

Background: Our original report from January 2025

After a new regulation in Italy almost made it significantly more difficult to transport bicycles on the rear of a car just over a year ago, the Italians are now going in exactly the opposite direction with a new decree. A letter from the Italian Ministry of Transport published on 21 January 2025 abolishes the obligation to use reflective warning plates or repeater plates (third number plate) for bicycle carriers mounted on towbars. Instead, it is now sufficient to attach the vehicle's original licence plate visibly to the carrier.

Who does the regulation apply to?

The new decree affects vehicles in categories M1 (passenger cars, SUVs, motorhomes) and N1 (light commercial vehicles) with carrier systems on the towbar. As the decree explicitly addresses towbars, carriers on rear doors or boot lids are excluded from this change.

Safety requirements remain in place

Even if the regulations regarding the warning sign requirement have been relaxed, the following safety requirements must be met:

• Lighting: The vehicle's lighting and signalling equipment must be correctly replicated by the carrier.
• Width and overhang: The carrier must not protrude more than 30 cm per side beyond the width of the vehicle. Protruding loads must be labelled accordingly.
• Licence plate mounting: The vehicle licence plate must be clearly visible on the carrier (in Germany, the original licence plate must remain on the vehicle).

Warning sign for carriers on rear doors and boot lid remains

As already mentioned above, carriers on rear doors or boot lids are exempt from the amendment and must continue to be labelled with a warning sign. A warning sign should be made of sheet metal, must measure at least 50 x 50 centimetres and be hatched in red and white (five red stripes >> e.g. available here). Offences against the Labelling obligation are penalised with 87 euros.

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Just a year ago, various Italian regions had resisted a new regulation that would have required the load to be labelled with two warning signs at the rear of the vehicle. For many travellers, the lack of a warning sign was previously a stumbling block with high fines as a risk. The new decree now removes this obligation - the new regulation will apply from 1 January 2025.

The decree was published by the Gazzette Ufficiale and can be read here in the original text.