Drivers arriving in Florence with older cars will face tighter environmental restrictions from December 1, 2026, when the second phase of the city’s Scudo Verde, or Green Shield, comes into force.
The most significant change for motorists is the extension of the existing restrictions to Euro 1 petrol cars and Euro 2 diesel cars. Older motorcycles, buses and commercial vehicles will also be affected.
For visitors and anyone travelling into Florence from elsewhere in Italy or abroad, however, the first thing to understand is what the Green Shield actually is — and how it differs from the better-known restricted traffic zone in the historic centre.
What is Florence’s Green Shield?
The Scudo Verde is Florence’s large low-emission zone, covering much of the urban area and monitored by cameras positioned on roads entering the city.
It covers around 38 square kilometres, roughly two-thirds of Florence’s built-up area, with 77 electronic gates checking vehicles as they enter.
It is important not to confuse it with Florence’s ZTL, the restricted traffic zone covering the historic centre.
The two systems have different purposes and different rules. A car may be allowed to circulate within the Green Shield area but still be prohibited from entering the historic-centre ZTL.
The Green Shield is also not a congestion charge: motorists do not generally have to pay simply to drive into Florence.
Its boundaries have been designed to maintain access to a number of important destinations, including Florence Airport, Careggi hospital, major commercial and industrial areas, tramway termini and park-and-ride facilities.
Which cars will be restricted from December 1?
The new phase expands the list of vehicles already subject to the environmental restrictions.
For passenger cars, the main changes are:
- petrol cars: restrictions will extend to Euro 1;
- diesel cars: restrictions will extend to Euro 2.
According to Florence City Council, these generally correspond to petrol cars registered before 1997 and diesel cars registered before 2001.
Drivers should nevertheless check the official emissions category of their vehicle rather than relying only on its year of registration, particularly for vehicles registered outside Italy.
The restrictions will also extend to Euro 1 motorcycles and mopeds, while diesel buses will be affected through Euro 2. For goods vehicles, Euro 1 petrol and diesel vehicles will also be included.
Most recent cars will therefore not be affected by the December changes.
What should visitors check before driving to Florence?
Anyone planning to travel to Florence with an older vehicle should first check its Euro emissions standard.
This is particularly important for travellers arriving from abroad, as the classification may appear differently on vehicle registration documents depending on the country.
Drivers should then remember that complying with the Green Shield rules does not automatically give permission to drive into Florence’s historic centre.
The central ZTL operates separately and restricts access to many streets in the historic centre during specified hours. Hotels and garages inside the ZTL may have procedures for registering authorised vehicles, but these do not replace the environmental rules of the Green Shield.
Occasional drivers will have three days of access
The city is also introducing a limited allowance for vehicles that would otherwise be restricted.
Drivers will be able to use three days of access, which can be taken on non-consecutive days. The measure is available regardless of where the driver lives and is intended in particular for occasional visitors who may not be familiar with the Green Shield rules.
According to the city, advance registration of the licence plate will not be required for this allowance.
Additional exemptions for local residents
Separate measures will apply to people living in Florence and the surrounding Metropolitan City.
Residents of the Metropolitan City will be able to obtain up to 25 authorised days per year, while residents of Florence itself will be entitled to a further 25 days, for a total of 50. Registration with SAS will be required.
A new exemption will also allow Florence residents aged over 75 with an ISEE below €16,500 to continue using vehicles otherwise covered by the restrictions.
Existing exemptions for categories including disabled people, voluntary organisations and certain LPG, methane and bi-fuel vehicles will remain in place.
The second phase of Florence’s Green Shield will take effect on December 1, 2026.
(Cover photo by Musa Haef via Unsplash)
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