Amalfi Coast and Sorrento Peninsula, alternate license plates 2026

Practical Guide

Alternate License Plates 2026: Amalfi Coast and Sorrento Peninsula

Two ordinances, one odd/even logic. SS145 (Meta, Sorrento, Vico) and SS163 ANAS (Vietri–Positano): 2026 calendar, hours, exemptions and fines. How to visit the Coast and Peninsula without picking up a ticket.

⚠️ Two ordinances, one trap

SS163 Amalfi Coast: standard rule (odd day → odd plate, 10:00-18:00). Meta (Sorrento Peninsula): INVERTED rule (odd day → even plate, 08:00-19:00). Fine from €87 to €344, sent directly to the registered owner or rental company.

In 2026 the alternate license plate regime returns on both sides of the peninsula: the Amalfi Coast applies ANAS Ordinance 340/2019 on the SS163 (from Vietri sul Mare to Positano, ~60 km, 11 municipalities), while the Sorrento Peninsula towns issue their own ordinances on the SS145 and in their urban centres. Meta, with Ordinance No. 37 of 18 March 2026, introduces a specific calendar (March–October) with an inverted parity rule compared to the SS163.

Sorrento Peninsula: SS145 and municipal ordinances

Area Hours
Meta (centre – Ord. 37/2026) ⚠️ inverted rule 08:00–19:00
SS145 Sorrentina (urban stretches) Sat/Sun + holidays (9:00–19:00)
Sorrento centre Sat/Sun + holidays (10:00–22:00)
Sant'Agnello / Piano di Sorrento Sat/Sun + holidays (10:00–19:00)
Vico Equense Sat/Sun (10:00–19:00)
Massa Lubrense Holidays only (9:00–20:00)

Sorrento Peninsula municipal ordinances are published by Sorrento, Sant'Agnello, Piano di Sorrento, Meta, Vico Equense and Massa Lubrense at the start of each season. Always check the latest calendar before you set off.

Amalfi Coast: ANAS ordinance on the SS163

On the SS163 "Amalfitana" — the only road that links the villages of the coast — ANAS Ordinance no. 340/2019 applies: alternate plates every day from 10:00 to 18:00 in the listed periods, with the "standard" rule (odd day → odd plate, even day → even plate). Motorbikes and scooters are exempt. It covers 11 municipalities: Vietri sul Mare, Cetara, Maiori, Minori, Ravello, Atrani, Amalfi, Conca dei Marini, Furore, Praiano, Positano.

2026 period Hours
Easter and 25 April long weekend 10:00–18:00
June–July 10:00–18:00
August–September 10:00–18:00
October 10:00–18:00

Legal basis: ANAS Ordinances 340/2019 (cars on alternate plates) and 337/2019 (heavy vehicles). Local council ordinances on the Amalfi Coast can introduce additional exemptions: check the individual municipality websites too.

Who is exempt from the alternate plate rule

Residents

Residents of the affected municipalities may circulate with any plate, presenting their ID at roadblocks.

Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles

Zero-emission cars and rechargeable hybrids are exempt to encourage sustainable mobility (Sorrento Peninsula ordinances).

Taxis, NCC and tour buses

Public passenger transport services are excluded from the measure, including local public transport vehicles.

Hotel/restaurant/lido guests with booking

Guests at accommodation, restaurants and bathing facilities inside the perimeter can request a temporary permit (24-72h limit).

Disabled drivers with badge

Vehicles serving people with disabilities (Law 104) with the badge displayed are always exempt.

Emergency and law enforcement vehicles

Ambulances, fire brigade, Carabinieri, Police and municipal service vehicles circulate without restrictions.

The 3 best strategies to avoid the restriction

Most economical

Car at Castellammare + Circumvesuviana

Park-and-ride at Castellammare di Stabia or Vico Equense (~€8/day). Then the EAV Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento in 20 minutes. Every 30 min, ticket ~€2.80.

Most scenic

Hydrofoil from Naples or Salerno

NLG / Alilauro hydrofoils from Naples Beverello to Sorrento (35 min, ~€18). Travelmar ferries from Salerno to Amalfi/Positano in summer.

Most versatile

Base in Sorrento or Salerno + bus

Leave the car in a garage and use SITA Sud buses (Sorrento for the peninsula, Salerno for the Amalfi Coast). Zero plate stress.

Can you pay a fee to enter?

No, there is no paid permit for tourists that lets you bypass the alternate plate rule. Unlike some city ZTLs (Rome, Florence) where you can buy a daily pass, the alternate plate ordinances (both ANAS and municipal) are purely sanctioning: either you fit one of the exempt categories or you cannot circulate on the restricted days.

There is, however, one free channel reserved for visitors with a booking:

"Hotel/restaurant/lido guest" temporary permit

If you have a confirmed booking at a hotel, B&B, restaurant or beach club in one of the affected municipalities, you can request a temporary permit free of charge (normally valid 24–72h) to reach the property and leave again. The permit is obtained:

  • directly at the venue at check-in (the property submits the plate number to the town hall);
  • for arrivals on a restricted day: tell the property by email with vehicle details and arrival time, so the venue registers the plate before the checks;
  • keep your written booking confirmation: if stopped at a roadblock, it is the document that avoids the fine.

For other needs (commercial deliveries, urgent works, specialist medical visits) the Polizia Municipale HQ of the relevant municipality can issue a free one-off authorisation: file a written request at least 48h in advance.

Polizia Locale contacts and ordinance info

Phone numbers and ordinance hours change each season. For up-to-date info on alternate plates, exemptions and temporary permits, contact the Polizia Municipale HQ of the municipality you intend to cross.

Municipality Polizia Municipale
Sorrento 081 807 4433
Sant'Agnello 081 533 2244
Piano di Sorrento 081 532 1486
Meta 081 808 8020
Vico Equense 081 801 9400
Massa Lubrense 081 878 9165

Phone numbers are the central switchboards of the Polizia Municipale HQs. Always check the current ordinance on the municipality's official website: the measures are posted to the public notice board at the start of each summer season and may be updated during the year. In an emergency, call 112 (European single emergency number).

Frequently asked questions

How do alternate license plate restrictions work in 2026 on the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento Peninsula?
Two parallel regimes apply. On the SS163 Amalfi Coast (ANAS Ordinance 340/2019) the standard rule is in force: on odd calendar days plates ending in odd digits (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) may circulate; on even days even plates (0, 2, 4, 6, 8), hours 10:00-18:00, mainly daily in August-September plus Easter, 25 April, and weekends in June-July and October. On the SS145 and in the Sorrento Peninsula towns, municipal ordinances apply: Meta (Ord. 37/2026) follows the INVERTED rule (odd day → even plate) from 08:00 to 19:00, March to October with escalating intensity.
Which vehicles are exempt from the 2026 alternate plate rule?
Generally exempt: residents of the affected municipalities, emergency vehicles, taxis and NCC (chauffeur-driven cars), electric and plug-in hybrid cars (Sorrento Peninsula), vehicles serving hotel guests with confirmed bookings, disabled drivers with the EU badge, public service vehicles. On the SS163 (ANAS): two-wheeled vehicles (motorcycles and scooters) are exempt. On Meta's ordinance: scooters and motorbikes are NOT exempt. Always check the current ordinance of the town you intend to cross.
How much is the fine for violating the alternate plate rule?
The administrative fine for violating the alternate plate restriction is €87 to €344 (Article 7, paragraph 13 of the Italian Highway Code). Checks are carried out by Polizia Locale and Carabinieri with roadblocks and cameras at the main entry points. The fine is sent to the vehicle's registered owner (or to the rental company, which passes it on with a surcharge).
How can I visit the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento Peninsula on restricted days?
Park outside the restricted area and use public transport: park-and-ride at Vico Equense or Castellammare di Stabia, then the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento (15-25 minutes). From Naples, the NLG/Alilauro hydrofoil goes directly to Sorrento (35 min). SITA Sud buses connect Sorrento to Amalfi and Positano. Travelmar ferries connect Salerno to Amalfi and Positano. None of these options are affected by the alternate plate rule.
Do alternate plate restrictions apply to scooters and motorbikes?
It depends on the location. The SS163 Amalfi Coast ordinance (ANAS 340/2019) EXEMPTS two-wheeled vehicles. Meta's ordinance (37/2026), however, EXPLICITLY INCLUDES motorbikes and 50cc+ scooters. Other Sorrento Peninsula municipalities can adopt either approach: always check the local ordinance before crossing.

Everything you need

Ferries SITA Bus Map