If you are planning to drive along the Amalfi Coast in spring 2026, check your license plate before you check your hotel booking. The SS163, the famous coastal road that threads Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello together, is under the alternate-plate rule again this spring, following the long-running ANAS traffic framework. The amalfi coast driving restrictions 2026 ban certain plates on certain dates between 10:00 and 18:00, and the rule catches out more hotel guests than you might expect. Here is exactly when it applies, who is exempt, and why ferries are almost always the smarter move anyway.
The Short Version
Active: March 30 – April 6 and April 24 – May 2, 2026, from 10:00 to 18:00 only. Odd dates ban odd-ending plates, even dates ban even-ending plates. Motorcycles and scooters are exempt. Hotel guests are exempt only for arrival and departure movements, NOT for all-day driving. Arrive before 10 AM or after 6 PM with your booking confirmation in hand. For day trips between towns, use ferries or SITA buses.
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When the Restrictions Are Active
The 2026 alternate-plate windows on the SS163 cover two spring periods. The first runs from March 30 to April 6, covering Easter week and the immediate Easter Monday aftermath. The second runs from April 24 to May 2, covering the Liberation Day and Labour Day holiday bridges. Both windows operate only between 10:00 and 18:00. Outside that band, any vehicle can circulate freely.
The odd/even logic is simple. On dates with an odd calendar number (April 25 is odd, May 1 is odd), vehicles whose last plate digit is odd are banned. On even dates (April 24 is even, April 26 is even), even-ending plates are banned. The rule is enforced across the SS163 coastal stretch covering Vietri sul Mare through Positano. Additional municipalities along the coast may impose their own supplementary measures during peak days, so always check local notices if you are staying in a specific town.
The restriction framework is not new. It has run on the Amalfi Coast in various forms for years under ANAS authority and is coordinated with the 14 coastal municipalities, including Agerola inland above Amalfi. The aim is crowd and traffic management on a road that simply cannot handle peak holiday volumes, and the 10:00 to 18:00 window targets the midday period when day-tripper pressure is highest.
Who Is Actually Exempt
The exemption list is narrower than casual readers assume. Residents of the 14 Amalfi Coast municipalities are exempt. Disabled-badge holders with the badge holder physically on board are exempt. Taxis and NCC chauffeur vehicles with valid authorization are exempt. Emergency and police vehicles are exempt. Non-resident workers with valid employment contracts in the coastal municipalities are exempt. Certain homeowners in the coastal municipalities are exempt.
Motorcycles, scooters, and two-wheeled vehicles are exempt entirely. This is why you see so many scooters along the coast during restricted windows. If you are a confident two-wheel rider, this is the one legitimate way to cruise the SS163 on a restricted day, though the road’s blind corners and oncoming tour buses demand serious driving attention regardless of your vehicle.
The exemption that catches most tourists out is the accommodation-guest rule. Hotel and B&B guests with a valid booking are exempt, but only for necessary arrival and departure movements. That does not mean you can drive to dinner in Ravello and back to your hotel in Amalfi at 3 PM on a restricted day. The exemption covers check-in on your arrival date and check-out on your departure date. If you want to drive around the coast during your stay on a restricted day, your plate still needs to match the date.
What to Carry If You Drive
If you are exempt under the accommodation-guest rule or any other category, carry documentary proof. Your hotel booking confirmation printed or on your phone screen. Your rental car contract showing your name. Your passport or ID. If you are a worker, your employment contract. Disabled-badge holders must have the physical badge visible and the badge holder on board. Verbal claims to police at a checkpoint are not enough. The system works on document verification at the roadside.
For travelers using the Amalfi Coast as part of a wider Italy itinerary, the practical move is often to skip the rental car entirely for the coast section. The SS163 is notorious for slow driving, scarce parking, expensive parking where it exists, and white-knuckle encounters with tour buses. The restriction rules are only one reason among many to leave the car behind.
The Ferry Option Is Almost Always Better
Travelmar operates the coast ferry network with an updated spring 2026 timetable from April 1. Salerno to Amalfi takes about 35 minutes. Amalfi to Positano takes about 25 minutes. Salerno to Positano takes about 70 minutes. Intermediate stops serve Cetara, Minori, and Maiori. The ferries run regardless of the alternate-plate rule, carry you directly past the scenery that makes the coast famous, and drop you at walking distance from each town’s main square.
For a coastal day trip on a restricted date, a ferry is faster, cheaper, less stressful, and produces better photographs than driving. Combine it with the SITA bus network for routes ferries do not cover (Amalfi to Ravello, for example, which requires the uphill bus or a taxi), and you have a complete car-free day without having to glance at your plate number.
Parking Reality, With or Without the Ban
Even on unrestricted days, parking on the Amalfi Coast is a separate challenge. Official tourist parking in Amalfi, Positano, and Ravello is limited, expensive (often €5 to €10 per hour), and frequently full from late morning through evening during peak periods. The Comune di Amalfi promotes the InfoParkingAmalfi app and a “Viabilità Amica” traffic assistance service to help drivers find available spots, but the underlying shortage is structural.
Many hotels do not have their own parking. Those that do often charge separately for it. Small B&Bs sometimes offer no parking at all and refer guests to off-site garages. Before you book anywhere on the coast, confirm how parking actually works for your specific property and budget accordingly. The parking fee can easily reach €25 to €40 per night in high season.
Quick Reference
Can I drive the Amalfi Coast on my hotel arrival day?
Yes, even during a restriction window, because the accommodation-guest exemption covers arrival. Carry your booking confirmation, your ID, and your rental contract. Plan for slow traffic: the coast road runs slowly even without restrictions, and parking near your hotel may require a short walk.
What if my rental car plate does not match the date?
Between 10:00 and 18:00 on a restricted day, you cannot drive the SS163 unless you have a valid exemption. You can drive before 10 AM or after 6 PM without issue. For everything between, use ferries, buses, or taxis.
Are there fines for violations?
Yes, the standard Italian road-traffic fine framework applies. Enforcement is visible during peak windows: police set up checkpoints at key access points, particularly near Maiori and Cetara on the eastern side and near Positano on the western side. Pay the fine and move on, or better, plan around the rule.
Do the restrictions continue into summer?
The official announced windows for 2026 cover the spring holiday bridges. Additional windows typically apply during peak summer weekends, though these are announced closer to the dates. Always check the Comune di Amalfi official notice board before traveling for current active dates.
The amalfi coast driving restrictions 2026 are less a ban on visiting and more a nudge toward the transport option that was always going to serve you better. The ferry and the bus do what the car cannot: they let you actually see the coast instead of staring at the bumper in front of you. Plan around the plate rule by planning away from driving entirely, and the restricted windows become invisible to your trip.
