Italy adds diesel-tax credits and vehicle-lease relief for road hauliers

Italy’s Council of Ministers approved new measures on 22 October to address rising diesel costs and cash-flow pressure in road haulage, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport said. The ministry highlighted small operators and owner-drivers, who it said have less room to absorb higher costs. The announced package combines additional tax-credit resources for diesel purchases with an option to suspend certain vehicle lease payments.

For diesel expenses incurred from March through August 2026, the government announced €45.2 million in additional tax-credit funding. The ministry said these resources add to €21.2 million already provided under the “bollo” decree. A separate €60 million is allocated for expenses from 1 September through 5 October. These amounts relate to different expense periods; the release does not state that the entire €60 million has been awarded or paid to individual companies.

The release describes the support as a tax credit for diesel and says it covers eligible fuel expenses in the two periods. It does not provide the application process, the allocation rate for each firm, or the timetable for the new September-to-October tranche. These administrative details matter because a funding ceiling is not the same as a payment received by a carrier. Firms will need the implementing rules to know how to claim the credit and document eligible costs.

The second measure addresses financing rather than fuel cost directly. Road-haulage companies may suspend lease instalments for vehicles that fall due between November 2026 and March 2027, with the suspension available through 31 March 2027. The ministry presents the option as a way to ease short-term liquidity pressure, especially for smaller operators. Its announcement does not explain whether interest continues to accrue, how the contract is extended, or which vehicle and company criteria apply; those points depend on the decree and implementation rules.

The announcement follows consultations between Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, Deputy Minister Edoardo Rixi and industry associations. The ministry says the measures are intended to preserve business continuity and the work of hauliers who move goods for Italy’s production and commercial supply chains. That rationale reflects the sector’s role in distributing goods, but the release does not estimate how many businesses will qualify or how much each firm may receive.

The package separates two forms of relief: a tax credit linked to eligible diesel expenditure and a temporary postponement of lease payments. The former offsets some qualifying fuel costs through the tax system; the latter changes payment timing and does not itself cancel the underlying lease debt. The ministry frames both as support for the sector during higher fuel costs, with particular attention to small firms and owner-drivers.

The published figures are €45.2 million in additional resources for the March–August diesel credit, €21.2 million already provided through an earlier decree, and €60 million for the separate 1 September–5 October period. The release does not state a single combined total for all prior and new appropriations, so these line items should be read by period and measure. The new relief is not a general fuel-price cap and does not guarantee a fixed reimbursement per litre.

For operators, the next practical step is the publication of rules that specify how and when the credit can be claimed and how the lease suspension is arranged. The ministry’s 22 October statement records the government’s approval and the broad scope of the measures; it is not itself a detailed claim guide. The final amount reaching a particular carrier will depend on the applicable eligibility rules and its documented expenses.