A letter from Nivi or EMO about an Italian fine: what it is and what to do

Last checked: 31 October 2026 · 2 min read

Short answer. Nivi S.p.A. is a real Italian collection company. Through its division EMO (European Municipality Outsourcing) it handles traffic fines for many Italian cities when the driver lives abroad (tolls are handled on a separate Nivi portal). A Nivi letter can be the official notice, a reminder or a payment request about a notice sent earlier. Before paying, check which one you have and when the official notice was mailed.

Check your fine for free

2 minutes, no account. We tell you if the notice was mailed late and what your deadlines are.

Start the free check

Who Nivi and EMO are

Nivi has collected payments for Italian public administrations for decades, and its payment page lists a portal for fines handled by the EMO division. The European Consumer Centres confirm that Italian authorities appointed EMO to handle notifications to foreign drivers, so these letters should not be ignored.

Things are changing: for residents abroad, the Florence municipal police now indicate Safety21 as their contractor (info.myfines.it), and in September 2026 Safety21 announced that it is acquiring Nivi. You may therefore receive letters under either name.

Official notice or reminder?

The official notice (verbale) comes from the police authority, even when an agency mails it. It shows:

a notice number and the name of the police authority;
date, time and place of the violation, and the article of the Highway Code;
the amount, the 5-day discount and how to appeal (to the Prefetto or the Giudice di Pace).

A reminder or payment request refers to a notice sent before, often adds collection costs, and usually does not explain how to appeal. If you never received the official notice, ask for a copy and for proof of when it was mailed.

How to spot a fake

The payment must go to the city or authority named in the letter, or to the official portal listed on the agency's own website. Be careful with personal accounts or unusual payment methods.
Check that the notice number, plate and date match your trip.
If in doubt, contact the police authority directly using details from its official website, not from the letter.

What to do

Check before paying. Paying ends the right to appeal.
Find the mailing date of the official notice: the postmark on the envelope or the mailing date printed on the notice.
Count the days from the violation. If you live outside Italy and the notice was mailed more than 360 days after the violation was recorded, you can appeal within 60 days of receiving it and have it cancelled (art. 201 and 203). The late mailing only helps if you raise it in time.
If you only have a reminder, ask the agency in writing for a full copy of the notice and the proof of mailing, without acknowledging the debt.

Our free check has an option for agency letters and tells you what to ask for.

Questions

Is Nivi a scam?

No. Nivi S.p.A. is a real Italian collection company that works for public administrations, and its EMO division handles traffic fines for foreign vehicles. Fake letters that copy real ones do exist, so check the details before paying.

Do I have to pay a Nivi letter?

Only if it relates to a valid fine. If you live abroad and the official notice was mailed more than 360 days after the violation was recorded, you can appeal within 60 days of receiving the notice and have it cancelled. The late mailing only counts if you raise it: if the 60 days have passed, ask an Italian lawyer whether other options remain.

Why is the amount higher than the fine?

Agency letters often add notification and collection costs, and late payment increases the amount. If the official notice was mailed late, these costs fall with it.

Florence fines no longer come from Nivi?

For residents abroad, the Florence municipal police now indicate Safety21 as their contractor (myfines.it). Safety21 also announced in September 2026 that it is buying Nivi.

Sources

General information, checked against the sources listed on the date shown. It is not legal advice for your case. Italian Fine Check is not an Italian authority.