A guide to registering a foreign-registered vehicle in Italy.
When must a foreign car be registered in Italy?
As a general rule, under Article 93-bis of the Italian Highway Code, anyone who takes up residence in Italy and owns a vehicle registered abroad must register it in Italy within three months of taking up residence. The rule concerns the vehicle’s owner; specific provisions may apply to leased or rented vehicles, or vehicles made available by another person or a company.
Before starting the procedure, check the requirements in the country where the car is currently registered. You may need to cancel the previous registration or return the number plates by a specific deadline. Contact the relevant authority in the country of origin to find out whether deregistration can be completed before export or only after the vehicle has been registered in Italy.
The process depends on the country of origin, the vehicle’s technical characteristics and its administrative status. There is therefore no single document checklist that applies to every case.
Vehicles from an EU country
To register a vehicle from another EU country in Italy, the documents may include:
- a registration application;
- the owner’s identity document;
- an Italian tax code;
- the foreign registration certificate;
- the certificate of conformity (COC), if available or required;
- proof of ownership;
- a valid residence permit, if the owner is a non-EU citizen.
The required documents may vary according to the vehicle and the competent office. For example, an additional ownership document issued in the country of origin may be required for a used vehicle. If a certificate of conformity is unavailable, the office may request alternative technical documents or further checks.
A vehicle’s EU registration does not necessarily mean that it was manufactured in the EU. Its place of manufacture and type approval may also be relevant for certain administrative or technical checks.
Vehicles from outside the EU
For vehicles from outside the EU, customs documents showing the importation and payment of any applicable duties or taxes may be required, in addition to the vehicle and owner documents.
Foreign-issued documents may need to be legalised and translated into Italian, depending on the applicable requirements. Check the formalities for each document in advance: legalisation and translation can affect the time and cost of the application.
Depending on the vehicle, the Provincial Motor Vehicle Office may require a technical inspection or other checks before registration. This may be necessary, for example, if the vehicle does not have type approval recognised in Italy or if its technical specifications need to be checked. A preliminary inspection by a specialised mechanic can help identify any changes that may be needed, but it does not replace the checks carried out by the competent office.
Registration, number plates and the Single Vehicle Document
The application is submitted to the relevant Motor Vehicle Office or through a Sportello Telematico dell’Automobilista (STA), which can coordinate the required formalities between the Motor Vehicle Office and the Public Vehicle Register (PRA).
Depending on the vehicle and the procedure, the formalities may be completed together or may involve separate steps. The PRA should therefore not automatically be treated as a separate stage that every applicant must complete after the Motor Vehicle Office. The procedure applicable to the specific case determines how the required formalities are completed.
At the end of the process, Italian number plates are assigned and the Single Vehicle Registration and Ownership Document (Documento Unico di Circolazione e di Proprietà, DU, sometimes referred to as DUC) is issued. The vehicle may be driven once the plates have been assigned, the Single Vehicle Document has been issued and compulsory insurance cover is in force. The owner should also check when the country of origin permits the previous registration to be cancelled, to avoid a period in which the vehicle is not properly registered.
EU vehicles and VAT
Vehicle registration and VAT treatment are separate matters. For VAT purposes, a vehicle is considered “new” if, at the time of supply, it has travelled no more than 6,000 km or was supplied within six months of its first registration. Meeting either condition is sufficient.
As a general rule, VAT on a new vehicle bought in another EU country is due in the country where the vehicle is registered. The VAT treatment of used vehicles depends on several factors, including whether the seller is a private individual or a business and which VAT scheme applies to the sale. Check the tax documents before purchase or registration, particularly to avoid duplicate VAT payments or missing paperwork.
Customs and import VAT rules may apply to vehicles brought in from outside the EU.
How long does registration take and what costs should you expect?
The timeframe depends on appointment availability, whether the documents are complete, and whether translations, legalisation, technical checks or customs formalities are needed. If the documents are complete and no additional checks are required, the process may take a few days. Other cases can take several weeks.
Costs may include registration fees and taxes, any technical inspection fees, translation and legalisation costs, and customs formalities. The total amount depends on the vehicle and the procedure. It is advisable to request an up-to-date estimate from the competent office or a vehicle registration agency before submitting the application.
Road tax
After registration in Italy, the owner may be liable to pay the annual vehicle tax known as road tax (bollo auto / tassa automobilistica). This is a regional tax: the amount and payment deadlines depend on the vehicle’s characteristics and the relevant Region. The tax amount should be checked once the Italian vehicle details are available.
When does REVE registration apply?
Not every foreign-registered vehicle needs to be registered in Italy. In some cases, where there is no obligation to obtain Italian number plates but the vehicle is used in Italy under conditions set out by law, it must be registered with REVE, the Italian Register of Foreign Vehicles. REVE registration is separate from Italian vehicle registration. For the requirements, documents and procedure, see the guide to REVE registration in Italy.