According to Article 93 bis of the Italian Highway Code, it is the obligation of the owner of a car registered in a foreign country to proceed with the registration of the vehicle with the Italian authorities as well.
The registration procedure must be completed within 3 months of the car owner taking up residence in Italy. Foreign nationals should also check if their home country requires them to cancel their original registration by a specific deadline.
The registration procedure is completed at the local motor vehicle registration office.
Learn more also about the requirements for driving in Italy with a foreign licence.
How to register a car with a foreign number plate in Italy?
The registration process differs on the basis of certain variables, such as the country of origin or the status of the car, whether new or used.
A new vehicle is defined as:
- a new vehicle, produced in a factory in the EU, that has never been registered; or
- a vehicle that has already been registered in an EU country, but has not travelled more than 6,000 km, or that has been sold within 6 months of the date of first foreign registration.
Used vehicles, on the other hand, are vehicles that have covered more than 6,000 km or have been sold more than 6 months after the date of first registration.
Registration of EU cars at the DMV
The documentation to be submitted to the DMV office (Motorizzazione) for registering a car in Italy generally includes:
- Application form;
- Copy of identity document;
- Tax code;
- Certificate of conformity of the vehicle, issued by the manufacturer;
- Valid residence permit if the car owner is a non-EU citizen
A specific document for used vehicles from Germany is the ownership document (Zulassungsbesheinigungteil II or Faharzeugbrief).
Registration of non-EU cars at the DMV
The documents for the registration of non-EU cars are roughly the same, with some modifications such as the customs bill for import of the car. One must, however, bear in mind that all documents produced abroad concerning the car need to be legalised and duly translated in Italy.
It should be mentioned that, for non-EU cars, it is mandatory to pass a test at the provincial motorisation office. It is therefore advisable to proceed with a prior check of the car at a specialised mechanic. In fact, non-EU markets may have different regulations on mechanical aspects of the car, such as the type of tyre or the height of the lights, which a specialised mechanic can correct.
Registering a car in Italy: Registration at the PRA
Following registration at the motor vehicle registration office, it is then possible to proceed with registration at the PRA, Pubblico registro automobilistico.
The PRA performs a final check of the documentation prepared in the previous steps. Although the number plates are already issued by the motor vehicle registration office, it is only after registration at the PRA that it will be possible to drive the vehicle. It is at this point that you can also proceed with taking out RCA insurance.
How long does it take to register a car from abroad?
The time required to complete a registration file varies from case to case. In fact, several variables must be taken into account, such as the schedule of appointments at the provincial motor vehicle registration office and the time needed to obtain and possibly translate the documents to be attached to the file. Therefore, it can take from several days to weeks.
When do you pay the road tax on an imported car?
Registration at the PRA entails payment of the car vignette, which is an annual property tax on the car. The exact calculation of the amount will only be available once the paperwork has been completed.