Buying and selling a motor vehicle in Italy

Last update 26 June 2024 by the Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti

1. Registration of a new vehicle purchased in Italy
2. Registration of a second-hand vehicle purchased in Italy
3. Payment of ownership tax for vehicles registered in Italy
4. Periodic roadworthiness tests of vehicles registered in Italy
5. De-registration due to export of a vehicle registered in Italy
6. De-registration due to scrapping an end-of-life vehicle registered in Italy
7. Deadlines for complying with procedures
8. Means of appeal
9. Relevant legislation
10. Contact details of the relevant authorities

Registration of a new vehicle purchased in Italy

To register a new vehicle purchased in Italy, you must submit a single application directly to the Vehicle Licensing Agency office and to the relevant provincial Public Vehicle Registration (PRA) office.

To find the contact details of the Vehicle Licensing Agency offices, click on this link: Direzioni Generali Territoriali | mit (Local Directorates-General – Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport); select your geographical area and click on the name of the office located in the nearest town to you.

To find the PRA provincial office contact details, click on the link: ACI - Contatti / Ufficio Relazioni con il Pubblico (contact details/public relations office); under Scegli l′ufficio (choose an office), select Ufficio PRA (PRA office) and under Scegli la Provincia (choose a province) select the town closest to you.

The application form is known as the istanza unificata (single application) and contains your personal details (first name, surname, tax number, place and date of birth, address of residence in Italy) and your vehicle identification details (number plate or VIN, year of first registration abroad, date of import into Italy and date of last service).

The form is available online, with a privacy notice and completion instructions, on Il Portale dell′Automobilista [drivers′ portal] at the following link:

https://www.ilportaledellautomobilista.it/web/portale-automobilista/modulistica-documento-unico

You can view the form and download it in PDF format in Italian and also in a bilingual Italian-German version. You can view and download a courtesy version in English.

You can download the application form from the Automobile Club d′Italia (ACI) website at the following link:

https://www.aci.it/i-servizi/guide-utili/guida-pratiche-auto/modulistica.html

The application can be more easily filled in and signed directly in electronic format by going to an STA ( Sportello Telematico dell'Automobilista – motorists′ access point) in operation at Vehicle Licensing offices, provincial PRA offices or authorised vehicle consultancy firms.

The STA issues a registration certificate, which acts as a single registration and ownership document.

Attach the following to your application:

a photocopy of your valid identity or identification document;
your vehicle′s technical documentation;
a receipt for payment of the required fees (including stamp duty, Vehicle Licensing Agency fees, and PRA and IPT (provincial registration tax) fees).

The amounts due are shown in the scale of charges on Il Portale dell′Automobilista at the following link: https://www.ilportaledellautomobilista.it/documents/56611/82780328/TARIFFARIO_SDG_EN.pdf as well as on the ACI website at the following link: http://www.aci.it/i-servizi/guide-utili/guida-pratiche-auto/acquisto-veicolo-nuovo.html

You will be able to pay online on both websites after registration.

Payment can also be made at an STA that offers online payment facilities.

Registration of a second-hand vehicle purchased in Italy

If you purchase a vehicle already registered in Italy, you will have to go with the seller to a motorists' access point (STA), found at Vehicle Licensing Agency offices, provincial PRA offices or authorised vehicle consultancy firms, to carry out the sales transaction.

The contract of sale is signed by the seller and the signature is authenticated by the STA manager.

Once the sales transaction has been carried out, you will be able to submit a single application directly to the provincial Vehicle Licensing Agency office and to your local provincial PRA office to apply to have the vehicle ownership transferred to your name (this can be done at the same time).

The form is available online, with a privacy notice and completion instructions, on Il Portale dell′Automobilista [drivers′ portal] at the following link:

https://www.ilportaledellautomobilista.it/web/portale-automobilista/modulistica-documento-unico

You can view the form and download it in PDF format in Italian and also in a bilingual Italian-German version. You can view and download a courtesy version in English.

You can download the application form from the Automobile Club d′Italia (ACI) website at the following link:

https://www.aci.it/i-servizi/guide-utili/guida-pratiche-auto/modulistica.html

The STA issues a registration certificate, which acts as a single registration and ownership document.

Attach the following to your application:

the original vehicle registration certificate or the single registration document and ownership document;
the original certificate of ownership (CDP), if it was issued as a hard copy;
the authenticated contract of sale;
a photocopy of a valid identity or identification document and a photocopy of the seller′s tax number certificate;
a photocopy of a valid identity or identification document and a photocopy of the seller′s tax number certificate;
if you are the legal representative of an enterprise or company incorporated in Italy or established in another Member State but with a secondary establishment in Italy, a self-certification specifying details of your Chamber of Commerce registration and your status as legal representative;
receipt for payment of the above fees.

You will be able to pay online on both websites after registration.

Payment can also be made at an STA that offers online payment facilities.

Payment of ownership tax for vehicles registered in Italy

Only vehicles registered in Italy are subject to annual payment of the bollo auto (car tax) to the region where your residence is..

If you do not have Italian residence, but you have a stable relationship with Italy (student, second home owner, etc.) and you have registered a vehicle giving the address of an individual resident in Italy or a vehicle consultancy firm, you will have to pay the ownership tax to the region where the address you have given is located.

The individual regions decide on the possible benefits, providing for reductions in the amount of the car tax for certain types of vehicles or persons (for example, for vehicles that are less polluting and for vehicles owned by disabled people).

This information is available on the ACI website at the following link: http://www.aci.it/i-servizi/servizi-online/bollo-auto.html , You can calculate the car tax here and pay online.

Periodic roadworthiness tests of vehicles registered in Italy

If your vehicle is registered Italy, you must have it tested to ensure that the vehicle:

meets the conditions of safe roadworthiness and noise levels;
does not produce polluting emissions in excess of the specified limits

The criteria, timing and procedures for having the roadworthiness test done differ according to the type of vehicle, based on the relevant EU provisions.

For passenger cars, the test is due on the fourth year following the date of first registration; afterwards, the frequency is every 2 years.

You can book to have the test carried out at a Vehicle Licensing Agency office (for all vehicle types) or at an authorised mechanical repair workshop (for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight less than or equal to 3.5 t).

To find the authorised mechanical repair workshops closest to you, use the search engine on “Il Portale dell′Automobilista” website at the following link: Il portale dell'Automobilista - Ricerca officine autorizzate (ilportaledellautomobilista.it) .

For costs, see the scale of charges available “Il Portale dell′Automobilista” website at the following link:

After registration, you will be able to pay online.

De-registration due to export of a vehicle registered in Italy

The general rule in Italy is that the vehicle must be de-registered before it is exported. Anyone who does not comply with this obligation can be fined an amount ranging from a minimum of EUR 173.00 to a maximum of EUR 694.00.

Moving abroad with your vehicle registered in Italy

If you wish to export a vehicle abroad permanently, you must first de-register it, for permanent export abroad, from the National Vehicle Record Office and the Public Vehicle Register.

In order to be de-registered for permanent export abroad, the vehicle′s roadworthiness tests must be up to date or the deadline for the first test must not have passed.

You will only have to submit a single application to your local Vehicle Licensing Agency office and PRA office, enclosing:

the number plate;
the vehicle registration certificate or single registration and ownership document;
the certificate of ownership (CDP), if it was issued as a hard copy;
a photocopy of your valid identity or identification document;
proof of payment of the required fees.

The form is available online, with a privacy notice and completion instructions, on Il Portale dell′Automobilista [drivers′ portal] at the following link:

https://www.ilportaledellautomobilista.it/web/portale-automobilista/modulistica-documento-unico

You can view the form and download it in PDF format in Italian and also in a bilingual Italian-German version. You can view and download a courtesy version in English.

You can download the application form from the Automobile Club d′Italia (ACI) website at the following link:

https://www.aci.it/i-servizi/guide-utili/guida-pratiche-auto/modulistica.html

You will be able to pay online on both websites after registration.

Payment can also be made at an STA that offers online payment facilities.

The STA issues a single vehicle and ownership document, not valid for use on the road, certifying that the vehicle has been de-registered in Italy. This document can be used to re-register the vehicle in the country of destination.

If you need to drive your vehicle to the foreign country of destination, you can apply to a Vehicle Licensing Agency office for issue of a travel pass and temporary licence plates or contact a vehicle consultancy firm.

The travel pass indicates the route, duration and any technical requirements. However, the duration of the journey cannot exceed 60 days.

When the vehicle is de-registered, you are no longer obliged to pay the car tax.

De-registration of a vehicle registered in Italy sold to a person who is exporting it

If you sell your vehicle that is registered in Italy to another person who wants to re-register it abroad, you will have to apply for it to be de-registered per definitiva esportazione all′estero (for permanent export abroad) from the National Vehicle Record Office and the PRA.

You will only have to submit a single application to your local Vehicle Licensing Agency office and PRA office, enclosing:

the number plate;
the vehicle registration certificate or single registration and ownership document;
the certificate of ownership (CDP), if it was issued as a hard copy;
a photocopy of your valid identity or identification document;
proof of payment of the required fees.

In order to be de-registered for permanent export abroad, the vehicle′s roadworthiness tests must be up to date or the deadline for the first test must not have passed.

The form is available online, with a privacy notice and completion instructions, on Il Portale dell′Automobilista [drivers′ portal] at the following link:

https://www.ilportaledellautomobilista.it/web/portale-automobilista/modulistica-documento-unico

You can view the form and download it in PDF format in Italian and also in a bilingual Italian-German version. You can view and download a courtesy version in English.

You can download the application form from the Automobile Club d′Italia (ACI) website at the following link:

https://www.aci.it/i-servizi/guide-utili/guida-pratiche-auto/modulistica.html

You will be able to pay online on both websites after registration.

Payment can also be made at an STA that offers online payment facilities.

If the person who bought your vehicle registers it abroad before you have de-registered it from the National Vehicle Record Office and the PRA, the vehicle will still be registered in your name. If the vehicle is not de-registered, you will still be obliged to pay the car tax.

If this happens, you can still apply for the vehicle to be de-registered, but you must also enclose a copy of the foreign registration certificate issued to the person who bought your vehicle.

De-registration due to scrapping an end-of-life vehicle registered in Italy

If you wish to scrap your vehicle, you will have to go to an authorised collection centre (demolition centre) where you will hand over the vehicle to be scrapped together with:

the number plate;
the vehicle registration certificate or single registration and ownership document;
the certificate of ownership (CDP), if it was issued as a hard copy;

Upon vehicle handover, the demolition centre will immediately issue you with a certificato di rottamazione (certificate of destruction). From this moment on, you are no longer obliged to pay the car tax and you are released from all liability (civil, criminal and administrative).

The demolition centre must de-register the vehicle within 30 days by submitting an application to the local Vehicle Licence Agency office and the provincial PRA office.

Deadlines for complying with procedures

In general, the procedures described in this document are concluded within 30 days of submitting the application.

Any longer deadlines may depend on the complexity of the procedure.

Means of appeal

As a general rule, the rejection of an application by a Vehicle Licensing Agency office can be challenged by:

filing an administrative appeal to the Director of the local Directorate-General of the Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti, within 30 days of notification of the rejection decision (go to the following link to see the full list of local Directorates-General and their contact details: https://www.mit.gov.it/node/5086 )
filing an appeal to the regional administrative courts (TAR) within 60 days of notification of the rejection decision (go to the following link to see the map of the TARs: https://www.giustizia-amministrativa.it/en/web/guest/mappa-uffici )( for information on the organisation of the regional administrative courts, please refer to the following link: : https://www.giustizia-amministrativa.it/ )
filing an extraordinary appeal to the Head of State within 120 days of notification of the rejection decision (to find out about the system for appealing to the Head of State, see: http://www.governo.it/it/dipartimenti/dip-il-coordinamento-amministrativo/dica-att-ricorsicapostato/9362 )

Relevant legislation

The information in this document is taken from the current provisions set out in the Italian Highway Code (Legislative Decree No 285 of 30 April 1992), available on the www.normattiva.it website at the following link:

https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legislativo:1992-04-30;285

The main rules of the Highway Code that have been used as reference are as follows:

Article 93 – Formalities required for the use of motor vehicles, motorcycles and trailers

Article 93-bis — Formalities required for the use of motor vehicles, motorcycles and trailers registered in a foreign country and driven by residents of Italy

Article 94 – Formalities for the transfer of ownership of motor vehicles, motorcycles and trailers and for transferring the holder′s residence

Article 99 – Travel pass

Article 103 – Obligations arising from the cessation of use of motor vehicles and trailers

Article 132 – Use of vehicles registered in foreign countries

Article 134 – Use of motor vehicles and motorcycles belonging to Italian citizens resident abroad or to foreigners

Contact details of the relevant authorities

The relevant authorities with competence for the procedures set out in this document are the Vehicle Licensing Agency offices, present in each provincial capital.

The offices report to four local Directorates-General, which have jurisdiction over the North-East, North-West, Centre and South regions.

A full list of Vehicle Licensing Agency offices, contact details and the names of the contact persons can be found on the Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti website www.mit.gov.it at the following links:

http://trasparenza.mit.gov.it/archivio13_strutture-organizzative_-1_14320_25_1.html (for the North-West)

http://trasparenza.mit.gov.it/archivio13_strutture-organizzative_-1_14321_25_1.html (for the North-East)

http://trasparenza.mit.gov.it/archivio13_strutture-organizzative_-1_14322_25_1.html (for the Centre)

http://trasparenza.mit.gov.it/archivio13_strutture-organizzative_-1_14323_25_1.html (for the South)