Italy is a nation of amazing historical and natural beauty, in case you are thinking of moving here or in case you are already in Italy we have good news for you: a foreigner can buy a car in Italy.
To buy a vehicle in Italy you need to decide whether to buy a used or new vehicle, depending on how long you will stay in Italy and your preferences.
The used market offers excellent solutions for all budgets, you need to calibrate your choice based on your travel needs and assess the budget you have. In case you decide to buy a used vehicle, it is very important to make the right choice at the time of purchase by buying a vehicle that is reliable and free of mechanical defects.
However, in order to purchase a vehicle in Italy, the law has some important requirements.
The tax code
The tax code is a document required in order to purchase a vehicle in Italy. To apply for it you can apply directly to us or at a revenue agency on the territory of Italy.
Have an Italian identity document
In order for one to become the owner of a vehicle, it is necessary to have an Italian identity document: ID card or passport. To apply for an Italian document, you must go to the offices of your local municipality and submit your request.
Residence
Another basic requirement for owning a vehicle in Italy is to have a residence. Residency can be applied for at the municipality or town hall after finding a house to live in and agreeing with the owner that he or she wants to put up residence.
The residence permit
A residence permit is another document needed to purchase a car, but only in the case of non-European citizens. To obtain a residence permit, it is necessary to go to the police headquarters in your city and begin the paperwork for its issuance.
Obtaining these documents requires time and patience. Italian bureaucracy has its own timeframe, which on average tends to be quite long.
Usually you can get everything within a period of 2 to 6 months.
So... can I buy a car in italy?
All foreigners in Italy can buy a car as long as they have the necessary documents.
Applying for ID, tax code, residence and residence permit can take an average amount of time that varies depending on the municipality to which they belong.
A viable and totally legal alternative to speed up the vehicle purchase process is to put the car in the name of a trusted Italian person. A relative, a friend, an acquaintance who as an Italian will already have the necessary documents to be able to register the vehicle and be its owner.
Also the insurance of the vehicle will be in the name of the owner of the vehicle, the important thing is that in the insurance contract the policy provides for free driving, in this way anyone will have the possibility to drive the car freely. In case this option is chosen, it should be remembered that the owner of the vehicle is the actual person responsible for the vehicle and in addition to paying the property tax on the vehicle will be liable for any damages and penalties resulting from misuse of the vehicle.
In addition, it is necessary to check whether it is possible to drive in Italy with the driving license that the regular driver holds and for how long.
Non-EU licenses have a limited time validity after which it is necessary to proceed with a conversion of the license from foreign to Italian. When the conversion process is not possible one must take the driving tests for the Italian license again.
To be sure of the validity of one's foreign italy driver's license it is advisable to ask for information at one of the many ACI offices throughout the country.
