Buying a classic from Italy

[rob07]

Hi,does any one know what is the proceedure for buying an old classic car from Italy.I`ve been told you need to get a solicitor to do some of the paperwork,and there is some kind of issues about keeping the number plates?,Ive also been told it takes about half a day to do.Sounds very odd and overly compicated to me.would appreciate any advice,preferably from previous experience.

[rallycross]

i've done it quite easy, just agree with the seller to dhl the plates back to them when you get back to uk, take the italian paperwork and give it to the dvla, as its more than ten years old its easy to register in the uk. no legal stuff needed.

[bigblock]

rallycross said:

i've done it quite easy, just agree with the seller to dhl the plates back to them when you get back to uk, take the italian paperwork and give it to the dvla, as its more than ten years old its easy to register in the uk. no legal stuff needed.

When did you last buy a car in Italy because to advise someone that buying a second hand car is easy is a load of bks. As of November last year if you do not have Italian residence papers you are prohibited from buying a car in Italy unless it is a new one direct from the manufacturer.

Even if you do have a residencia certificate you still need to have the whole transaction notarised to be the new legal owner and recieve the new registration papers. If this is not done legal title remains with the previous owner even if you have a bill of sale and have paid for the car !

If you try and shortcut the Italian system it will probably come back to haunt you when you try and export the vehicle or when you try and register it with the DVLA.
If you don't follow the Italian rules as far as the Italian authortities are concerned it is not your car.

[VeeFour]

bigblock said:

When did you last buy a car in Italy because to advise someone that buying a second hand car is easy is a load of bks. As of November last year if you do not have Italian residence papers you are prohibited from buying a car in Italy unless it is a new one direct from the manufacturer.

Frankly, that sounds like a load of bks.

And given how many Italian cars are advertised for sale in the international marketplace, I can't see how it can possibly be true.

[rallycross]

i've imported two into the uk but last time was 2005 so it may have changed, all I can say then is that it was easy last time, this thread needs to in GG section someone will soon have the correct info.

[bigblock]

VeeFour said:

bigblock said:

When did you last buy a car in Italy because to advise someone that buying a second hand car is easy is a load of bks. As of November last year if you do not have Italian residence papers you are prohibited from buying a car in Italy unless it is a new one direct from the manufacturer.

Frankly, that sounds like a load of bks.

And given how many Italian cars are advertised for sale in the international marketplace, I can't see how it can possibly be true.

The Op asked what the procedure was for buying a second hand car in Italy. He was given some advice that was unfortunatly outdated, I advised him of the current procedure and you have decided (apparently from looking at adverts) that I don't know what I am talking about and my advice "can't possibly be true". Please feel free to enlighten us all as to what you think is the correct procedure, since you know I am definetly so wrong.

[VeeFour]

Care to give us a link to the information you've posted?

Because googling only gives me links telling me how it's possible.

[bigblock]

VeeFour said:

Care to give us a link to the information you've posted?

Because googling only gives me links telling me how it's possible.

I did'nt say it was'nt possible I just explained what the Italian system is. Maybe this is a bit clearer...

If you want to buy and register a car in your name in Italy you have to have an Italian certificate of residence.

If you want to buy a car in Italy for export you have to have the sale notarised by a Notary Public and the registration of the car cancelled including the removal of the number plates before you can be issued with a certificate of export. The car would then not be able to be driven on the road until it was re-registersd and issued new plates.

If you want to buy a car in Italy and drive it home with the Italian plates you would have to persuade the seller to trust you to return to Italy to have the sale notarised and that you will return the number plates otherwise he remains liable for the annual govenment taxes for the car. Good luck with that.

Do you think I have got nothing better to do than sit about and make this stuff up ?

[VeeFour]

You said:

'As of November last year if you do not have Italian residence papers you are prohibited from buying a car in Italy unless it is a new one direct from the manufacturer.'

So... just for clarity.

Can you or can you not buy a car in Italy and bring it back to the UK?

In fact, unless things changed very recently, Mike 'av a deal' Brewer did it with an Italian bought Fiat 500.

[rob07]

Just to clarify,my intentions are to buy an old car(over 10 years old) and drive it back to the UK.What BIGBLOCK says sounds about right to me,but thanks for all replys.

[Yachtworker]

I Live in Italy at the moment and wanted to buy a car for work but no one would sell me one, as even though I have a Codice Fiscali I am not becomming a resident (only here for a bit).
I have tried to understand the system but failed. .............However a mate of mine bought a car out of the local paper and just drove it back. I think a lot is down to the seller, it is a funny Country you either abide by the rules or totally ignore them.

[davepoth]

Yachtworker said:

I Live in Italy at the moment and wanted to buy a car for work but no one would sell me one, as even though I have a Codice Fiscali I am not becomming a resident (only here for a bit).
I have tried to understand the system but failed. .............However a mate of mine bought a car out of the local paper and just drove it back. I think a lot is down to the seller, it is a funny Country you either abide by the rules or totally ignore them.

That sounds just like Italy.

Frankly I wouldn't bother too much with any of the paperwork. Pay cash, insure it with your british insurer, and drive home. You don't live in Italy, let them sort out the paperwork themselves.

[julian67]

In general, Italians are weary of foreigners. I tried buying a Fulvia but gave up.

You must have an Italian tax number to register the car and prove you're a resident. No UK insurance co will insure a foreign reg car. The only simple way is to have it transported and that's not only expensive but too safe for me. The thrill is to drive the car home. Buying off a car dealer is a little easier as they do the paperwork.

I checked France and you can insure an Italian car but only for a month and say you live there. Obviopusly, must have a French address.

Buying a car in France is a LOT easier!

[Keep it stiff]

I purchased a car from Italy three years ago and had no problems. The seller deals with the Italian de-registration side of things and in the UK you follow the same IR/DVLA process as you would with any other EU import. The one thing that is tricky is if you want to drive it back either to postpone the Italian de-registration process or to find some other way of having a temporary registration. I arranged covered truck transport for mine via an Italian company which was very good value. Right now I think you biggest issue is that the £/euro rate is going to be painful!

[akastana]

So... along the same lines I have a good puzzle for you all...

I was a British citizen living in Italy for the last 4 years, during that time I was an Italian resident (with a residency certificate and P.Iva tax code) and I bought an Italian car.
Fast forward a couple of years and I've just moved back to the UK, I liked my car and spent quite a lot keeping it alive (it is an Alfa of course) so I brought it back to the UK. I've registered it with the DVLA, it now has British plates, MOT and insurance but now I'm trying to de-register it in Italy and getting a bit stuck (surprise, surprise). Apparently I have to inform the PRA of it's permanent export and return the Italian plates, which apparently you can do at an ACI STA desk or at the Italian consulate in London... except you have to be an Italian citizen to do so... I've contacted them and they say they can't help since I'm not an Italian citizen. The alternative seems to be that I would have to travel to Italy just to fill in a few forms and give them my plates...
http://www.conslondra.esteri.it/consolato_londra/e...

I'd be tempted just to say F'it and not de-register the vehicle except they will try and continue to tax me for it and the tax on that car was insane, whilst I'm not too worried about them chasing me here for it I don't really want to be arrested at the airport next time I visit Italy and I don't really want to pay tax on it until I next go there...

Anyone got similar experience that can help?

[psi310398]

I have a house in Italy but am not resident. I have tried to find a way but I cannot buy a car there to keep nor get plates for any of my British cars.

To buy and export is possible but it is a bureaucratic nightmare. The sale must be notarised and then registered in one office. You will need proof of identity and residence and IIRC proof that the money has been paid over.

You will then need to go to another office to get (cardboard) temporary plates which will permit you to leave the country by road legally, but in very short order - no swanning around Tuscany on holiday first. British insurers will insure on the VIN in these circumstances.

Remember that this is a country where a minor service industry exists to do the queuing for people wanting motoring documents. Unless you are very patient, I'd use a specialist vendor offering an all-in and take the pain out that way.

If buying an Italian registered car elsewhere, I'd probably want to satisfy myself as to feasibility of deregistering the car in Italy from abroad.

Peter

[psi310398]

Here is chapter and verse;

http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/vehicles/cars...

But good luck finding many officials who understand the process.

[akastana]

Thanks for the info, it's pretty much the same stuff I've seen before and as usual with Italian rules and regulations if there is something slightly out of the ordinary no one knows how to deal with it. The problem is i was an Italian resident and bought an Italian car, relatively easily, now because i'm not an Italian citizen it would appear the consulate wont help me event though technically they could, all they need are the plates and my ID...
So far the Italian Consulate in London should be able to do it but won't because I'm not an Italian citizen, the British Consulate in Italy told me to speak to the Italian Consulate. The ACI in Belluno told me to look at the ACI website...
I have three options then, go to the Italian Consulate and try to turn their no into a yes (No is rarely actually no in Italy) or go to italy and find an ACI office (and hope that they can get their head round me not being an Italian citizen) final option would be to give up, not bother deregistering it (makes no difference here in the UK since its now officially a UK registered vehicle) and let the ACI send me tax bills until the end of time...
Any suggestions/votes?!

[Mr Tidy]

Sounds like a minefield - good luck OP!