Exporting cars from Italy?

Depends on the preparation I've heard. Some people find it painful the first time and then its ok, others its straight in no problem. Size is a factor too and lube of course.

Or do you mean *actually* importing an *actual* car from Italy in the literal sense? LOL

As EU the actual importing shouldn't be problematic. However I seem to remember that buying a car as a non-resident can be problematic and getting the right paperwork done when actually buying the car is more difficult/costly than it ought be and obviously this is fairly critical

Most useful link I found
www.expatforum.com/expats/italy-expat-forum-expats-living-italy/56486-advice-needed-buying-car-italy-taking-back-uk.html
plus
europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/vehicles/cars/buying-a-car-abroad/italy/index_en.htm
www.understandingitaly.com/living-content/motoring.html

Nick

... I would wager more time was "wasted" in typing that response than reading mine. It was a joke, nothing more. Do you respond to people in the same rude and humourless way in real life when they try to drum up some friendly banter, or are you a little more personable?

Noted for future reference though. I'll leave it be when it's you talking.

Right, ignore pretty much everything that has been written up-thread (apart from the funny post by fad)- it is either made-up nonsense or misleadingly out-of-date.

Firstly, paying in cash is fine up to 12500 eurocoins, but not more due to money-laundering regulations.

Secondly, it used to be fairly easy to buy and import yourself- you would pay the owner, go to the local 'agenzia pratiche auto' (privately-run vehicle admin agency) and cough-up a further 200 eurocoins or so to cover the legal admin. You would then need to have insurance in place if you were driving the car home. Once home you would then have to send the number plates back to the owner. I did this in 2008, so know it was ok back then.

So what about importing from Italy now...

Well, it is now virtually impossible for a non-resident to buy a car and bring it back home, thanks to the effect of the recent (September '16) 'legge di stabilità' (stability law). This came about because there was a concern that some naughty Italians were getting around paying the annual car tax by declaring their car as exported when it wasn't.

In addition, the car breaking/recycling industry in Italy kicked-off that they were losing some of their precious income stream through cars disappearing abroad.

As of January this year there is now also a requirement to show official proof of residency in Italy.

In terms of the export of cars from Italy, there is now the perverse bureaucratic assumption that the car is already abroad and re-registered in its new home country. Which it isn't, because you haven't bought it yet. Have a look on the Auto Club d'Italia website for more details on the current procedures (it is all in italian though!).

In addition, the vast majority of Italians rely on their local agenzia to sort out all car-related admin (because no-one can be bothered dealing direct with PRA, the DVLA equivalent, as it is only open in a main town/city in the morning for a few hours). The agenzia will tell the vendor that export is no longer possible (because it is too much work for them and it is technically impossible to complete the legal transfer of ownership if you don't already have the new V5C or other acceptable export documentation to hand). They prefer to stick to easy things like driving licence renewals and regular car sales between italians. So the owner will think selling to a foreigner is too complicated or just plain impossible.

For the italian vendor, there is a further significant worry that you will be disappearing off up the autostrada with their car (because it is still legally in their name), along with the car's number plates, libretto and ownership certificate. They have to hope that you will send all these back to them pretty promptly, along with the new V5C copy, as they only have up to 60 days to register the export abroad or they get fined and will have to carry on paying the annual tax.

As most people in this world are fairly risk-averse, the typical italian vendor will not, therefore, entertain the risk of selling to a non-resident foreigner.

Lastly, because you have to send the original italian ownership docs back to the owner, you clearly can't send these to DVLA when you come to register the car here. DVLA do not return the docs anyway, so do not risk it even if you somehow get a DVLA drone to confirm they will make an exception and send the originals back to you. Instead you will probably need to get a dating certificate from the relevant car club or from the manufacturer to send along with your V55/5 form.

If you can overcome these new hurdles then go for it. If not, find a car that is already here!