Car from Italy – everything you need to know

Many people decide to buy e.g. a car abroad, including a car from Italy. That is because the inhabitants of wealthier countries exchange vehicles more often and take better care of them. However, the search for the perfect car should take into account several factors.

 

What should you consider when buying a car from Italy?

The necessary formalities must not be forgotten. Sunny Italy tempts with a large selection of second-hand cars and relatively low prices.

With an extensive network of motorways and expressways, Italy has a tremendous used-car market that could be attractive to bargain-seekers.  If the matter is complicated by the relatively long distance from our country to Italy, a facilitation comes from the high limit of cash transactions.

 

Buying a car from Italy for more than € 15,000

If you want to buy a more expensive Italian car, you need to use a credit card with a large limit or make an express transfer from a Euro account during the transaction. In the latter case, our payment may not be credited quickly enough to close the transaction, e.g. in the afternoon on the same day.

So bear that in mind if, despite these initial difficulties, you decide to buy an car. It is best to look for offers on popular websites such as Autoscout or Mobile. It is also worth taking a look at portals aggregating offers available on the Internet, e.g. ooyyo.com, which provide access to several hundred thousand Italian offers in one place.

 

What are cars from Italy equipped with?

Cars in Italy are usually equipped with air conditioning and are not particularly susceptible to corrosion due to mild winters and little rainfall throughout the year. The only exception is vehicles used on the coast, where they may long be exposed to weather unfavourable for the car body.

What else can you expect from a car from Italy? It depends on the price range, but there’s a lot of Italian cars equipped with automatic gearboxes, leather upholstery, advanced safety systems and additional options improving the comfort of a ride.

 

Popular car brands

In addition to Fiat and Lancia, which are definitely more popular car brands than elsewhere, in Italy you can come across offers of virtually all popular other brands, especially European ones such as Volkswagen or BMW. A bit less popular and more exotic are cars from Asia, due to an “aesthetic factor”.

 

What are popular car brands from Italy

Fiat is probably the best-known brand of Italian cars. With a long history of Fiat’s presence in the market, its vehicles are popular and respected. Reasonable price is one of the things which distinguish Fiat from other brands.

Alfa Romeo vehicles are also famous for their undeniable beauty (although there are some stereotypes about their doubted reliability).

 

Car brands from Italy list

Other Italian car brands are also worth mentioning:

• Ferrari cars are known in every market of Europe (and whole world as well) and they’re a synonym of a top-class, top-performance car
• Maserati produces luxurious, fast and elegant vehicles known for their astonishing sound
• Lamborghini – started as a tractor manufacturer, now delivers one o the fastest and the most inspiring cars

These three luxury sport car brands produce vehicles that are exceptional and eye-catching everywhere they appear. But are there any other brands from Italy? Consider Lancia, Abarth, De Tomaso or Pagani… These car brands might be not as famous as the others, but also a nice example of Italian car manufacturing.

 

What do Italians pay attention to when choosing a car

 

 

Historically, German cars were considered reliable, compared to other brands, and the American ones extra-large, while the Italians stood out for their refinement and elegance; today, made in Italy or foreign cars in this market must always be perceived as beautiful by buyers (Fiat, for example, has ranges of colors with glamorous names inspired by haute cuture).

Some other brands like Lancia even wink at the female target by launching special editions with particular colors and options, directing specific marketing campaigns to women. For this reason Asian cars, in which less attention is paid to clean lines and standard options, have very little success in Italian market.

 

What to look at when choosing an Italian car?

Buying a car requires checking several factors. The foremost thing is, of course, the vehicle’s technical condition, which should be good and allow for its safe use. In Italy, the car inspection must be done by law: the first time, after 4 years from the registration of the vehicle, and then every 2 years forever. In addition to car inspection, attention should be paid to such issues as:

• mileage and vehicle history,
• accident history,
• number of owners,
• manufacture year,
• temporary de-registration,
• TPL Insurance,
• legal status.

People usually look for cars in good condition that have been used for a short time. Second-hand vehicles in Europe are much cheaper than the ones from the showroom, and at the same time, can serve the new owner for many years to come.

 

 

Car history

Each vehicle has its history. Unfortunately, a more expensive car does not always guarantee perfect technical condition. Therefore, before deciding on a given automobile, you should check its history based on the VIN number in the autoDNA service and check whether the very one is worth your time and interest.

 

 

TPL Insurance

Each vehicle must have valid third-party liability insurance. Vehicles bought from second- hand car dealers usually have a temporary policy which you should exchange for a full one immediately after purchase. Driving without liability insurance carries a high risk of severe, unavoidable fines.

 

What documents will we receive from the car seller in Italy?

If we already have chosen the model and car brands, we have to draw up a sale and purchase agreement with the seller or receive an invoice. The contract should contain the seller’s and all co-owner’s details as per the registration document. Also, the contract must include the vehicle’s price and particulars, including its mileage.

The seller is responsible for any possible non-compliance of the car with the agreement within two years of signing the contract. Therefore, you should check the vehicle thoroughly before purchase, especially if you are purchasing from a professional dealer. Italian law provides that if the contract is signed at the sellers premises, the buyer cannot withdraw from it. The seller should also deliver a type approval document compliant with the European Commission guidelines, the so-called European Certificate of Conformity (COC). If we do not receive COC, a duplicate of such confirmation should be obtained from the appropriate manufacturer’s representative in country.

 

 

The seller must also hand over the registration certificate (Carta di circolazione) with the set of keys. There we will find basic information about the engine power, owner or dates of subsequent technical inspections.

 

Italian cars owners

A car in Italy may have more than one owner. Each of them must be present during the transaction to sign. For this reason, it is crucial to find out in advance how many owners a specific vehicle has. Otherwise, the transaction may be invalid.

 

How to bring Italian cars?

In order to use a car, the necessary documents must be organised. Without them, the vehicle cannot be registered in country. Also, specific fees must be paid, which sometimes amount to several thousand. When purchasing a car, the seller should also have a vehicle registration certificate, the so-called Carta di circolazione.

 

Importing a car from Italy yourself

Many people decide to bring an Italian car on their own. It is a good solution, but you should remember to complete the necessary formalities. When visiting the vehicle owner, you need to obtain documents such as:

• the registration certificate,
• the certificate of compliance with the European Commission guidelines,
• a sales contract,
• the vehicle card (if issued).

As for the contract, the best solution is to draw it up in at least two language versions. Our native language and Italian will work well, but English may be practical too. If the car has already been registered in our country, a “sworn translation” (ie certified by a judicial office) must also be attached: the translator must submit an affidavit in front of the official along with a € 16 revenue stamp.

If you want to drive the car to country, temporary plates must be obtained. They are valid for several days. If you need a longer time, you can arrange export plates with Italian authorities. Then, you will need:

• a copy of the registration document,
• an export permit,
• proof of ownership,
• a copy of your identity card,
• a payment receipt,
• an export plates application.

With export plates you can travel all over Europe, so you can easily cross all countries on the way in your new Italian car.

 

Bringing the car through an intermediary

Not always is it possible to bring the car on your own. Once the vehicle is de-registered, it cannot be driven on Italian and Europe roads. The only option is then to use companies that deliver the car on a flatbed. You do not pay the fuel costs in such a case, but such an operation can cost you up to several thousand zlotys. Usually, specialists inspect the car on the spot, close the transaction and bring it directly on a flatbed.

There is also an option to purchase vehicles from a dealer who has already imported them earlier. Such cars usually have temporary third-party liability insurance. The seller should provide the new owner with the same documents as when buying the car directly from an Italian.

 

Arrival by Italian cars to country

Temporary registration plates allow for trouble-free entry by car to country, but the vehicle must be immediately registered with the authorities. You will have 30 days to do so. You also have to consider the excise duty, which you must pay within 14 days of importing the car. A fee payment receipt must be presented when registering the vehicle. Remember that there’s a higher fee for cars with large engines, but those are not common with Italian car brands, except for the luxury ones.

 

How to inspect an Italian car?

Before deciding on choosing a model and car brands, you should carefully check its history. It can be done at home. The VIN number will be helpful then. autoDNA can generate a comprehensive report that presents basic information about the vehicle, its history and additional data.

 

 

It is a convenient solution for people who want to get all the necessary information about an automobile. Such a report can help you make a decision about buying a Italian car brands.

 

Are Italian car brands worth buying?

The Italian car brands are trendy. For this reason, up to 28,000 vehicles are imported from sunny Italy each year. They are usually well-kept cars, so they are of interest to people looking for inexpensive automobiles in perfect technical condition. The choice is considerable, and people can browse the offers on the Internet or use the help of intermediaries.

You simply don’t have to go to Italy right away to get your dream car. Most of the formalities can be dealt with remotely, and if necessary, you can hire companies that will bring the selected car themselves. It is an excellent choice for people looking for a good vehicle straight from Italy.

 

 

 

Also read about import:

1. a car from Germany
2. a car France
3. a car from UK
4. a car from the Netherlands
5. a car from Belgium
6. a Danish car
7. a Swedish car
8. Ukrainian car