taking a UK "classic car" to Italy

[sjp63]

I live in Torino during the week until my family move here in a few months then it will be permanent. I have a 72 Bristol in the UK and im considering whether its practical to take it to Italy and how to keep it legal out there. I dont know if it would get classic status in italy or not and whats involved to localise it (apart from headlamp conversion, numberplates etc etc. Alternatively keep it out there on UK documentation, coming back for MoT etc.

All sounds a bit tricky!

Any suggestions/contacts/clubs etc??

thanks

Steve

[blueyes]

sjp63 said:

I live in Torino during the week until my family move here in a few months then it will be permanent. I have a 72 Bristol in the UK and im considering whether its practical to take it to Italy and how to keep it legal out there. I dont know if it would get classic status in italy or not and whats involved to localise it (apart from headlamp conversion, numberplates etc etc. Alternatively keep it out there on UK documentation, coming back for MoT etc.

All sounds a bit tricky!

Any suggestions/contacts/clubs etc??

thanks

Steve

Ok, there's the legal way and the naughty way.

Legal way: Tell the DVLA you're exporting it and they'll send you an export document. You take this to Italy and get the car MOT'd over there (revisione) and they'll give you Italian number plates. Then you get some insurance, pay your car tax and that's it. I think the only problems might be a KPH speedo and having to fit some beam deflectors.
In practice all this sounds really easy but in fact will probably take you about 6 months as you are bounced from department to department seemingly always not to have the "right piece of paper" they'll require. The secret is, like dealing with anything official in Italy, not to give a toss and give the appearance that if you actually get what you want, it will annoy you. The British way of shouting and jumping up and down will not work.

Naughty way: take it over there on UK plates and bring it back for an MOT every year. Only trouble with this is you'll find it expensive or impossible to find a UK insurance company that will give you a 12 month green card: SAGA is the only one I know of and you have to be over 60(?) to get it.

In both cases you still have to consider servicing and parts. I don't know of any Bristol service outlets in Italy but your owners club might know of a specialist.

Good luck!

My advice: sell it, go to Italy, buy a classic Alfa.

[crofty1984]

I'm doing "the naughty way".

I can recommend "italsure" as insurers, they do policies specifically for ex-pats, and they're fully aware of the situation (Car registered at parents' address, on UK plates kept in Italy long-term) So there's no "Oh, well I happened to be on holiday and my car broke, oh, by the way can you send all the relevant documents to THIS address instead?"
They were competitive too, about 700 pounds for a BMW 530 at 24.

I found one other place that will insure you year round, but it HAS to be for travelling. So you're not covered if it's for work.

[chris watton]

crofty1984 said:

I'm doing "the naughty way".

I can recommend "italsure" as insurers, they do policies specifically for ex-pats, and they're fully aware of the situation (Car registered at parents' address, on UK plates kept in Italy long-term) So there's no "Oh, well I happened to be on holiday and my car broke, oh, by the way can you send all the relevant documents to THIS address instead?"
They were competitive too, about 700 pounds for a BMW 530 at 24.

I found one other place that will insure you year round, but it HAS to be for travelling. So you're not covered if it's for work.

We have Italsure for our insurance, MUCH cheaper (but still gut-wrenchingly expensive, compared to UK prices) than Italian inssurance companies.

[crofty1984]

chris watton said:

We have Italsure for our insurance, MUCH cheaper (but still gut-wrenchingly expensive, compared to UK prices) than Italian inssurance companies.

One more thing. I just rang them, they cover for track day use as well!! (Exemptions clearly states no racing, speed testing or pacemaking, but I rang and I'm OK on a public track day.)

[chris watton]

crofty1984 said:

chris watton said:

We have Italsure for our insurance, MUCH cheaper (but still gut-wrenchingly expensive, compared to UK prices) than Italian inssurance companies.

One more thing. I just rang them, they cover for track day use as well!! (Exemptions clearly states no racing, speed testing or pacemaking, but I rang and I'm OK on a public track day.)

Plus, you should be covered for the WHOLE of Europe, and not just Italy. Which is nice...

[SachaR]

If your car is older than 20 years, in italy it has a classic car status, the classic car status means that by simply getting in touch with a classic car club and filling in some paperwork and taking some photos you can register the car with ACI. Once registered the "bollo" or should we say road tax is no longer payable and insurance 3rd party is approx 125 to 150 euros per year with up to 3 named drivers.

If you want, I can put you in touch with my local car club president who does this paperwork for a small fee, he also does all the registering of foreign cars. He could maybe tell you who to contact as the only thing is we are located in the Udine area which is 600km away from Torino.

I think you will find that registering old cars in Italy is worthwhile but the new ones are expensive as they tax so many things on the Horsepower/KW.

Good luck,

Sacha

Edited by SachaR on Wednesday 29th October 08:11

[so called]

Hi SachaR,
Just wanted to say that your "Warming up for the summer" is one of my favourite videos.

[sjp63]

Hi Sacha

Thats great information - yes it would be good to get in touch with your car club president. I tried googling Torino classic car club and didnt come up with much

Steve

SachaR said:

If your car is older than 20 years, in italy it has a classic car status, the classic car status means that by simply getting in touch with a classic car club and filling in some paperwork and taking some photos you can register the car with ACI. Once registered the "bollo" or should we say road tax is no longer payable and insurance 3rd party is approx 125 to 150 euros per year with up to 3 named drivers.

If you want, I can put you in touch with my local car club president who does this paperwork for a small fee, he also does all the registering of foreign cars. He could maybe tell you who to contact as the only thing is we are located in the Udine area which is 600km away from Torino.

I think you will find that registering old cars in Italy is worthwhile but the new ones are expensive as they tax so many things on the Horsepower/KW.

Good luck,

Sacha

Edited by SachaR on Wednesday 29th October 08:11[/footnote]

[footnote]Edited by sjp63 on Saturday 1st November 13:41

[HITHEREFOLKS]

hi sacha, i also live in italy and have big problems with 'immatricolazione ' of my old rover. can you tell me someone who does the paperwork ? many thanks

[HITHEREFOLKS]

SachaR said:

If your car is older than 20 years, in italy it has a classic car status, the classic car status means that by simply getting in touch with a classic car club and filling in some paperwork and taking some photos you can register the car with ACI. Once registered the "bollo" or should we say road tax is no longer payable and insurance 3rd party is approx 125 to 150 euros per year with up to 3 named drivers.

If you want, I can put you in touch with my local car club president who does this paperwork for a small fee, he also does all the registering of foreign cars. He could maybe tell you who to contact as the only thing is we are located in the Udine area which is 600km away from Torino.

I think you will find that registering old cars in Italy is worthwhile but the new ones are expensive as they tax so many things on the Horsepower/KW.

Good luck,

Sacha hi sacha, i need some help too for paperwork,kind regards from francesco

Edited by SachaR on Wednesday 29th October 08:11

[HITHEREFOLKS]

SachaR said:

If your car is older than 20 years, in italy it has a classic car status, the classic car status means that by simply getting in touch with a classic car club and filling in some paperwork and taking some photos you can register the car with ACI. Once registered the "bollo" or should we say road tax is no longer payable and insurance 3rd party is approx 125 to 150 euros per year with up to 3 named drivers.

If you want, I can put you in touch with my local car club president who does this paperwork for a small fee, he also does all the registering of foreign cars. He could maybe tell you who to contact as the only thing is we are located in the Udine area which is 600km away from Torino.

I think you will find that registering old cars in Italy is worthwhile but the new ones are expensive as they tax so many things on the Horsepower/KW.

Good luck,

Sacha

buonasera Sacha, i can't find ' SKEDA TECNICA'required by italian bureaucrats for my 62 rover.isn't the v5 enough ????

Edited by SachaR on Wednesday 29th October 08:11