Buying a classic in Italy to export to the UK
Discussion
My Wife has decided she would like a classic Fiat 500 for her 40th, which I'm not averse to.
I like the idea of getting one from Italy, as I think I'll get more for my money, plus it will be a bit of an adventure (I did something similar from the South of France in a 50 year old 2CV).
So, can anyone help me with the car buying process in Italy, for a foreigner...I believe the number plate stays with the owner, and assume that on the registration document it can me recorded as exported to me, this assuming that I'll bring it back on a trailer or similar.
What if I wanted to attempt the drive (!), is there any temporary export plates etc, or is the whole paperwork nightmare ? Doe it make any difference that it is a classic car, and and probably 40 years old ?
Any help or advice welcome
I like the idea of getting one from Italy, as I think I'll get more for my money, plus it will be a bit of an adventure (I did something similar from the South of France in a 50 year old 2CV).
So, can anyone help me with the car buying process in Italy, for a foreigner...I believe the number plate stays with the owner, and assume that on the registration document it can me recorded as exported to me, this assuming that I'll bring it back on a trailer or similar.
What if I wanted to attempt the drive (!), is there any temporary export plates etc, or is the whole paperwork nightmare ? Doe it make any difference that it is a classic car, and and probably 40 years old ?
Any help or advice welcome
You have to go to any local ACI (Automobil Club Italia) or driving school telling that the car will be sent abroad and it must be deleted from the Italian records. Plates will not remain on the car, but the registration documents will, so it can be registered in another Country.
This can be made in a few minutes and does not cost much, I believe less than 50 Pounds.
At the same time, you have to ask for temporary paper plates (targhe di cartone) if you want to drive it. Easy, but usually they will be given to you the day after. Not very easy to insure them, being quite risky not every insurer will offer this service, if you will buy the car in northern Italy I can suggest agenziaducale.com
This can be made in a few minutes and does not cost much, I believe less than 50 Pounds.
At the same time, you have to ask for temporary paper plates (targhe di cartone) if you want to drive it. Easy, but usually they will be given to you the day after. Not very easy to insure them, being quite risky not every insurer will offer this service, if you will buy the car in northern Italy I can suggest agenziaducale.com
I just did this with a motorbike although I got it shipped in a van (I'd recommend doing the same with your 500) as I didn't fancy a 1000 mile journey on a 35yr old Italian bike that hadn't been run for 2-3 years.
I actually had the Italian plate left on but have since sent it back to the previous owner as we had agreed. The registration process here was very straightforward; insure on the frame (chassis) no. to enable me to get it MOT'd, fill in the V55 form and send the original Italian ownership document (for proof of date of first registration), some identification (copy licence/passport) and the £80 fee plus a years road tax - I got a V5 with age-related no. plate within a week.
I understand it is more complicated from a legal (particularly insurance) point of view if you want to drive it back which is one reason I'd suggest a trailer/van, the other being it's a 50yr old Italian car that was never really an ideal cross-continent tourer even when new and a simple mechanical breakdown en-route could end up costing far more than any shipping costs.
As far as 500s go, you don't see many on the roads in Italy any more so, presumably collectors have snapped them all up meaning they may not be the deal you're hoping for? In fact the chap I bought my bike from had two of them in with his extensive bike collection which is now, essentially his pension fund...
I actually had the Italian plate left on but have since sent it back to the previous owner as we had agreed. The registration process here was very straightforward; insure on the frame (chassis) no. to enable me to get it MOT'd, fill in the V55 form and send the original Italian ownership document (for proof of date of first registration), some identification (copy licence/passport) and the £80 fee plus a years road tax - I got a V5 with age-related no. plate within a week.
I understand it is more complicated from a legal (particularly insurance) point of view if you want to drive it back which is one reason I'd suggest a trailer/van, the other being it's a 50yr old Italian car that was never really an ideal cross-continent tourer even when new and a simple mechanical breakdown en-route could end up costing far more than any shipping costs.
As far as 500s go, you don't see many on the roads in Italy any more so, presumably collectors have snapped them all up meaning they may not be the deal you're hoping for? In fact the chap I bought my bike from had two of them in with his extensive bike collection which is now, essentially his pension fund...
As an aside, has your Wife ever driven a 500? if not she may be in for a surprise.
Not trying to put you off but I regularly borrowed one of my Brother-in-law's (he had 2 back in the early '80s one of which his Sister rolled over into a field) plus I also drove my Sister's early (600cc) 126 which, was meant to be the replacement, and found them to be awful, even 30+ years ago...
Not trying to put you off but I regularly borrowed one of my Brother-in-law's (he had 2 back in the early '80s one of which his Sister rolled over into a field) plus I also drove my Sister's early (600cc) 126 which, was meant to be the replacement, and found them to be awful, even 30+ years ago...
Gassing Station | Italy | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff