What is an agenzia di pratiche auto and do I need one?

An agenzia di pratiche auto is a private agency that handles vehicle paperwork in Italy, from booking Motorizzazione appointments to registering a car on the PRA. You are not obliged to use one, but many new residents do, because the forms are in Italian and the process has several stages. The agency will ask for your documents, the certificate of conformity and proof of residence.

Do I pay import VAT on my car when moving to Italy?

Not usually, if the car qualifies for transfer-of-residence relief. That relief covers a vehicle you have owned and used for a qualifying period before moving your residence. A recently bought car, or one imported for sale, is treated differently and may attract VAT. The Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli sets the conditions, and we include the vehicle in your customs file accordingly.

Should I drive my own car to Italy instead of shipping it?

Many people do, and it is a perfectly good option if the car is roadworthy and you are making the journey anyway. Driving lets you carry essentials and pets in the car. Shipping suits classics, non-runners, a second car, or households flying out. Either way, the car still needs nazionalizzazione once you are resident, so keep its documents with your customs file.

Can you move a motorbike or a vintage Vespa?

Yes. Motorbikes and scooters travel strapped upright on a carrier or crated, and the Italian registration path is broadly the same as for a car. Classic scooters can qualify for historic status through a recognised registry, which changes the inspection rules. If the bike is a collector piece rather than a daily ride, our single-item service may suit it better.

Transport plus the Italian registration path

Moving your car or motorbike to Italy

A car, motorbike or classic vehicle transported from the UK to Italy, with guidance on the import declaration, nazionalizzazione at the Motorizzazione Civile and getting Italian plates.

Ask for a written quote Call +44 800 054 6942

How is a car or motorbike transported from the UK to Italy?

Through a specialist vehicle carrier, on open or enclosed transport, timed alongside your household move so the vehicle arrives close to when you do. It travels insured from collection to handover, and its details go into your customs file, under transfer-of-residence relief where it qualifies.

Open carriage suits most everyday cars. Enclosed carriage shields a classic or high-value car from weather and road grime, and costs more. Motorbikes and scooters travel strapped upright or crated. A non-runner needs winching and handling that a driveable car does not, so mention it at enquiry. Where the Italian address is in a hill town or a ZTL, the carrier may need a handover point outside the restricted area, which we agree with you in advance. Our part is transport and coordination; the Italian registration is made by you or your agent.

What is nazionalizzazione and how do I get Italian plates?

Nazionalizzazione is the Italian process for putting a foreign-registered vehicle on Italian plates. You prove the vehicle entered Italy properly, show it meets EU technical standards, pass an inspection at the Motorizzazione Civile, and enter it on the PRA, the public vehicle register run by ACI.

Proof of entry means either transfer-of-residence relief, for a car you have owned and used for a qualifying period, or import VAT paid. EU conformity is usually shown with a certificate of conformity from the manufacturer. Some modified or unusual vehicles need extra approval. Many people hire an agenzia di pratiche auto to book the appointments and handle the forms, because the Motorizzazione deals with the owner or their agent directly rather than with a removal company. The Motorizzazione and ACI websites list the current requirements, and they are the sources to trust over forum advice.

A white car driving along a winding coastal road above the sea — Getting the car to Italy is the easy part; Italian registration is where the paperwork sits

Can I keep driving my UK car after moving to Italy?

For a while, yes; permanently, no. Visitors may drive a UK-registered car in Italy, but once you register as resident at the Anagrafe the clock starts on re-registering it. Driving on British plates beyond the permitted period can lead to fines and the car being impounded.

The Codice della Strada sets the limit and the police enforce it, so check the current rule on the Motorizzazione Civile or ACI website rather than relying on hearsay. Your licence matters too. UK licence holders who become resident in Italy have to exchange to an Italian licence within the period the Italian authorities allow, and GOV.UK keeps an up-to-date page on driving in Italy that explains the current arrangement. Plan the registration alongside your Anagrafe application, so the two do not compete for your attention in the busy stretch after arrival.

Is it worth taking a right-hand-drive or classic car to Italy?

It can be, especially for a car you love or a classic. Right-hand-drive vehicles can be registered in Italy, but some owners find them awkward on narrow mountain roads and at motorway toll booths, and resale value in Italy is usually lower, so some sell in the UK before leaving.

Headlamps must be adjusted for driving on the right before the inspection. Classic vehicles can qualify for historic status through a recognised registry, which changes the inspection and tax position, and classic scooters can qualify in the same way. Weigh the transport and registration effort against what keeping the car is worth to you. For an everyday hatchback, buying locally is often simpler; for a much-loved classic British or Italian car, the paperwork is usually worth it. If the vehicle is a collector piece rather than a daily driver, our single-item service may suit it better.

What is covered by vehicle relocation?

Car, motorbike, scooter or classic vehicle transport from the UK to Italy
Open or enclosed carriage through a specialist vehicle partner
Delivery timed alongside your household move
Vehicle included in your customs file, under residence relief where it qualifies
Guidance on the certificate of conformity and the Motorizzazione inspection
Pointers to the PRA, ACI and agenzie di pratiche auto for registration
Historic-status notes for classic cars and scooters
Insured transport from collection to handover

Who usually books vehicle relocation?

Households keeping the family car rather than buying in Italy.
Owners of classic British or Italian cars who would never sell them.
Motorcyclists and scooter riders moving to the lakes, the Dolomites or the coast.
Second-home owners deciding whether to base a car permanently in Italy.

What affects the quote for vehicle relocation?

We do not publish a price list, because no two Italian deliveries share the same access, route and paperwork. These are the things that shape the figure on your written quote. For a fuller explanation, read what shapes the cost of moving from the UK to Italy.

Type and size of vehicle: A scooter, a hatchback and a large estate take up different space on the carrier.
Open or enclosed transport: Enclosed carriage shields a classic or high-value car from weather and road grime, and costs more.
Collection and delivery points: Door-to-door delivery into a hill town or a ZTL may need a handover point outside the restricted area.
Running condition: A non-runner needs winching and handling that a driveable car does not.

Where to check the official rules

Other services for a move to Italy

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