Moving to Italy with your car from the Netherlands

Article 93-bis, paragraph 1, of the Codice della Strada says that vehicles of residents must be registered within three months of acquiring residenza. It covers cars, motorcycles and trailers ('autoveicoli, motoveicoli e rimorchi'), so motorhomes and caravans too. The MIT puts it simply: if you have been resident for more than three months, you must register the vehicle in Italy. You can read the text on the ACI page for art. 93-bis.

Our reading, as an explanation rather than a rule from an Italian authority: the period runs from your residenza, and until it ends an insured car on its Dutch registration may be driven there. For a car that has already been deregistered in the Netherlands and runs on export plates, that is not certain, and the rules for export plates vary by country. If you do not live in Italy, the MIT allows you to drive a car registered in another EU country there for up to one year.

If a resident keeps driving after the deadline, art. 93-bis provides for a fine, an order to stop driving the vehicle immediately, withdrawal of the registration document and seizure of the car. If it is not registered in Italy within 30 days of the offence, and no foglio di via has been requested to take it across the border, it can be confiscated. We do not quote fine amounts, because the published figures may have changed.

Not every resident driving a foreign car has to register it. If the car is not yours, for example because it belongs to your employer, a lease company or a hire company, carry a document signed and dated by the registered holder that states the basis and duration of your use. If you use the car for more than 30 days in a calendar year, even if not consecutive, it must be entered in the REVE (Registro dei veicoli esteri).

Residents who work as employees or self-employed in a neighbouring country register their car in the REVE within 60 days of acquiring it, and may then drive on the foreign registration without a time limit. If you move within Italy or pass the use to another resident, the REVE data must be updated.

EU citizens with a stable connection to Italy who do not live there, such as owners of a second home, and students can still register a car there. They do so by electing domicile with a resident person or with a Studio di Consulenza Automobilistica.

In the official sources we consulted we found no Italian exemption from registration charges such as the IPT for people moving from another EU country. We therefore cannot promise one. Ask the Motorizzazione, the PRA or an adviser about your situation. As for VAT, a private person bringing their own used car usually pays none, but the check by the Agenzia delle Entrate comes first. The full Italian procedure is on importing a car to Italy.

• Deregistration for export. After that, the Dutch owner no longer has to insure the car, keep the APK (the Dutch roadworthiness test) valid or pay Dutch motor vehicle tax. You receive the export certificate (kentekenbewijs deel II) and the registration card, which together are needed for the registration abroad.
• Insurance. NederlandWereldwijd points out that your Dutch car insurance is no longer valid once the car has left the Dutch register, and advises temporary insurance until the car is registered in your new country. That is our export insurance with Green Card: 14 days, extendable after approval by the insurer.
• Driving. On export plates you may drive on Dutch roads for 14 days, and never after the APK has expired. In other countries the rules differ, so check them before you set off.

Because the move is to an EU country, part of the Dutch registration tax (BPM) can be reclaimed on export if the conditions of the Belastingdienst (the Dutch tax administration) are met. You then have two clocks: three months after your residenza for the Italian registration, and 13 weeks after the RDW gave the car the status Export for the BPM refund. Plan the Italian registration straight away. Details are on BPM refund on export.

Is the car already with you on its Dutch registration? We can still arrange the export with the export certificate (kentekenbewijs deel II), entirely remotely, with a procedure that runs by post. Shipping is insured with DHL: standard about 5 working days, DHL Express about 1 working day. Contact us first and we will explain what is needed and what it costs.

Moving with a motorhome or caravan as well? See motorhome and caravan export.