Buying a Car in Italy as a Foreigner

You can buy a car in Italy without living there. The hard part is registration, which in Italy requires residency. Buy in Italy, register in Germany, and drive in Italy and across Europe.

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Can a foreigner buy a car in Italy?

Yes. There is no rule against foreigners buying a car in Italy. What you need depends on the seller:

  • From a dealer: passport and usually an Italian tax code (codice fiscale), which the dealer needs for the invoice and the paperwork. Non-residents can request a codice fiscale from the Italian tax agency or an Italian consulate.
  • From a private seller: the ownership transfer (passaggio di proprietà) is done at the PRA/ACI office or a licensed vehicle agency (agenzia pratiche auto) and also needs your codice fiscale.

The real obstacle comes next: registering a car in your name in Italy requires Italian residency. That is why most non-residents register the car in another EU country.

Where to find cars in Italy

  • AutoScout24.it and Subito.it are the largest listing sites for dealer and private cars.
  • Franchise dealers often sell nearly-new demonstrators and ex-rental cars with a warranty.
  • Comparing prices: Italy is not always the cheapest market. See the cheapest countries to buy a car in Europe and our mobile.de guide for the German market.

What to check before you pay

  • Documento Unico (DU): since 2020 Italy combines the registration and ownership certificate in one document. Check the name matches the seller.
  • PRA record (visura PRA): shows the registered owner and any liens or administrative stops (fermo amministrativo).
  • Revisione: the Italian roadworthiness test is due 4 years after first registration, then every 2 years. Ask for the last report.
  • Service history and mileage: compare the odometer with the revisione records.
  • Certificate of conformity (COC): helpful for German registration, especially for imports from outside Italy.

The registration wall, and how CarTurf solves it

Buying is the easy part. Registering in Italy usually requires local residency, a local tax number and a local address, which visitors do not have. See register a car in Italy.

The CarTurf route: you buy the car as the owner, and we register it in Germany through our German partner CarTurf UG as the registered Halter. Registration takes 1–5 business days once we have the documents (the original registration papers, proof of purchase and, where needed, a certificate of conformity). You get German plates and insurance and can drive the car in Italy and across Europe. Customers contract with CarTurf Global FZCO (Dubai). Our German partner CarTurf UG (haftungsbeschränkt) is the registered Halter. For plans and prices, see Pricing.

Insurance, delivery and sourcing

Insurance is with AXA and comes with the CarTurf registration; there is no stand-alone temporary insurance. AXA's Schutzbrief (assistance abroad) is included, and ADAC cover can be added for €149/year. Default cover is for drivers aged 23+; drivers aged 18–22 (minimum 18) pay a higher premium. A no-claims discount from a foreign insurer does not carry over; one from a previous German policy does. Premium ranges are on Pricing.

Car delivery: €0.75/km base calculation, plus route-specific costs depending on distance, multiple countries, overnight stays and return travel. We don't arrange shipping to the USA, but we can recommend shipping partners.

Not found the right car locally? We can buy for you at trade-only dealer auctions (autobid.de, AUTO1.com, CarOnSale, OPENLANE, BCA and Ayvens Carmarket and others) for €750 + 4% of the net vehicle price; auction fees and delivery passed through at cost. See German car auctions.

Buying in Italy: the steps

StepWhat happens
Get a codice fiscale Request it from the Italian tax agency or a consulate
Find and inspect the car AutoScout24.it, Subito.it, dealers; check the DU and PRA record
Sign and transfer ownership At the dealer, PRA/ACI or a vehicle agency
Register the car Germany via CarTurf, 1–5 business days after documents
Insure and drive German insurance, valid across the EU

Italian rules: ACI/PRA, Agenzia delle Entrate. CarTurf prices: [Pricing](/pricing).

Want Italian plates? Here's why customers choose German plates

German registration separates two roles: the Halter (registered keeper) and the Eigentümer (legal owner). That is why CarTurf can be the Halter while you stay the legal owner of the car. In Italy, the holder in the vehicle register is treated as the owner, so that split isn't possible. A company registering the car for you would legally own it. German plates are the route CarTurf offers today, and you can drive them in Italy as a non-resident. Read Halter vs Eigentümer explained and driving in Italy as a non-resident.

Bought a car in Italy? Get it on the road

We register it in Germany in 1–5 business days once the documents are in.

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FAQ

Buying a car in Italy FAQ

Yes. You usually need a passport and an Italian codice fiscale. The difficult step is registration, which in Italy requires residency.

In most cases yes, for the invoice and the ownership transfer. Non-residents can request one from the Italian tax agency or an Italian consulate.

Generally no. Italian registration in your own name requires Italian residency. Non-residents register the car in Germany through CarTurf and drive it in Italy on German plates. See Italy for non-residents.

Yes, as a non-resident. Once registered in Germany, the car has German plates and insurance valid in Italy and across the EU.

The Documento Unico, a PRA record for liens or administrative stops, the last revisione report and the service history.

1–5 business days once we have the documents.

We deliver within Europe: €0.75/km base calculation, plus route-specific costs depending on distance, multiple countries, overnight stays and return travel. We don’t ship to the USA but can recommend shipping partners.

No. CarTurf registers cars in Germany only. German law separates the Halter (registered keeper) from the owner, so CarTurf can be the Halter while you stay the legal owner. In Italy the registered holder is treated as the owner, so that split isn't possible. See Halter vs Eigentümer.