Taking my car to Italy and leaving it there.

[Swissy]

I go over to Italy a few times every year and i always hire a car for a few weeks because i've always found it to be reasonably priced, however i just got back and things have changed, i hired the car as per usual but on arriving to pick it up, i know find that with all the add ons, breakdown recovery, extra insurance(definitely needed in Italy) it's become quite expensive, so...

As i'm currently looking to buy a newish vehicle here, i've had an idea, looking at the value of my current car i will practically be giving it away when i sell it, so what if i drive over later this year and just leave it there?

It will be parked in my garage when i'm not there but what would i legally be obliged to do?

I see a fair amount of British reg cars there every year, so it is done, any help/advice appreciated.

Thanks

 

[onomatopoeia]

As far as your UK obligations go, you need to tell the DVLA that you are "permenantly exporting" the vehicle (it's an option on the V5C) and cancel your road tax and UK insurance on it once you've exported it.

Italy, I have no idea, presumably they have an equivalent of the DVLA and you'll have to tell them you've imported the car and where it is kept, plus local insurance and so on. Given that you have the lyrics of an Italian pop song in your signature, I think you're more likely to know about this stuff than me! Found some information in English here https://www.expatfocus.com/expatriate-italy-car-tax-insurance

And on the subject of that song, do you know the difference between "scordar" in the lyrics and "dimenticare" (which is what I always use for "forget")? Just so I can surprise my teacher at my Italian evening class ...

 

[Swissy]

As far as your UK obligations go, you need to tell the DVLA that you are "permenantly exporting" the vehicle (it's an option on the V5C) and cancel your road tax and UK insurance on it once you've exported it.

Italy, I have no idea, presumably they have an equivalent of the DVLA and you'll have to tell them you've imported the car and where it is kept, plus local insurance and so on. Given that you have the lyrics of an Italian pop song in your signature, I think you're more likely to know about this stuff than me! Found some information in English here https://www.expatfocus.com/expatriate-italy-car-tax-insurance

And on the subject of that song, do you know the difference between "scordar" in the lyrics and "dimenticare" (which is what I always use for "forget")? Just so I can surprise my teacher at my Italian evening class ...

Thanks pal, i think it will be mainly insurance as i don't ever remember anyone in Italy having to have to have an MOT lol, and i'm pretty certain there is no road tax as, that tax is collected via toll charges.

"Scordar" is Napolitane for "dimenticare" and it's an old Neopolitan song, not pop lol

 

[the black fox]

Considering that the British motor trade when pxing your car is a total rip off ,and as long as you comply with the Italian road regulations I can’t see a problem ,or sell for cash here .see what a dealer offers then sell at around or below that price .then buy a Italian car over there for the same price ,I presume you speak Italian or can source a used vehicle easily over there at least it won’t stick out like a sore thumb and will be l/h drive

 

[Swissy]

Considering that the British motor trade when pxing your car is a total rip off ,and as long as you comply with the Italian road regulations I can’t see a problem ,or sell for cash here .see what a dealer offers then sell at around or below that price .then buy a Italian car over there for the same price ,I presume you speak Italian or can source a used vehicle easily over there at least it won’t stick out like a sore thumb and will be l/h drive

Hi pal, i'm taking this car over there, so i can load it up with stuff for my house over there.

R/H driving on the right doesn't bother me i did it for years when i was younger

 

[Swissy]

Just for you Mark

Do not forget me, my life is tied up with yours, I love you more and more, in my dreams you stay.

It was my parents funeral song

 

[frank]

If you want to take your car to Italy and keep it registered as a UK car, there is nothing to stop you from doing this. You will need to check that your insurance company in the UK
will insure it, as Italian insurance companies will only insure a car licenced in Italy. You will also have to drive it back to the UK every year for its MOT,

I believe non residents cannot buy a car in Italy, I know in Greece if you take your UK registered car in you have to take it out of the country after so many months, don't know if Italy has the same rule. Worth checking up on.

 

[Nod]

As above. A UK registered car will still need to be taxed and MoTed every year as well as needing to be insured. Most UK policies allow up to 90 days consecutive use on the continent before the vehicle needs to be brought back.

 

[LongLensPhotography]

As above. A UK registered car will still need to be taxed and MoTed every year as well as needing to be insured. Most UK policies allow up to 90 days consecutive use on the continent before the vehicle needs to be brought back.

My certificate from aviva doesn't mention any time restrictions for the basic euro cover

The following wording is evidence that your policy provides the minimum level of compulsory motor insurance required in EU countries. It is similar to Third Party only cover in the UK. Please call us on 0345 030 7077 in advance of any trip abroad to ensure that you have the right level of cover for your needs. We also offer European breakdown cover at very competitive rates.

To whom it may concern

This insurance certificate provides evidence that motor insurance operates in the United Kingdom for the dates shown and this cover extends to and includes the compulsory insurance requirements of:

a) Any member country of the European Union

b) Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia and Switzerland

So you pretty much can just insure it for 3rd party and make sure the basic euro green card is included and it is good to go.
The additional extended european cover is time limited though. There is little point of getting one for a cheap car that has no intention to come back.

It may get all messed up even more after brexit if such event ever takes place.

Re MOT - would you get away with driving to Gibraltar which is a little closer?

But frankly if you have a house there and speak the language it should be just easier to register the thing over there.

 

[Swissy]

I'm going to have to ask one of the people driving British reg cars when i go over in August, though i was told by someone over there that if i register it in Italy it will have to have an Italian reg, but the owners of the cars i see over there obviously haven't done that because some of those cars have been there for years.

Thanks everyone.