Hello, Markel and June (I see we share a first name.)
Yes, it is a bit convoluted. I take that sentence to refer to the "latter case" - i.e. if, not actually owning real estate in the country, you nonetheless have a legitimate interest. It might be a business interest, or it might be other. As most of us on this forum do actually own premises in Italy, my advice is that we simply need to prove such ownership to register a car.
Time will tell - provided they haven't changed the law before we get a chance to do it!! As you know they now change laws as frequently as they used to change governments.
June, ACI - which, when pronounced, sounds like a sneeze - (Automobile Club d'Italia) is, I think, a kind of NGO like the AA or RIAC, to which apparently, the authorities delegate some motor registration functions. I'll know more when I start the process. I think they have an office in Diamante, but they would certainly have one in Cosenza.
Whereabouts in San Nic are you? We are in Parco Rocca Dei Principi, out by the Baiai Azzura. We'll be over in early June - so we must meet for a chat.
Dermot
PS I have just found the ACI page, through Google - (
Automobile Club d'Italia: Home page )and it has very interesting info on the various "servizi offerti" - see what it says under "Servizi Tasse Automobilistiche"
Vinceremo un giorno!!!
D