Buying a car

[schiavoni]

Can anyone give us any information on buying a second hand car in Scalea,
just a bit of a banger to leave there and have when we go out.
We tried to hire a car this time when we were there but couldn't
find anywhere.We have no Italian so we will need help with the whole
process.

[falcon]

Originally Posted by schiavoni

Can anyone give us any information on buying a second hand car in Scalea,
just a bit of a banger to leave there and have when we go out.
We tried to hire a car this time when we were there but couldn't
find anywhere.We have no Italian so we will need help with the whole
process.

Hello,

Last year I went into this in a big way to try and find a Fiat Panda to leave here. However you do need to go through this thread in another part of the forum as buying a car means resdincy in the Scalea or elsewhere which has certain conditions attached.

http://www.scalea.info/forum/chit-ch...an-plates.html (Transferring our UK registered Car to Italian plates)

In the end we decided to drive ours as and when and make a few stops in between.

[Dermot Brophy]

Ciao a tutti!

I have some experience in this department - for what it's worth.

I did actually buy a car from a fellow Irish citizen, who visits Calabria every now and then. Though not a resident, he successfully registered it in his name - it had originally belonged to a family member married to and Italian, I think - but at least a resident, if not a citizen of Italy.

I was told by many people that a non-resident could not register a car in Italy. After a lengthy correspondence with the Italian Embassy in Dublin, I finally got a letter stating that an EU citizen COULD do so. Happy days, I thought.

It appears that the catch-22 is that both the buyer and seller must present themselves together at the Ufficio di Motorisazzione (spelling - correct me, someone, it doesn't look right!) to carry out this operation. Estimates of the cost from various half-informed people have varied from 200 to 700 Euro.

As myself and my compatriot have never since actually been there at the same time, and with his agreement, it is still registered in his name. I have it insured with Italsure, in the UK, and they have no problem with the fact that I am not the registered owner. The cost is about 650 Euro per annum.

So far this Italian solution to an Irish problem (!) has not caused me any problems. Fingers crossed.

One other caveat.

Many Italians have blithely informed me that the annualtax (our "Road Tax") has been abolished.

NOT, IT WOULD APPEAR, SO.

All that has changed is that you no longer have to display it on your windscreen. For some, mind you, this equates to not having to pay it - and take the chance. However, i believe the Guardia di Finanza do spot checks, and you could get stung for the back-tax, plus sanctions. Maybe I just haven't become Italian enough, but I would be very uncomfortable with this risk!

If one does buy a car, it behoves one to check as to whether the previous owner has paid up. Otherwise YOU are responsible for the arrears.

Not very fair, but there you have it.

If I succeed in registering the car, as I would like to, I'll let the Forum know how I got on.

Perhaps we could all get together and get some legal eagle to sort it out for us?

Sorry for the long-winded contribution, but that does, I think reflect the nature of bureacracy in our beloved chosen home-from-home.

Dermot

PS

Since making this reply, I have come across a cognate thread from Oct 07, launched by our Forum guru, Lesley, which should be read in conjunction with this one.

I'd love to know the current state of play, Lesley. Have you made it to the finishing-post, or did you encounter a few Beechers Brooks on the way?

We are back in Ireland for a while, so best regards to yourself and Brian.

DB

[Italy4me]

Originally Posted by Dermot Brophy

Since making this reply, I have come across a cognate thread from Oct 07, launched by our Forum guru, Lesley, which should be read in conjunction with this one.

I'd love to know the current state of play, Lesley. Have you made it to the finishing-post, or did you encounter a few Beechers Brooks on the way?

We are back in Ireland for a while, so best regards to yourself and Brian.

DB

Hi Dermot,
It was good to catch up with you for a few seconds here and there when you were over!
Can you tell me which thread you mean, please, so I can answer your query?
Best wishes, Lesley P.S. IT is sweltering here just now but we have followed your pool recommendation recently - just fabulous! 8-)

[Doug]

Hey There Dermot,

For what it's worth, we have decided to ship our car to Italy next winter when we move. Because we as non-EU folks are not too trustworthy, we will take up to 6 months to receive our Permesso di Soggiornio, but it appears we can have a foreign car there for about the same amount of time. So we'll be working on registering the American Subaru in Italy so we can trade it in on a new Euro car once we gain residency. We look forward to buying a European-made vehicle that gets good mileage (fuel efficiency). Brian and Lesley are getting around 65 miles per gallon with their new Ford (UK) and the same model here gets 30 mpg that they brag about!! American oil companies no doubt have some control with this situation.

Italian rules about vehicles and many other things are a challenge. But then I think about how tough it is for people to immigrate to the US and I cannot harshly judge the Italians.

Hope you're well. DJ

Doug

[Dermot Brophy]

Hi Lesley. The thread in question was "Transferring our UK car to Italian plates" - first post 07.11.2007 - that far back. It raised quite a bit of interst at the time. Glad the swimming is working out.

Good To hear from you, Doug. As a matter of interest, is it very expensive to ship the car? one would imagine the cost would be prohibitive. Mind you many Irish bikers ship Goldwings and Harleys over here without batting an eyelid - so perhaps not.

I understand you will be retiring soon - I can strongly recommend it as a way of life. 40-odd years was enough for me - even doing a job I loved. I suspect you are not short on the job satisfaction front either. Even so, it's a delight to be able to do what you like - at whatever pace and time suits YOU.

All the best.

Dermot

[Italy4me]

Hi Dermot,
Yes I posted a long message to this thread on the 18th of July this year as I realised, after Doug asked me about it, that I hadn't concluded the tale (although we had eventually managed to get the transfer done by May last year).

The cost of the registration itself into the PRA (Pubblico Registro Automobilistico) was just 315 euros (which was taken up to 430 euros to include the agent's commission I assume).

So I would have thought (which I realise is a bit dangerous!) you would need to do the notary bit and the registration part but I don't see why there would be the necessity to present yourself and the former owner at the same time to be honest.

But then again, this is Italy 8-))

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Dermot Brophy

Good To hear from you, Doug. As a matter of interest, is it very expensive to ship the car? one would imagine the cost would be prohibitive. Mind you many Irish bikers ship Goldwings and Harleys over here without batting an eyelid - so perhaps not.

Dermot

Hi Again Dermot,

We're going to follow Lesley's steps to register our car. First shipping quote was $4500 to Germany. Sorry, no. Got two other quotes at around $1500 = Euro 2130 to Genoa and another Italian port. Could be cheaper if we drive to the American east coast and ship from there. We are playing this cost against rentals for 6 months and it pencils-out! We cannot buy a vehicle until getting Permesso di Soggiorno, so would like transport in the interim as getting residency for US folks takes about 6 months. Then we'll trade-in the Subaru (mountain car) for a good diesel.

We live in a little tourist town here that gets hammered by Harley noise each weekend. Europe should ban the import of decadent, obnoxious American motorcycles. I wanted a BMW GS 800, but my spouse says it must be a Honda, Piaggiao or Suzuki scooter-style machine (with highway engine) that she can ride. Makes sense.

Anyway, we're headed there March 2010 and will deal with all that is dealable! Yeah, we look so forward toward pensioner lives there. 109 working days left at this point.

Had to do a 2 mile trek (as you say) today Dermot and was thinking of you. It was nice and cool in the mountains here versus 95 F at home. CIAO, D&D

[Dermot Brophy]

Hi D and D'

Re the Harleys, I agree absolutely - I can see no reason for the deliberate noise polution built into them. I believe they actually tried - unsucessfully, I gather - to PATENT that infernal sound as a brand!!

I use a Honda Deauville - not marketed in the US, I think - it's comfortable, quiet and easy to handle - just 650 cc.

Having skillfully avoided actually meeting one another on three occasions now, I hope that next year we will make up for it!

Lesley, I never thought of using a notaio for such a "simple" operation, but maybe that's the answer. Thanks.

Tanti auguri

Dermot

[Italy4me]

Dermot,
The notaio bit was, I believe, a pre-requisite for the transfer and I think is also necessary for change of ownership.
I didn't keep a copy of the form Brian had to sign at the notary but I think it was to confirm his identity and address and also a declaration that he would be personally responsible for the vehicle and number plates.

Regards, Lesley