SaddleTramp

Can anyone here tell me the ins and outs of buying a car here in Italy?

My Italian friend here just tells me "many taxes", but as usual with Italians, so vague (ees no problema...domani domani)....

What taxes, where is the best/cheapest insurance etc etc etc...?

Isakat

Do you mean buying new or second hand?

I do not know what taxes they add on second hand cars as we always bought new cars( too scared to go for second hand).
The price of a new car comes with the tax, I believe 20%, which you can avoid paying if you work for an international organization.
The insurance we took, Kasko collisione was extremely high compared to what we would have paid for fully comprehensive back in the UK.Of course, the insurance cost will be dependent on your driving history and category of car. For a Toyota 7 seater, we forked out 1,800 per year, Ouch!Thank god we can pay in installments.

Hope that this info helps.
Regards,

Isakat

SaddleTramp

Second hand...

New?..Good grief, I'm not rich!!

bricwood

I am going to try to buy a car on Friday to me it seems new and second hand are very expensive here , cars 10 years old are still worth thousands apparently, I have been looking for cars in the papers and online with http://www.subito.it/ and I think I will try and buy a small new car, people tell me buying a used car here is very dodgy , I have been trying to get a list of new car prices but cant find one , the second hand cars advertised seem to have colossal mileages too, the dealers adverts are deceiving to there was a new models advertised in the local paper very cheaply with an asterisk next to the price and a load of print like microdots next to it, it was impossible to read with a powerful magnifying glass , maybe I was spoiled where I used to live was all car dealers

Lorna at Vicenza

I think the mag that has the best and most honest reputation here in Italy and is the mag that sales etc go on is called Quattro Ruote.

Check it out online or buy a copy of it at the local edicola.

clint

Maybe your friend meant the Trapasso charge that's costly. I bought a car ford escort estate 1.6 petrol yearl about 1998 as stop gap and to be used to take the dogs out in for 600Euros the trapasso cost was 700Euros if you go to the link below and fill in the form it should tell you how much it will cost

http://www.trapasso.com/form.shtml

duffer

You don't need to be rich to buy a new car. We always buy new. And I ain't rich because I've had to sack the nanny and au-pair.

Depending on the car, it might work out to be cheaper to buy new than second hand here in Italy if you intend to keep the car for 3/4 years.

Remember dealer discounts can offset first year depreciation and then you might be able to get free insurance for the first year and/or maybe 0% finance. Buying new: You might get some incentive if you've already an old car, you'll have hardly any maintenance costs and be exempt from the MOT for 4 years. You don't have to pay the fees relating to the change of ownership either and after 3/4 years you'll still have an asset worth some money whereas you'll lose a lot more in depreciation on an older car. Again it really depends on the make of car.

duffer

Yeah Quattroruote is the Italian equivalent to What Car? in the UK. Try also www.autoscout24.it for an extensive list of used cars in your area.

duffer

Sorry wanted to add that as it's considered risky buying a second hand car here in Italy, it might be cheaper to buy new BECAUSE you're less likely to buy a lemon new and if you did at least you have the option of having 5 years garantee.

bricwood

Thanks there is all the info I need in Quattro Ruote, I am browsing now

.Ariel.

Brace yourself for the insurance. It's very expensive.

TestaRossa

I know someone one selling a year old smart for €7k. Auto with 10k on clock. US family returning to states so it's kosher. Too small for me!

bricwood

I have a smart on rental at the moment and although I feel like noddy they are great cars , I have a cabriolet diesel automatic , snag is nowhere to put anything someone has offered me a year old car who is going back to Germany but I feel like taking the plunge and get a new car, biggest problem I find is getting money into Italy, I am with Barclay and they don't want to let go, I called barclaycall and said if I try to spend say twelve thousand with my debit card will they pay and he said they will probably refuse for security reasons and I cant call up first, he said after calling me they would let it go through but that would be embarrassing, I said can I transfer to my Italian account and gave a number to call but it takes three days, I called the number of Barclay international and they had gone home, I can pay with a Barclay credit card if I call first apparently as for insurance I have a policy still running in the uk with full no claims and have been told its transferable but it still will not be cheap , does anyone know if you can haggle on a new car? would not want to do it but I am taking an Italian with me

37100

Yes, you do haggle for a new. In fact, it's expected. We tried to pay for our last car with an Italian credit card. The dealer's 'system' wouldn't accept it.

duffer

Expect bigger discounts for cars which need to be registered in the same month. These are usually cars in 'pronta consegna' typically having the most sought/added options sent by the manufacturer to the dealer. The aim should be 10% discount with the French manufacturers giving closer to 15%. But again it can be as low as 1% for some of the Japanese cars which are full optional.