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Registering my Vespa in Italy

Registering my Vespa in Italy

Old Apr 16th 2022, 7:37 am
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Default Registering my Vespa in Italy

Hi we've just bought our place in Puglia and want to take our Vespa from UK to Italy. Does anyone have a good information source or know the process for registering the bike in Italy. We don't yet have residency and from what I've read that may be an issue?
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Old Apr 16th 2022, 8:09 am
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Default Re: Registering my Vespa in Italy

Almost certain you'll need to be resident. They'll want to know where you are !

Have a look at the links that follow, although related to a car........oh and things may have changed, cos they do here !! Good luck !

How and why register a foreign car in Italy in 7 steps ? — Lisbob

Il Club ACI - Importing a vehicle

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Old Apr 16th 2022, 10:05 am
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Default Re: Registering my Vespa in Italy

Originally Posted by darrenandcarina18
Hi we've just bought our place in Puglia and want to take our Vespa from UK to Italy. Does anyone have a good information source or know the process for registering the bike in Italy. We don't yet have residency and from what I've read that may be an issue?
Unless you have residency, you can't register a vehicle. Exceptions are, vehicles belonging to Italians registered with AIRE or vehicles destined for export.
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Old Apr 16th 2022, 5:05 pm
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Default Re: Registering my Vespa in Italy

Thanks everyone I thought as much :-( That really helpful, really appreciate the swift responses.
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Old Apr 22nd 2022, 4:31 pm
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Default Re: Registering my Vespa in Italy

I tried to nationalise my old triumph Bonneville a few years ago and even after 30 years of residence the bureaucracy forced me to give up in the end. If your vespa is modern it may be easier. There is no concept of age related plates in Italy so you end up with an old machine having to comply with modern revisione (MoT) standards (e.g. my Bonneville would have needed to be fitted with turn indicators, amongst other things, and might not pass the emission rules). Unless it has exceptional emotional value leave it in the UK, there plenty of second hand vespas to buy in Italy. Its also not a cheap process, apart from new hardware the estimate to nationalise my Bonneville was €900+. There are companies that will do the process for you if you cross their palms with silver!
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Old Apr 22nd 2022, 5:15 pm
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Default Re: Registering my Vespa in Italy

Originally Posted by chris120
I tried to nationalise my old triumph Bonneville a few years ago and even after 30 years of residence the bureaucracy forced me to give up in the end. If your vespa is modern it may be easier. There is no concept of age related plates in Italy so you end up with an old machine having to comply with modern revisione (MoT) standards ....
It would appear that there are special rules for registering two different classes of "historic" cars in Italy, though one is really only practical for collectibles as it gives extremely limited rights to use the vehicle on the road.

I am guessing that the same or similar rules apply to motorobikes, but this page doesn't mention bikes, only cars.
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Old Apr 23rd 2022, 2:28 pm
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Default Re: Registering my Vespa in Italy

You've been given some excellent advise already.
When I hear or read of those wishing to register a 'foreign' vehicle in Italy, I shudder. I've done it twice several years ago and it was a nightmare scenario.
Here's my sad saga:
My overseas posting at the time was reassigned to Italy, I had a company owned vehicle, plus my personal 'toy'.
Weeks prior to departure I'd contacted our HR department in UK for their blessing to sell the company-owned vehicle in Spain where I was at the time. I knew this had to make sense, but in their 'wisdom' - and I use that word sparingly - they decided I should drive to Italy with the vehicle together with our personal belongings. I argued the case, they disagreed, so as they were calling the shots I had to concede. On reflection, the only benefit was that we could transport more of our personal effects to be readily available on arrival. Our remaining personal effects shipped seperately took over a month to arrive.
My wife then drove the company owned vehicle (a Renault 18 manufactured in Spain as a Renault Fasa) from Madrid to Milan. I followed behind in my own car.
To cut an extremely long story as short as possible (and also retain some interest), getting that vehicle legally onto the Italian system was a nightmare.
One of the initial problems was the car's manufacturing origin as a Fasa Renault, which wasn't recognised in Italy, but eventually overcome when I contacted Renault in Paris Boulogne-Billancourt, who for a very modest sum sent me a duplicate of the original constructors certificate - which was acceptable.
That was the first major hurdle which took several months to resolve, but I was hardly off the starting blocks! Official translation of documents from Spanish to Italian, and also French/Italian were required. Worse still, as the vehicle hadn't been registered for importation when we crossed the border, that required a fairly long drive down to Genoa with an excellent newly-aquainted Italian 'translator', who not only linguisticaly but also culturally knew exactly which hand to 'pass under the table' and with how many lira etc. Also at the same time for convenience we made a detour to the Ligurian Riviera. For info, Finale Ligure is a glorious location, especially the small hamlets along the coastline and in the surrounding hills - not to mention the many small, delightful restaurants.
To show my appreciation to my worth-his weight-in-gold 'translator', and also to compensate for my own inconvenience, I made the journey to the coast an official business trip with a 3-night hotel stay, together with the liaison visit to Piaggio at Finale Ligure who was one of our aviation-related sub-contractors. That was a truly memorable trip, plus I'd obtained the officially stamped importation document.
Months later after several other difficulties (changes in government resulting in subtle changes to the official documents required) I received the date to arrive at the officine revisione for the vehicle roadworthiness checks (already having paid a local garage to have headlights + indicators checked and corrected).
The final, almost knockout blow occured just after passing all the obvious roadworthiness checks, and also close scrutiny of all documentation, I arrived where the last inspector was standing at the 'chequered flag' holding a clipboard. He made a number of ticks in corresponding boxes, and then finally leaned over very closely with eyes fixed on the edge of the windscreen. Then like a death sentence, he suddenly marked a large X on his clipboard!
A few moments of badly pronounced expletives and hand gesticulating later, I understood (not without difficulty) that the windscreen construction was of hardened glass and not laminated as required. The vehicle had clearly fallen at the last hurdle!
Frankly at that point I was tempted to drive the car into a nearby lake, but unfortunately was obliged to continue on this frustrating, and already frighteningly expensive excercise.
A month later, plus more lira and the windcreen was changed. I then had to wait for yet another officine revisione appointment, which fortunately was successful. More appointments and visits (with my translator) to obtain the Italian registration document plus the new number plates, plus more lira and I was home and dry.
I hasten to add that the pile of receipts and other paperwork for official documentation which included replacement parts (new windscreen etc) road trip mileage, hotel and restaurant receipts were all readily accepted 'back at base' when submitted. I also added a scribbled note to the effect that these significant expenses could have been avoided if my original recommendation to sell the vehicle had been heeded. This was received without further comment.

Regarding my own vehicle, an Alfa Romeo 2lt Spider Veloce - purchased in France and registered there, I hadn't initially planned re-registering in Italy, but as my posting was extended and having being stopped twice by the Carabinieri and advised that registration was necessary I thought it wise to comply. My very good friend Giuseppe the 'translator' was more than happy to assist me a 2nd time, and we followed a somewhat simplified procedure as the vehicle was at least of Italian origin. Although there was less bureaucratic hassle the procedure was still rather daunting, even with my colleague knowing which strings to pull and which palms to cross with the correct amount of lira. The total expenditure for that re-registration was far less, fortunately so as it came from my own personal funds.
It was some time later that I realised that my colleague (by this time a very good friend) was not an official translator, although he did have an accredited translator's stamp which - although I never asked - was no doubt hooky.
My advise to anyone tempted to import a vehicle and bring onto the Italian register is, "Don't even think about it!"

And believe it or not, one year later I received a telex (remember those?) from HR head office stating that their recent accounting showed there was an access of funds still allocated to my Italian posting, and as the company vehicle, quote "is already 4 years old", I was requested to change it and purchase new locally! My head was still shaking in disbelief on arrival at the local Milan Alfa concessionaire.......

Last edited by Tweedpipe; Apr 23rd 2022 at 3:13 pm.
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Old Apr 23rd 2022, 3:17 pm
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Default Re: Registering my Vespa in Italy

Italians are masters of bureaucracy. I wonder how he was able to determine the windscreen composition?
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Old Apr 23rd 2022, 7:42 pm
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Default Re: Registering my Vespa in Italy

Originally Posted by philat98
Italians are masters of bureaucracy. I wonder how he was able to determine the windscreen composition?
The French too have a 'masters degree' in this field.
Apparently the windscreen lacked the logo or distinguishing coding of a laminated windscreen.
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Old Apr 25th 2022, 10:44 am
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Default Re: Registering my Vespa in Italy

Great post Tweedpipe.
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