Transfer of Australian Registration to Italian
 

Hey there,

I will be moving to Italy from NSW, Australia soon and instead of selling my ZX6R and buying one there I was thinking of bringing it with me.

So, does anyone know the procedure of registering an imported motorcycle in Italy?? Or would it be better for me to just sell it and buy one there??

Am I correct in saying that I could ride the motorcycle in Italy for 12 months on my Australian registration as a tourist so to speak??

Would an import bike be undesirable when I decided to sell it in Italy??

You must be very attached to your bike. I don't think it makes sense financially to ship your bike half around the world, then perhaps have to pay VAT and face red tape to get it registered. It may not even conform to EU homologation...

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Salut from Southern France, the bikers' paradise,

Peter.

Just one thing to consider, Italian insurance companies will not insure a non Italian registered bike. Sooner or later you would have to import it and I believe this will be a lot more expensive than depreciation / shipping costs. I moved from the UK to Italy and it was still cheaper to sell in the UK and buy again here than import.
If you want to get an idea of second hand bike prices try www.motosupermarket.it.

I'm pretty sure you are correct in saying the Italians will allow you to ride up to 12 months as a 'tourist'. If you stay, they will expect you to register the bike in Italy.

The problem will indeed be insurance. You will be lucky if you don't get slammed for non-resident plates - worth checking on the net before you go as it may, as someone has written, not be possible at all. Your Australian insurer MAY help...at a hige price, I'd guess.There is a German company ( tour-insure?) who once quoted me around £80-90 for 2 months, and this covered ALL of Europe. I think you can read more about these people on this site, actually.

I'd check the status of your Australian license, too. The Italians may insist you take their test - or at least part of it - before you can ( in theory ) buy and register an Italian bike.

It would be unfair if they did, of course -but a non-EU license is an opening for them.

Hope it works out!

Its probably not worth it. In addition to your freight you will also have to replace the headlight in the long term as its angled the wrong way for driving on the right.

I had no problem getting green card insurance for my Aust registered bike at the Italian Auto Club in Rome..near the central railway...but it was only for a few months.

Late model used sport bikes appear to be cheaper in UK than Europe.

Get a copy of the cartoon style riders routes for The Alpinines ( spelling!!)and the Dolomites. Great roads and routes. Not to mention food, wine, hospitality....lucky bastard!

http://users.netlink.com.au/~asimpson