hi all,

does anyone know if its possible to buying a bike in italy and get it put into your name? would i be legally be allowed to drive the bike around europe?

i have some family in itay so i will have a some what permanent address, i will also have an international drivers licence, is there anything else i need to consider.

is there any truth to the rumors that italians can be a bit dodgy when it comes to buying vehicles off them?

cheers,

chris

I cannot see any problem at all with this Chris.

I am English, live in Denmark and bought my bike in Germany, no worries.

All you need is an address to register it to and for insurance. Where there is a will there is a way.

As for Italians being dodgy, its the same as Aussies, Brits and everyone else.

My advice is to take someone Italian with you to translate for you. look in the papers for similar bikes so you have an idea of what the going rate is and go and haggle.

Look on Italien e bay they have some nice bikes on there occasionally.

Copied and pasted from the "ACI" (Italian automobile club) website:

Se l'acquirente è un cittadino extracomunitario residente in Italia, occorre presentare oltre al certificato di residenza od alla dichiarazione sostitutiva di certificazione - qualora la residenza non sia riportata sul documento presentato - anche copia del permesso di soggiorno

which translates something like this:
If the buyer (of the vehicle) is a non EU citizen residing in Italy, then they must present a residence certificate or a formal declaration of residence, as well as a valid residence permit.

You can obtain a residence permit with a certificate from an employer, or proof that you are studying...otherwise it's a major hassle, sorry.
On the other hand it's possible to buy a new vehicle, put export plates on it, then drive it for a certain time before you have to register it somewhere (and ay VAT). I've no idea how this works though, and whether or not you can do it for a second hand vehicle.
If you can buy a bike under a friend or relative's name then it could be a good solution, otherwise I don't think it's worth the hassle, when buying and registering under your own name seems to be much easier in German, or probably anywhere else in Europe for that matter.

As for dealing with Italians, I don't think we're any more or less "dodgy" than anywhere else....obviously you should take an italian speaker along and apply common sense.

Let me know if I can be of any help.

Antonio

Hmmm I'm with Giacomo on this. I've got an Ozzie mate that has spent pretty much every northern summer for the last 15 years working in Italy. His paper work and legitamency was less than kosher and as a result he couldn't register his motorbikes in Italy. He ended up having them registered in Switzerland with Swiss friends of his, but kept the bikes with himself in Italy. Believe me, he did know the routine in Italy and If there was a way of doing it, he would have. Sorry, not what you wanted to here, but thats the reality. On the up side, If as an Ozzy you need hospital treatment in Italy, it is free. At least in out patients. I should know, I've used it!!

Cheers

Graeme

sorry about the comment about italians being dodgy, was just making a joke.

would it be an option to buy the bike in italy, and get an italian friend to insure it and put my name on the insurance along with theirs?

i am guessing that doing it this way may have problems when i drive through borders.

cheers.

There are no borders in Europe anymore in the Shengen (sp?) agreement area: check out a million other posts on this subject.

So, I reckon the whole thing comes down to getting insurance cover for yourself for a specific bike that you want to ride; you would probably get away without that if you did not have an accident - I am not condoning riding without insurance, just emphasising that you can ride from north of Norway and everywhere southward for thousands of miles without anyone checking your documentation.

__________________
Dave