Right-Hand Drive Cars: Can You Import One Into Italy?

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Summary:

• Importing a right-hand drive (RHD) car into Italy from the UK, Ireland, Malta or Cyprus is legal and does not require moving the steering wheel: you register it at the Motorizzazione with a COC or type-approval plus an inspection.
• Since 2021 the UK is outside the EU: a British car is a non-EU import, subject to customs duty, VAT at the border and more complex paperwork than Ireland or Malta, which remain in the Union.
• The main downside is not bureaucratic but practical: overtaking, toll booths, parking and visibility are all less convenient with the wheel on the right on right-hand-traffic roads, and resale value in Italy is generally lower.

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The question comes up often for anyone who finds an interesting deal abroad or inherits a car from an emigrant relative: can you import and register a right-hand drive car in Italy? The short answer is yes — it is entirely legal and you do not move the steering wheel. The long answer requires distinguishing between EU and non-EU countries, understanding the registration process and factoring in some very concrete practical drawbacks. This guide clears it all up, with a realistic eye on costs and market value. If you are weighing a purchase abroad, on CarPulse — a European marketplace with over 24,000 verified listings from Italy, the Balkans and the rest of the EU — you get real-time AI valuations that help you understand what a vehicle is really worth before you negotiate.

Where right-hand drive cars come from

In Europe, people drive on the left (wheel on the right) in only a handful of countries: the UK, Ireland, Malta and Cyprus. Most RHD cars reaching the Italian market therefore come from these markets, especially the UK, where the used-car supply is enormous and prices in certain segments (sports cars, premium off-roaders, collectible classics) can be competitive.

There are three typical buyer profiles:

• The enthusiast chasing a specific model — often a sports car or a youngtimer — that is only well priced on the British market.
• The returner who lived and worked in the UK or Ireland and wants to re-register their own car in Italy.
• The bargain hunter who finds a deal in a market with abundant supply without fully weighing the implications of right-hand drive.

For that last profile, the advice is always the same: before being seduced by the price, compare the real saving against import costs and the lower resale value in Italy. An independent market valuation is the first tool to use.

Is it legal to register an RHD car in Italy?

Yes. Italian and European law does not prohibit registering right-hand drive vehicles and does not require relocating the driving position. Once nationalized, an RHD car receives regular Italian plates, can be driven anywhere, passes its roadworthiness test (revisione) and is insured like any other vehicle.

There are, however, a few technical points tied to the differences between the country of origin and Italy, particularly for British cars:

• Headlights: RHD headlights are aimed to light the left edge of the road (correct for left-hand traffic). In Italy they can dazzle oncoming traffic. An adjustment or replacement of the light units is often needed to pass inspection and type-approval.
• Odometer: many British cars read in miles. This is no barrier to registration (modern dashboards also show km), but it is worth checking.
• Rear fog lamp and lighting: compliance and position must be verified against Italian rules.

EU or non-EU: the fundamental difference

Since 1 January 2021, with Brexit, the UK has left the European Union. This radically changes the import process:

• Ireland, Malta and Cyprus are still in the EU: a car from these countries follows the intra-community import procedure, with no customs, and VAT handled under EU rules (reverse charge if buying from a dealer, or VAT already settled in the origin country for private sales of non-new cars).
• The UK is now a third country: the car is a non-EU import and must be cleared through customs. Potentially applicable are a customs duty (typically around 10% for passenger cars) and VAT at 22% calculated on the customs value, except for exemptions tied to a transfer of residence (a car owned for at least six months before returning).

This distinction weighs heavily on the total cost: a British car that looks cheap on the sticker can lose most of its advantage after duty, VAT and clearance fees. Always calculate the "all-in" cost before deciding.

The Italian registration process step by step

Once the car is brought into Italy (by transporter or on temporary transit plates), nationalization follows these steps:

1. Customs clearance (only for non-EU cars such as British ones): presentation at customs, payment of duty and VAT, issue of the customs document.
2. Certificate of Conformity (COC) or type-approval: the manufacturer's COC proves the vehicle meets European standards. If it is missing, an individual type-approval procedure at the Motorizzazione is required — longer and more expensive, often with a technical inspection of the car.
3. Inspection at the Motorizzazione Civile: document and technical checks, verification of headlight adjustment and any other requirements, data update.
4. Registration and PRA entry at ACI: issue of the Italian registration document (carta di circolazione), the Digital Certificate of Ownership and the new plates.
5. Payment of IPT (provincial transcription tax), stamp duties and fees.

The documents required include the original foreign logbook, the COC, the bill of sale or invoice, the customs document (for non-EU) and an ID. It is strongly recommended to use a vehicle-paperwork agency specialized in imports, because the RHD procedure has a few more technicalities than a continental left-hand drive car.

Real costs to budget for

Beyond the purchase price, here are the typical line items of an RHD import (indicative figures, to verify case by case):

• Transport from the origin country: €400–900 depending on distance and method (transporter or driving it over on temporary plates).
• Customs duty (UK only): around 10% of the customs value for passenger cars.
• VAT (UK only, when due): 22% on the customs value.
• Headlight adaptation: from a few tens of euros for corrective films up to several hundred for replacing the light units.
• Type-approval/COC and Motorizzazione paperwork: €300–800 depending on COC availability.
• Registration, IPT, plates and fees: €400–700, varying by province and power.
• Paperwork agency: €200–500.

Add it all up and importing a British car can tack several thousand euros onto the purchase price. For cars from Ireland or Malta, the absence of customs significantly reduces costs. Use a search of comparable listings across the European market to see whether, for the same model, importing a right-hand drive car is really worth it or whether a left-hand drive continental car makes more sense.

Practical drawbacks and resale value

Even once the bureaucracy is behind you, the practical drawbacks of right-hand drive on right-hand-traffic roads remain:

• Harder overtaking: from the right-hand seat your view toward the center of the road is reduced, making overtaking less safe.
• Toll booths, parking and drive-throughs: ticket machines, intercoms and barriers are on the wrong side; you often have to get out or lean across.
• Passenger on the traffic side: the front passenger steps out directly toward the lane of travel, less convenient in town.
• Resale value: in Italy the pool of buyers for an RHD car is narrow, so resale is slower and prices lower. The exceptions are certain sports cars and collectible classics, where right-hand drive does not hurt the value.

For this reason, importing a right-hand drive car makes the most sense when the model is rare, the price clearly advantageous even with all costs included, or when the car has sentimental or collector value. In other cases, a left-hand drive European car remains the more practical and liquid choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Importing a right-hand drive car into Italy is legal, feasible and requires no touching of the steering wheel: you just have to follow the nationalization process correctly, distinguishing between EU countries (Ireland, Malta, Cyprus) and the now-non-EU UK. The real assessment, though, is economic and practical: between duty, VAT, headlight adaptation, type-approval and a lower resale value, the operation makes sense mainly for rare or genuinely advantageous models. Before deciding, compare the total cost with left-hand drive continental alternatives and start from a reliable market valuation. Explore the European used-car market on CarPulse.it: 24,000+ verified listings, AI price valuation, vetted sellers and coverage from Italy to the Balkans and the heart of the EU.