Importing a car from the Netherlands to Italy: complete guide 2026

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Summary:

• Importing from an EU country like the Netherlands incurs no customs duty. For private buyers purchasing used cars already in circulation, no additional VAT applies either — unless the vehicle qualifies as "new" under EU fiscal rules (less than 6 months old or fewer than 6,000 km).
• The key document is the COC (Certificate of Conformity): without it, the Italian vehicle registration authority cannot process registration. The seller can obtain it from the manufacturer or the Dutch RDW registry.
• Total ancillary costs — transport, admin, IPT and insurance — typically range between €700 and €1,800: well worth it when the savings on the vehicle price exceed €2,500.

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The Dutch used-car market is one of the most active and transparent in Europe: high turnover of fleet and lease vehicles, APK inspections logged in the public RDW database, and prices that are structurally 10–25% lower than Italy's — especially on mid-range German saloons. It's little wonder that Italian buyers are increasingly looking north. But how exactly does the import process work? What documents do you need, how much does it cost, and where do people commonly go wrong? This guide walks through the entire process, from agreeing a price with the seller to fitting Italian number plates.

Why importing from the Netherlands makes sense

The Netherlands offers a rare combination: plentiful supply, documentary transparency, and competitive pricing. The APK (Algemene Periodieke Keuring) roadworthiness test is compulsory from the vehicle's fourth year, renewed annually, and every result is logged in the public database of the RDW (Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer), the Dutch road transport authority. Anyone can look up the full history of any Dutch-registered car for free at rdw.nl: past inspections, any technical findings, recorded mileage, ownership changes. This level of transparency significantly reduces the risk of buying a car with hidden problems.

On price, the Netherlands is particularly competitive for ex-fleet and long-term lease vehicles and for EVs — the country's generous electric vehicle incentives over past years have created an unusually large stock of high-quality used EVs. The average saving on a D-segment saloon (VW Passat, BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class) typically falls between €2,000 and €5,000 versus the equivalent Italian listing — more than enough to cover import costs.

The purchase and Dutch documents: what to request from the seller

Before travelling or finalising a remote purchase, make sure you receive all the necessary documents from the seller. The essential Dutch-side documents are:

• Kentekenbewijs (Dutch vehicle registration document) — issued in two parts (Deel I A and Deel I B). This is the equivalent of a UK V5C or Italian carta di circolazione, containing technical specifications, ownership history and the registration number.
• COC — Certificate of Conformity — a document issued by the vehicle's manufacturer certifying compliance with European technical standards (Directive 2007/46/EC and successors). It is mandatory for Italian registration. If the seller doesn't have it, they can request a copy from the manufacturer (typically 2–4 weeks, cost €50–€200) or, in some cases, from the RDW.
• Bill of sale signed by both parties, stating date, price, seller's details and VIN number. Keep the original: you'll need it for Italian registration.
• RDW history check — not a document to request from the seller, but a check you should do yourself. Visit rdw.nl/voertuig-informatie, enter the registration plate and download the history report. Verify that the mileage matches the listing and that there are no outstanding technical issues.

If the vehicle still has an active finance agreement in the Netherlands, the seller must clear it before the transfer. Ask for written confirmation that the car is free of any encumbrances.

Intra-EU VAT and taxation: when you pay, when you don't

Buying a used car from a private seller in an EU country is, in most cases, fiscally neutral for the Italian buyer. The rule is straightforward:

• Used car purchased from a private seller (already in circulation, more than 6 months old and more than 6,000 km): no additional VAT due. VAT was already absorbed during the vehicle's original sale.
• "New" vehicle under EU fiscal rules (less than 6 months from first registration or fewer than 6,000 km): the Italian buyer must pay Italian VAT (22%) on the full value of the vehicle within 30 days of purchase, via F24 tax form or declaration at the local Agenzia delle Entrate.
• Car purchased from a Dutch dealer under the margin scheme: no additional Italian VAT, as the dealer has already settled VAT in the Netherlands. Always check the invoice for "margin scheme" wording.

No customs duties apply in any scenario: there is no customs border between EU member states. The only relevant Italian tax at point of registration is the IPT (Imposta Provinciale di Trascrizione), calculated on the vehicle's kW rating and varying by province. The typical range is €150–€450.

Italian registration procedure: step by step

Once the car is in Italy — whether you drove it or had it transported — registration takes place at the Sportello Telematico dell'Automobilista (STA), the local vehicle registration authority, or through an authorised auto-admin agency (many handle the entire process on your behalf).

1. Get Italian RC Auto insurance first. Before anything else, you need a valid Italian motor insurance policy. The insurer will ask for the VIN and the foreign registration document. Obtain a provisional policy or cover note; this allows you to drive while awaiting plates.
2. Translate documents if required. The COC is often multilingual (Dutch + English) and is generally accepted without a sworn translation. The kentekenbewijs may require a certified Italian translation depending on your local STA office — check in advance.
3. Submit the application at the STA. Bring: original COC, kentekenbewijs, bill of sale, ID document, tax code (codice fiscale), insurance certificate, and proof of IPT payment (paid in advance via F24 or postal order). The office verifies the documents and opens the registration file.
4. Italian roadworthiness test (if required). Vehicles from EU countries with a valid COC do not normally require a roadworthiness check before registration. However, if the vehicle has not been inspected in the past 12 months (or 24 months for cars under four years old), the Motorizzazione may request one. Check this in advance.
5. Collect the Italian plates. Within 1–3 weeks (faster through an auto-admin agency) you receive the Italian carta di circolazione and number plates. The car is now fully registered in Italy.

If you prefer to delegate the entire process, auto-admin agencies handle everything for a fixed fee typically between €200 and €400: often good value, particularly if you're unfamiliar with Italian bureaucracy.

Total costs: what to budget for

Here is a realistic estimate of ancillary costs, separate from the vehicle price:

• Transport: if you're not driving the car yourself, a professional transporter on a car-carrier typically charges €400–€800 for a single vehicle from the Netherlands to Italy.
• COC: free if the seller already has it; €50–€200 if it needs to be ordered from the manufacturer.
• Certified translation (if required): approximately €80–€150.
• IPT: €150–€450 depending on province and engine kW.
• STA fees / agency: €200–€400 if handled by an agency; fixed STA fees of around €60–€80 if you do it yourself.
• Pre-purchase inspection (strongly recommended): €100–€250 for an independent Dutch inspector on-site, before you commit to buying.

The typical ancillary total falls between €700 and €1,800. The import is clearly worthwhile when the price gap versus the Italian market exceeds this figure — which, on mid-to-upper-range vehicles, it regularly does.

To instantly benchmark the market value of the vehicle you're considering, use CarPulse's free AI valuation: enter make, model and year for an estimate based on 24,000+ verified listings across Europe.

Common risks and how to avoid them

Importing from the Netherlands is a relatively straightforward operation, but there are recurring mistakes worth knowing about before you start:

• Missing or incorrect COC — The most common problem. Verify that the VIN on the COC matches exactly with the kentekenbewijs and with the physical chassis plate on the car. One wrong character blocks everything.
• Mileage fraud — Although the Netherlands has one of the lower rates of odometer fraud in Europe, the risk is not zero. The RDW history check is free and takes two minutes: never skip it.
• Outstanding finance or liens — The RDW database also records financial encumbrances on vehicles. Confirm the car shows as clear before making any payment.
• Insurance for the drive home — If you're driving the car back, the Dutch plates require valid RC insurance covering all countries on the route. Check the seller's green card or take out a temporary policy.
• Unprotected payment — Avoid full wire transfers before you've physically inspected the vehicle. Use an escrow arrangement or split payment: a deposit on agreement, the balance on handover of documents.

When you browse via CarPulse, listings are verified and sellers validated before publication — substantially reducing the fraud risk compared to general classifieds platforms.

FAQ

Conclusion

Importing a car from the Netherlands to Italy is a manageable process for anyone with a degree of organisation and the right documents. The critical point is the COC: secure it before you travel. The STA registration procedure is standardised and, with an auto-admin agency handling it, resolves within one to two weeks. Ancillary costs of €700–€1,800 are easily recovered through the price saving — particularly on mid-to-upper-range saloons and EVs.

To find verified vehicles from across Europe, compare prices, and get an instant AI valuation, explore CarPulse: a pan-European used-car marketplace with 24,000+ verified listings, vehicle history and validated sellers. You can also list your vehicle for free to reach buyers across Italy and the wider EU.