Importing a Car from Romania to Italy: 2026 Guide

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Summary:

• Romania offers used cars at prices 20–35% below the EU average, with many vehicles sourced from ex-German and Austrian corporate fleets in excellent condition.
• The import process requires: VIN verification, Romanian documents (certificat de înmatriculare + sale contract), radierea by the seller, a COC, and Italian registration within 30 days of arrival.
• Ancillary costs (transport, sworn translation, COC, Motorizzazione, IPT, road tax) typically range between €700 and €1,500 — calculate these before committing to a purchase.

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Romania is one of the most attractive destinations for buying a used car at significantly lower prices than the Italian market. With prices averaging 20–35% below the EU average and a growing supply of vehicles sourced from former German and Austrian corporate fleets, the Romanian market offers real opportunities — provided you understand the paperwork and the specific risks involved. On CarPulse, a pan-European marketplace with over 24,000 verified listings, you can already find vehicles available for cross-border purchases with built-in AI price valuation and vehicle history checks.

Why Romania

The Romanian used-car market has a unique characteristic in the European landscape: it is largely fed by vehicles re-exported from Germany and Austria — fleet cars with documented maintenance records, dealer-stamped service books, complete histories. These vehicles are purchased by Romanian importers, resold at a modest markup, and are still priced significantly below equivalent Italian listings.

• Prices: averaging 20–35% below the EU mean — a meaningful advantage on vehicles priced above €5,000.
• German/Austrian stock: many vehicles have exemplary maintenance histories because they were originally managed by corporate fleets in Germany or Austria.
• Young market: Romania has seen strong fleet renewal over the past decade, meaning the supply often consists of relatively recent vehicles at emerging-market prices.
• EU membership: as an EU member since 2007, there are no customs duties or import tariffs between Romania and Italy.

Where to Search

To find reliable listings on the Romanian market:

• autovit.ro — Romania's main platform, with hundreds of thousands of listings. The interface is in Romanian but navigable with Google Translate.
• mobile.de with Romania filter — many Romanian dealers list on mobile.de to reach European buyers. Filter by "Country: Romania" for a strong selection.
• Local Romanian dealers — often handle vehicles of German/Austrian origin with full documentation and can issue a proper VAT invoice.
• Search on CarPulse.it — verified marketplace with listings from Italy, the Balkans, and across the EU, with AI price check and vehicle history built in. Ideal for comparing prices across markets before traveling.

Price Comparison: Romania vs. Italy

The price gap between Romania and Italy is real and measurable. In the €3,000–€12,000 bracket — the most active segment of the Romanian market — typical savings are:

• Mid-size sedan (e.g. VW Passat, Skoda Octavia) 5–7 years old: €4,000–€7,000 in Romania vs €6,000–€10,000 in Italy for comparable condition.
• Compact SUV (e.g. Renault Kadjar, Dacia Duster) 4–6 years old: €5,000–€9,000 in Romania vs €8,000–€13,000 in Italy.
• Used luxury cars: the gap can exceed 30%, but requires closer scrutiny of vehicle history and provenance.

Before finalizing any purchase, use the AI price valuation on CarPulse to verify that the asking price aligns with the European market.

Complete Import and Registration Process

1. VIN Check and Vehicle History

Before any financial commitment, verify the chassis number (VIN) on a service like CARFAX Europe or EuroBob. Check for active financing, undisclosed accident damage, or odometer inconsistencies. For vehicles of German/Austrian origin re-exported to Romania, request the report from the country of origin as well as the Romanian one.

2. Romanian Documents to Request from the Seller

• Certificat de înmatriculare — the Romanian vehicle registration certificate, equivalent to the Italian libretto di circolazione. Must be in the seller's name.
• Contract de vânzare-cumpărare — the sale and purchase contract, mandatory and must be in writing.
• COC (Certificate of Conformity) — essential for Italian type approval. Without it, registration in Italy requires a lengthy and costly individual approval process. If the seller doesn't have it, request it from the manufacturer before closing the deal.

3. Radierea: Deregistration from the Romanian System

The seller must carry out the radierea — the official removal of the vehicle from the Romanian vehicle register — before or at the time of handover. Without completed radierea, the vehicle remains registered in Romania and cannot be legally registered in Italy.

Alternatively, temporary Romanian export plates (typically valid for 90 days) can be requested. These allow driving the vehicle from Romania to Italy through transit countries without the vehicle having already been deregistered.

4. Transport to Italy

Two main options:

• Car transporter (bisarca): the safest method, especially if the vehicle has already been deregistered and cannot legally circulate with Romanian plates in Italy. Transport costs for Romania–Italy range between €300 and €600 depending on distance and type (shared vs. dedicated transporter).
• Drive it yourself: only possible if the vehicle has valid Romanian export plates and an active temporary insurance policy covering all transit countries (Romania, Hungary, Slovenia or Austria, Italy).

5. Arrival in Italy: The 30-Day Window

From the moment the vehicle enters Italian territory, you have 30 days to complete registration at the Motorizzazione Civile or a Sportello Telematico dell'Automobilista (STA). Missing this deadline results in administrative fines.

6. Registration at the STA or Motorizzazione Civile

Present yourself at the STA or Motorizzazione Civile with:

• COC (Certificate of Conformity)
• Certificat de înmatriculare with sworn Italian translation (€50–€150 from a certified translator)
• Contract de vânzare-cumpărare (sale contract)
• Valid ID and Italian tax code (codice fiscale)
• Proof of Italian RCA insurance (required before the vehicle can circulate)
• Proof of completed radierea (deregistration from the Romanian register)

The Motorizzazione carries out a technical inspection to verify compliance with European regulations. Upon passing, a new Italian vehicle registration document is issued along with Italian EE number plates.

7. PRA Registration and IPT Payment

After registration, the vehicle must be entered in the Pubblico Registro Automobilistico (PRA) managed by ACI. This involves paying the IPT (Imposta Provinciale di Trascrizione), which varies by province and vehicle power output — typically €150–€400. The annual road tax (bollo auto) is also due, prorated for the remaining months of the year.

VAT: What Changes When Buying from Romania

Romania is an EU member state, so no customs duties apply. VAT rules follow the EU community regime:

• Private-to-private purchase: no additional VAT to declare in either country. The transfer is exempt.
• Purchase from a Romanian dealer (margin scheme): VAT is already included in the sale price and cannot be reclaimed. You don't need to declare anything further in Italy.
• "New" vehicle for EU VAT purposes (<6 months old or <6,000 km) purchased from a Romanian VAT entity: the intra-community acquisition regime applies — declare the purchase in Italy and pay Italian VAT. This rarely applies to typical used vehicles.
• Practical tip: buying from a Romanian private seller or from a dealer under the margin scheme significantly simplifies Italian tax management for non-VAT-registered buyers.

Realistic Total Costs

Here is a summary of ancillary costs to budget for beyond the vehicle price:

• Transport (car transporter, Romania–Italy): €300–€600
• Sworn Italian translation of certificat de înmatriculare: €50–€150
• COC (if missing, obtained from manufacturer): €50–€200
• Technical inspection at Motorizzazione/STA: €50–€100
• IPT (Imposta Provinciale di Trascrizione): approximately €150–€400 depending on province and power
• Road tax (bollo auto, prorated for remaining months): €80–€300
• Italian RCA insurance: to be calculated separately

Total ancillary expenses typically fall between €700 and €1,500. On a sedan bought for €6,000 in Romania that would cost €9,000 in Italy, the net advantage remains substantial even after covering all costs.

Risks and Tips

• Odometer tampering: Eastern European markets have historically had a higher rate of clocked vehicles. Always use a VIN-based history report (CARFAX Europe, EuroBob) and have the electronic control units checked by a mechanic.
• Uncertain provenance: prefer vehicles of original German or Austrian origin re-exported to Romania — they tend to have better-documented maintenance histories.
• Missing COC: common in the Romanian market, especially for vehicles that have been re-exported multiple times. Without a COC, the individual type-approval process in Italy can take weeks and cost significantly more.
• Incomplete radierea: make sure the seller has actually completed deregistration from the Romanian register before or simultaneously with the sale.
• Pre-purchase inspection: before buying, have the vehicle inspected by a local mechanic or a pre-purchase inspection service. The cost (€50–€150) is well justified by the risk avoided.

Import Checklist — Romania to Italy

• ☐ Verify VIN and vehicle history (CARFAX Europe or EuroBob)
• ☐ Obtain certificat de înmatriculare and sale contract (contract de vânzare-cumpărare)
• ☐ Secure the COC from the seller or directly from the manufacturer
• ☐ Confirm the seller carries out radierea before or at handover
• ☐ Arrange transport (car transporter recommended, or Romanian export plates for self-drive)
• ☐ Take out temporary Italian RCA insurance before arrival
• ☐ Within 30 days of arrival: present to Motorizzazione/STA with all documents
• ☐ Obtain a sworn Italian translation of the certificat de înmatriculare
• ☐ Register vehicle at PRA (ACI) and pay IPT and road tax

FAQ

Conclusion

Importing a car from Romania to Italy is a worthwhile operation for buyers who know where to look and how to handle the paperwork. The potential saving of 20–35% compared to Italian prices is real — but it demands care: VIN verification, COC in hand, confirmed radierea, sworn translation, and meeting the 30-day registration deadline. To compare prices across markets and find verified vehicles with history included, browse listings on CarPulse.it — over 24,000 vehicles across Italy, the Balkans, and the EU. And if you want to sell your current car to fund the next purchase, list your car for free on CarPulse in just a few minutes.