I am still very unclear about buying a car and getting drivers licenses after we move. Please correct and fill-in my foggy notions.

1. First, buying a car in Italy. My thinking is that we must be residents (what does that mean????) to be able to buy a car. If yes, does being a resident mean we have the PdiS in hand (not just the receipt, but the approved PdiS)?

Is there any way to buy a car BEFORE the PdiS comes through?

2. We must have an Italian drivers license by the time we have lived there one year. Correct? Can a person simply study the books and go take the test? Or must one go to Autoscuola?

If one must go to school, how long does the course usually last (in terms of hours of instruction, or weeks/months)? Is the instruction usually always only in Italian? Or are there some in English?

3. Can you buy a car before you obtain the Italian driver's license?


4. If I found someone who was willing to buy a car and loan it to me, is it possible for me to purchase car insurance/accident insurance to remove my friend from liability?


Thanks so much!

Claudia

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Originally posted by Italy or Bust!:
1. First, buying a car in Italy. My thinking is that we must be residents (what does that mean????) to be able to buy a car. If yes, does being a resident mean we have the PdiS in hand (not just the receipt, but the approved PdiS)?

See your other thread.

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Is there any way to buy a car BEFORE the PdiS comes through?

See below.

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2. We must have an Italian drivers license by the time we have lived there one year. Correct? Can a person simply study the books and go take the test? Or must one go to Autoscuola?

You can drive with your foreign licence and an IDP for 12 months from the time you get residency, not from the time you arrive. The licence theory tests are now available in English (on computer) in most areas. The theory and practical driving test books are available in English but very hard to obtain except from an Autoscuola. There's no obligation to go through an Autoscuola.

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If one must go to school, how long does the course usually last (in terms of hours of instruction, or weeks/months)? Is the instruction usually always only in Italian? Or are there some in English?

Usually two hours a week until the scuola thinks you're ready. We took about three months, but interrupted by the Christmas break and some other delays. You'll be very lucky to find classes in English. OTOH, the classes in Italian are very good for improving your Italian!

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3. Can you buy a car before you obtain the Italian driver's license?

Yes, providing you're eligible to buy a car. See below.

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4. If I found someone who was willing to buy a car and loan it to me, is it possible for me to purchase car insurance/accident insurance to remove my friend from liability?

It's not uncommon to buy a car in an Italian resident's name and pay the costs and insurance yourself. The only problem arises with the insurance. The policy would be in the Italian resident's name, hence they risk any penalties if you need to make a claim.

1 Being resident means you are registered at the comune anagrafe. You must wait for your actual pds (not receipt) before registering. It takes a few more weeks for your residenza to be complete.

Someone on the board (maybe Barb?) worked with a dealer and was able to drive their car before being resident. You might be able to find a dealer who will go out on a limb like that for you.

2 Yes, you need an Italian license to drive one year from the date you become resident. Most people use an autoscuola- there are a couple of people on the board who did the theory exam on their own, then paid an autoscuola for use of the dual-control car for the driving test. Our instructor spoke some english. I did the Italian oral exam, my wife did the English computer exam.

3 You can buy a car without an Italian license.

4 Check with the insurance company. I had to show the carta di circolazione (which has the owner's name) to insure my car.

Grazie mille!

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Originally posted by Bill 2:
Someone on the board (maybe Barb?) worked with a dealer and was able to drive their car before being resident. You might be able to find a dealer who will go out on a limb like that for you.

Nope, that wasn't us, BUT the manager at our local PostalBank did help us get our residenza using just our P di S receipts so that we could complete the loan process to buy the car!

That's good news Barb. Maybe some of our long-waiters can try having their bank work that deal.

OK, let me ask my question in another way.

If I find an individual who has a car for sale, and I have cash to buy it, but I only have a receipt for my PdiS, may that person sell the car to me? Is there anything illegal about such a transaction? Is there something about the registration of the car that would make it impossible to purchase until I have residency?

I am searching for an affordable alternative to get us through the months we will be waiting until the PdiS (and thus residency) is approved--and I cannot find anything for less than $850/month. This is horrible!!!

This "cheap" rental rate is through Kem Wel. Does anyone have any other suggestions for me to locate a car rental for less?

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Is there anything illegal about such a transaction? Is there something about the registration of the car that would make it impossible to purchase until I have residency?

Yes, it's illegal.

As for rentals, try local rentals, rather than the on-line outfits. We have several small agencies around here that rent everything from rent-a-wreck cars to new smaller cars. Some are less than 20 euro per day.

Another option is to do like Barb- see if the bank will help you get residenza with just a receipt (basically the comune would be bending the rules for you). Don't know if that will be possible elsewhere, but if it worked for Barb it's worth asking about.

Also see about a longer lease time for the car instead of month to month...I also want to tell you we applied for our Pdsi 8 days after we got here and it will about a year to the day that we are suppose to get our actual card....not saying that it will be the same for you but you should be prepared for that....

OK, thanks for the answers. It is getting clearer and clearer, and scarier and scarier. The horrible expense of renting a car for a year (unless we find a really great local company with really low prices) waiting for our PdiS will put a big hole in our budget.

Barb, regarding your situation...

We were not planning on getting a loan to buy a car....but if the bank has influence on the comune to get residenza with just the receipt, then we could do that, then pay off the loan quickly.

I think there are only two banks in Pienza: Monte dei Paschi and Credito Cooperativo (or something like that)

Does anyone have any suggestions regarding why one should be used rather than the other?

Do you know anyone where you're moving to? An Italian citizen who might be persuaded to do you a favour and register the car in their name?

Yes, we have a very good friend....the only thing that keeps her and us from doing this is the insurance being in her name for a car that WE will drive exclusively....and the impact it might have on HER if, God forbid, something bad happens to the car, us, other drivers, etc.

If we could get the insurance in our name, for a car owned by her--that would be PERFETTO. But I think this cannot be done. Can it??

I know of someone who moved here and rented a car from a local dealership until he got his residenza. He was, however, living above the dealership and had struck up a friendship with them.

Basically you could chance it and see what happens when you are here, I take it you are moving to Pienza, unfortunately I know the area well but not well enough to know how many dealerships, rentals, etc. are in the area. There certainly aren't any in the historic center of town.

It sounds scary, but if you have friends here already, I bet you would figure something out while you are here. The problem with this area is that, once you leave Siena, is that there are no car rental places around. But I would find it hard to believe if there was no dealer or mechanic that didn't have a car to rent you.

If you are looking for a car once you get the residenza, buy mine! It is for sale.

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If we could get the insurance in our name, for a car owned by her--that would be PERFETTO. But I think this cannot be done. Can it??

No, the insurance would have to be in the owner's name.

That's the only downside. You would probably have to agree to reimburse the "owner" for any losses they might incur in terms of increased premiums if a claim was made. Luckily for us, a friend of ours here was willing to take the risk with us. Our car was in her name for six months. Thankfully, no accidents happened.