Exporting a Car Abroad from Italy: Procedure and Documents

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Summary:

• To export a car from Italy you must first request the permanent export deregistration at the PRA (ACI), which removes the vehicle from the Italian register.
• Specific documents are required: the vehicle registration booklet, the digital property certificate (CDPD), a bill of sale with an authenticated signature, and the deregistration certificate.
• If the vehicle needs to reach the destination country under its own power after deregistration, special EE (export) transit plates are required — valid for 30 days — with mandatory insurance coverage.

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Selling a car to a foreign buyer or permanently transferring a vehicle abroad is an increasingly common transaction in Italy, especially toward the Albanian and Balkan markets. The process, however, involves well-defined bureaucratic steps, a specific set of documents, and in some cases customs formalities. This guide covers everything you need to know about car export abroad from Italy — from PRA deregistration to EE plates, from VAT implications to real costs. If you are looking for a buyer for your Italian car, you can already list your car on CarPulse.it and reach thousands of qualified buyers in the Albanian and Balkan market.

What is permanent car export

Permanent car export is the procedure by which a vehicle registered in Italy is removed from the Pubblico Registro Automobilistico (PRA) and transferred abroad definitively. It is not simply a change of ownership: the vehicle physically and legally exits the Italian system, and must be re-registered in the destination country according to local regulations.

This differs from temporary export — for example, for a short-term work relocation — which follows different rules and does not require removal from the register. Permanent export, by contrast, is irreversible: once completed, the vehicle can no longer legally circulate in Italy.

Anyone selling a car to a buyer residing outside the EU (such as Albania, Kosovo, or North Macedonia) or even within the EU but intending to re-register the vehicle in their home country must follow this route. The market is active: many Italians of Albanian origin buy used cars in Italy to bring to Albania, and equally, buyers from Albania purchase from Italian sellers. Platforms like CarPulse.it directly connect these two markets.

PRA deregistration for export: the procedure

The first formal step is the deregistration for permanent export at the PRA (Pubblico Registro Automobilistico), managed by the ACI (Automobile Club d'Italia). Without this step, the vehicle remains formally registered in Italy and the owner continues to be legally responsible for road tax, mandatory insurance, and any fines associated with the vehicle.

How to complete the deregistration

There are two main options:

1. Directly at the Sportello Telematico dell'Automobilista (STA) — available at the offices of the Motorizzazione Civile or ACI-delegated outlets. The owner presents the required documents, fills out the application, and pays the fees.
2. Through a licensed vehicle registration agency (agenzia pratiche auto) — the most convenient option. These agencies handle the entire process on behalf of the owner, managing forms, queues, and bureaucratic procedures. The total service cost is indicatively between €60 and €150, including ACI emoluments, the revenue stamp (marca da bollo, approximately €16), and the agency fee.

What happens after deregistration

• The vehicle is permanently cancelled from the Italian register.
• The Italian plates (targa) must be returned to the Motorizzazione / Department for Road Transport (DTT).
• The owner receives the certificato di radiazione (deregistration certificate), an essential document for re-registration abroad.
• From that point, the vehicle can no longer legally circulate in Italy with the old plates.

Required documents for export

Before starting any procedure, ensure you have all the required documentation on hand. A single missing document can delay the entire process by days.

Essential documentation

• Libretto di circolazione (vehicle registration booklet) — the vehicle's registration document.
• Certificato di Proprietà Digitale (CDPD) — issued by PRA/ACI, certifying who the legal owner of the vehicle is. Since 2012 it has been in digital format and accessible online via the ACI portal.
• Bill of sale with authenticated signature (atto di vendita con autentica di firma) — mandatory if the vehicle is transferred to a third party. Authentication can be performed by a notary, by an authorized vehicle registration agency, or at the Motorizzazione.
• Valid identity document of all parties involved (seller and buyer, if present).
• Deregistration certificate (certificato di radiazione) — issued at the end of the PRA procedure, proving that the vehicle has been removed from the Italian register. Without this document, the destination country cannot complete re-registration.
• RCA insurance policy or transit insurance — even for a deregistered vehicle, if it needs to be moved by road, valid insurance coverage is required for the transit.
• COC (Certificate of Conformity) — not always available, but useful for re-registration in many European and non-EU countries. If the car was originally sold new in Italy with a COC, it is worth retrieving from the manufacturer.

Recommended preliminary check

Before initiating the procedure, run a visura PRA to verify that the vehicle is free from administrative seizure (fermo amministrativo) and liens (ipoteche), for example from an outstanding auto loan. A vehicle subject to these encumbrances cannot be freely exported. The check is available from the ACI or through a vehicle registration agency at minimal cost.

EE transit plates: when needed and how to obtain them

If after deregistration the vehicle needs to reach the destination country under its own power on the road — as opposed to being transported on a truck or car transporter — special EE plates (targhe EE, export transit plates) are required.

Characteristics of EE plates

• Validity: generally 30 days from the date of issue.
• Issued by: the Ufficio della Motorizzazione Civile or authorized agencies.
• Purpose: they authorize the deregistered vehicle to travel on the road during transit to the destination country.
• Insurance: mandatory even with EE plates. A short-term transit insurance policy must be obtained from an insurance company or through the vehicle registration agency handling the process.

Indicative costs

The cost of EE plates ranges between approximately €60 and €100, plus the transit insurance cost, which varies based on the destination, the vehicle's value, and the duration. On average, the complete package (plates + insurance) falls between €120 and €200. If the vehicle is being transported on a professional car transporter, EE plates are not required.

VAT and tax aspects of car export

The tax picture depends heavily on the nature of the parties involved — private individual or VAT-registered entity — and on the vehicle's destination (EU or non-EU).

Private-to-private sale

If both seller and buyer are private individuals, Italian VAT generally does not apply to the sale. A private seller is not a VAT-registered entity and neither charges nor remits VAT. Any applicable taxation shifts entirely to the destination country: the buyer will pay import duties and local VAT at the time of vehicle registration in their country.

In the case of Albania, for example, the importing buyer pays Albanian VAT (TVSH, 20%) and customs duties calculated on the vehicle's value at the point of entry.

Sale by a dealer or VAT-registered business

If the seller is a company or dealer registered for VAT, the situation is different:

• Intra-EU sale: if the buyer is a VAT-registered entity in another EU country and the vehicle leaves Italy (documented), the supply may be zero-rated under intra-EU supply rules. Proof of exit from Italian territory and notification to the Italian Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate) are required.
• Non-EU sale (e.g. Albania, Kosovo): the export sale can also be zero-rated for VAT, but formal customs export procedures are required — a Declaration of Export (DAE) through the AIDA system of the Italian Customs Agency, with assistance from a licensed customs agent. The customs agent fee typically ranges between €100 and €300+ depending on complexity.

Summary of indicative costs

• PRA deregistration (including agency): €60–150
• Revenue stamp (marca da bollo): €16
• EE plates (if required): €60–100
• Transit insurance: €50–150 (variable)
• Export customs declaration (non-EU): €100–300+
• Re-registration in destination country: varies by country

Practical tips for a smooth sale or export

Here are some measures that can make a real difference:

• Always run the PRA visura first before agreeing on a price or drafting the bill of sale. An administrative seizure or lien stops everything cold.
• Never sign the bill of sale without authenticated signatures: without an authenticated signature, the deregistration procedure cannot be initiated. Have signatures authenticated at the same time as the sale agreement is signed.
• Keep copies of all documents: photocopies of the registration booklet, CDPD, bill of sale, deregistration certificate, and payment receipts. In the event of any subsequent dispute, these will be your protection.
• Check the destination country's regulations: every country has different requirements for re-registration — type approvals, roadworthiness tests, potential age restrictions. The buyer should verify these requirements before purchasing.
• For the Albanian and Balkan market: cars listed on CarPulse.it reach a base of qualified buyers interested in Italian used cars with documented maintenance histories — the most effective channel for sellers targeting Albania, Kosovo, or North Macedonia.
• Get a valuation before you sell: know the real market value of your vehicle before setting a price. You can do this directly on CarPulse.it using the valuation tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Exporting a car from Italy is a well-structured process, but one that requires close attention to bureaucratic details. PRA deregistration is the non-negotiable first step, followed by proper management of the required documents, EE plates where needed, and tax matters depending on whether the transaction is private or business-to-business. Knowing the process in advance lets you avoid delays and unnecessary costs. If you are considering selling your car to a buyer in the Albanian or Balkan market, list your car on CarPulse.it today — the platform built to connect Italian sellers with motivated buyers across the Balkan region.