Car Shipping to Italy from the UK: The Complete Guide

Shipping a car from the UK to Italy costs from £690 via RoRo sea freight to Livorno (approx. 9 days transit), rising to £793–£934 for ports serving Rome, Liguria, and Sicily. Post-Brexit, most UK-origin vehicles pay 0% customs duty under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Italian Import VAT (IVA) of 22% applies unless you qualify for the Transfer of Residence exemption — approval must be obtained from the Agenzia delle Dogane before your vehicle arrives. All permanently imported vehicles require a Certificate of Conformity and registration with Italy’s Motorizzazione Civile.

Italy is one of the most popular destinations for UK vehicle exports — whether you are relocating to Tuscany, taking up work in Rome, retiring to Sicily, or returning to the north after years abroad. The shipping process itself is well-established, with weekly sailings into four Italian ports, but Italy adds a layer of complexity that Spain and other EU destinations do not: the Certificate of Conformity requirement, the Motorizzazione Civile registration system, and the IVA approval process each have hard deadlines and ordering rules that catch out unprepared shippers.

This guide covers everything you need to plan the move properly — from choosing the right Italian port for your destination, to understanding exactly what you will owe in customs charges, to navigating the post-arrival registration process. For pricing specific to your vehicle and destination, visit our car shipping to Italy service page or request a quote directly.

Which Italian Port Should My Car Arrive At?

Italy has no single dominant import port for UK vehicles — the right choice depends on where in Italy your car is going, not just which port is cheapest. Choosing the wrong port adds road transport cost and time after clearance. Below is a comparison of the four active ports ShipCars ships to.

Port-by-port notes

Livorno is the fastest and cheapest port for most UK shipments — a major commercial port on the Tyrrhenian Sea, it handles the highest volume of vehicle imports into Tuscany and central Italy. If your destination is Florence, Pisa, Siena, or anywhere in the central belt, this is almost always the right port.

Civitavecchia is Italy’s dedicated gateway for Rome and the Lazio region. Located approximately 80 km northwest of the capital via the A12 motorway, it handles automotive terminals on the southern quay. Grimaldi Euromed operates regular services into this port. Despite the longer transit time compared to Livorno, it saves significant post-clearance road transport if your destination is Rome or the wider Lazio area.

Savona sits on the Ligurian coast in the northwest, making it the natural choice for Genoa, Turin, or anywhere along the Italian Riviera. It is one of the largest ports in the Mediterranean by cargo volume. A licensed customs agent (spedizioniere) based in Savona or Genoa handles Italian clearance.

Palermo is the sole available port for Sicily-bound vehicles and commands a small premium — approximately £934 for a standard car — reflecting the longer routing. All Sicilian registration is handled through the Motorizzazione Civile in Sicily after port clearance.

How Can You Ship a Car from the UK to Italy?

Two sea freight methods are available on the UK–Italy route. The right choice depends on your vehicle’s condition, value, and any battery-related considerations.

RoRo is by far the most common method. The vehicle is driven directly onto a purpose-built RoRo vessel — a fast, cost-effective process for any roadworthy standard car. The vehicle must have minimal fuel (typically no more than a quarter tank), no personal items, and be in a driveable condition.

Full Container Load (FCL) gives sole use of a shipping container — your vehicle is the only cargo inside. It is the required method for electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, non-running cars, and classic or luxury vehicles where enclosed protection matters. Declared personal effects may be included in the container, subject to Italian customs declaration and inventory requirements. Note that electric vehicles attract a hazardous goods surcharge (approximately £295) due to lithium battery regulations.

For our full guide to RoRo shipping and our container car shipping service, see the dedicated pages.

How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car from the UK to Italy?

The total cost of getting a car to Italy has two entirely separate components — the UK-to-Italy shipping cost, and the Italian import costs. Many shippers budget only for the first and are caught out by the second at the Italian port.

Component 1 — UK-to-Italy shipping cost (port-to-port)

Prices are indicative port-to-port estimates. Add UK collection costs, marine insurance (1–1.5% of declared value), and the optional condition report (£35 if self-delivered to port). EV hazard surcharge: £295 for container shipments. Get a current quote for your specific vehicle.

Component 2 — Italian import costs (payable at the Italian port)

These costs are not included in the shipping quote. They are assessed and payable in Italy at customs clearance:

Worked example: On a UK-origin vehicle with a £10,000 CIF (cost, insurance, freight) value — 0% customs duty, 22% IVA = £2,200, plus approximately £200 IPT = approximately £2,400 in Italian import costs, before clearance agent fees. A non-UK/EU origin vehicle at the same value would add 6.5% duty (£650) on top, making total Italian charges approximately £3,050.

See our international car shipping costs guide for a broader comparison across destinations.

Post-Brexit Car Import Rules for Italy

Italy is a full EU member state. Since the UK’s departure from the European Union, shipping a car from the UK to Italy is a third-country import from Italy’s perspective — meaning it is subject to EU import procedures, regardless of where you are registered or how long you owned the vehicle.

Permanent import

A permanent import requires a full Italian customs declaration, IVA assessment, and subsequent registration with the Motorizzazione Civile. UK-origin vehicles claim 0% customs duty using the V5C as evidence under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). If your vehicle was manufactured outside the UK and EU — even if it has been UK-registered for years — standard EU duty applies (currently 6.5% of the CIF value). Verify current duty rates with the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli before shipping.

Transfer of Residence (ToR) — IVA exemption

The Transfer of Residence relief is Italy’s equivalent of the UK’s ToR scheme and waives IVA on one vehicle per person for those permanently relocating. To qualify you must:

• Be permanently moving your habitual residence to Italy
• Have owned and used the vehicle in your own name for more than 6 months before relocating
• Apply to the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli and obtain written approval before your vehicle arrives in Italy — approval cannot be obtained retrospectively
• Register Italian residency within 60 days of arrival
• Own a maximum of one vehicle per person under the relief

This distinction — that approval must precede arrival — is the most common mistake made by relocators. If your vehicle clears customs before you have ToR approval, the full 22% IVA becomes payable.

Temporary import

If you are not permanently relocating, a temporary import allows you to use a UK-registered vehicle in Italy for up to 6 months within a 12-month period without triggering IVA or permanent registration requirements. The vehicle must remain registered in another country and must be owned by you or a family member. This is most relevant for those splitting time between the UK and Italy.

Certificate of Conformity and Motorizzazione Civile Registration

This is where Italy differs meaningfully from shipping a car to Spain or other EU destinations: the Certificate of Conformity (CoC) is a hard prerequisite for standard Italian registration, and it takes time to obtain.

What is a Certificate of Conformity?

A CoC is an official document issued by the vehicle manufacturer confirming that the specific vehicle meets EU type-approval standards. Italy’s Motorizzazione Civile requires it to register the vehicle and issue Italian plates. Without a CoC, the vehicle must undergo individual homologation testing — a significantly more expensive and time-consuming alternative that can add weeks and several hundred euros to the process.

How to obtain a CoC for Italy

Apply directly to the Italian subsidiary of your vehicle manufacturer, or to the manufacturer’s head office if no Italian subsidiary exists. Manufacturers who regularly issue CoC documents for Italian imports include BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen Group brands, and Ford. Allow 2–6 weeks for the CoC to be issued, and begin the application before booking your shipment — not after.

Motorizzazione Civile registration process

After customs clearance at the Italian port, you can collect your vehicle and begin the registration process. You will need:

• Certificate of Conformity
• Italian insurance certificate (assicurazione RCA)
• Italian codice fiscale (tax identification number)
• Proof of Italian residency (certificato di residenza)
• Original V5C and Bill of Lading
• Customs clearance documentation from the Agenzia delle Dogane
• Headlight adjustment certificate or beam deflectors fitted (for right-hand drive vehicles)

Registration typically takes 4–8 weeks after port clearance. You may drive the vehicle during this period on temporary plates (targa prova) issued by the Motorizzazione Civile at the time of application.

Documents Needed to Ship a Car to Italy from the UK

UK export documents (you provide to ShipCars before collection)

• Original V5C logbook — keep it with you; do not leave it in the vehicle
• Passport photo page (copy)
• Proof of UK address, dated within 3 months
• Purchase invoice or proof of ownership
• Dated commercial cleaning certificate (required for DAFF inspection on export)
• Completed ShipCars booking form
• Pre-shipment vehicle condition report (free if ShipCars collects; £35 if self-delivered)
• MOT certificate if vehicle is being collected by trade plate driver

Italian customs documents (required at the Italian port)

• Bill of Lading (issued by ShipCars)
• Import Declaration Form (prepared by your Italian customs agent)
• Original V5C and Bill of Sale
• Passport
• ToR relief pre-approval letter (if applicable)
• Marine insurance certificate
• Codice fiscale and proof of Italian residency (if permanent import)
• Temporary importation declaration (if temporary import)

ShipCars handles the UK export customs declaration on your behalf. Italian clearance is managed by a licensed spedizioniere at the destination port — your ShipCars coordinator will confirm recommended agents for each port.

How Is My Car Collected in the UK?

ShipCars offers three UK collection options, each suited to different vehicle types and circumstances.

If your vehicle is not roadworthy or cannot be driven, it must be transported to the UK port by enclosed transporter and shipped in an FCL container — RoRo requires the vehicle to be driven on and off the vessel under its own power. See our classic car shipping services for more on enclosed container options.

Marine Insurance for UK-to-Italy Car Shipping

Marine transit insurance is strongly recommended for all UK-to-Italy shipments — standard carrier liability covers only a fraction of a vehicle’s declared value in the event of loss or damage.

A vehicle condition report is required for Comprehensive Cover — this is carried out free of charge if ShipCars collects the vehicle, or at a cost of £35 if you deliver it to the port yourself. For luxury or classic vehicles, Comprehensive Cover is strongly recommended regardless of age.

Can I Ship a Non-Running Car to Italy?

Yes — non-running vehicles can be shipped to Italy, but only via Full Container Load (FCL), not RoRo. The same applies to electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids on most sailing routes. An FCL container gives sole use of a 20ft or 40ft steel container; the vehicle is loaded using a forklift or winch at the UK port, and unloaded the same way in Italy. A current vehicle condition report is mandatory at the time of collection.

For non-running or project vehicles, it is worth noting that Italian homologation requirements are the same regardless of condition — a CoC (or homologation testing as an alternative) is still required for registration. If the vehicle has a UK plates and V5C, begin the CoC application before you book the shipment.

Pre-shipment checklist — 7 days before collection

• Vehicle clean inside and out (cleaning certificate required for export inspection)
• Personal items, dashcams, and aftermarket electronics removed
• Fuel reduced to minimum (quarter tank maximum for RoRo)
• Alarm disabled or deactivated for transit
• Spare key ready to hand over with the vehicle
• Roof boxes, roof racks, and external accessories removed unless agreed in advance
• V5C, booking confirmation, and ID documents kept with you — not in the vehicle

Frequently Asked Questions — Car Shipping to Italy from the UK