Insuring a used car in Italy: what to do first
How to insure a used car you have just bought in Italy: new policy, contract transfer, merit class and the Bersani law, refunds for sellers and the real limits of the 15-day grace period.
You have found the right used car and agreed the price. One step is left that many people put off: insurance. In Italy third-party liability cover (RC auto) is compulsory for any vehicle on the road, and the seller's policy does not simply pass to you. This guide explains what to do, in what order, and which mistakes are expensive.
Why insurance comes first
RC auto is tied to the policyholder and the vehicle, it is not a feature that comes with the car you buy. If the seller leaves a policy running, that does not mean you are covered: to drive you need valid cover in your own name, or a contract formally transferred to you. Driving uninsured is penalised under Article 193 of the Highway Code with a fine from 866 to 3,464 euros, and the vehicle is stopped and impounded on the spot [1].
The practical rule is simple: do not drive away from the dealer or the seller's house without an active policy. Get a quote before signing the sale, so you also know what the car will really cost you in year one.
Three ways to get covered
1. A new policy in your name. The most common route. You need the plate or registration details, your personal data and your bonus-malus class if you have one. Many insurers let you activate cover online in minutes, starting from the day and time of the ownership transfer.
2. Transfer of the seller's contract. The contract can pass to the buyer, but it needs agreement from both parties and the insurer. The buyer steps into the existing terms. It only makes sense if the policy is competitive and you have checked limits and add-ons.
3. Moving your own policy to the new vehicle. If you are replacing a car you already insure, ask your insurer to move the contract to the new one, keeping your bonus-malus class.
Whichever route you choose, get written confirmation and the insurance certificate before moving the car.
Bonus-malus and the Bersani law
The bonus-malus system gives every policyholder a merit class based on years without at-fault claims. If you buy a used car and have never held a policy, you start at entry class 14, and the premium is higher.
The Bersani law (law 40/2007) lets you avoid that penalty in one specific situation: if someone in your household already insures a vehicle in a better class, you can inherit that class on the new vehicle. Timing is crucial. According to an IVASS letter of 9 March 2015, the benefit can be applied only at the time of the simultaneous transfer of the vehicle at the PRA, in case of contract transfer, or on new registration. After that moment it cannot be recovered [2].
In practice: if you buy a used car as the family's second car, ask for the Bersani class when you take out the policy for the ownership transfer, not a few months later. A better class does not mean the same premium, though: age, years licensed, engine power and province all still count.
What the seller should do
Sellers have a task too, and if they ignore it they keep paying for a car that is no longer theirs. On a sale, the policyholder can ask for a refund of the unused premium, calculated pro rata for the remaining period, minus tax and the National Health Service contribution. Termination because of a sale is free and the contract cannot impose penalties. You need documents proving the sale, meaning the ownership transfer, and you return the certificate and sticker as the insurer instructs [3]. No refund is due if the policy is moved to another vehicle.
For sellers, the advice is to notify the insurer as soon as the transfer is complete and keep the receipt. For buyers, it is worth asking the seller for written confirmation that this has been done.
The 15-day grace period is not a free pass
A common misunderstanding concerns the 15-day grace period. It comes from Article 1901 of the Civil Code and applies to an unpaid premium on an annual policy already in force: RC cover stays valid until midnight of the fifteenth day after the due date. It does not extend add-ons such as theft and fire, and if you pay during the period, cover restarts from the payment date, with no retroactive effect [4].
It does not apply to someone buying a used car with no policy yet: there is no contract to renew, so no grace. Under Article 193 paragraph 3 the fine is halved if cover becomes operative within fifteen days of the deadline, but that is a reduction of the fine, not permission to drive [1].
How much does it cost to insure a used car
Premiums vary a lot between insurers. The main factors are:
- Merit class and claims history. The heaviest factor for anyone who already has a policy.
- Age and years licensed. A new driver pays far more than an experienced one, which is why lower-powered cars are worth considering.
- Engine power and fuel type. A 70 hp city car costs less to insure than a powerful SUV.
- Province of residence. It changes the base premium noticeably.
- Optional cover. Theft and fire, comprehensive cover, roadside assistance and glass add to the price but can be worth it on a recent used car.
- Telematics and instalments. A black box can bring a discount, paying in instalments usually costs a little more.
Get at least three quotes, including through comparison sites, but always read the limits, excesses and exclusions. The cheapest quote often has a high excess or reduced cover.
Practical buyer checklist
- Before signing, ask for a quote with the plate and your details.
- Check whether a household member has a merit class you can inherit under Bersani.
- Set the start: same day and hour as the ownership transfer.
- Pay, and keep the insurance certificate and the insurer's confirmation.
- Only then collect the car and drive.
- Note the renewal date so you can compare offers in good time.
Sellers: notify the insurer, claim the unused premium and keep a copy of the sale deed.
Takeaway
Insuring a used car is not a formality to sort out afterwards: it is the condition for driving, and it can change the real cost of the purchase by hundreds of euros. Get quotes before signing, use the Bersani rule if you qualify at the right moment, and never treat the 15-day grace as a shortcut. If you are selling, close your policy promptly to recover the unused premium.
Further reading
- Highway Code, Art. 193, on Brocardi.it: https://www.brocardi.it/codice-della-strada/titolo-v/art193.html
- IVASS market letter of 9 March 2015: https://www.dirittobancario.it/sites/default/files/allegati/lettera_al_mercato_ivass_9_marzo_2015.pdf
- Money.it, car insurance refund on sale: https://www.money.it/rimborso-assicurazione-auto-vendita-furto-rottamazione
- ComparaSemplice, 15-day grace period: https://www.comparasemplice.it/informazioni/rc-auto/tolleranza-15-giorni-assicurazione-auto
Further reading
- Codice della Strada, art. 193 — Brocardi.it
- Lettera al mercato: polizze r.c. auto gratuite offerte con l'acquisto di autovetture — IVASS
- Rimborso assicurazione auto in caso di vendita, furto o rottamazione — Money.it
- Tolleranza 15 giorni assicurazione auto: normativa, limiti e sanzioni — ComparaSemplice
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