What does the revisione actually tell you about a car?

It says the car passed the prescribed checks on one particular day, no more and no less. The interval runs by the age of the car, the transport ministry keeps the dates, and the odometer is written down at every test. So what matters to a buyer is less the latest result than the series: if the mileage climbs evenly the story holds together; if a year is missing, the car either stood still or was being driven without being tested. A fresh pass replaces no inspection of your own — it sets the floor you start from, nothing above it.

What should I check on an Italian car that runs on gas?

First, whether the system was fitted at the factory or afterwards: a factory system is part of the type approval, while a retrofit has to have been inspected and entered in the papers, or the registration office at the other end will not accept it. Second, the date on the tank, because its approval expires and it then has to be re-tested or replaced. Third, the refuelling network where you will actually drive — LPG is available across much of Europe, CNG far less so, and a bifuel car with no gas supply is a petrol car carrying a heavy tank in the boot. Fourth, the petrol side, which runs little on gas and ages anyway: plugs, hoses and a tank that rarely gets emptied.

Used cars from Italy

Italy is a large market with a logic of its own. The annual vehicle tax is assessed on engine power and emissions class, and the region sets the rate — over decades that has shaped a fleet of small displacements and, with it, Europe's largest stock of cars running on LPG or natural gas. A second slice of the supply comes from long-term rental, which takes an unusually large share of Italian new-car sales: cars with a few years of service, high motorway mileage and a complete service book. The third point is geographical — there is more difference between a car from the Po valley and one from Puglia than between some pairs of countries.

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What matters

Revisione: the result of the periodic test is in the libretto di circolazione and can also be looked up against the number plate on the transport ministry's portal — together with the odometer reading recorded at each test. A gap in that sequence is the first question to put to the seller.
North and south: the Po valley salts its roads in winter, and the fog keeps moisture against the metal for days. A southern car does not have that problem — there the sun and the sea air work on paint, rubber, the dashboard and the air conditioning instead.
Bifuel cars: LPG and CNG are widespread here, both factory-fitted and retrofitted. The tank carries an approval with an expiry date in the papers — once it runs out the tank has to be re-tested or replaced, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car at that moment.
Exporting: before the border comes the radiazione per esportazione at the vehicle register, where the plates and the libretto are surrendered and the drive home runs on temporary plates. What falls due on your side is in the import guide for the country you will register it in.

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How people search in Italy

A used car is called:: auto usate
The technical inspection is called:: revisione
The registration document is called:: libretto di circolazione

These words appear in the papers and in every listing from Italy — worth knowing before you assess a car from there. Ask where the revisione stands before you travel.

Makes that shape the stock in Italy

By body and drivetrain in Italy

By price band

Places in Italy

Read on

Importing a car into Italy

Common questions

What does the revisione actually tell you about a car?: It says the car passed the prescribed checks on one particular day, no more and no less. The interval runs by the age of the car, the transport ministry keeps the dates, and the odometer is written down at every test. So what matters to a buyer is less the latest result than the series: if the mileage climbs evenly the story holds together; if a year is missing, the car either stood still or was being driven without being tested. A fresh pass replaces no inspection of your own — it sets the floor you start from, nothing above it.
What should I check on an Italian car that runs on gas?: First, whether the system was fitted at the factory or afterwards: a factory system is part of the type approval, while a retrofit has to have been inspected and entered in the papers, or the registration office at the other end will not accept it. Second, the date on the tank, because its approval expires and it then has to be re-tested or replaced. Third, the refuelling network where you will actually drive — LPG is available across much of Europe, CNG far less so, and a bifuel car with no gas supply is a petrol car carrying a heavy tank in the boot. Fourth, the petrol side, which runs little on gas and ages anyway: plugs, hoses and a tank that rarely gets emptied.