Help with buying a new car

There are lots of previous threads on buying cars, which you might like to check out. As non-residents, you can only buy a brand new car in Italy, and then only if you have the right paperwork. I would first check out with the Embassy what they think that paperwork is, then contact a dealer for your choice of car and get him to agree to the purchase on the basis of that paperwork. Subaru are fairly well represented here - about the same as in UK - which may be a lot less than you are used to in Oz. Tuscany should have all the world's cars represented so no particular reason to stick to Italian. Diesel definitely as diesel cars are more popular in Europe (think resale) and diesel costs a lot less than petrol. And I recommend you start saving now for your insurance  Terry

Moving from Oz? I imagine the long travel to Italy! I cannot help you in this kind of issue, what I know for sure is that diesel is cheaper than petrol! Also, if you buy an Italian car, it will be easier to buy related products or to repair it if something doesn't work.. that was my personal advice. Valentina

It would be worth looking into some of the long-term car rentals - generally sourced out of France. These schemes are backed by Renault and Citroen as far as I know, and they get a very good tax-break from the French, but they are only available to non EU visitors. Unless they have fallen foul of French government money saving cuts, various US friends swear by these deals.  

I moved here (also Tuscany) from Oz (Sydney), arriving 5 or 6 weeks ago, and by dint of keeping up the pressure have just today got as far as being allowed to put my precious cash on the table and get a car, which I expect to get in a week or so. I'm sure it could take longer! So for a single year, I can't say whether the long-term hire or lease schemes are good, but I can say that they would be worth looking into. Oh, we are also in MS! Good luck Alex

Hi Aussie family. We are kiwis living in Marche. As far as I know, you'll not be able to buy a used car in Italy, as you do not hold 'resident' status. My sister visits from NZ and uses the French car rental option as already mentioned in posts above. She has the car delivered to Rome, and drops off in Rome. She signs a contract to buy, but does not pay for the car, she only pays the rental charge.  Even if you have to do the 6-month handover and do that in Rome it may still be worth while. Alternatively, do the mid-term handover in France (Nice for example) and include that in a holiday in France. I would advise the smallest 4-door car (or station wagon) you can get, because most of your driving will be around Tuscany and the villages in Italy have tiny tiny streets, hence why Italians are experts in small cars!  It will be most unusual (but not unknown) to get snow in Tuscany. You can get snow chains if you are headed up to the mountains in winter (often they are required in mountainous areas, they are here).  Another cost, if you manage to buy a car, the road tax and insurance in Italy is very expensive (compared to the UK). An option, if you know anybody in the UK is to go there first, buy the car and insure it in the UK, and drive down to Tuscany. You can buy LHD in the UK. Enjoy your stay in Tuscany.