Sting on foreign license plates: the new Highway Code aims to stop tax inversion

The phenomenon of "Polish license plates" - technically 'tax inversion - may now be numbered. This is what emerges from the basic text of the new highway code, on which the sector associations are still working and will have to express their opinion by 13 September.

The phenomenon of Polish license plates has been widespread in our country for some time, especially in Campania, where car insurance has high costs due to the high number of accidents. This is a practice aimed at saving money, but also used to evade any penalties for violations of the highway code.

The circulation of foreign vehicles in Italy was initially regulated by the Security Decree of 2018, which introduced, with some exceptions, a ban on the circulation of vehicles registered abroad owned by residents in Italy. Subsequently, the art. 93-bis of the Highway Code provides for a ban on foreign vehicles owned by people resident in Italy for more than three months and the obligation to register for those registered to residents abroad and circulating in Italy for more than 30 days in the year, even if not consecutive.

According to the basic text of the new highway code, after registration in the register there will also be an obligation to take out insurance coverage with an Italian company or one authorized to operate in our country.

Finally, precisely to limit the phenomenon linked to Polish license plates, as reported by Quattroruote, since last August 13th, the Ministry of the Interior has allowed the Italian authorities to access Polish government portals to verify in real time traffic documents, car liability insurance and driving licenses issued in Poland.