Have moved you over here to the Italian forum in hopes of finding a few more responses for you. One thing to consider is that, with an electric car from the US, you may or may not have compatible charging points here in Europe. We got a subscription to a charging network about a year ago, and in playing around with their maps, I noticed that the charging points in the US seem to work off different "sockets." I would definitely check that out before you consider paying good money to ship an EV from the US to Italy (and then back again in 12 to 18 months.

 

Ok I believe that it works because there are various adapters. Thanks.

 

Your vehicle has to meet Italian specs and then you have to return it to US specs. What make/model are you talking about please?

 

Makes sense. Its a 2023 Subaru Solterra. Thank you.

 

If you're Italian unless the law has changed you shouldn't have to pay VAT if you've owned the car longer than 12 months.

Having said that IMHO the only time it makes sense to ship a car is if it's a classic you intend to drive only on the weekend.

Have you asked Subaru Italy if they'll service the thing? If they won't or even if they don't stock North American parts you risk having a large paper weight.

That also looks like a fair sized SUV. Depending on where you're living that can be an issue.

Finally I'd point out 10K is half way to a new Toyota hybrid. You might not find anyone willing to lease you a car. No local credit record . Will you be working?

 

We have checked and they sell them in Italy, just very expensive! Its the good thing with Evs the models are the same regardless of where you are, no variation in battery. We have a family of 5 plus a large dog and we drive it in the States its about the minimum we can get away with for size, and in fact we drove around Italy this summer and previous and based on our rental and looking at other vehicles it would be just fine. Thanks, the VAT is what would make the difference for us because of the car value in Italy.

 

We have checked and they sell them in Italy, just very expensive! Its the good thing with Evs the models are the same regardless of where you are, no variation in battery.

The battery may be the same, but the charging connector can vary by location. The following is a quote from the charge network we use here in :

How do Type 1 and Type 2 EV connectors differ?

Type 1 connectors, mainly found in North America and Japan, have five pins for AC charging. In contrast, Type 2 connectors, standard in Europe, both AC and DC charging thanks to their additional pin configuration, providing greater versatility.

And you may be interested in this article I stumbled across online:

Different Types of EV Chargers in the US and Europe - Sino Energy

Clear the confusion! Explore the different types of EV chargers in the US and Europe to find the perfect charging solution.

sinoevse.com

As NickZ already said, just because the make and model are the same, it doesn't mean the parts and safety requirements are the same. The safety requirements are supposed to be uniform across the EU, but all bets are off for importing even EVs to and from the US.

 

Just because the name plate is the same doesn't mean it's the same.

The EU rules tend to mean different bumpers, seat belts , windshields I think. In Italy the vehicle needs rear seat warning so you don't forget a kid in the child seat.

I'd also point out that after 12 months you need to the Italian drivers test. My guess is that SUV has too much power for a new driver. Unlikely you'll get pulled over for this but the insurance company might care if something happens.

 

This may be helpful:

Il Club ACI - Importing a vehicle

 

We moved to Italy last year (just outside Florence) and went through the same dilemma. Honestly, unless you're super attached to the car, I’d lean toward selling it in the US. The car shipping to Italy process is a beast, paperwork, port delays, customs headaches. We considered it and bailed after realizing the import taxes and emissions compliance alone weren’t worth it, even with EU citizenship.

We ended up buying a used hybrid locally. Yeah, it was pricier than expected, but way less stressful. The dealership handled most of the paperwork, and now we don’t have to worry about getting parts or maintenance for a US model. Also, keep in mind that parking and narrow streets in Milan can be rough with a bigger vehicle.

 

I thought about bringing my Subaru Outback from Seattle when we moved to Italy 7 years ago. I ed Subaru who were super helpful and sent me an enormous list of very expensive alterations it would need to be EU-compliant. Just wasn't worth it. Looking back, the idea of bringing a 3.6L car here was total madness. Leave the car in the US if you're only here for 12-18 months. You could look at the car leasing schemes for US citizens (non-EU citizens) that Citroen, Renault etc run where you get a brand new car for a long term lease, full insurance included - autoeurope for instance; its not the same thing as renting from Hertz and the like. HTH.