English Car in Italy

[Stella]

I agree with LTR - better to use an expat insurer than go through the long and expensive process of re-registering - in fact, it sounds almost easier and less expensive to change the car than change its plates. I used Clements recently (International Auto, Property, Health, Liability and Business Insurance for Expatriates) to insure two cars, one UK-reg and my first-ever Italian-reg. For third-party only (neither car is worth enough to require comprehensive cover) I paid $US 535, took out the policies online with ease, received emailed documents for interim use, then original Italian insurance certificate by post soon after.

[DavidandLinda]

Just like to point out that not all re-registrations are an expensive process!
We purchased a left hand drive car in Germany which was registered in the Uk. We then drove here on British plates until the time came to change to Italian plates.
We used a small local garage where we had last year purchased a second car and also where we purchase car insurance as he is an agent.
OK it was a fairly lenghy process over six months, but all we have had to do is go in to the office a number of times and sign numerous bits of paper and on receipt of the Italian plates pay the bill. Which thanks to previous forum discussions we were not looking forward to!
You can imagine how pleasantly surprised we were when the total bill came to only 325 Euros. We are by now friendly with the garage owner and discussed our surprise with him, only to be told with a shrug that he was not out to cheat us! Think the moral here is be careful whom you go to for advice when it comes to re-registration of a vehicle!

[melaverty]

Thanks to all for the contributions to my post.
After digesting all of the comments it sounds as thought the expat policy route may be my best bet. Reregistering sounds like the last option reading the hassle that some of you guys have had.
I'll be checking out Clements International. Does anybody know of any further companies. Had a quick google around and found lots of dodgy links but very few potential insurers.
Mark