Polish license plates: why the Italian insurance requirement is a legal lie.

The media debate in recent days on foreign license plates has raised doubts and fears among motorists,
fueling the belief - technically unfounded - that Italy can unilaterally impose the conversion
of third party insurance policies on vehicles registered in other European Union countries. In reality, the issue is based on a
an area where European supranational law has a superior hierarchy, making any claim to forced “nationalization” of insurance coverage virtually impossible.

The primacy of EU Directives

The alleged illegitimacy of foreign coverage wavers in the face of Directive 2009/103/EC. The cardinal principle is
that of the "presumption of coverage": a vehicle registered in a member country is, by law, considered
insured throughout the Union. The driver is not required to show paper certificates or
possess the Green Card to demonstrate the validity of the policy.

This guarantee of free movement is strengthened by Articles 18 and 56 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which protect the freedom to provide services: European insurance companies do not need a physical office in Italy; their registration in the IVASS registers under the regime of establishment or freedom to provide services (LPS) is sufficient.

Legality passes through REVE

While ownership rights allow a foreign rental company to operate its fleet according to the
legislation of the country of origin, Italy retains intact the power to regulate internal circulation for
fight tax evasion.

Article 93-bis of the Highway Code is the essential reference point. Anyone driving a foreign vehicle is in compliance if they meet three conditions: registration in the Foreign Vehicle Register (REVE), the presence on board of a document certifying availability (such as a long-term rental agreement) with a specific date, and the correct payment of taxes, including IPT (Property Tax). Here, the State has full control, but cannot in any way question the nationality of the policy.

Beyond improvisation: the real problem

If the law is clear, why all the fuss? The answer lies in a market that, for too long, has been populated
by unscrupulous individuals operating in gray areas. Scams and irregularities committed by unprofessional operators
have exasperated the police and attracted media attention, creating a climate of uncertainty that affects
unfairly even those who operate in full compliance with the rules.

Expertise as a guarantee

Today the authorities have advanced digital tools to verify the regularity of the
registrations. “Media terrorism” and tight controls are, ultimately, the price paid for
the exclusion from the market of those who have operated illegally. For the motorist, the solution is not to give up the
advantages of the single market, but rely on experienced professionals capable of navigating the regulatory perimeter
with rigor. Peace of mind while driving, in this new scenario, does not depend on the type of license plate, but on transparency.
of the documentation produced.