1. VAT: the biggest cost difference
Between EU countries, a used car is usually sold under the margin scheme: VAT is included in the price and is not shown separately. You pay no extra VAT at home.
Some cars are sold with deductible VAT (shown separately on the invoice). A VAT-registered business can often reclaim it; a private buyer pays it as part of the price.
A car counts as 'new' for VAT if it is less than 6 months old or has driven less than 6,000 km. Then VAT is paid in the buyer's home country, not where you buy it.
Switzerland, the UK and Norway are outside the EU. Importing from there into the EU normally means customs duty (often 10% for cars) plus import VAT in your country, unless the car qualifies for a classic or returned-goods exemption. Always ask the dealer for an export invoice.
2. Registration in your country
Ask for the original registration papers and, for newer cars, the Certificate of Conformity (COC). With a COC, registering an EU car is usually a formality.
Plan for temporary export plates or transit insurance if you will drive the car home yourself.
Many countries charge a registration or CO₂ tax on imported cars. Check your national rules before agreeing a price — it can change the real cost a lot.
3. History and provenance
Ask for the service book and invoices, and compare dates and mileage. Any official Ferrari dealer can check the service records stored by Ferrari for that chassis number.
For classic cars, Ferrari Classiche certification confirms that the car matches its factory specification. Ask whether the car is certified or eligible.
Check the chassis number on the car against the papers. Ask directly about accident history and paintwork.
4. Inspection before you pay
Book an independent pre-purchase inspection, ideally at an official Ferrari workshop or a known specialist near the dealer. Serious dealers welcome this.
For modern cars, ask for a diagnostic read-out; for classics, a compression test and a check of the bodywork.
Ferrari Approved cars come with a warranty valid across Europe, which makes buying from abroad much safer.
5. Payment and transport
Pay only by bank transfer to the dealer's business account, and check the company name and address against its official website. Never pay a private person on behalf of a dealer.
Use enclosed, insured transport. Most specialist dealers can arrange delivery across Europe.
Every car on Rosso Registry comes from a verified dealer
Contact the dealer directly — no middlemen, no private sellers.