Guide · San Marino

Driving a UK-registered car in San Marino: the six-month rule, what registering it involves, and the alternative

New residents of San Marino must register a UK car at URAT within six months. What that involves, what URAT charges, and the alternative.

Last reviewed October 2026

How long can I keep it on UK plates?

According to URAT's published answers to common questions, once you take up residence in San Marino the vehicles you own must be registered there within six months. Residence is recorded by the Ufficio Stato Civile, Servizi Demografici ed Elettorali. We found no published figures for fines. If you live in Italy and drive into San Marino, for work or otherwise, it is the Italian rule that matters: a car on foreign plates must be registered in Italy within three months of taking up Italian residence, or the owner faces a fine of €400 to €1,600, withdrawal of the registration document and, after 30 days, confiscation.

Can a right-hand-drive car be registered?

San Marino drives on the right. URAT checks a foreign car's technical documents before registering it and can require an inspection and road test (visita e prova). It publishes no specific rules on right-hand drive, so ask URAT what it will need, such as headlamps set for driving on the right, before you pay for any work. Right-hand drive sells for less in San Marino and Italy.

What registering it involves

Documents for URAT: the original certificate of conformity or an accepted equivalent, the UK registration document showing the car has left the UK register, sworn translations of every document not in Italian (asseverate in tribunale) and a notarised declaration.
An inspection and road test (visita e prova) at URAT if the car's periodic inspection has expired or has less than two months left.
Registration at URAT: plates, the registration card, the transcription tax, the annual circulation tax and the RSM international code.
San Marino motor insurance.

What it costs

URAT charges: the transcription tax, plates, the registration card, the inspection and the annual circulation tax. URAT's published FAQ doesn't give the amounts, so ask for a quote.
Sworn translations and the notarised declaration.

The alternative: sell it back to the UK

Driving the car back to the UK yourself means two long days on the road from San Marino, plus fuel, tolls, the Channel crossing and the journey back, and it only works while the MOT and UK insurance are valid. Selling to us skips all of that: we buy the car as it stands, collect it free from your address, handle the export paperwork and pay in pounds sterling (£) on collection day.

Get a free valuation for your car in San Marino

Free collection anywhere in San Marino, all export paperwork handled, paid in pounds sterling (£) on the day.

Value my UK car

Common questions

I live in Rimini and work in San Marino. Which rules apply to my car?

The Italian ones, because your residence is in Italy: a car on foreign plates must be registered in Italy within three months of taking up residence. Our Italy guide explains them in full.

Is San Marino in the EU?

No. San Marino keeps its own vehicle register (URAT) and issues its own plates, so a resident's UK car is registered there, under URAT's rules, not in Italy.

What if the MOT has expired?

Not a problem. We buy cars with an expired MOT, no UK tax or a SORN, and collect them by transporter.

Rules, rates and thresholds change. This guide is a general summary as of October 2026, not legal or tax advice — check the current position with the registration authority before relying on it.

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