Fine for a car you had already sold: how to prove the sale
In Italy the fine is sent to the person who appears as owner in the Public Vehicle Register (PRA). If the buyer did not register the transfer in time, the register may still show your name, and the fine reaches you even though you had already sold the vehicle.
Why the fine reaches you
Under art. 196 of the Italian Highway Code, the owner of the vehicle is jointly liable with the driver for the fine. After the sale, the buyer must ask the PRA to register the transfer within 60 days of the authentication of the signature on the deed of sale (art. 94 of the Highway Code). Until that happens, the register may still show the seller.
What proves the sale
- The deed of sale with the authenticated signature, which shows the date of the sale.
- The PRA record (visura PRA), which shows who the register lists as owner today.
- For the list of past owners, the chronological extract (estratto cronologico), available from PRA offices.
Compare the date of the violation on the fine with the date of the sale: if the sale came first, you have a ground to contest the fine.
How to get the official PRA record (€6)
- Online on ACI's Visurenet service, with an SPID, CIE, CNS or eIDAS digital identity: €6, paid through PagoPA. At most three records per day with the same tax code.
- Without a digital identity (for example if you live abroad): ask the provincial PRA office by email or PEC, using ACI's application form. It costs €6 and takes 3 to 5 working days.
- The record is a digital document, not a certificate. It shows the current legal status of the vehicle: the owner and any liens.
We do not sell the PRA record: you request it directly from ACI.
Deadlines and what to do
- Do not pay the fine if you want to appeal: in Italy, paying usually closes the possibility of an appeal.
- Appeal to the Prefect within 60 days of notification, or to the Giudice di Pace within 30 days (60 if you live abroad).
- Attach the deed of sale and, if you have it, the PRA record to the appeal.
- The appeal can be accepted or rejected: the decision belongs to the Italian authorities.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get the PRA record without SPID?
Yes. If you have no Italian or European digital identity, ask the provincial PRA office by email or PEC with ACI's application form. It takes 3 to 5 working days.
Why does the fine come to me if I sold the car?
Because the register still shows you as the owner: the buyer has not yet registered the transfer. With the deed of sale dated before the violation, you can contest the fine.
Sources: ACI, Visurenet service page (updated 22 October 2025); Italian Highway Code, articles 94 and 196.