Milan - Post Report Question and Answers
What kind of car do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car do you advise not to bring?
I wish we'd left our car at home, it just sits in the (tiny) garage most of the time. Trains and flights will get you most everywhere, and if you want to drive there are car sharing services and rental companies. If you do bring a car, the smaller the better. - Jun 2018
I would not bring a large SUV or minivan if my family size does not require it. It is an old European city and parking is rare, and the spots are very narrow! - Sep 2016
Smaller is better. Actually, I don't recommend bringing a vehicle here. For USG personnel, you can walk or take public transportation. Half of people in this city don't have cars. If you decide you want a vehicle, you can buy one here. You will be exempt from the 21% VAT tax, so after driving the vehicle for 2 or 3 years, you can sell it for basically what you paid for it. Easier to insure and maintain if you buy it here. U.S. vehicles don't meet regulation here, so you will need to get a waiver to bring in a U.S. vehicle. That can come back to bite you when you depart and you can't or don't want to take your car with you. Since it doesn't meet regs, you can't sell it to an Italian - only diplomats. That is a very small market. So, you end of junking it or selling it at a significant loss. My advice is to sell your car in the U.S., trying living without one for a couple months, and then if you decide you want one, buy one locally. - Aug 2013
Anything goes. But, Italian parking spaces are TINY, so be prepared to get creative. Parts and maintenance are expensive. I didn't have a car and was fine. - Jun 2010
The smaller the better. - Dec 2008
Don't bring a big SUV or American sports car. You will draw attention to yourself, sometimes unwanted! - Jan 2008
