April 29, 2026 in Rome, Italy — Italy's bollo auto is a vehicle road tax calculated purely on engine power in kilowatts (kW), not CO2 emissions. With a base rate of €2.58/kW and an additional superbollo of €20/kW for cars over 185kW, Italy's road tax can range from €0 for historic EVs to over €3,000/year for high-performance supercars.
How Bollo Auto Works in Italy
Bollo auto is an annual road tax levied by Italian regions, calculated based on engine power output in kW. Unlike some EU countries that use CO2-based systems, Italy's bollo is purely a power-based tax:
Standard bollo = kW x €2.58
| Engine Power (kW) | Annual Bollo | Vehicle Example |
|---|---|---|
| 60kW | €155 | Small city cars (Fiat 500 1.0L) |
| 85kW | €219 | Family hatchbacks (Golf 1.5 TSI) |
| 110kW | €284 | Compact sedans (Audi A3) |
| 140kW | €361 | Family SUVs ( Tiguan 2.0L) |
| 185kW | €477 | Performance sedans (BMW 330i) |
Superbollo: Additional Tax for High-Performance Cars
Superbollo applies to all vehicles with engine power exceeding 185kW. The rate is €20 per kW above the 185kW threshold:
Superbollo = (kW - 185) x €20
| Engine Power | Standard Bollo | Superbollo | Total Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200kW (e.g. Mercedes C43) | €516 | €300 (15kW x €20) | €816 |
| 250kW (e.g. Porsche 911) | €645 | €1,300 (65kW x €20) | €1,945 |
| 300kW (e.g. BMW M4) | €774 | €2,300 (115kW x €20) | €3,074 |
| 400kW (e.g. Ferrari 488) | €1,032 | €4,300 (215kW x €20) | €5,332 |
| 500kW (e.g. Lamborghini Huracán) | €1,290 | €6,300 (315kW x €20) | €7,590 |
Superbollo makes owning high-performance Italian and German sports cars in Italy significantly more expensive than in neighbouring countries. A Ferrari 488 GTB owner in Milan pays approximately €5,300/year in road tax alone.
Regional Variation in Bollo
Each Italian region can apply a surcharge or discount to the base bollo rate. Regional supplements typically range from 0% to 20%:
| Region | Regional Surcharge | Example: 150kW car |
|---|---|---|
| Lombardy | +10% | €426 (€387 + €39) |
| Lazio (Rome) | +10% | €426 |
| Tuscany (Florence) | +5% | €406 |
| Sicily | +15% | €445 |
| Sardinia | 0% | €387 (no surcharge) |
The regional variation means a BMW 3 Series in Palermo (Sicily) costs more per year in bollo than the same car in Cagliari (Sardinia).
EV and Historic Vehicle Exemptions
Italy offers generous exemptions for certain vehicle categories:
- Electric vehicles (BEV M1): Full exemption until December 31, 2027. This covers all passenger BEVs — Tesla, Fiat 500e, Hyundai Ioniq 6, etc.
- Historic vehicles (30+ years): Registered as veicoli storici = €0 bollo. The Historic Vehicle class applies to cars 30 years or older from first registration.
- Disabled persons: Exemption for vehicles adapted for specific disabilities with proper certification.
Bollo for Common Vehicle Types
| Vehicle Type | kW | Bollo | Superbollo | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiat 500 1.0L mild hybrid | 51kW | €132 | €0 | €132 |
| VW Golf 1.5 TSI | 96kW | €248 | €0 | €248 |
| Alfa Romeo Giulia 2.0L | 147kW | €379 | €0 | €379 |
| Mercedes GLC 220d | 143kW | €369 | €0 | €369 |
| BMW M3 Competition | 375kW | €968 | €3,800 | €4,768 |
| Ferrari Roma | 456kW | €1,176 | €5,420 | €6,596 |
| Fiat 500e (EV) | 87kW | €0 | €0 | €0 (until 2027) |
Penalties for Non-Payment
Driving without valid bollo (scaduto) results in fines ranging from €166 to €666, depending on how overdue the payment is. Italian police use automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) linked to the Agenzia delle Entrate database to detect unpaid bollo. If you sell a car, the buyer pays bollo from the transfer date — always check bollo status before buying.
Conclusion
Italy's bollo auto charges €2.58/kW annually, with an additional €20/kW superbollo for cars over 185kW. A typical family car (150kW) costs €387-426/year. A high-performance sports car (300kW+) costs €3,000-7,500/year in bollo alone. EVs enjoy full exemption until 2027. Historic cars over 30 years old are permanently exempt. Use our Italy Car Tax Calculator to find your exact annual bollo.
Disclaimer: Bollo rates based on Agenzia delle Entrate data as of April 2026. Confirm current regional surcharges with your regional revenue office (Regione) before payment.
Official Resources: Agenzia delle Entrate | Ministry of Economy and Finance | Ministry of Transport Italy