Lucrezia Ciotti The car tax could be transformed starting in 2027 , with an exemption expected to affect millions of Italian drivers. But behind the savings announced by the Meloni government lie some contradictions: from older, polluting cars to electric ones, including classic vehicles.
2027 car tax exemption for classic, old, or electric cars: what's happening?
2027 could bring a significant change for millions of Italian drivers: the option of not paying car tax for an entire year. The government led by Giorgia Meloni has introduced a temporary exemption , with the intention of making it permanent through the next budget law. To know the full terms and conditions, however, we will have to wait for parliamentary approval and the final text of the measure.
Currently, the benefit will apply to payments due between January 1st and December 31st, 2027 , and will be granted to only one car per individual, provided it is properly insured. Vehicle owners and holders of long-term leasing or rental contracts will be eligible.
The main requirement concerns power : cars that do not exceed 80 kW, equivalent to approximately 109 horsepower, will be admitted, powered by petrol, diesel, hybrid or LPG and methane.
Owners of multiple vehicles with these characteristics will not be able to independently decide which one to exempt: the least powerful vehicle will be considered, or, if they have the same power output, the one with the lowest road tax. For motorcycles and mopeds, however, there are no similar limits.
According to government estimates, the measure could affect 13,2 million cars and approximately two million motorcycles, with an average savings of €168 and €59, respectively . It also remains unclear how the Regions will be compensated for the lost revenue, given that road tax revenue represents a significant source for them and that the estimated loss amounts to approximately €2,362 billion.
Alongside the economic benefits, however, some contradictions emerge . As highlighted by Quattroruote in its October 2026 analysis, four situations risk producing results that are inconsistent with the measure's objectives. The first concerns older, more polluting cars : even a vehicle registered in 1997, belonging to the Euro 1 class, could benefit from the exemption if it meets the power limits. Considering that the standard road tax can be higher for vehicles with lower environmental classes, the most polluting cars could achieve the greatest savings.
The second case concerns classic cars between twenty and thirty years old. These vehicles, if equipped with a certificate of historical relevance and an annotation in the registration document, already enjoy a 50% reduction in the tax. With the new rules, however, a peculiar situation could arise: a non-classic car with a power output of less than 80 kW would pay nothing, while a vehicle recognized as classic would continue to pay a portion of the tax.
The third paradox concerns electric cars registered in 2020. These vehicles currently benefit from a five-year total exemption from road tax, while subsequently the tax is reduced by 75%. Consequently, in 2027, an electric car could have to pay a residual portion of the tax, while a petrol or diesel car, even a much older one, would be completely exempt.
The final exception concerns those who register a car in December 2026. Under certain circumstances, the first tax must be paid by the end of the month following registration. Those who purchase a car in the final month of the year could therefore benefit from two exemptions, avoiding both the first payment due in January and the one for the subsequent period.
Electric cars have diminishing advantages over conventional vehicles: what's the difference between incentives, parking, and restricted traffic zones?
The exemption scheduled for 2027 also reopens the debate between electric cars and vehicles with traditional engines . In recent years, the former have been able to benefit from various financial and administrative incentives. In 2019, for example, in addition to free road tax for five years, government incentives of up to €6.000 were available for the purchase of ultra-low-emission vehicles, if they were scrapped. These measures were complemented by incentives introduced by numerous municipalities, which allowed free access to restricted traffic zones (ZTLs) and free parking in blue spaces.
Today, the government has chosen to direct new funding primarily toward car manufacturers. Resources for home wallboxes are planned for 2027, but there are no new state bonuses for private individuals intending to purchase an electric car. Local governments are also reviewing some of their previous incentives. In Rome, starting July 1, 2026, the rules for entering Limited Traffic Zones have changed: simply registering your license plate is no longer sufficient to drive for free, and for some categories of drivers, the new annual permit can cost up to €1.000.
Even free parking is becoming less of a given . In Brescia, starting August 1, 2026, electric cars will be required to pay for parking in blue spaces, while in Milan and Florence discounts continue to be available, albeit subject to specific conditions and authorizations. Electric cars, however, retain some advantages : they can generally be driven during anti-smog restrictions, are less affected by fuel price increases, and benefit from more favorable taxation for company cars. Discounts on tolls are also planned for some motorway sections. The new exemption could, however, reduce the tax gap with internal combustion-engined cars , without eliminating the differences related to fuel consumption, maintenance, and operating costs.