Polish license‑plate scheme in Naples triggers government crackdown

Thousands of vehicles in Naples have been re‑registered with Polish licence plates to avoid Italy's high insurance premiums and vehicle taxes. Data from the Italian Automobile Club (ACI) show about 68,228 Polish‑plated vehicles on Italian roads, including 37,830 cars and 29,120 motorcycles, with the vast majority concentrated in Naples. In 2025 alone, the foreign‑vehicle register recorded 14,066 new registrations in the city, while nearby Caserta accounted for only 962.

Polish authorities label the practice the “Naples fraud” because accident compensation costs are falling on honest Polish insurers. The Polish Guarantee Fund (PBUK) saw payouts rise from €1.5 million in 2024 to over €4.2 million in 2025. To curb the scheme, Poland’s Ministry of Infrastructure plans to require photographic evidence that the vehicle is physically present in a Polish workshop during inspections, making the loophole harder to exploit. Drivers are already looking at shifting registrations to the Czech Republic or Bulgaria.