What does "PROVA" mean?

Test

 

...makes me think of cheese...

[Homer]Mmm....Provalone...[/Homer]

 

I see you are from Long Island, there is an Enzo that resides there with "PROVA" on the license plates (Nassau County) I wonder is the owner reffering to the older Ferrari race cars, maybe someone can shed some light on this...?

 

Apparently the "Prova" plates that are used by the factory to test cars allow the drivers to have no speed limits. The police see them and they just let them go. At least that's what I heard years ago.

 

Yes that is somewhat correct. The factory uses these plates as kind of like dealer plates in that they can put them on any car when they need to road test them from the factory. And yes it does mean to 'test' or 'to prove'. I have the MA PROVA plate and guy I bought my car from has the RI plate.

FWIW it's also is the same in the Finnish language.

 

The actual verb means to "try" or to "test".

However, in the automotive world in Italy it does indeed mean test or test vehicle.

It is a requirement in Italy that if you do any testing of anything on a vehicle one must display a special plate on that vehicle that states "PROVA"!

In all the testing I did in the past in Italy we had to hang that plate from the trunk or very visibly in the rear window.

From some of the driving antics I had seen in Italy, however, I felt almost everyone should have been required to display this plate!

 

Does this mean if I take my car back to Italy I can drive as fast as I want ?
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No, it means everyone will get out of your way thinking you might have a few loose "nuts" testing your car!

Nice plate, though!

Car isn't bad either.

 

Thanks for the added info !

 

PROVA- TEST
MO- MODENA
53 - # OF PLATE
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. . . and if you've been a thorough reader of the threads in Vintage about the resurrection of Napolis' car, you'd know that the factory many times applied the "PROVA" with white shoe polish and not paint. . .

 

aaaaaaaaaand napolis proves himself once again to be the coolest member of Fchat.

 

"PROVA" plate is a registration reserved for subjects that are actually involved in professional dealing with automotive in Italy. Unlike other plates, PROVA can be moved from a vehicle to another as it is linked to an individual, not to the car itself. Due to that, you can ensure the plate instead than the vehicle.
If you are a dealer and need to collect an unensured vehicle, you place your "PROVA" plate on top of the original thus certifying that ensurance is covering you.
Ciao
Eugenio
BTW, you are subject to all road rstrictions, speed limit included!

 

looks like I am good...
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Hi,

Really? Are you sure you are not confusing with some other language?

The Finnish test plates say: "Koe" which is Finnish for "Test" i.e. "Prova" in Italian.
But yes, that is what the plates are used for, for testing cars that have no current registration or MOT etc.

And AFAIK both in Italy and elsewhere you are still supposed to follow all rules and regulations that apply to traffic. If the local cops know that those are cars being tested by Ferrari test drivers and decide to leave them alone, then that's another story. I know that country policemen might sometimes stop a sports car just to take a look at it and have a (friendly) chat with the driver/owner.

Cheers,

Pekka T.
Fin.

Edit: here's a Finnish "test plate" being used: http://www.saloondata.com/gallery/zoom/?id=308880

 

Mostly this word use for examining a new thing. If you are saying, you have seen "PROVA" written on car, then it means that vehicle was on the road for testing.

 

Just leaving this here

https://news.dupontregistry.com/for-sale/auctions/ferrari-250-gto-rm-sothebys-most-expensive-sold-at-auction/
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From some of the driving antics I had seen in Italy, however, I felt almost everyone should have been required to display this plate!

That is a BIG understatement!!