Hello,

I'am now travelling 8 months in South - America and I still have like 4 months left. I would like to buy a bike in Chile to drive to the south and cross the border to Argentina. Do you think it's possible? I heard from some people it's dificult to cross the border, but if I come back to Chile to sell the bike, I dont think it will be a problem. I was thinking for a Honda CG 125 or 150 if I can find. Cheap bikes and they drive it everywhere here, very trustfull bike and they can repair it in every corner. So if someone can help me,... Thanks a lot

Greets

Robrecht

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If you are in Chile it is fairly easy to buy a bike and cross into Argentina. You would normally first obtain a RUT from the local government -- it is like a tax identification number. Then get a chilean ID card called a Carnet. With that you are almost a local and can buy and register a bike in your name and the documents will show you are the owner. It is surprisingly easy. Or... if no RUT of your own, go to a dealer and get the registration in his name, and then get a notarized (legalized) paper that you are authorized to take the vehicle out of the country. Keep multiple copies of that legalized paper because you may have to give a copy to the frontier officials in CHile each time you leave the country with the motorcycle. I have a KLR in Chile registered in my name and each time I cross into Argentina it only takes about 10 minutes to do the papers.

Hey Patagoniax!!

Thanks a lot for that info, I am probably going to do that! I might fly to Temuco and buy the bike there.... do you know of any website where I can look up the prices?

thanks again!

__________________
.:Master Piotr:.
-'79 BMW R65-

Just a note for other people that read this, it is OK for Argentina (as long as you have the correct temporary paper called the 'Transferencia de Solutiad' or something like that, don't remember exactly) but you can't get into Peru or Bolivia!! To get into Bolivia you need a legal document from the previous owner, which I did after being turned around at a border. To get into Peru I had to bribe the border cops at the Bolivian/Peruvian border.

I don't want people to make the same mistake I did as I had to sell my Chileno moto and buy a new one in Bolivia, it was very costly.

The best way for you to buy a bike in either Chile or Argentina is to buy it at a heavy discount from a fellow foreign traveller who is selling his. Make sure the owner is willing to let you photoshop his temporary import form and his title. Ride 2 up with the seller to the border and then cross the border using your new documents. There is a 99.9% chance that this will work as long as you are confident with all your answers. The worst case scenario is a slap on the wrist.

Remember that you are in Latin America and corruption is everywhere (with Chile being the exception).

BTW: When I was in Mendoza my Australian friend sold his KLR to a Polish guy and they rode to the Chilean border and completed the sale this way. That is why I am recommending this.

__________________
http://www.journeyrider.net Latin America blog (07-8)

HEY GATOGATO,
So you would Photoshop the Temporary Import and the Biketitle (vehicle registration certificate)? And when I as a Swiss will buy a Bike of a US...don't you think that look obvious faked? I mean y wouldn't have any Stamps in my Passport that proves I came down with this bike from the US. And why do you have to go with the previous bike owner to the Border? that loos even more suspicious to me....
What is the legal way to buy Bike of a foreigner(US, European or so)and cross borders between Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Urugay?

Thanks for your help,

Daniel currently in Bolivia

I have taken my Chilean bought Falcon into both Bolivia and Peru w/o problems. I have just a "power of attorney" and the title of the original owner. I have heard of one guy getting refused at Tacna, but this is all.

__________________
India Himal, 3mo,2x; Kazak/Krygyz/Tajik, 3 mo; Kashi-Lhasa, China 219! 6 wk; Nepal, 4 days/trekked 55; Santiago-Ushuia-Cusco, 7 mo; Peru, 3 mo; Chile-Medellin 3 mo; Medillin-Arica, 3 mo

The power of attorney is what I used after being turned around however they only gave me 3 months on it and said that if I arrived later they would take the bike from me. I believe the maximum amount of time is 6 months but I had no Spanish then unfortunately

Also the peruvian border guards wouldn't accept the power of attorney document until I gave them $10usd, once I was in everything was OK with getting back to Chile to make the sale.

The information is great here and I used it to buy a vehicle in Santiago but I had one MAJOR PROBLEM!

Because I was buying directly through the Registro Civil (as most people will do when all the paper work is correct) I was unable to buy because I had missed a cruitial step in aquiring my RUT!!!!

Once you get your RUT from the Sii you need to take your number to the Registro Civil and get them to add it to their database. THIS TAKES ~10 days! Until the number is in the system you cannot buy a vehicle!

The problem is everyone who has blogged about it has either bought through a Notaria or a dealer. This step at the Registro Civil still happens when your paper work is sent in (but you just don't know they had to enter your RUT into their databse.

Hopefully this will save alot of people the frustration and problems I had for several weeks!

Cheers

Ben

Hi,

I am in Argentina, about to catch a bus to chile to buy a bike and ride north.
I've been trying in Argentina, however it seems much more hassle here and then there are still risks on the borders etc..

This thread has been great, however I was wondering of someone could please help me really simply to break down this process.

Am I on the right track? Any help would be much appreciated!!

- get the rut
- buy bike once you have rut..
- take papers to the civil registry??
- (and how or where or does insurance fit in anywhere??)

If someone could help thanks!!
And also, if anyone sees this and knows of bike websites for chile, or bike dealers, or has any other help.

Nat

And also, I'm not quite sure what was meant about being able to get the bike out/into countries.. What paperwork is required??

That's basically it:
When you buy the bike, you will need to go to a notario (notary) who will help you consummate the deal. He oversees the transfer of cash and then submits the paperwork to the civil registry or whatever it's called to arrange tranfer of the Padron (title).

He will also write and notarize a POA (power of attorney). This allows you to travel/ride with the bike w/o a padron. It actually gives you full power do do whatever you wish with the bike (buy/sell etc). If you want to leave the country, the POA should specify that (listing all countries by name), that is the case.

You can arrange to have the Padron (title) sent somewhere in about 4 weeks or you can go to any civil registry and request a copy.

I have never been queried about insurance in Chile, I believe it is required. Same applies for Bolivia, EC & CO. In Peru, I was asked on two occasions, once a copy of my international drivers license sufficed (at Puno/Copacabana border), the other time I covinced them that I left that paper at the border and was proceeding to Cusco to get another. One thing is for sure, if you smash a small child and have no insurance, you will have an international incident on your hands. Embassies will likely offer little sympathy or assistance and you will be caught up in a legal system that you do not understand. Criminal charges are a distinct possibility. Most insurance is country specific and will not help you when you enter the next country. Ride carefully.

Please review this excellent thread by Lachy for detailed info on buying used in Chile.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...santiago-45637

New bikes are nearly the same as I understand.

good luck

__________________
India Himal, 3mo,2x; Kazak/Krygyz/Tajik, 3 mo; Kashi-Lhasa, China 219! 6 wk; Nepal, 4 days/trekked 55; Santiago-Ushuia-Cusco, 7 mo; Peru, 3 mo; Chile-Medellin 3 mo; Medillin-Arica, 3 mo

Thanks so much for that!

It still all seems a little confusing, but well see how it goes.

It's not too bad, it took me about an hour & 1/2 to get a RUT in Santiago. After finding a bike we arranged to meet the next day at a notario that my seller recommended, the appointment took about 1 hour. They had a special room to do the cash exchange. In Arica, it took me about 20 minutes to get a Padron copy. It only took about 15 minutes to renew my RUT.

If your Spanish is poor or you are a little unsure of yourself, try contacting the hubb community in Santiago, they are very helpful.

__________________
India Himal, 3mo,2x; Kazak/Krygyz/Tajik, 3 mo; Kashi-Lhasa, China 219! 6 wk; Nepal, 4 days/trekked 55; Santiago-Ushuia-Cusco, 7 mo; Peru, 3 mo; Chile-Medellin 3 mo; Medillin-Arica, 3 mo

This is a fire sale.
To catch my flight i sell my bike. It's in very good condition and all the papers are up to date (insurance, road tax, etc.) I did all the checks. More Infos you can find here:

Chileautos: Honda CGL 125 2014 $ 500.000

With this little bike you can travel all around South America and sell in everywhere in Chile, which is not possible with bikes first sold in the South of chile ( I drove down from Santiago)¡
Payable in Chilean Pesos, USD, Euros or Swiss Francs.
Have fun riding up Ruta 40 and the Caratera Austral :-)