Good day all.

I have a U.S. bike in Bucaramanga, Colombia, that sat in storage for 2 1/2 years while I was working overseas. DIAN is no help with the (very) expired paperwork. I could sell it here but only to someone on a farm for off-road use; i'd much rather keep it instead.
I need to get to the Venezuelan border to recross into Colombia (probably Cucuta) and get issued new paperwork. I took a bus to the border (Cucuta) a few days ago to scope out the number and location of the checkpoints (4). While at the border I tried to get the papers issued on the off-chance that the customs agent was too lazy to look at the bike (which of course wasn't with me). They insisted on seeing the bike so that was a no-go.

There's two options I can see:

1) Ride the bike to the border. Maybe at night for less checkpoints. BS or pay "fine" at checkpoints if necessary.

2) Remove the wheels, side panels, seat and anything else that's relatively easy to remove, toss it in the back of a van and drive the van to the border. This way if i'm questioned I can fall back on the excuse of selling it for parts. If I can make it to the border i'll reassemble in VZ or the "No-mans land" between the two countries and recross.

Any suggestions, opinions, or off-the-wall ideas are appreciated.

- Agave

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The world belongs to those who don’t let anxiety about screwing up keep them from moving forward.
- UNK

Dropped you a PM.

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roja45.com

I went to santander (by bad advise from currency dealer at cucuta) you cannot get papers for Venezuela there! I didn't even notice I'd entered Venezuela but you might be able to backtrack to "cucuta" on VE side and Reg.(bring plenty gas)Don't know if that helps. But also at cucuta there was no real check when I crossed, had to turn back to cancel, this might have been luck though. But seems like you don't need to cancel to cross.

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Thanks all for the reply's and PM's.
I left Buca for Cucuta on Sunday morning; a few checkpoints, no one asked for papers. No checks along the border as well; crossed easily into Vz. Monday morning I tried to re-enter Colombia. DIAN had everything in their computer and informed me the bike was illegal, as I had failed to check out on my previous paperwork (expired in May of 2011). I told them the bike had remained in Colombia at a mechanic shop but no-go. I had the option of paying the $5,000(USD) fine. I chose to re-enter VZ. Unfortunately as I was rolling back over the bridge to VZ a large group of VZ soldiers came out and shut the border. Upcoming elections dictated the closure of borders until 08 December. As the bike is Moto-non-Gratis in Colombia I didn't want to return to Colombia. A few hundred meters south of the bridge there is a shallow point in the river where I crossed into VZ, put the bike in a garage (aduana is closed) and recrossed on foot to Colombia. It looks like my only option is to sell in VZ at this point. I'm a little confused as to why this time was different as i've done this before (although last time it was only a few days expired), and a few others have done it without officially checking the moto out of Colombia as well.

Summary:
- DIAN now appears to carefully track vehicle paperwork; though it may have been just mine.
- Border to Venezuela is closed until 08 DEC 2013


Anyone think I may have better luck at a different entry point?

__________________
The world belongs to those who don’t let anxiety about screwing up keep them from moving forward.
- UNK

Was wondering how this worked out for you.

I am in Medellin with an Ecuadorian bike a month past its temporary permit.
Dian wouldnt renew because I got a working visa and was no longer a tourist.
Two days to get your bike out or surrender it to the police impound blah blah..