Buy a local or foreign bike in Chile? Help
 

Hi to all riders!

After reading a lot of different sources, I have mixed feedback, I need your help…

Some info: I am French, going to Santiago in April this year with a friend and want to buy 2 bikes and tour South America for a year. (So, if you know of people selling XT600, KLR650, DR650… could also help).

Wanted at first to buy two bikes registered in Chile with correct paperwork (RUT…).
After reading a few forums, saw that some are saying that it is now illegal to cross borders on a Chilean bike for a foreigner. Others say it’s possible…

Then, other option, buying a bike from a foreigner with foreign registration (UK, AUS, German...). Some said it’s illegal to buy a foreign bike for a foreigner, others told me it’s easier for paperwork and border-crossing

What about ownership? Border-crossing? Any thoughts?
Sorry if the question has already been asked.

I’m confused, and any help would be appreciated…

Cheers!

Dylan.

Read these posts.
 

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

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...santiago-96943

Thanks for the links, good information provided!
Have a safe ride.

Dylan,

I had the same plan until I arrived in Santiago a week ago. I thought i would buy a used bike, and if I couldn’t find what I was looking for I would just buy new. I quickly changed my mind after running into 2 people at the hostal (one Belgian, one US) who had a lot of problems with their Chilean plated bikes.

The American had the poder/ ownership papers in his name, and he has still been denied exit at 7 border crossings (but he did get through some...not sure which, but I have heard the company Suzi Santiago has pretty up to date info on that)

The Belgian bought a new bike in Puerto Montt, filed his ownership paperwork, it was lost, he filed again, it is lost again. He cannot leave Chile and he cannot sell the bike. Even if he were to have received the paperwork its not certain he can use every border crossing and it also can take 30-some days...assuming it is not lost.

I cannot speak to buying a used bike with another country’s plates while in Chile.

Jess

Hi Jess,

Thanks for the info.

Indeed, after doing quite a bit of research, it seems it is easier for a foreigner to buy a used foreign bike in terms of crossing borders and legal ownership of the bike.
Looks like regulation is tougher now in Chile, impossible to cross to Peru, difficult to Bolivia, possible to Argentina for a foreigner on a Chilean bike.
I also suppose it helps to speak good Spanish, which we don't.

Timing is also a key thing here, we don't want to spend several weeks/months in Santiago just to get paperwork in order, the more we ride the happier.

So plan is to buy a used bike from a foreigner. Also, I suppose they are well maintained as well as adventure-ready.

What's your plan now? Did you find any foreign bike?

Dylan.

Did you read this thread?
 

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...feb-ride-96990

It does seem that the easiest way is to buy a foreign bike. To be legal the foreign bike has to be currently registered in its home country. A lot are not and probably no one will check unless you get in an accident etc

See other post: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...buy-sell-97380

Legal to cross borders with a poder?
 

Thanks a lot for the info.

As I understand, as a foreigner you have two choices:
-Buy a local bike (In my case, Chilean one): You can legally own the bike, but administrative work can be a pain. Also, it is tricky to cross borders (Specially to Peru).
-Buy a bike from a foreigner: Less administrative hassle, easier to cross borders.

So, our choice now is to buy a bike from a foreigner in Santiago when we arrive (26th of April, if you see something coming up...)
I saw that you can legally transfer ownership of the bike when it is registered in the USA for example. You can also use a poder...

My question is, how reliable is the fact of buying a foreign bike and using a poder to cross borders? I mean if you can manage to ride without the hassle of transferring ownership that would be great.
Wondering how it works for insurance in case of accidents and also in the situation of selling the bikes after the trip.

Cheers!

This used to be the right place to ask this question but at the moment there's conflicting.... Truths.

Many many people simply buy and ride on a poder, and even sell on a second PODER. It's legit, I've done it, so do hundreds of others every year. It's a legalised document stating that you have full authority over the vehicle.

If you buy a Peruvian bike in Perú at the moment you need a poder to leave the country with your supposedly 100% legal bike in your name anyway...

Many are having troubles leaving Chile with a Chilean bike in their name at the moment aswel.

Transferring a North American bike into your name is very easy, even without going there! For help contact Alex Smith at Overland Title Services (Google him). I highly recommend him and have used him in the past.

I have not found any evidence to the contrary that using a Poder is even frowned upon (and I would welcome some evidence, if it exists). At borders I was welcomed, all formalities were easy. I never once had a problem with police in any country, even if it was a different country to my poder.

I met several bikers with bikes on poders, some on multiple poders (one was on poder number 4). Again no problems.