The V5 was posted to my home in england . 1 week later my mum recived the V5 and forward it to DVLA . as far as they know it is just like any other bike sale going on on english soil so to speek . only difference is the posting time of the V5 to the UK. With the help of Rod and by posting the V5 home the sale was fully legal. The was no stamping out of one country and the buyer stamping into the next country as most people do . The customs guys removed my temp import I signed it then they issued a new temp import in the buyers name. Any one thinking of going down this route I would fully recomend employing Rods services. well worth the money to know your fully legal

Where hardest part of the whole south America trip seems to decide where and how to buy a bike...

I don't mean to hijack your thread but this is the same topic I was about to post.
So from what I keep hearing chili is the easiest country to buy a bike in, but does f one wants to do all of South America will you run into any problems at borders (seems like you will).
Buying the bike legally seems like the only option in chili due to its low corruption rate.
So is that the best option or is it better to just buy in another country illegally and just bribe when you have to?

I'm from Western canada, i could buy a klr650 here and drive it south but i feel it would be cheaper and a better use of my time to stick to south America with a used bike, being that shipping a bike by air after modifying it would cost a fair amount

Where hardest part of the whole south America trip seems to decide where and how to buy a bike...

I don't mean to hijack your thread but this is the same topic I was about to post.
So from what I keep hearing chili is the easiest country to buy a bike in, but does f one wants to do all of South America will you run into any problems at borders (seems like you will).
Buying the bike legally seems like the only option in chili due to its low corruption rate.
So is that the best option or is it better to just buy in another country illegally and just bribe when you have to?

I'm from Western canada, i could buy a klr650 here and drive it south but i feel it would be cheaper and a better use of my time to stick to south America with a used bike, being that shipping a bike by air after modifying it would cost a fair amount

Does anyone know the law regarding borrowing either a foreign registered bike for use in Argentina and also the law regarding borrowing a locally registered bike in Argentina ?

cheers, Ted

There has been some good advice given in this thread. I have heard that a foreigner can inexpensively buy a Chilean bike in one of their free trade zones.

I still think the Grey Market option is the best one. Kito, already commented about how this method is done. Note: The Hubb does not endorse this method and I am not recommending it. The buyer and seller usually cross a local border together. Before crossing the border, the buyer borrows the sellers original title, registration, and Temporary Import Permit. He photoshops the sellers name, DL# and address and swaps his own in for them. He then makes good color copies of the paperwork. The seller and the buyer usually ride together on the bike and cross the border into the neighboring country. The Buyer uses his set of paperwork and gets an exit stamp for the bike and himself in his passport. Note: if your passport is brand spanking new than you don't want to try this most likely. It would be a better idea to rack up some stamps crossing local borders and make it look like you have been traveling in the area for a bit.

I watched my Australian friend sell his Canadian KLR to a Polish guy in Mendoza, Argentina this way. They crossed the border into Chile together and completed the sale this way.

I think it is important that you make the deal contingent upon the seller successfully crossing into the next country with you. Offer him a ride back but don't give him any money until you have good paperwork.


Another, less grey market option would be for you and the seller to have a Power of Attorney made up by a local lawyer which allows you to use his property for some good reason (he was injured, family illness, serving active duty, etc) but the seller might not be comfortable with the liability involved with a power of attorney. Also, I heard of someone who successfully used a Power of Attorney to cross borders but I think it would be difficult in a few countries and with a few personalities.

Peru would appear to be the hardest to get into as since 2012 they apear to have clamped down on crossing from Chile/Bolivia when the owner is not with the vehicle

I second this question .any updated info in buying a bike in Colombia and travel SA with it?

cheers :thumbup1:

Just a caution that a lot of the advice in this thread is out of date. Procedures in Chile have changed (for the worse?) and Brazil no longer issue TIPs (which might be a good thing)

So whats changed ??

Where is now the best country to buy a used vehicle in South America.

I heard that Ecuador was the easiest.

Easy to forget that the only constant is change.

As far as I know, it is no problem. New V-Strom 650s are only $8000 there.

yes I heard that too from a local tour operator.will take 3/4 days to register .Vstrom is a good rd bike(I have one) although my plan is to get a Tenere' (they also have a lightweight 250cc version there! ) more suitable on/off rd .then make a giant 2 months (?) loop crossing also the amazon. late july/august dry season there :punk: :punk:

here is the idea:

https://www.google.co.th/maps/dir/Gu...7579!3e0?hl=en

The Chilean process now includes the requirement of a Chilean citizen to sign some paperwork on your behalf. (To obtain a RUT Number which you need to buy a vehicle).

Luckily for us Cristian, owner of Hostal Casa Matte in Santiago (Somewhere all overlanders should stay anyway) knows the procedure and is willing to help fellow bikers out.

It is still technically possible to jump through all the hoops and buy a brand new bike in one day (Although give it a couple).

I want a way to buy a cheap second hand bike LEGALLY which will be easy to sell to another gringo or a bike shop in another country after a tour.. Hmm

It is "in another country" requirement that is the problem, especially if "LEGALLY" is also a requirement