... buying a U.S. titled bike from a traveler in Argentina or Uruguay?

Help! Need some hope here!

... I would say that is the most cumbersome route you could choose...

First, how would you get your new title? The transfer of the title is done in the States, and I imagine there would have to be some back and forth documentation between you both (the seller and the buyer) and Motor Vehicle Division in the States.

Second, the Temporary Import Permit of the bike would be on the previous owner's name. I wonder if that would be a problem when you try to cross the Argentine border.

One uncomplicated thing to do is to buy an Argentine motorcycle and "just" tour Argentina. Argentina is such a huge and beautiful country! Then when you are done, sell the bike and fly back home. To buy an Argentine bike as a foreign tourist is an easy process. You can check my website, where I give detailed step by step instructions on how to do this.

Having read that purchasing a bike in Chile is relatively easy, I'm thinking that the best thing to do is to explore options there, route down to TdF, up to Uruguay, and then across northern Argentina before heading up to Colombia.

Your advice, even though it's not what I wanted to hear, is appreciated!

Jim

I would like to know as well...
Because from what I have been reading it seems like in almost every country its an expensive hassle and then you still can't get out of the country sometimes =(

Seems like the best way is to bring your own bike, or buy one under the table and make up fake EVERYTHING flying by the seat of your pants and lining the pockets of anyone who gives you hassle (just DONT CRASH cuz you wont have insurance)

*to buy a bike in chili is a 3week ordeal, to get all your paperwork, and after people are turned away at the peru border and such....ugh*

Yes i agree, which is why i turned up with my own bike.

In hindsight plenty of people buy in Chile and ride out, so i would recommend doing this and it is what i would do myself if i did it again. I read those reports of being turned back at the Peru border, and don't doubt it is true, but it is not the norm at most borders. Chile has many borders so you will get out at one of them for sure. I Don't know the details, but at worst expect a problem or two up there into Peru, and expect to go out into Argentina or Bolivia without problem. I met many that have done so. At worst you need to try a few border crossing and pick the smaller remote ones to suceed. Just suggesting stuff.

Once you are out of Chile (after having a good look around because it is beautiful) then every other border crossing will be between two countries of which neither is Chilean... so you will be fine.

3 weeks to buy a bike might seem like a lot, but If you imported your bike you might expect a bit of down time anyway - some imports by boat and air go perfect and happen exactly as hoped... sometimes they get delayed a bit.

All the best

We bought an English bike in Buenos Aires, got a registration on a friends´adress there and did a little trick at the border Uruguay-Argentina to get the bike into the country under our name. We´ve been travelling to Chile, Bolivia and Peru since then and haven´t experienced any problems. The bike is also legally insured. So buying a foreign bike in BA is definately possible, you´ll just have to find a solution for the registration! Good luck!

Suzpot, when you say "got a registration on a friend's address there" I assume you mean an address a friend's address in England... and thus the bike might be legally registered in your name in England. If this is correct, could you please enlighten us as to where you purchased the insurance???

In all but perhaps one State of the United States the new owner must not only present an address in the State of registration, but the bike itself for inspection. Does England not require an examination of the bike before legal transfer of title? Is there not inspection requirement?

Let me assure you, whatever insurance company that sold you insurance will in the event of an accident with personal injury and/or major property damage will be investigating all aspects of the bike's historical registrations, inspections , etc in an effort to avoid payouts for damages.

Look, this is not my first rodeo , I have been an advocate for more than one foreigner who really believed he was "legally insured," only to discover that not only was he not legally insured, but he did not legally own the bike. And, because more often than not the foreigner was in jail, could not just walk away from it all.

None of this has anything to do with the ability to cross borders with legal or illegal documents. Once an accident occurs the wheels of justice begin to grind slowly, but very, very finely, examining each and every aspect of the bike, the owner(s) and the rider.

Please, give a little more detail when advising others... thanks

xfiltrate

PS: an afterthought: if asked by the judge "where was the bike when you purchased it?" and you respond " It was in Argentina" the very first document that your insurance company will present will be the TVIP i(Temporary Vehicle Import Permit) issued to the former owner that clearly indicates the bike cannot be sold in Argentina. After that it will be all downhill for you..... why? Figure that out on your own....

To avoid being turned back in Peru, after buying in Chile, make sure the bike paperwork is in your name.

If you buy the bike in Santiago, have the paperwork started and make arrangements to have it sent to Arica. Then, if the bike is still in someone else s name have a notary provide paper work to allow you to leave Chile with the bike. This works for Argentina and Bolivia.

Collect the paper work in Arica and enter Peru.

This is the recommend guide
Guide to Buying a new motorcycle (or a car) in Chile for foreigners | Ondrej Jurik

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http://www.ytc1.co.uk

I have been listing methods that have been working for travellers not willing to go thru the hassles of importing a vehicule to South America to travel on the continent.

I am not willing to start an everlasting quote or arguments struggle you engaged with other members trying to share their experience, question of time and motivation. The answers will be as a matter of fact succinct, from what i understood the travellers i met did to avoid the roro/container step and its zillion of middlemen.

1/ Buying a vehicule in Chile, Bolivia or Paraguay.

"travelling around" indeed means travelling around South America, since this the topic of the section. Corruption is inherent to the latin culture, it s up to every travellers culture to adapt to this reality or ignore it.

2/ Since the bike is bought off a foreigner it has a foreign registration. The argentine notary act gives you a legal right accepted by customs officers to drive the vehicule. Then indeed there is a question of mutual trust between the buyer and the seller that the seller will never claim the vehicule back and the buyer will be insured for all risks. Since usually travellers travel for fun, not for business, they respect those basic principles of mutual trust as a counter part for facilitating their travelling needs.

3/ To find out more about the facilities in Colonia, i suggest you contact the owners after a quick internet search, since any commercial link is very soundly prohibited here. I just witness it works, since they regularly sell foreign registered vehicules to foreigners, be them from the same nationality or different ones, and they seem to go fast (which means the demand is high). I wanted to buy a canadian Mitsubishi l300 this spring advertised here in the 4x4 section but i got too late, and a new zealander already bought it at distance, knowing the facilities in Colonia.

4/ Zonas Francas : here again, a quick search on internet might help you find a listing.
http://html.rincondelvago.com/zonas-...udamerica.html.

One last remark, latin america has its own culture regarding laws enforcement, and indeed everything is more blur than in our "first world" environments. Your obsessive riskfree approach doesnt make much sense in this part of the world. Some travellers travel to experience this feeling of freedom given by more loose and interactive logics. For those not at ease with this cultural difference, there is indeed the option to send their own vehicule, prepared for their own special needs. After all, the travel starts way before stepping on new lands, and the preparation of the travel, that can last more than the travel itself, can be more enjoyable than the travel itself.

May you find your Graal one day , I for one am happy each time we have reports on this forum of travellers who found a simple way to find a vehicule to travel around South America thanks to other travellers reports.