Buying a North American bike in Santiago, Chile
 

Ok, first of all, I promise I've spent 3 hours looking into this already; I just need a conclusive answer. Thanks in advance!

Short story : landing in Santiago in 2 weeks. I'd like to purchase a bike which is already sort of arranged, from another traveller (also on HUBB!). It's a Florida registered bike in his name which he rode down. I plan to use overland titles (Alex) to get the bike registered in my name in Washington.

So the question is, I will end up in Santiago with the bike, and 2 different plates. I need to get it out of the country and back in, if I'm correct? Can I get a poder, ride it to the border and "check out" with the previous owners TIP and plates, then swap plates and come back in on my own TIP? Or do I need the previous owner to come with me?

What I'm really asking I guess is, is a TIP transferable? Or do I even need to transfer it if I have a poder?

Thanks, Dan

Hi Dan,

I saw your other post, so I'll reply to both here.
Myself and a friend arrived in Santiago on the 1st of May and bought bikes from a guy from Washington and one from Arkansas. We both went and got the poders from the notary and the required verification stamps. We did a trip to the airport to confirm with the Auduna it will be all good. In saying that, we haven't yet crossed a border, so fingers crossed, but from what we have heard it shouldn't be an issue.

The guy I bought the bike from found out as you have that the title can be transferred in Washington out of state. So I have sent the paper work to him to submit and I'll be getting some new plates soon, either before I cross to Bolivia or after. The plan is to get to the border and swap the plates, exit Chile on the existing TIP and enter Bolivia and get a new TIP with the new title/plates and forget about the poder altogether.

Some other things, we also stayed at Hostal Casa Matte with the other guys who posted in the other thread. I highly recommend the place, Christian is fantastic. We are also heading north before summer in Patagonia (Chile -> Bolivia -> Brazil -> Uruguay/Paraguay -> Northern Argentina -> Chile south to Ushuaia.

Send me a PM and I'll give you my whatsapp number, or better yet, search "Ciaran and Nathan" on Facebook and shoot us a message. We'd be keen to meet up on the road. We plan to be in Sucre in ~2 weeks for ~3 weeks.

Hi mate thanks for the message, let me know how you go at the border! The title for the bike I'm buying has been sent to Washington, so hopefully the plates should reach Chile before me! I fly in on the 8th, so I'll be a fair way behind you by the time the guy with the bike arrives. I'm going to call casa Matt and book, it seems a no brainier as EVERYBODY says to go there! Does he have an online site for booking? Might be easier than me using my poor Spanish! Pm sent, thanks, Dan