Hello guys,

I recently bought a motorbike in Paraguay after reading lots of info on the Hubb and other stories of people who bought a bike here and travelled with it around SA. Wasn't a problem at all. I have the title, cedula verde, and insurance all registered in my name. Off I go traveling around South America like Che! I thought...
Turned out when I went this morning to the Paraguayan/Argentinian border in Clorinda that since the bike is registered in Paraguay, I need Paraguayan residency to bring my bike! Checked it on the internet and indeed it is the rule in all Mercosur countries. I can't find any info though about other countries (Bolivia, Peru, Colombia etc.)
Does anyone have any info about the rules in these countries? I'm hoping I can still go straight to Bolivia from Paraguay and go upwards. Otherwise I'm afraid I'll have to sell the motorbike..

Hi mate, can't confirm this situation right now but it makes sense, can you tell me where you got this info about residency needed about the vehicle?? Note that the whole system may be failling, otherwise you wouldn't be able to get the bike under your name.

Just to show you a light at the end of the tunnel, I've helped a lot of travellers buying bikes in Paraguay for trips in SA and after they got their bikes and paperwork nobody had any problems getting permits for Brazil(although Brazil doesn't require Temp. Permit for vehicles anymore), so if you want to head a straight line into Brazil and change your route a bit to get into Bolivia feel invited to come to Foz do Iguaçu and I'll give the info how to get there, or, just give us a shall for a .

All the best
Rod
Iguassu Bikers Hostel | Iguassu Falls Overland Base

Yes the system is definitely a bit crooked. I think the 'anything goes' attitude in Paraguay doesn't go well with Mercosur legislation in this case.

I got my information from this site: Mercosur - Conducci�n

"El conductor deberá ser residente en el Estado Parte de registro o matrícula del vehículo. La residencia será comprobada mediante documento de identidad válido en el ámbito del MERCOSUR. En caso de extranjero que no lo posea, la misma será comprobada mediante certificado de residencia expedido por el órgano competente del Estado Parte donde reside."

I got indeed sent back by Argentinian customs for this reason.

Do you know if I will have the same problem in Bolivia, Peru, Equador and Columbia? Any info from people with Paraguayan plates would be highly appreciated!

Cheers,
Woody

Thank you for posting the actual Mercosur regulations. Argentina permits foreigners who have entered Argentina on a tourist visa to purchase Argentine registered motorcycles. The process is easy and takes about a week - plan ten days with holiday/weekends not counted.

But, being a Mercosur country, Argentina does not permit a foreign tourist who has legally purchased an Argentine registered motorcycle to exit Argentina with the motorcycle. Of course, the foreign tourist is permitted to leave but he/she cannot take his/her Argentine registered motorcycle.

There are reasons for this Mercosur regulation that have to do with keeping the motorcycle sales playing field level and maintaining import regulations for a number of other purposes - many of which I do not understand. If you are interested the Mercosur "trade agreements" are readily available on line.

The problem, as I see it, is this, assuming you have motorcycle insurance, that the motorcycle insurance is contingent upon your motorcycle being "legal" if you ride across an open border into Brazil for example, have an accident, the company with which you have purchased liability insurance will - absolutely check to see the motorcycle is "legal" - a foreign tourist on a motorcycle purchased and registered in Uruguay having an accident on that motorcycle in Brazil or any other country makes that motorcycle "illegal " because Mercosur regulations prohibit that foreign tourist from exiting that motorcycle from Paraguay. Your motorcycle insurance is invalid as soon as you exit Paraguay.

I know, many reading don't care about having liability insurance. But, I also know there are many more reading here would not want to risk riding in a foreign country without valid liability insurance.

Xfiltrate eat, drink and buy insurance

Just remember that what might cause your bike to be illegal in Brazil is the EXIT OF PARAGUAY, not the ausence of PERMIT IN BRAZIL, because the legislation in Brazil doesn't require a permit for vehicles anymore.

Just check with the insurance company if the issue about leaving the country wihout the residency will make you bike NOT LIABLE for insurance purposes, as simples as that!!

I would take the Xfiltrate advice about keeping 100% legal, it's not worth taking chances on this kind of trip, just confirm it and carry on!!!

All the best

Rod
Iguassu Bikers Hostel | Iguassu Falls Overland Base

That sounds like a tough spot to be in. I am a foreigner (from USA) living in Bolivia, and I own and drive motorcycles down here, but I have Bolivian residency so my situation is different from yours.

I don't think Bolivia has "full member" status quite yet with Mercosur, but I would think the same mercosur rules you've already found apply.

If you need any assistance in Bolivia, send me a PM for my phone. Ill be glad to help in any way I can.

So I found out that it isn't possible to go to Bolivia either. Every surrounding country of Paraguay requires you to have Paraguayan residency if the bike's registered here to enter the country.

There seem to be a couple of guys though who travelled around with Paraguayan bikes in the past, but apparently the rules have changed, so let this be a warning to people wanting to buy a bike in South America: Don't buy your bike in Paraguay! Save yourself the trouble and do it in Chile or another country where you can get a RUT/RUC (personal identification nr.).

Meanwhile, I'm trying to find out if it is possible to transfer the title to a Paraguayan friend and let him write me a power of attorney. Anyone knows if this will work?

Cheers,
Woody

I'm not sure the statute you quoted applies to your particular problem. That said, sounds like you've done enough checking that your confident that it cant be done legally as long as the bike is in your name. I cant confirm that, but it wouldn't surprise me.

The transfer of ownership and power of attorney idea sounds like it might fly. I suppose that's essentially what happens when you take a rental car over the border. Cant say for sure though. Careful to make sure you still have insurance if you do this though.

I would give it a try and go as Rod says via Brazil. No one will stop you there. Then go into Argentina from Brazil, I doubt if any customofficer who is not directly on the Paraguayan border will know about this new rule. Perhaps this rule arrised after Paraguay was kicked out of the Mercosul not so long ago (and now after the new elections does not want to reenter as Venezuela has joined the club!)
About insurance, you can always buy a carta verde in Argentina.

Alright, weird development. Got into Argentina and Bolivia withouth any problems!

In Paraguay, I went to the border at Clorinda to ask the boss of the Argentine aduana a couple of difficult questions about how it would be possible to enter Argentina (would temporary residency be enough, or transfer the title to a Paraguayan etc). He basicilly cut me off, asking me for my cedula verde and passport. After checking them, he said 'no problemo' even after explaining to him that two weeks ago the aduana had sent me back because I didn't have Paraguayan residency.

Next day I went to the border with my bike packed, went straight to the same guy and he had his secretary type me the temporary import permit. Happy days!
Getting into Bolivia from Argentina (La Quiaca) wasn't a problem either.

So I don't know what's going on. I might have been lucky that the officials I had to deal with didn't know about the residency rule. Maybe the officials who sent me back were just messing with me or wanted money (didnt look like it though), or the rules have been changed again.

Anyway, I'm on my way with my motorbike so I'm happy. Just posting this for anyone planning to buy a bike in Paraguay: make sure you look into the rules properly.

Cheers,
Woody

Good news. However, I can't believe you tried to talk him out of it ("...explaining to him that two weeks ago the aduana had sent me back...")!

Unless we hear more reports of inability to cross borders, your original report becomes the anomaly and your #10 remains the norm. And for what it's worth, the norm is that when someone tells you there's a problem and you can't continue, the appropriate response is to look downcast, speak sadly of world peace and how much you love their country, following which problems generally dissipate and you continue on your journey. Arguing with people who are trying to do what you want, or reminding them that they might be breaking the law, can put them in an awkward spot.

In the end this will all make a good story, and earlier stress and delays will be forgotten.

Mark

Sorry to ressurect this old thread but yesterday we had the same problem.

We drove the picada 500 to pozo hondo and tried to get into argentina with our paraguayan bikes. We have all the documentation in our names. Including insurance.

Seem we were the first there to try that. They asked for paraguayan residency and would not let us enter without it.

We had to turn around, look for gas to drive 100km dirt track to the bolivian border. Then a night ride to Villamontes. Enjoying bolivia now.

OBS,
read again the important and clear statement earlier.

It is not legal to leave most countries in SA with a bike registred in your own name. If you are not a citizen of that country.

It is not a question about entering countires laws.

So you have to stay in the country were you bay the bike,

The only exception as I know of is Colombia. You can legaly exit Colombia with an Colombian bike in your own name. Even as a forigner, The only limitation is that you are not allowed to sell it outside Colombia. (And registrer a new owner). To sell, you have to return to Colombia.


That someone made a border crossing somewere does not mean that it is legal.

This is to my best knowledge.

And we talk legal. Not tricks.

Brazil allows it as well.
And in Peru too but had to leave a deposit at the AA which I got back after returning to the country

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-A405FN met Tapatalk

Started with Paraguay.
So a bit off topic we are.
But anyhow

https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hu...ike-peru-96966