Hi all, we re heading out to S America next week, - carnt wait! We ve sea freighted a couple of DRZ s over to start in Colombia with James Cargo for around £700 each as it was to expensive for us to fly them. Spoke to Dakar Motos in Buenos Aires about sea freighting them back to the UK in March hoping it would cost about the same but they say its got really expensive to sea freight now and costs the same as air about £1500 per bike. Really want to bring the bikes back as a lot of time, money and prep has been done to them but carn't really afford this. Asked Dakar motos about selling them but apparently not an easy option, he said its ilegal to sell to a local and problems with them being imported, taxes etc. Guessing it carn't be that difficult as lots for sale on this site, has anyone sold a bike there recently and whats involved in doing so? Or anyone know of a cheaper option to get them home!

Hi Tim

We usually receive many mails and phone calls asking the same, I can’t remember exactly our talk but In no any way I was talking about Pounds and probably I give you an approximately very rough idea in American Dollars. BA to UK for around USD 1500.- (American Dollars) in pounds should be a £1000 and by plane, done in just few days (maximum 4) and hassle free. Probably I told you that the accurate quote has to be done by Sandra and few weeks in advance and not months. Also the final price you will pay will be about the volume when already the bike is on the pallet and measure it (taking the front wheel, mirrors, screen you pay less)

By ship you will have to be in BA many several days in advance and not leaving BA before the ship set sail. Deal the paperwork with the custom, pay the company warehouse crate fumigation certificates port fees and more. All this makes that at the end considering the high local port charges in BA + a longer staying is more reliable to ship (at least from BA) by plane. Just compare: JC shipped to COL for £700 plus local charges at destination (I don’t know about Colombia charges but you will in few days) and I just give you an idea about flight for £1000 from BA to UK and could be less.

Regarding the sale in Argentina I didn’t say anything, the law says. When you come in to Argentina as Tourist the custom will issue a TVIP that isn’t more than a compromise you will exit with the bike. For a local isn’t it a tax or import problem, the law didn’t allows to import used vehicles for being register. Here in the HUBB are many many threads talking about the same please take a time to read it carefully. I will be the first one on a long list if I can buy a nice and well set up DRZ at UK prices if I can register and ride it legally in Argentina but for now is only a nice dream…

I’m still hoping to meet you in February make all clear and share nice travel tales with a cold Quilmes Bock (Argie black )
Have a nice trip!!!!
Saludos

__________________
Javier...
Dakar Motos “ ”

I am guessing that it is not possible to sell a motorbikewith a foreign plate to locals (as otherwise they have to pay the import taxes wich are very high in S,A.... I have heard anyway in Paraguay may be possible most probably because the law is weak and not applied) but it should be possible within foreigners (I think it should be studied according to each individual country of the seller and the one of the buyer as you should change the plate I believe may be not or later who knows?), but definitely it should be possible within foreigners of the same nationality without changing plate!
I am trying to get more information in this foum as many trying to sell their bike after thet trip in S.A. but no reply!!!!

Hi Javier thanks for info, glad to hear bit cheaper than we thought (hopefully), we had been told by JC it could be roughly around £1500 by air back to UK. Sorry misunderstood thought you meant £. Just for everyones info:
Charges in Cartagena v. roughly (different quotes)
Port charges $80-150,
bill of lading: $350-400 per bill (found out if you want the OPTION of clearing customs yourself or of using an agent and your shipping 2 bikes, you need 2 bills of lading, so get charged for 2. If def going through an agent OR def clearing yourself then only need 1 bill of lading, so cheaper, hope this makes sense!) if you dont decide before hand and then want to change your mind when get there it can be a complicated process, apparently!
local agent fees around $70 per bike
if anything different when get there we will up date.

Still bit confused about the selling of bikes in BA, just remember you telling me it was complicated! I'm sure it will be come clear when we meet!
Carn't wait to get there now, v excited!

Thanks for help, Daisy (the other half of timdais) i'm the one that called and e mailed, so dont blame him you'll get me in trouble! so looking forward to meeting you and Sandra, heard a lot about you both and Dakar Motos.

I am in Columbia asking the same questions. I have concluded that if you sell your foreign bike in south america it will have to be registered to a foriegn citizen again. It can definitaly be done. Not a large group to sell to so you will sell the bike at a discount. For a buyer that is great. They in turn would sell it to another foreigner for a similar low price.
To buy a local bike you would be paying more but would have a larger group to sell to when finished your trip and sold IN THE SAME COUNTRY AS PURCHASED. I assume and have this only on 2nd hand knowledge that once you have the bike title of the local bike you can travel throughout south america, crossing the borders just like you would if the bike came from your own country. The title is in your name and the only thing the countrys want is the bike is stamped in when you arrive and stamped out when you leave.
Bill

Some travellers have been selling their bikes successfully here in Asuncion to local motorcycle dealerships. Hassle free, drop and leave. The dealership takes care of the nationalization of the motorcycle.

Once again, Argentina is prolly one of the worst choice for buying, selling, or shipping a foreign vehicule in South America. It is stressing, time consuming and expensive. Add to this that fees structure is totally opake, and tariffs will vary from one shipper to another.