OK, a bit more research shows they changed the system to a publicly-funded compensation system to be paid for out of registration fees. Definitely not clear whether foreigners' vehicles are included, but separate SOAT insurance is no longer available.

Was for an interim period of 180 days from Jan 6th after which a permanent system was supposed to be in place, but nothing yet so no choice but to hope that we are covered and just drive (carefully)

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Tony
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IS SOAT something you get on the boarder?

Yes, mandatory insurance (by that and other names) most countries insist you have and generally available at points of entry.

We came in at Balsa and there is nothing at the border anyway except a couple of shops and houses and previously you would have to drive for several hours without insurance to get to the first town that had an agent. Now there is no insurance to be had so the problem has gone away.

Similar situation exists when you cross from Bolivia to Peru at Copocabana where the first chance to get insurance is at Puno a long way to the north. Nothing was said to us so we drove and took the chance on getting pulled over and milked by police who know there is easy pickings to be had. Recent post on PanAmericana forum, the aduana were going to hold the car until the owner went to Puno and returned on the bus. They relented in the end, but it is a problem that comes up whenever you cross a border at a town too small to have an insurance outlet..If insurance is mandatory, then obviously it is up to you to be insured as soon as you drive over the line, so you should check and if it isn't available at that crossing, then you must use a different crossing that has.

Luckily we get one policy that covers all of Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile and we can do it via email, so that makes life easier. There are also western companies that offer insurance for whole continents and many from Europe get those before they leave.

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Tony
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Hey Tony. Do you have any links for those companies that cover motorbike insurance in south America for Europeans, as a quick Google and HUBB search drew a blank?
Cheers fella.

Rob.

From my research these insurances were all over priced, and when I thought about it, would I really want a European insco handling any issues that arose in South America ?

When we travelled we picked up our insurance as we went along, Colombia and Peru were the only real issues. In Peru we rode 3 days before we could buy it, there is a lot of info on Peru insurance and where to get it in the forum. Yes the police will try it on, knowing the issues, go with the flow. They are usually OK and more reasonable than people think.

However, if you are in Chile, you can buy insurance that will cover Chile, Argentina, Bolivia and Peru. So if going north that is a good option (especially as you cannot get into Argentina without insurance)

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Thanks for the info BruceP. I am going north to south starting in Colombia.

In which case, you may find this
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...colombia-54667

And this

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...nsurance-55179

Useful

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Hi Tony,

Heading to Ecuador in a few days - crossing boarder at Balsa, any ideas what I can expect? Can you even get this online now?

Cheers
Ross