That is a great guide: rich with exactly the sort of details another buyer would want to know.

Thank you for posting this!

__________________
Bruce Clarke - 2020 Yamaha XV250

We're very happy you like it.

If anybody have a correction or update on the proces of buying a bike in Colombia please let us know

Hi guys.

Do I need a valid technica mechanica to cross the colombia/ecuador border and other borders? And alsois it possible to get a new one once I'm in ecuador border as mine expires soon. Let me know thanks!

Hi James,

We were also a bit worried about the border crossing from Colombia to Ecuador, but it was actually the easiest one! From the Colombian side, nobody checked our bikes or papers. We went to the immigration like "normal" tourist do to get our exit stamp and got to the Ecuadorian side to get our entry-stamp. After we got our " regular" stamps in our passport we had to go to this little office on the Ecuadorian side. There was a very friendly man whom filled in the TIP form. I don't think he checked the Technica Mechanica or the insurance paper, but they were both valid during that time. He also didn't check the bikes or anything. Took us 30 minutes, and didn't need any copies.

Right now, the Technica Mechanica and Colombian insurance is expired of one of our bikes, but this is not a problem at all. You'll buy insurance at every border for the bike (except Ecuador: your Colombian insurance is valid over there), and nobody cares about your Technica Mechanica. Whenever you go back to Colombia you'll have to get your Technica Mechanica a.s.a.p. So in your case, you can try to cross the border without valid Technica Mechanica. If you're not allowed, go back to the nearest city and get it done. I think it's just 50.000 pesos.

The border crossing to Peru was a lot harder. The officer checked everything, which took at least 3 hours. He wanted to have copies of everything including insurance, technical mechanica, ownership papers, buying-selling contract, copies of passports of previous owners. It was quit frustrating, so I would recommend you to not give all your copies, but just your ownership papers and passport. That should be enough. We were able to make cheap copies at the border. Maybe we were just unlucky, but don't give them more papers than needed.

Hope you'll be doing fine! Is there a way we can follow your journey?

Cheers

Marleen & Detlef

Our bikes will be for sale end of March in Santiago!

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...341#post557877