I'm not sure what your resentment is about, but I've traveled by motorbike to every Central and South American country--most of them more than once--and never had any serious paperwork problems. It's not terribly confusing, it's not terribly difficult, and provided you've got a few basic issues under control (you own your vehicle, are carrying the appropriate paperwork stating so, and are traveling under a passport which allows you entry) it merely takes patience and a positive attitude.

In fact, most border crossings follow an established pattern involving temporary import permits, passport stamps, and (sometimes) local insurance. Every so often someone will insist on spraying something on your bike, for which they'll charge a nominal amount. You can blunder around wondering what to do until someone points you in the right direction (my favorite technique), or you can hire a helper for five US dollars or so (maximum) who'll do much of it for you. If you need insurance, someone will be there waiting to sell it to you (with very rare exceptions); if you find yourself leaving a border without a stamp in your passport and some sort of paperwork indicating you're traveling by bike, go back and get it. It ain't rocket science, and people less intelligent than you have managed just fine.

Don't feel patient? You'll get really cranky at times. Left your positive attitude behind? It'll feel like people are going out of their way to irritate you, and this might even be true from time to time. And if you put a lot of energy into questions about other peoples' sponsors you'll probably miss out on a lot of good times.

Don't fret, and don't get unduly anxious. Lots of people have managed this before you, and lots more will be following in your footsteps. Just go.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

I would like to share my one-year-old experience buying insurance in South America or trying. The motorcycle had Peruvian plates, and I am not a Peruvian national.

In July 2023, I started my trip in Huanuco, Peru. A local insurance broker checked with the home office to see if Mercosur insurance could be sold. The answer was yes, but only for four-wheeled vehicles. I offered to add training wheels to the motorcycle, making it a four-wheeler. The answer remained no, and please leave the office. =) The bike already had SOAT insurance, so I was good for the next six months. Kickstand up, I left for a five-month journey.

The first border crossing was Iñapari, Peru / Assis Brasil, Brazil. I registered with Peruvian aduana that I was taking the bike out of Peru. This is an important step that, if neglected, will cause all manner of headaches when returning to Peru. Why? There is a limit to how long a Peruvian-plated motorcycle can remain outside of Peru before incurring fees on reentry. One year, two years? I'm not sure, and I digress from the topic of insurance. Across the river, I cleared Brazilian immigration fairly quickly. There was some head-scratching when the officials connected the dots and realized I am a dual citizen of Ireland. They weren't sure but decided I was a model tourist, followed by the sound we love to hear, THAWK, the stamp hitting the passport. Next stop, aduana. The TVIP process went smoothly. I asked the official if insurance is required. The answer was no, but it is recommended. I decided to get insurance later.

Later turned out to be Porto Velho, roughly a 2-day ride from the border. I tried to buy insurance once. The broker called the main office, and in the end, they said no. That was ninety minutes I'll never get back. If I had searched longer, might I have found a broker who sold insurance to a tourist, and would it have been easier if I bought insurance closer to the border where such requests are more common? I may never know. I spent the next two months without insurance.

I knew I would only be in Paraguay for a few days, so I skipped shopping for insurance.

On entry into Argentina north of Clorinda, aduana wanted to see proof of insurance. I didn't have coverage and promised to buy insurance in Clorinda. If required, I would leave my motorcycle and take a taxi into town. Ultimately, aduana recorded my Peruvian SOAT details (which did not cover Argentina!), after meditating on the situation, I was issued TVIP and allowed to bring the bike into Argentina.

In the center of town, I found an insurance broker. They were happy to sell a one-month liability policy. When I noticed it was a Mercosur policy covering Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Chile, Uruguay, and Brazil, I bought a second policy that covered the next month. I was all set for the balance of my trip.

A month later, I was returning from Chile to Argentina and encountered a police checkpoint near Trevelin. All they wanted to see was proof of insurance.

__________________
Peter B
2008/09 - NJ to Costa Rica and back to NJ
2012/13 - NJ to Northern Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba and back to NJ
2023 - Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia...back to Peru.

Blogs: Peter's Ride

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