Colombia 3rd Party Insurance

[judgejoe]

Colombia 3rd Party Insurance. I realize what I am about to report has not been the experience of others. Which probably is not unusual. Like others, after arriving in Bogota via COPA, I anticipated stopping at a local gas station and purchasing my mandatory SOAT insurance. It seem so simple and since I wasn't using the bike, I would make the purchase on the way out of town to Cali. On the way out of Bogota, a city of 10 million people and 670 square miles of bumper to bumper traffic, I stopped at 5 different stations advertising SOAT Mandatory Insurance. Each time I got the same answer. The minimum purchase was for 1 year for $165.00 USD. Shorter periods would have to be purchased at SOAT's principal office. Furthermore, they were unable to sell me a 1 year policy as the data fields on the computer would not accept foreign plates and registration information. One attendant, noting my frustration, even called the principal office, in Bogota, to get me insurance. They told him I would have to come to their office. The police were having a Monday field day stopping bikes and checking insurance so I didn't want to take any chances. I thought I was lucky not be stopped at any of their road blocks. I contacted our taxi driver who had guided us around the city. He contact the police to determine if a bike in transit was required to have the mandatory policy. They confirmed that a policy was necessary. Therefore, he took me to the principal office in Bogota to purchase the policy. I was able to buy 1 month, the minimum amount, for about $15.00 USD, in less than 10 minutes. Moral of the Story: Don't delay. Check the stations early and avoid last minute unnecessary frustration. My experience may be the exception. Stayed an extra night in Bogota and had a nice dinner with my wife. Side Note: If in Bogota check out motorcycle alley (Carrera 2 and Calle 17 app.). There is 5 blocks of motorcycle shops and accessories. They do all kinds of maintenance on the street. It was very interesting watching a mechaninc rebuilt an engine on the curb of the street. Got 2 vests, with plates, for $20.00. Tomorrow, Cali bound with insurance and new vests.