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  #1  
Old 24 Jul 2008
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Bike insurance: Central and South America
Hello all,

I have read and heard many opinions on the above mentioned insurance topic. Everything from "you have to have your motorcycle insured at home to be covered by the insurance you buy on the road" to "Don't bother! Cancell your insurance once you reach Mexico and don't buy insurance anywhere else unless you absolutely have to. It's not worth the paper it's printed on". What is the right way to go? Is there one? Let me know.

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Old 24 Jul 2008
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True, your home insurance is not worth the paper it's printed on when in CA or SA. You will be required to buy obligatory insurance when you cross the border with many CA countries - still not worth the paper it's printed on, but you are legal.

In SA, I'm not sure where you are required to buy insurance, but never had it. In Colombia, however, you should have 3rd party injury insurance and Venezuela too. Colombian insurance is called SOAT and you can buy it in many places like gas stations.
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Last edited by Stretcher Monkey; 24 Jul 2008 at 04:40.
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  #3  
Old 24 Jul 2008
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Originally Posted by Stretcher Monkey View Post
True, your home insurance is not worth the paper it's printed on when in CA or SA. You will required to buy obligatory insurance when you cross the border with many CA countries - still not worth the paper it's printed on, but you are legal.

In SA, I'm not sure where you are required to buy insurance, but never had it. In Colombia, however, you should have 3rd party injury insurance and Venezuela too. Colombian insurance is called SOAT and you can buy it in many places like gas stations.
So, is your bike currently insured from back home or strictly buying as you go or have to?

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Old 24 Jul 2008
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Hi Pipe and welcome,

I originally did this trip, (Argentina to Guatemala), on a Canadian bike that I bought in Uruguay. I still have the bike, but I have never registered it in my name, never had insurance. I now have another bike that was imported into Colombia by a fellow Brit, I have title but don't have UK tax or insurance - it would be useless. Because I now live here, I have SOAT, about $120 for the year.

Don't sweat the small stuff, buy as you go, if you have to - good luck.
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How much does a man live, after all?
Does he live a thousand days, or one only?
For a week, or several centuries?
How long does a man spend dying?
What does it mean to say “forever”? - Pablo Neruda
Last edited by Stretcher Monkey; 24 Jul 2008 at 04:56.
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Old 24 Jul 2008
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As a frequent traveller inMexico and Central America I agree with Stretchers Monkey.
Buy third party liability insurance as you go, that is the only kind of insurance legally demanded in most countries.In CA it is strictly enforced only in Belize, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, Mexico also requires it but does no stringent checks.
If not checked you could ride without it, but again if you prang you have a problem.
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