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8 Sep 2010
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Registered Users
HUBB regular
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: mexico
Posts: 30
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Border crossing in central / south Amercia
Hi everybody,
I was wondering if it was necessary to have your bike at your name for the multiple border crossings in central and south America.
I am thinking of a French friend who wants to buy a bike in the US and drive it through latin America.
As a tourist. He will not be able to have it put at his name and will only have the bill of sales. I read somewhere it could be an issue for example in Guatemala, any confirmation?
thanks for the insights
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8 Sep 2010
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Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bellingham, WA, USA
Posts: 3,934
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The general rule is that yes, this will be a problem at each and every border. There may be workarounds....but I sure wouldn't want to try it. People complain enough about those borders (particularly Central America) even when everything is legal and all paperwork is in order--I averaged a couple of hours each, but some people take far longer and even find themselves stuck overnight.
There is no real reason not to have title and/or registration in the owner's name. Your friend can buy a bike in the USA, register it in certain states (not all of them) using a local address, and ride until he's tired of riding. That's what people generally do.
If you find a way to do it differently, lots of people would like to hear about it. Otherwise, do a diligent search on the HUBB and you'll find descriptions and suggestions by various people who've done it the way I'm describing.
Good luck.
Mark
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8 Sep 2010
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Registered Users
HUBB regular
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: mexico
Posts: 30
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Ok, thanks for that answer that goes in the way of what I heard.
Living in mexico, i know that you cannot register a bike at your name unless you are a resident with corresponding migration visa.
I would be interested if someone could help me find information of how to register a bike for a foreigner in the US (which states, how long does it take...)
If someone has feed back on buying a used bike in any south American country (to an other adventurer for example) what about the paper work?
This friend is thinking of sending a bike from France, which might be a good idea, but way more expensive.
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16 Sep 2010
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Registered Users
New on the HUBB
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Vejle, Denmark
Posts: 10
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Possible in the US
Buying and registering in the US is possible as a foreigner, but the rules vary by state.
I come from Denmark, going to the US next month, buying a bike and taking it to South America.
Florida is supposed to be the easiest place to buy as a foreigner, but you have to check with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for each state. Just google them for contactinformation and give them a ring - that's what I did
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16 Sep 2010
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Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Rockhampton, Australia
Posts: 868
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I agree with Mark, I spent long enough at each border doing paperwork with the correct documents, in most cases.
Buy in the US, I did in California and have a local address for Title, easy enough to do
One thing I did not bargain for in Ca though, was the sales tax. Even though the bike was 2nd hand, the cost of the transfer was $440, $40 was the transfer cost, $400 for sales tax!!!! A big rip off!! Maybe Florida is different, but I landed in LA and needed a bike near there
Cheers
TS
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