G'day David and Sergio, I would love to hear if you (or know of anyone) had any success registering a bike in your name in Santiago recently since the laws have changed? On a side note, I know that the police in Colombia ride DR650s and hence registration for foreigners in Colombia is something I may try to look into further also.

Cheers,
Zac

EDIT re: my Colombia comment... this post covers that topic quite well
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...colombia-90238

Roberto's information above is quite accurate.

Getting the bike registered is unfortunately a two-step process, which involves: a) The REGISTRO CIVIL, an office run by the central government, where you obtain the necessary paperwork (and the license tag in case of a new bike), which allows you to get the "permiso de circulación" (registration) at the: 2) local Municipality (Municipalidad) or City Hall. The latter will issue your registration, which is the slip of paper that allows you to ride your bike on pubic roads. You can also purchase obligatory (compulsory) insurance at these offices for about US$50/year. Insurance can also be obtained on-line from various companies, but you must have a valid license tag to do so. NOTE: riding without insurance can lead to your bike being impounded on the spot plus a heavy fine.

"Technical revision" (technical inspection) -equivalent of the German TÜV- is a must for every motor vehicle in Chile. This certificate is usually the responsibility of the seller, and you should demand he/she presents you with a valid (current) Revision Técnica when you buy the bike. New vehicles usually come with a Certificado de Homologación, which waives the revision Técnica for usually 3 or more years.

The title transfer paperwork can also be done at a "Notaría" (Notary Public), which is an infuriating remnant of Spanish 16th Century Colonial rule. The process may be slightly quicker but they will shake you down for a few additional thousand pesos plus the meaningless stack of papers you must collect. I personally avoid Notarías whenever possible.

An additional note of caution is to make sure your bike has no pending fines or liens, for which you need a "certificado de anotación vigente" or CAV. You can obtain this online from various government websites for a token fee. Do a search on google.cl on the document name.

The whole process sounds more intimidating than what it actually is, although it can be nightmarish compared to what it takes in the US. The upside is that when you are done you will be fairly certain your vehicle has a clear record and is certified for use on public roads.

Dont hesitate to contact me for further info and hints to navigate the increadibly beutiful Chilean roads and its irritating bureaucracy.

Best,

Frank Campbell

drmoto@vtr.net