Hi everyone,

After having read loads of quite old posts on the subject, I'm still struggling to find up-to-date information.

I am French, currently located in Tijuana, planning to ride from Mexico to Central and then South America in September. For this I'm wondering whether I should buy a secondhand motorbike in Mexico or in California. I am non resident of both, tourist-visa only. What is the easiest/quickest/cheapest/most legal option?

Many thanks in advance for any contribution!

Johan

There are a few threads here on HUBB on this exact subject.
The answer is pretty easy: California.

You will not find many choices for bikes in Mexico. If you are OK with NOT VERY GOOD Chinese 250cc bikes, then you can find a bike in Mexico. But most of those bikes are of marginal quality and may not have support for parts once you are South of Mexico.

In California you will find MILLIONS of used or new bikes for sale.

But all this really depends on WHAT BIKE you want ... and how much you can spend for the bike.

I would buy from a private party rather than a dealer to save money. You may find a seller who can help you registering the bike in your name at the DMV.
(dept. of Motor Vehicles) You will NOT need insurance in USA as you are on the border and I assume heading South as soon as you buy a bike. If you stay in California then you will need insurance.

You can buy Mexican insurance on line. Try Baja Bound. Good service.

Use Craig's list for San Diego and Inland Empire to find LOTS of bikes for sale.
If you do not have a car or bike now, then you would need to rent a car to
go shopping for a bike. Worth it. Used bikes in Mexico are often not in good condition and very few good ones available.

Many thanks mollydog for your reply.

Am actually looking for a KLR 650, budget around USD 2000.

My main concern is about the paperwork. I need to cross every borders in Central and South Americas, and be able to resell the bike anywhere there. So, notwithstanding the quality of the bike, is it better to be California or Mexico registered for crossing borders and reselling?

You mention that if I buy it in California, the seller may help me with registering the bike in my name at the DMV. Can I make it even if I'm non resident? They would only need my passport there?

No passport or visa is needed to register a bike in California. Perhaps the seller will allow you to USE his address ... this you need to register your bike.

Once you register your bike, the DMV will mail you a NEW title with YOUR name on it. This title is good for every border. The title address does not have to match your Euro address or passport.

Only the name needs to match your passport or visa.

The seller can "walk you into" a DMV (offices all over the state) and transfer the
title from HIM to YOU. Then ...you wait for a few weeks to get your permanent title. But you will be issued a temporary title. Best to wait for permanent title to arrive or have it mailed to you once it arrives.

You can also do this with a friend in the area if seller does not want to help you.
Or ... if you buy from a dealer (more money for bike), the dealer can get the bike registered ... and you do not need do anything but wait for new title to arrive. The dealer may allow you to use his address ... in which case your new
title would arrive there in mail in a few weeks ... or the dealer can use the
expedite option to get it much faster. (you pay a bit for this).

If you buy a bike in Arizona you can walk in yourself, register new bike and walk out same day with a NEW title in your name.

There are several variables on this. More reading here will educate you on all the various options open to you.

What Mollydog said. The States will be much easier than Mexico to get the paperwork done, plus you will have a larger selection of bikes at lower prices.

__________________
Bruce Clarke - 2020 Yamaha XV250

Sorry to Jump in here but im scratching for solid info and keep hitting dead ends. maybe one of you guys can help out.

Im an Australian making my way overland across the Americas (again). This time ive kitted out an Astro van and have a motorcycle hitch carrier on the back.

Now the fun part is finding the right bike to bring along....... but !

>One person can only get one import permit at a time meaning one vehicle per person into Mexico.

>although that one person may have with them one recreational vehicle.

Does anyone know if i can carry a registered street legal or Dual Sport bike across and claim it as recreational vehicle. say i took the lights and plates off even.

also can anyone confirm if a copy of a title is sufficient for border crossing purposes ?

I had almost given up after i was told that i could not get a title and register a bike as a foreigner in Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas (Texas will let me get dirt bike but not register it). Now Arizona and Cali are back on my radar..

Hoping someone can shed some ideas and info..

thanks

Pat

Hey Pat,
I think you've got it right about "one vehicle per TVIP permit". But we see many RV's towing multiple vehicles including bikes, jeeps, boats et al. Thousands of tourists bring in towed vehicles every year ... so must be a way. Basically, I think your motorcycle will use your TVIP for your Van.

Not positive on current policy with California DMV but few years back I helped two Kiwi's register two KLR650's they bought here in San Francisco Bay area.

They used our local address and breezed through DMV registration process and got new titles in their names in a few weeks to receive new title sent from Sacramento, CA. They took off for Mexico, used Temp. registration to cross border and obtain TVIP. We Fed Ex'd new Titles to them, which they got in Mexico City at Fed Ex office there. Made it all the way to Argentina where both bikes were sold off.

Do more research on this and try to get current info on travelers who have done this recently. I also hear AZ is very easy to register a bike.