Insurance in Colombia
 

There seems to be some confusion concerning insurance requirements for Colombia. I was under the impression from various earlier postings that insurance was not obligatory to ride through Colombia on a foreign registered bike.

After being stopped by the police riding down to Bogota from Cartegena, I was advised on two occasions that insurance is mandatory. I had a sufficiently good cover story to see me through but I may not be so lucky further south.

A friend in Bogota showed me the equivalent of the Colombian Highway Code and this did indeed confirm the need for insurance.

I got stopped for this also. First I told them I didn't have it, and it wasn't required for me. They said that it was required.

Then I showed them my expired USA insurance and said that it was valid for the Americas, and they said ok, and let me go. They have a different date format there so that confusion might have helped.

I was stopped by the Army and they had a guy who spoke english, otherwise I would have just played dumb.

So just bring something that says insurance and looks valid and tell them that it is valid in the Americas.

--Terry

[This message has been edited by TerryMoto (edited 12 July 2004).]

Mattpope:
Insurane is mandatory in almost all south american countries. it will cover costs that you may have to pay to others if you are involved in an accident.

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