Selling a bike in Chile
 

I drove a BMW 1100GS down from the USA and was planning to sell it here in Santiago, Chile. Does anyone have any information regarding the importation or sale of bikes in Santiago, Chile or other countries in South America.

Ah, now I know where you are - I just replied to another post that didn't mention your location.

The problem is the stamp in your pasport, which is designed to prevent you selling the bike and leaving without it.

Bollivia and Brazil are probably the best to sell your bike in, possibly Argentina, and of course if you find the right person Chile may be possible.

First find a dealer or person willing to buy it, then start working on the stamp in the passport.

Legally, you have to pay the taxes to import the bike into the country. You may find someone willing to pay the taxes and lead you through the paperwork, as the bike may still be a good deal for them. Then you can get the stamp cleared at the customs office.

Another way is to leave the country with your buyer, and switch riders between countries to avoid the passport stamp. Not that I'd recommend that as it is fraught with all kinds of problems, especially legality, so don't do it. SA jails aren't nice places, and Chile especially is very strict on the rules and regulations - NEVER ty to bribe a Chilean policeman.

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Grant Johnson

Share the Dream!
at: www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Hey, i am a chilean and i am planning to go to carretera austral and tierra del fuego. Sorry about the question, but how does your bike compare against an Africa Twin?
Please call me if you need any help, my cel number in chile is 09-3324198
Regards
Felipe Irarrazaval

Thanks for the reply Grant.

I do not have a stamp in the passport, so if I can find a buyer, it should be alright to leave the country. Arlen, Moto Club in Chile is very helpful with information the owners are 1100GS fanatics;however, they think that it will be difficult to import any used vehicles into Chile. Apparently, Chile has prohibited the importation of all used autos and motorcycles. They only allow new vehicles to be imorted. The problem is getting the Chilean papers for the motorcycle. The owners at Moto Club suggested adding a new odometer to the bike, but it is a 1995 and is hard to pass off as brand new. Another option would be to find a wrecked Chilean 1100GS and buy the papers from the owner.

I will keep you posted as to my progress.

Matt

As an addendum, in response to a note from someone who knows,

re selling a bike in Brazil:

"it is impossible 'legally'. It (is) illegal to sell it, illegal for the buyer to buy it"
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Agreed - and I am aware it is illegal in all of South America - BUT Bolivia and Brazil are still the best places to buy and sell, but we do not recommend or condone such activities.

As my insider notes:
"if two 'like-minded' people come together anything is possible. Basically if you only have a temporary import permit and nothing in your passport everything is possible... if you have a buyer, anything is possible. He can a. ride illegally, b. bribe policemen at roadblocks, c. bribe officials to get correct paperwork, d. forge correct paperwork, e. ride 2 bikes on the same paperwork...."

BUT none of it is legal therefore you don't want to be involved so don't do it. Got that?

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Grant Johnson

Share the Dream!
at: www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Agree 100%. All is possible, although to my knowledge in Chile, a, d and e are more feasible. b and c could get you in a lot of trouble, specially when local police prides itself from being honest.

I am currently in Mexico part way through my adventure and due to urgent requirements need to return to Australia. As there are three of us I want to let one friend take my bike and we want to sell his. We have the documentation declaring we will take the bikes out. Is the situation similar to Chile with the stamped passport or is there anyway around this, ie import taxes or has anyone sold a bike in Mexico or maybe Belize. I did not think the stamp in my passport related to my bike(only immigration) would they have records on their system when i try to leave?Also, can I transfer my documentation to my friend. Any further information would be great.

You're opening up a can of worms here.

Transferring selling your bike to your friend:

No way will Mexico transfer your bike to your friend, and you don't want to even try. Australia has to do the transfer, and they may or not without the bike there, and without the interested parties - you and friend. In Canada we couldn't even reNEW the registration from overseas.

If the stamp in your passports says nothing about the bike then you are ok. They won't have computerised records that will link you up anywhere, especially if you leave via a different border point.

Can you just park it (or his) for a while and return later for it?

Selling his bike in Mexico:

Given the caveats above, may be possible, but not necessarily legal. See a dealer to start with to determine legality and procedures/costs if it is possible, then start working on private people.

Your friend shouldn't consider riding the bike without registering it in his name, and good documentation. Understand that Mexico doesn't know what genuine Australian registration looks like, but of course they have your other friend to compare to. http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/wink.gif

Tread carefully and understand the situation well before you do anything.

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Grant Johnson

Share the Dream!
at: www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

I got out of Mexico without clearingany kind of customs. Forgot to hand in the Permisio and didn't get my passport stamped.

Have since heard that the credit card i was asked to show at the border is used for a 'bond' of sorts. i.e. They will attempt to charge my card for twice the value of the bike if i don't (didn't) hand in the papers on the way out.

Not sure whether to believe this...

Beg to differ with Grant about not having computerised records for temporary vehicle imports. They do. Tonnes of PCs. Must have changed since you were last there. You
are unlikely to get checked at the immigration on the way out, but getting another Permisio might be hard.

OT: Just finished the import process of a bike into guatemala, and they have everything computerised also. Not to say that speeds up the red tape though.

[This message has been edited by t0by (edited 29 December 2001).]

Just to further complicate the subject:

Jane Banbury and Dave Norris (Babe and Yahoo) reported in mid-2001 that they couldn't sell their bikes in Brazil, but were successful in Iquique, Chile. Possibly because it is a duty-free port. From their diaries:

"At the bike shop, Daniel made a few more enquireis about the logistics of the bike sale to discover that infact it was not possible to import used bikes into Brazil! This was awful for the both of us. We tried many different angles and called a number of people but to no avail. Dave and I had to change our plans and we faced the prospect of having to ride the 6000km’s back to Iquique in Chile as quickly as possible."

More on this topic: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000127.html

So, no easy answers. We know it has been done, but not legally. For me, the prospect of ending up in a Latin American jail would be sufficient deterrent!


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Good luck and safe travels!

Susan Johnson
Share the Dream at <A HREF="http://www.HorizonsUnlimited.com


" TARGET=_blank>www.HorizonsUnlimited.com


</A>

Thanks for the prompt responses, most were as suspected. After discussions with customs officials today(we are in Cancun) they confirmed what we already knew regarding selling the bike. As the reason for putting my adventure on hold has many unknowns, parking the bike may only defer problems.

I have also heard about the credit card charges and will consider cancelling my/my friends card.

As for registration, I am aware of most of the issues and my friends will be sure to have their papers in order prior to proceeding.

I tend to agree with you Grant regarding systems, lots of PC's may not necessarily mean they 'talk' to each other. Even the UK has problems in this area and i doubt if Mexico is any better.

Thanks again, i'll keep you posted.

ps. I hope to forward details of our trip to date in the near future.

any advice?
 

This is going to be my first international motorcycle ride. I am in Chile, and I want to buy a bike and ride it up north, or in to Argentina (not sure yet), and after ship the bike home. I have come across a honda cbr 1000 RR for a fair price. I like the bike, and would love to ride it around back home. But I dont know if I was to buy this bike, would it be hard for me to cross into peru or any other country on it?(paper work?) I got mechanic skills, mostly about cars, and six months to travel. But anything other than that im clueless....could you help.