Currently my motorcycle is only insured with temporary insurance and therefore I don't have a plate for it. Does anyone know if this will give me a lot of trouble in Central or South America assuming I purchase all of the proper insurance as I go?

Thanks a lot.

Blue Sky, I like your screen name.

Need a little more information to properly answer your question.

1. Is your motorcycle legally registered in a State of the United States or in a foreign country? yes/no

2. If so, is it just a matter of a lost or stolen license plate? yes/no

If not, you have no valid insurance even though you have purchased it locally.

Local insurance companies are authorized to sell insurance for any vehicle - but if there is an accident involving personal injury or significant property damage... the insurance company will investigate the "legality" of the motorcycle operating in country. If, in any way, the insurance company discovers that the motorcycle is not legally registered and does not legally belong to the insurance rider, you have no insurance coverage.

I suggest you order and wait for a new license plate if possible. Otherwise you may have problems crossing Central American borders and you definitely will have problems flying your bike over the Darien and crossing South American borders. Remember all mainstream transport companies do check and demand proper title for transport by air over the Darien Gap.

Any illegality will null and void any insurance you have purchased.

The border crossing issue is difficult to diagnose because I do not know if your vin # on title matches vin # on bike or if the title is legally in your name.

Too many variables to give any definitive answers.

xfiltrate

The bike is 100% legally mine.

It is registered in my name in my home Canadian province.

The license plate is neither lost nor stolen, I was never issued one.

If you have no number plate which relates to the vin number and paperwork for the bike expect problems just about everywhere you go, I suggest you do whatever needs to be done to get a number plate issued before setting off.

All true in theory, but fact is ... I've ridden THOUSANDS of miles in Cent. Am and Mexico with two guys who had NO license plates. Why? How? Mexico eats bikes ... their plates FELL OFF riding serious wash board at high speed.

BUT ... they had legal TVIP, legal, current titles. No problema!
Insurance? Yes, we all had insurance, but it's wasn't legally required in Mexico at that time ... and in fact VERY FEW Mexican carry insurance today. But changing as more and more get loans and seguros required to secure loan.

Oh, one more thing ... Friend crashed his insured Tri Tiger riding off road in Copper Canyon. He also lost his plate riding off road. We contacted the agent, he met us at the border (on Mex side). He never even asked about missing plate, just referred to title and current registration. Funny thing was ... His car had a California plate on it (!!!!) ... very common in Mexico, had a 2001 sticker on it
This in 2007. Now that is FUNNY!

Guy took pics, I figured they'd never pay up. BUT ... THEY DID! $2,300 Paid. In this case, insurance paid out. Not always the case.

Suffice to say, things don't work in Mexico exactly like USA and Canada.

"Suffice to say, things don't work in Mexico exactly like USA and Canada."

AND in 2017, things aren't the same as they were in 2007 either.

International law says you need plates. That implies current registration.

__________________
Tony
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