I'm looking for a list of countries in Central and South America where it's possible to buy a vehicle as a foreigner. Also which countries allow you to register and insure the vehicle as a foreigner?

I'm Canadian and I can't register a vehicle that's not approved by Transport Canada which is very limited in terms of smaller motorcycles. My provincial insurance won't cover me outside of USA or Canada either.

I know it's nearly impossible to purchase and insure a motorcycle in Mexico as a foreigner, even permanent resident have a lot of difficulty.

Just wondering if there is a country where it is easier and would allow me to fly and buy then continue to hop borders afterward. I really like the idea of buying a local machine that's not too expensive that I could leave behind in an emergency. Plus locals will have spare parts and experience with repairs if it breaks down.

There's a number of countries you can buy and register as a foreigner, it's when you want to cross a border that it gets more difficult. There are a number of threads on which allows what, you'll have to do some reading, as it does change.
Forget insuring from Canada, no chance. You must register and insure locally. Generally you will only be able to get the minimum road legal - liability - insurance. If you're passing through with a foreign bike that's definitely all you can get virtually anywhere.
Read through the South America forum threads!

Hope that helps!

__________________
Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
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Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

In Colombia you can
* Buy a motorcycle and get it registered with you as the owner
* Buy insurance "SOAT" that is mandatory
* Legally leave the country


But to change owner, the new owner has to go in person to an office to get registered as owner.So no idea to speculate to sell it outside Colombia.
(Maybe for parts, and do not transfer ownership

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I have a bike in Colombia. I had prepared in advance. I came there on a Tuesday. Monday six days later I was driving my own motorcycle. Registered and insured. Totally legal.
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In Colombia, bikes up to 200 cc are very common and cheap.
So such a bike you could just leave behind in emergency.
TVS, not so known in western world. But it is very large motorcycle manufacturer from India is common.

https://www.tvsmotor.com/en/co

There are also a lot of bajaj

https://colombia.globalbajaj.com/en/

Some chinese bikes with different names E.g ATK

https://www.aktmotos.com/ttds-rally-edition

And some Hondas. E.G XL150 and XL190

And ......

If you have one of these,it will just be one of all the others on the street and parking. And with Colombian plates.....Noone will pay any attention.
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Non paid items, Speed tickets, parking tickets, non paid insurance, .... follows the bike. So if you buy a used one, this has to be checked.
So if you do not know the procedure and talk good Spanish, buy from a dealer.
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One of two markets for used bikes is OLX
https://www.olx.com.co/motos_c379?sorting=asc-price

Royal Enfield has built an assembly facility in Colombia (And Argentina and....). Avoid taxes and creates work and a network of RE dealers.
So RE Himalayan starts to show up. And at good prices.
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One favorite bike for travelling is Honda XRE 300, But than we are no longer talking about cheap bikes.
https://motos.honda.com.co/motos-honda/todo-terreno


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If you have questions, send me a PM

Thanks for the advice, I wasn't having much luck using the search function. I'll try browsing the South America and Central America forums. I already have my plans for this summer (HU Newfoundland!) so this wouldn't be right away. Just like to know what's possible and start (dreaming) figuring out budget. Columbia sounds like a great starting point for many reasons. Shorter flight from Canada, geographically at the top makes it great for a loop around South America plus stunning scenery and great motorcycling roads. I'm just not at a position I can take that much time off to do a loop... yet.

I've read that Guatemala is the best place to buy a bike in Central America. Apparently it's easy to purchase, register and insure as a foreigner assuming nothing has changed in the last few years. Also it's easier to go between Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador & Honduras when your vehicle is plated in one of those countries. Not sure what it changes or how it's easier. Seems like Guatemala and Columbia are good fly and buy destinations.

I write you from Spain (excuse me if my english is not very good). Me dream is also ride by SA so I have been reading a lot about to by a bike in SA. In most of countries is possible to buy a bike as a foreigner, register it and ride it legally, but in many of then you can spent a lot of time waiting for the documents. Said that, the better countries to do it are Chile and Colombia...as I kown.

I'm Canadian too. I maried a Colombian native and I have lived or traveled south of the USA since the 1970's. I bought motos Mexico, Colombia and Peru.

I have no idea where you get your info but CAA offers no insurance for any country, for any motor vehicules bought in Mexico, Central America or South America.

Wherever you buy a motorcycle, or just ride your own canadian motorcycle, you are required to buy insurance to cover medicals.

The motos that I bought in Colombia had full insurance coverage.

I'm currently in Mexico on a tourist visa, and I ride a moto that that is fully insured.


Concerning Peru, check out Toby Shanon. adventure motorcycle tours in Peru and all South America - Home.

The guy has helped tons of travelers. It's by far the easiest way to buy a motorcycle, to buy insurance and even resell it to him.

It possible to buy motos in some other countries, I will let others who had done so in these countries to comment on that.


It can get complicated and expensive to buy a moto in Mexico and bring it over to South America because you will have to bring the moto to Colombia to cross the Darian Gap, by plane or by boat.