Anyone bought a bike in the tax free zone of Iquique - Chile
 

Hey there,
i am looking to buy a bike in Iquique - chile , which i heard is a tax free zone in the north of the country.
did anyone buy a bike there? i am concerned about the paper work and customs.

1. is it possible to get it out of Chile?
2. would i be able to sell it back in Chile?
3. general thing about chile. is it possible to buy a bike and take it out of the country (not in the tax free zone) Santiago for example.

thanks very much
Eilon

When I was in Argentina this year I met 2 Americans who had bought used bikes in Santiago and crossed the border no problem.

Firstly, to purchase any vehicle in Chile you will need to obtain a rut # (similar to US ss#). As far as the vehicles purchased in the tax free zone they have alot of restrictions tied to them. They have a different colored licence plates to make them easy to reconize.The law allows for only limited time outside the tax free zone (approx 1 month I THINK) and the Cabrinerios (police) enforce this law.
Keeping this info in mind I could not see you returning to Chile with the bike without hassel.
You should gather more info before making a decision on this.
Good luck...............Patrick

It's very easy to purchase a auto in Chile. However in the tax free zone there are many restrictions on how and where you can use them.