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Photo by George Guille, It's going to be a long 300km... Bolivian Amazon

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by George Guille
It's going to be a long 300km...
Bolivian Amazon



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  #1  
Old 12 Sep 2014
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Buying a used motorcycle in Colombia

I'm planning to travel to Colombia this coming fall. I want to fly there and buy a used motorcycle and travel throughout the country for 6 weeks.

I read that the law requires one to have a Colombian ID to be able to register or buy a motor vehicle.

I also read one can bypass this by buy a new vehicle from a dealer. The dealer does all the processing.

I know that in many cases the law can be like the driving indications and is not applied and one can buy a vehicle without a Colombian ID without problem.

I would like to know if some among you bought a used motor vehicle without a Colombian ID.

And finally would like to know if someone among obtained his Colombian Driver's license.

Thanks
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  #2  
Old 13 Sep 2014
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Colombian licence

From what I can understand, to get a Colombian licence you need to have a ´cedula´- which entitles foreign residents to apply for licences (I think it´s like equivalent to being a temporary resident with a special ID). To obtain this you need to have a visa. Coming in as a tourist and getting a licence is next to impossible. This seems to be the case with most countries in SA.
Hope that helps
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  #3  
Old 16 Sep 2014
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I know for a FACT, you can walk into a dealership, and buy a NEW moto without any problems. They will do all the paper work for you if you want to buy NEW.

Long story short: I've been on the road for a few years now on my moto, but back in 2007 I road a bicycle through the Americas. Because of this I love seeing anyone on a bike. I was laid up in Medellin, Colombia with dysentery and met a gringo at the hostel who had ridden his bicycle up from Tierra del Fuego to Peru where he had an accident and tweaked his knee. He was on the hostel circuit and hating it. He wanted to get back on his bike, but couldn't because of his knee so he was thinking of a small moto. After looking around at used bikes, and talking with people about the paperwork it seemed like a real pain or nearly impossible, but at a dealership it was hassle free. I helped him shop around and figured which brands where also available in the surrounding countries. We ONLY had to deal with the dealership. He ended up paying around 1100$ for everything. I drove it to the hostel and then spent the next days teaching him how to ride it. Then he was off heading south to Ecuador and Peru. He didn't have a moto licenses, nor did he have to do ANY paperwork.

Good luck,
EW
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  #4  
Old 27 Nov 2014
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Hi,

I am currently in the same situation as Anyway. I would buy a used bike in Medellin to ride across the Andes to Patagonia.
Does anyone know specifically what kind of paper are needed and should be produced when buying? All I know so far is that you can easily be registered into the drivers repertory "GRUNT" with your passport at the SIM.

Clement
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  #5  
Old 27 Aug 2015
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Never used these guys but it anyone is still watching this thread seems to be a reliable resource

http://www.motolombia.com/buy-a-motorcycle/

company that rents out motorbike in Cali- fantastic town by the way
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  #6  
Old 9 Aug 2017
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Any updates on this situation that anyone can add ??
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Did some trips.
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Can't say anymore.
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  #7  
Old 19 Sep 2017
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Quite easy if you are other than a tourist

being a foreigner To get cedula you have to apply for temporary residence which means you have to have a propose to be in Colombia Workvisa,Marriage or pensioner bottom line! Tourists can buy what ever you want but if you buy from a private citizen then the shit runs uphill Car dealers and bike dealers will set you up no problem with SOAT and RUNT, insurance and registration
I am a foreigner with a work visa and cedula so i bought a bike
the registration is carried over from the previous owner and is good for a another yearand it took me 2 hours and a million and a have pesos to get a Colombian drivers licence because i have never owned a bike only Class 5 for cars in Canada yes i am learning to ride in Colombia and it is not boring its a work out on a 2014 g650gs
as far as i know winging it on a passport may be a problem to register a bike in your name but finding a temporary Colombian prepago and she would be happy to take your money so you can get a co restristation the choice is yours brother
Its like foreigners trying to get a green card and it can be done in Colombia
just don't piss her off
my two pesos
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  #8  
Old 19 Sep 2017
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Never seen so many bike riders getting pulled over for paperwork checks as in Colombia so make sure yours are 101% in order or you may not get far.
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  #9  
Old 19 Sep 2017
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I can make it happen for you in Peru no problem as a tourist. It is a tad tricky, but weve already done it for over 35 foreign riders! PM me.
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  #10  
Old 19 Sep 2017
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Pulled over !

I remember reading in a national news paper awhile ago that tourists were complaining about cops asking for documentation all the the time, Minor harassment if you want to call it, President Santos caught wind of this and told the Policia National to back off we want people to go home with positive thoughts of Colombia and tell there friends I think it is working
I have done 5000 Km in Colombia in a month and a half and haven't been pulled over once its probably because i don't look like a tourist and i have a Colombian flag on the back of my helmet along with a Canadian one
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  #11  
Old 24 Sep 2017
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You don't need 'a cedula' (I've no idea what people mean by that).
All you need is to be registered in RUNT, so they have you in the system and can print a priopiedad card in your name. You register in 'transito'. So f.e. in Medellin it'll be: Secretaria de Movilidad de Medellín. Just bring your passport, driving license, and have a local address and phone number ready. (Doesn't have to be your address)
It is easiest to buy from a dealer, especially if you're not used to south american bureaucracy.

Tutorial beforementioned is good.

I have bought and sold my moto privately in Colombia and traveled SA on it. Please also search my last post on similar topic or PM any questions.

Sent from my Z1 PRO using Tapatalk
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  #12  
Old 25 Sep 2017
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Quote:
Originally Posted by szejluke View Post
You don't need 'a cedula' (I've no idea what people mean by that).
All you need is to be registered in RUNT, so they have you in the system and can print a priopiedad card in your name. You register in 'transito'. So f.e. in Medellin it'll be: Secretaria de Movilidad de Medellín. Just bring your passport, driving license, and have a local address and phone number ready. (Doesn't have to be your address)
It is easiest to buy from a dealer, especially if you're not used to south american bureaucracy.

Tutorial beforementioned is good.

I have bought and sold my moto privately in Colombia and traveled SA on it. Please also search my last post on similar topic or PM any questions.

Sent from my Z1 PRO using Tapatalk
I am currently going through the very process of buying from a dealership and what hes saying is correct, you only need a passport, you should have a moto license but they never asked me. I am buying from the aktdealship 1 block from the Exposiciones metro stop here in medellin. They walked me 1 block over to a small garage setup who did the runt. You NEED to know your blood type for runt, i had to go 1 block the other direction to literally give blood for this bike. It was around 215 dollars for the paperwork. Everything is right there and convinient. Runt will take a day or 2 for paperwork. I can then legally ride this bike anywhere in Colombia that can handle me. I hope to sell the bike in 2 weeks, but may end up keeping it, eitherway the akt bikes are cheap enough where this isnt a terrible idea though i origanlly was supposed to stay here longer getting my moneys worth. 2 weeks puts it about same as a rental but I dont need to return the bike in a certain city. 3+ weeks and it might be a great idea. Hell I can leave it in the streets with keys in it and fly home, and treat the lost money as if i paid a rental.
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  #13  
Old 25 Sep 2017
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In Peru (after we do all the paperwork ahead for you) the process takes a signature and about 1-2 hrs of your time and you ride away with an owners card in your name, license plate and insurance, ready to cross borders!

Last edited by charapashanperu; 31 Oct 2017 at 21:50.
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  #14  
Old 25 Sep 2017
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This thread is about Colombia, if you were in Ecuador I would understand your blatent advertising, but Peru is half a continent down, serms pretty useeless here. Thanks anyway
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  #15  
Old 25 Sep 2017
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kjswiley View Post
This thread is about Colombia, if you were in Ecuador I would understand your blatent advertising, but Peru is half a continent down, serms pretty useeless here. Thanks anyway
Sorry you feel that way, but there are many more looking on with flexible plans.

My wife and I do volunteer social work in the Andes of Peru and help riders from all over.... it's not about business. Ask any of the few hundred who have come through that know us...
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