QUOTE

Remco, if I am correct, your Honda XL 650L is titled in the State of California, with the last paid registration in 2007 and it now has an expired California plate, each State of the United States has individual and unrelated Departments of Motor Vehicles, and the change of ownership (title transfer) might vary greatly from State to State.

My Question is how do you and the buyer satisfy the California DOT change of ownership regulations without violating the Temporary Vehicle Import Permit regulations of Colombia and Ecuador?

The reason for my question is that in the event of an accident, any insurance purchased by the buyer... might be declared null and void by the insuring company if an illegal title transfer can be proven. This might not be a problem unless the buyer has an accident with substantial property damage, personal injury or death. Then, an investigation of the title will be tasked to an attorney and if that investigation reveals a violation of the Temporary Vehicle Import laws of either Colombia or Ecuador the insurance company will claim that the buyer fraudulently purchased insurance and that will expose the fact that the buyer and also violated the Temporary Vehicle Import Permit of either Colombia or Ecuador by illegally importing a "stolen" motorcycle, to which the buyer did not hold legal title.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles has an excellent web site:

California Department of Motor Vehicles

California is the only State, based on my research of all 50 States, that might allow, a title transfer, as you have described, based on the completion of California Department of Motor Vehicle "check sheet"
provided here:

How to Change Vehicle Ownership

One barrier that must be overcome is the 2007 registration that you are required to update by paying the current registration fees and any penalties associated with expired plates and registration.

Here is a brief overview of California DOT regualtions:

What Constitutes a Change in Ownership? California

Any change of the registered owner or lienholder (legal owner) of a vehicle or vessel is considered to be a change in ownership that must be updated on the records at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The change is usually due to:

Sale or gift
Adding or deleting the name of an owner
Inheritance
Satisfaction of lien (full payment of car loan)
Transfer—Whenever there is a change of ownership, the DMV refers to the transaction as a “transfer.”

Seller—The person(s) and/or company shown as the registered owner on the Certificate of Title (and DMV’s records) is always referred to as the seller, even if the vehicle is a gift.

Buyer—The person(s) and/or company who is going to become the new registered owner is referred to as the buyer.

What Fees Will Be Due?

Fees will be determined when the application is submitted to DMV and may include:

Transfer
Use Tax – Based on new registered owner’s city and county of residence
Registration Renewal
Planned Non-Operation
Duplicate Title
Replacement License Plate – Due if a license plate has been lost or stolen.
NOTE: Transfer fees are due within 10 days of the “sale.” Penalties are assessed if payment is not received by DMV within 30 days of the “sale.” If multiple sales occur before DMV is notified, a separate transfer fee is collected for each sale when the application for transfer is received by DMV.

[B]Once again.....My Question is how do you and the buyer satisfy the California change of ownership regulations without violating the Temporary Vehicle Import Permit regulations fo Colombia and Equador?[/b]

Another barrier is the Colombia Temporary Vehicle Import Permit regulation copied here:

Brief translation in English:

The foreign tourist who wants to tour Colombia on a motorcycle, registered abroad (Canada, USA, EU, Australia etc) must be the legal owner of the motorcycle when she/he enters Colombia and then she/he (the same foreign tourist owner) must ride out of Colombia within 6 months or whatever time is allowed on the Colombian issued TVIP.


ESTATUTO ADUANERO DE COLOMBIA
ACTUALIZADO AL 31 DE OCTUBRE DE 2004

MINISTERIO DE HACIENDA Y CREDITO PUBLICO

DECRETO No. 2685

(28 de Diciembre de 1999)
Por el cual se modifica la legislación aduanera.

EL PRESIDENTE DE LA REPÚBLICA DE COLOMBIA,

en uso de las facultades que le confiere el numeral 25 del artículo 189 de la Constitución Política, con sujeción a los artículos 3º de la Ley 6ª de 1971 y 2º de la Ley 7ª de 1991, oído el Consejo Superior de Comercio Exterior, y
CONSIDERANDO:
Que el Gono Nacional está comprometido con las políticas que permitan fortalecer la inserción de la economía colombiana en los mercados internacionales, facilitando y agilizando las operaciones de comercio exterior;
Que con el propósito de brindar transparencia, claridad y certeza a los usuarios del comercio exterior, las operaciones aduaneras deben armonizarse y simplificarse a través de una legislación que las recoja en su integridad y consulte las tendencias legislativas internacionales;

Que para el efecto y en cumplimiento de nuestra Carta Política, en la elaboración del presente decreto se atendieron las leyes marco en materia aduanera y de comercio exterior y los convenios internacionales; y se consultó la legislación comparada y las propuestas del sector privado, para garantizar un equilibrio entre el fortalecimiento del control, la fiscalización aduanera y la eficiente prestación del servicio;

Que de acuerdo a los anteriores lineamientos, se introducen las modificaciones al régimen de aduanas, mediante las siguientes disposiciones,


Sección V

Importación Temporal para Reexportación en el mismo estado

ARTÍCULO. 158°. Importación temporal de vehículos de turistas. Los vehículos de turistas (automóviles, camionetas, casas rodantes, motos, motonetas, bicicletas, cabalgaduras, lanchas, naves, aeronaves, dirigibles, cometas) utilizados como medios de transporte de uso privado, serán autorizados en importación temporal, cuando sean conducidos por el turista o lleguen con él.

Los turistas podrán importar temporalmente el vehículo que utilicen como medio de transporte de uso privado, sin necesidad de garantía ni de otro documento aduanero diferente a la tarjeta de ingreso que establezca la Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales, o la libreta o carné de paso por aduana, o el tríptico, o cualquier otro documento internacional reconocido o autorizado en convenios o tratados públicos de los cuales Colombia haga parte. Estos documentos serán numerados, fechados y registrados por la autoridad aduanera. En todos los casos el turista deberá indicar a la aduana de salida del vehículo importado temporalmente.

Los nacionales colombianos, no residentes en el país, al llegar deberán presentar adicionalmente, un certificado de residencia en el exterior expedido o visado por el cónsul colombiano en el país de residencia.

ARTÍCULO. 159°. Requisitos del documento de importación temporal. En el documento aduanero que autorice la Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales para la importación temporal del vehículo deberá indicarse marca, número del motor, año del modelo, color, placa del país de matrícula y demás características que lo individualicen.
ARTÍCULO. 160°. Plazo para la importación temporal de vehículos de turistas. El plazo máximo de importación temporal para los medios de transporte de uso privado, será de seis (6) meses, prorrogables por la autoridad aduanera hasta por otro plazo igual, condicionado al tiempo de permanencia en el territorio aduanero nacional otorgado en la visa al turista.
En caso de accidente comprobado ante la autoridad aduanera, ésta podrá autorizar un plazo especial condicionado por el tiempo que se requiera para la reparación del medio de transporte o para que pueda salir del país en condiciones mínimas de seguridad.

En caso de destrucción o pérdida del vehículo, esta deberá acreditarse ante la autoridad aduanera.

ARTÍCULO. 161°. Aduana de ingreso y de salida. La salida de los vehículos importados temporalmente podrá hacerse por cualquier aduana del país. En caso de que el vehículo salga del país por una aduana diferente a la de ingreso la aduana de salida deberá informar inmediatamente a la de ingreso, para la cancelación de la importación temporal.

Si una vez vencido el término autorizado para la importación temporal del vehículo, no se ha producido su reexportación, procederá su aprehensión y decomiso.

Once again: My Question is how do you and the buyer satisfy the California DOT change of ownership regulations without violating the Temporary Vehicle Import Permit regulations of Colombia and Ecuador?

NOTE: I am adding a post scrip because your urgency in selling your bike might indicate an "emergency" at home. If this is the situation, I will be the first one, of many, I am sure, to offer you any reasonable assistance that will enable you to attend to any emergency you might be experiencing. Please advise how I might help. Perhaps the HUBB or the HUBB community in Colombia has or might create a revolving fund that offers short term contributions (not loans) to Hubbers in desperate need. Then, the Hubber in need, could make an equal contribution to the fund, once the emergency situation is resolved.

One alternative to selling your bike comes to mind. Based on my research, you might (I DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE) be able to legally add a co-owner to your California title, who might be able to legally insure and ride your bike. The down side of this possibility is that you will remain responsible for any damages resulting from an accident in which a court ruling determines your co owner was at fault. I have not finished my research regarding the Temporary Vehicle Import Permit and the legality of adding a co owner. If you decide to go this route, private message me and I will explain in greater detail what I have discovered to date.

Eat, Drink and Be Careful xfiltrate

www.Xfiltrate.com - Professional Motorcycle Parking - Professional Motorcycle Parking Buenos Aires, Argentina

UNQUOTE

MOVED BY CHRIS (MOD)

__________________
Brighty's website: TheBrightStuffDotCom

Chris, my recent post to Remco should be a stand alone thread, it is general information regarding selling or buying a USA registered bike in South America while both seller, buyer and bike are in South America.

Based on my research, and please correct me if I am misrepresenting the facts, the thread you moved should be considered a "corner stone, not a cluttering factor" for anyone reading the Travel Bikes for Sale/Wanted forum of the HUBB.

Although the HUBB accepts no responsibility for what is posted, common sense dictates that reasonable cautions should be permitted to stand so that potential buyers are advised of any legal pitfalls they may encounter when buying a foreign registered (USA, etc) bike in South America. Do you not agree? Or, am I missing important data here?

Please re label the new thread you have created with my recent post appropriately. Thank you.

I understand the move, but not the characterization as "clutter" of my post.

Perhaps I have misunderstood your intent, if so please explain.

Eat, Drink and Be Careful xfiltrate

__________________
www.Xfiltrate.com - Professional Motorcycle Parking in Buenos Aires

Hello Xfiltrate
PM sent. Title changed, hopefully to your satisfaction.
Chris

__________________
Brighty's website: TheBrightStuffDotCom

Chris, your point of establishing a separate thread for discussion of the legal aspects of selling and buying a motorcycle registered in one of the fifty States of the United States is understood and appreciated, thank you.

Each State of the United States has a web site for a Department of Transportation, sometimes called Department of Motor Vehicles, and transfer of title regulations vary greatly from one State to State.

Sellers and Buyers should consult appropriate title transfer regulations independently and not rely on what others say or what others have done in the past. Homeland Security has asked that the various States of the United States to maintain stricter control over vehicle ownership and recently title transfer regulations have changed in many States.

The other topic that might be discussed here, and privately, between Seller and potential Buyer is the Temporary Vehicle Import Permit (TVIP) that is issued to any foreign registered motorcycle entering a South American country.

The TVIP is similar in all South American countries, and by international convention, has replaced the need for a "Carnet de Passages en Douane" by incorporating similar restrictions, but without the need for a refundable deposit, assuring the motorcycle is not sold in country.

We, as foreign tourists should respect the regulations of the Temporary Vehicle Import Permits or we might be saddled, once again, with the cumbersome, costly "carnet de passage."

Thanks to the efforts of Grant and Susan, the HUBB, and the President of Ecuador, the "Carnet de Passages en Douane" was replaced by the Temporary Vehicle Import Permit in Ecuador. Ecuador was the last country in South America to require a "Carnet de Passages en Douane."

I do not want to see the reinstatement of the "Carnet de Passages en Douane" for any South American country, so please respect the regulations imposed by the Temporary Vehicle Import Permit (TVIP) that is issued to every foreign registered motorcycle upon entering any South American country.

Eat, Drink and Be Careful xfiltrate

__________________
www.Xfiltrate.com - Professional Motorcycle Parking in Buenos Aires