B.C., CANADA: LIST OF PAPER WORK for trip from BC Canada to Argentina
 

I'm thinking i need the same things i need to drive in canada plus the passport?

Passport
Vehicle registration/insurance.
Drivers License
Secondary ID

Question: what if my insurance and Registration from ICBC has expired?

Regards
Troy

Although your insurance will obviously expire if not renewed, in B.C. the registration does not expire. So your proof of ownership remains in effect.

Normw

I'm currently en route to Argentina. I just separated the two documents (BC insurance and title). I only show people the title (which has no expiration date on it). No issues so far.

Title? I didn't think we had those in BC. Are you referring to the bill of sale? I travelled through all Central American countries with the ICBC registration and had no problems, but mine had not expired. Having said that, no one ever tried to look for an expiry date. The nice thing about the registration is that you can make good two sided colour copies and never hand over the original. I had one of the smarter border ladies actually turn over the registration and look at the back as well, as if she knew what she was looking for.

If all else fails, there's alway Photoshop.


...Michelle
www.scrabblebiker.com

I used an expired registration for many months all over Latin America.....until someone finally noticed. When they do notice--which is only a matter of time--it's sure nice to have the current registration in reserve.

The same thing has happened to me while traveling in Europe using a high-quality, two-sided color photocopy of my registration. No one noticed for many, many months....until I got to the Ukraine, where the border guy hardly even glanced at it before dismissing it as a photocopy and demanding the real thing. Again, it was nice to have the genuine registration to offer.

Cross enough borders and stop at enough police roadblocks and sooner or later you'll run into someone who knows ersatz from genuine or reads English well enough to figure out when something expired last month. Don't get lazy about these things. When you're called on it, you really want to be able to apologize and offer the real document.

I'm not clear whether the OP understands that his insurance is not going to be valid once he enters Mexico. At that point, it no longer matters what your B.C. insurance policy says.

Hope that helps.

Mark

Normw,

So the insurance/registration is proof of ownership regardless of expiration date on paper. I just have this feeling that some official will see the date expired on the insurance registration and perceive that i don't own the bike. However is it worth me getting ICBC insurance for the 8 months im' driving around Central and south america?

any thought would be nice.

regards troy

Call ICBC and tell them what you're doing. When I talked to them earlier this year I was told that they will reimburse you for the months you were outside of Canada/USA. But you'll need proof. They should be able to tell you what proof they'll need. Don't talk to your insurance agency, call the actual ICBC office.


...Michelle
www.scrabblebiker.com

Marinomi,

I just checked out my insurance and registration(title) papers and sure enough the paper is actually perforated 2/3 of the way down for separation if desired. between the Owner's Certificate of Insurance/Vehicle Licence at the top and the Vehicle Registration with the registered owners name and signature at the bottom. Of course there is no expiry date on the ownership/title/vehicle registration part. i think separating the two as marinomi does is the best course of action.....eliminating the Owners Certificate of insurance with expiration date from the documents you hand over to authorities will only eliminate any confusion they may have when they see the expiration date. Simply put they are two separate documents. Thanx all...i think i found the best course of action for me.

Troy

That's always been my strategy. When you cancel BC insurance before is expires they separate the two documents. They keep the insurance (of course) and give you back the bottom which is your registration or the equivalent of a title.
I've been using the bottom part all through central america. Some people give me a weird look cause the document is a weird shape but it's legit so i haven't had any issues using it.
Separating the documents seemed to be the logical thing to do to me *shrug*

Safe travels.