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Border crossing in central / south Amercia Border crossing in central / south Amercia
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Trip Paperwork Covers all documentation, carnets, customs and country requirements, how to deal with insurance etc.
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 8 Sep 2010
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: mexico
Posts: 30
Border crossing in central / south Amercia
Hi everybody,

I was wondering if it was necessary to have your bike at your name for the multiple border crossings in central and south America.
I am thinking of a French friend who wants to buy a bike in the US and drive it through latin America.
As a tourist. He will not be able to have it put at his name and will only have the bill of sales. I read somewhere it could be an issue for example in Guatemala, any confirmation?

thanks for the insights
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  #2  
Old 8 Sep 2010
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bellingham, WA, USA
Posts: 3,904
The general rule is that yes, this will be a problem at each and every border. There may be workarounds....but I sure wouldn't want to try it. People complain enough about those borders (particularly Central America) even when everything is legal and all paperwork is in order--I averaged a couple of hours each, but some people take far longer and even find themselves stuck overnight.

There is no real reason not to have title and/or registration in the owner's name. Your friend can buy a bike in the USA, register it in certain states (not all of them) using a local address, and ride until he's tired of riding. That's what people generally do.

If you find a way to do it differently, lots of people would like to hear about it. Otherwise, do a diligent search on the HUBB and you'll find descriptions and suggestions by various people who've done it the way I'm describing.

Good luck.

Mark
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  #3  
Old 8 Sep 2010
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: mexico
Posts: 30
Ok, thanks for that answer that goes in the way of what I heard.
Living in mexico, i know that you cannot register a bike at your name unless you are a resident with corresponding migration visa.

I would be interested if someone could help me find information of how to register a bike for a foreigner in the US (which states, how long does it take...)

If someone has feed back on buying a used bike in any south American country (to an other adventurer for example) what about the paper work?

This friend is thinking of sending a bike from France, which might be a good idea, but way more expensive.
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  #4  
Old 16 Sep 2010
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Location: Vejle, Denmark
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Possible in the US
Buying and registering in the US is possible as a foreigner, but the rules vary by state.
I come from Denmark, going to the US next month, buying a bike and taking it to South America.
Florida is supposed to be the easiest place to buy as a foreigner, but you have to check with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for each state. Just google them for contactinformation and give them a ring - that's what I did
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  #5  
Old 16 Sep 2010
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Location: Rockhampton, Australia
Posts: 868
I agree with Mark, I spent long enough at each border doing paperwork with the correct documents, in most cases.

Buy in the US, I did in California and have a local address for Title, easy enough to do

One thing I did not bargain for in Ca though, was the sales tax. Even though the bike was 2nd hand, the cost of the transfer was $440, $40 was the transfer cost, $400 for sales tax!!!! A big rip off!! Maybe Florida is different, but I landed in LA and needed a bike near there


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TS
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