HELP needed getting Panama bike into Costa Rica with tourist visa
 

Hi All,

I bought a Suzuki 125 new in David but got told at the Panama-CR border I couldn't take it out of Panama as I need a Certificate from the Aduanas showing I own it outright with no finance/fines on the bike etc, and this is only available to residents of Panama, not tourists. I asked to pay more tax on the bike with cash but they point blank refused

Can anyone help me get round this?

Thanks!

That's a new on me, never heard of anyone buying in Panama and travelling on with it!
I'd go back to the dealer and see what you can work out with him, there may be a solution - there often is, you just have to dig and dig until you get to the right people. Also write to the HU Panama Community and see if anyone has ideas. They live there, if anyone knows they will.
Good luck and PLEASE let us know how you do!

this is correct, since october 2010 only residents can take a vehicle out of panama

which of course is a TOTALLY sensible AND necessary regulation. i mean, imagine all the problems it would cause if they allowed a foreigner that legally bought and registered a vehicle out of the country!!!! it would quite likely cause the canal to fill with dirt and who knows what other horrendous side-effects.

and then these very same people complain about the laws in the first world....

Argentina has a similar regulation

while i'm not an expert on the topic, it seems that once you cross south from the US every country (or close to it) has ridiculous regs for the movement of vehicles, as if they were the be all end all of everything.

sure, it makes some sense that the importation would be controlled, so the govt can realize "some" income. the tax regimes in these places are so bankrupt by the general population's failure to pay taxes, e.g., the existence of entire micro-economies based on the black market and non-payment of taxes. but prohibiting the exportation of a validly purchased vehicle upon which taxes were paid? and don't for a moment think one can buy and register a vehicle without having first proven that all taxes were paid, since the last step in getting road legal is always picking up your plate and circulacion (registration).

At the risk of destroying some preconceptions, USA and Canada are right up there with having some pretty strict regulations regarding vehicle registration and insurance - and with 50 states, all with their own laws and procedures, the most confusingly variable system you could imagine.

perhaps, but NO state or either of the countries you mentioned prohibits ANYONE from buying and removing a vehicle. though there are some US states where foreigners have trouble registering a vehicle, it is mostly related to not having a permanent address. i can't speak for the cannucks, but i'd bet a whole lotta cheddah that i could fly up there, buy a bike and leave with it.

US however has a regulation that as a tourist if you go to Canada or Mexico you are still considered to be in the US, go figure that one! Do agree that down here too much importance is placed on possession of vehicles