Panama: is a friend of mine allowed to take my motorcycle out of bonded warehouse ?
 

Hey experts, one question:

if I start my trip in the USA and end it in Panama and leave my motorcycle there in Panama (as an alternative Costa Rica would also work for us) in a bonded warehouse (I then fly home), a friend of mine is then allowed to take this motorcycle off from the customs/bonded warehouse ?(I will then give him all the papers I have) and can he then continue the journey with my motorcycle (the motorcycle is registered in my name)
The goal is, so to speak, that we share a motorcycle, I drive from the USA to Panama and my buddy would then fly to Panama and take over the motorcycle from me directly or from the bonded warehouse and drive back to the USA.

regards
Frank

why a bonded warehouse ? There are probably 5 other options that would work in your favor like storing the moto at a well known dealer
or a self storage ect ect.

Hello tohellandback,

Of course it could also be parked at a normal dealer, but I have to be allowed to leave the country without a motorcycle. Can I leave the country if the motorcycle is not in the Bonded Warehouse? The key question is still: I am leaving without a motorcycle, can a friend take over the motorcycle in Panama (the registration is in my name) and leave Panama in the direction of the USA?... and can he also travel through the other countries in the direction of the USA ride a motorcycle registered in my name.

Friend with bike
 

If you get a power of attorney for him he can take it out. That would be a POA from Panama most likely costs $100.00.

I know Costa Rica let my son enter with my bike from Nicaragua with a POA, but if he’s continuing north or south I don’t know how other countries would react

Frank:

The answer to your question involves two different issues:

1) Whether the warehouse-keeper is willing to release the vehicle to someone other than the person who consigned it. At first glance, a power of attorney (appropriately notarized, compliant with Panamanian protocols, etc.) should be sufficient.

2) Whether the customs authorities accept the proposal to have someone else take the moto out of bond and then export it. The whole purpose of storing something "in bond" is to assure customs that it will be appropriately dealt with when it is taken out of bond (either duties & taxes on it get paid if it remains in the country, or it gets exported). So the customs authorities would have to agree to the proposal to have someone else export it.

Michael

So why not change the title/registration to you “or” him? Eliminates all your problems

It must say “or” not and. I know where I live they don’t allow 2 people to be registered owners, but they would respect the document.

Not saying it can't work out in Panama or Costa Rica , but what about travelling across Mexico if the bike is not registered completely in the other guy's name ? Will Mexico also accept the power of attorney thing?