Riding a friends bike in Mexico/Central America
 

I have a great oppurtunity to ride my friends bike from Panama to San Francisco, CA. Thank you Mike!

He will fly me down to Panama where I will pick up the bike and ride it back to San Francisco. The bike is titled in his name.

I know this is easier said than done.

The limited research I have done re Mexico legalities is not promising.
It appears that Mexico will only allow the owner of the vehicle to operate the vehicle and/or the owner must be present in the vehicle(more applicable to autos/trucks)

Are their any loopholes that someone can suggest?

Would it be possible to transfer title of the bike to myself while in Panama?

I'm sure someone will have better advice, but as a last resort, tour the consulates of the countries you'll be going through and get powers of attorney from your friend to you from each consulate with lots of stamps and seals and signatures.

Thanks for the reply!

If you are still in the states can you not change the title to both names and use the new title which includes your name? Others will know more about this.

If that State accepts dual ownership, I know of no reason they could not do this.
Where do get this from?

Greetings from LaPaz, Baja.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Mexico will not let you in without the title in your name. I’m sure most other countries will be the same.

Your only choice is to have him run to DMV in the states and transfer it to your name.
I have done some traveling in Central America and personally would not ride without it in my name. Most places you travel to will not understand dual ownership. I think you are asking for headaches.
If you make it to Baja look me up.
Kevin

some states issue titles on the spot
 

some states issue titles while you wait

The Staes of Epson and Canon do. :)

How about Hewlett Packard?

It may boil down to this.

My buddy(and his gal..two bikes) leave next Tuesday....

The plot thickens..

Thanks to all for ideas/advice

I'd choose one of the two smaller border crossings, not San Isidro.

Mexico is possible!
 

Hi,

3 friends of mine just came from USA to Panama and the bikes were not on their names(2 weeks ago)

I will ride the bike back to USA in 2 days(Thursday arriving at Panama)

See you !

Jens

we did this similar scenario in spring of 05....

background: me and riding buddy #1 rode KLR from US to Hinduras and left the bikes in Roatan and flew home...6 months later me and riding buddy #2 went down to retreive the bikes....


when we left Mexico into Guatemala, we did not cancel our Mexico permits since we were plannign on returning within the 6 months...

what ended up happening in Tapachula was this...I had to cancel the old permit under rider #1s name....(I had passport copies etc with me and orig title but NO original vehicle permit papers ))...then we signed th etitle as if the owner was selling the bike to buddy #2 and then they reissued a new vehicle import permit under rider #2s mname...it took some fanagling, but was doable....

The KLR that changed hands was originally in rider #1's name?
If so it sounds as if rider #1 was not present at the border when you changed title(sold the bike) to #2. True?

What did the extra hassle entail...time...money?