Best country to "store" your bike in?
 

I'm heading to South America later this year for three months and at this stage I would like to leave the bike somewhere and return in 12 months to complete the ride.

The bike is registered in Arizona.

Has anyone had experience doing something similar? I heard about TVIP's for some countries so I assume it would rule them out - I'm not 100% clear which countries use them.

Thanks,

Matt

Argentina usually gives a 8-month TIP although some crossings seem to be stuck on 3 months eg Paso Jama.

Uruguay mostly 12 month TIP but if you enter on the ferry from Buenos Aries it may only be three month.

Claimed to be able to get a 6 -month personal visa and TIP in Ecuador (contact Summerwind campground near Qinto.

No problems leaving those three countries and returning but of course you will have to get a new personal 90 day visa when you return to Uruguay and Arg

Brazil doesn't, or didn't, issue paper TIPs and a couple of others may have an entry on your passport stamp, but the others use a paper TVIP/TIP. Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru for sure in my experience and probably most of the rest

Whether or not they issue a bit of paper or write in your passport, you need to assume they know about your vehicle. Couple of countries reported to be reluctant to let you leave without your vehicle even within the validity period of your visa and TIP.

Bike storage in brazil
 

Hi,

I believe Brazil can help you about storing the bike. No permit is required to enter Brazil, so there is no register on the customs of the bike and you can leave the bike here and come whenever you want.

At the moment I have some bikes stored, but sure I can find some space for one more. I am based in Foz do Iguacu(Iguassu Falls).

Let me know if I can help ok

Cheers
Rod

+1 for what Rod said.

Brazil is the place to leave your bike simply for the lack of paperwork required to get it in the country, no TIP what-so-ever. This also makes it a great place to sell/make a transfer.

when all else fails...
 

If you can't find a country with a sufficient TVIP window, research storing you bike in a bonded warehouse. I have read post from riders that used this service in Costa Rica and assume it works the same everywhere else in the world. Basically it stops the clock on the importation papers, but not insurance coverage.

I have heard talk about this...

>Couple of countries reported to be reluctant to let you leave
> without your vehicle even within the validity period of your
> visa and TIP.

...and would like to hear from someone that actually ran into problems boarding a plane when leaving a motorcycle behind. In fact I think the problem is an urban myth for overland travelers.

I have read a number of posts from riders that did not have issues leaving a country. Few countries between US and Patagonia stamp your passport with the motorcycle details. From my travels (2012-2013) below are the only CA and SA countries that stamped my passport with motorcycles details:

• Honduras
• Costa Rica
• Panama (maybe, cannot read details...something about vehicular...)
• Venezuela

I didn't enter Chile and Paraguay with motorcycle...

I know of a storage garage between Colombia and Venezuela (near Maicao, Colombia) where you can store indefinitely for a daily fee. Search the HUBB for details. Its been posted recently. Chance are there are other storage opportunities between borders.

How far do you plan to go in three months? Assuming you are leaving from Arizona, I recommend traveling slowly and go no further than Panama. There are places to store you bike long term in Panama. Search the HUBB and ye shall find details. After 12 months return to Panama with a plan in place to cross the Darien and start the next leg of your adventure. No need to rush through Central America. There is lots to see there and the time will fly. Yes, you can make it from Arizona to Panama in 10 to 15 days if all you want to do it ride, but it would be a waste to miss the fun between here and there.

suspend and store in Peru
 

I help you with all the required paperwork to suspend your TVIP (for up to 11 months), and store it for you here in central Peru, just a 35 minute flight from Lima.

I do this on a regular basis for riders. PM me if you are interested.


Toby

I have friends in Santiago and one is willing to store my bike there for me. I would also like to find out if this will be a problem for me or him. I will ask him to check into it and get back on that.
Kelly

Storage in Brazil
 

Hey Matt,

I just left Brazil with no problems, having stayed 6mths there myself, while the bike stayed 11mths (I left it there to go back to the UK).

On entering BZ from Peru (Puerto Maldonado - Rio Branco) there was no TVIP. On the regular tourist visa slip you fill out there is a space to record your bike number plate. Before leaving BZ for the UK (when the slip is taken from you at immigration) I photocopied this, just in case on finally leaving BZ with the bike I needed to prove that I did actually bring it in. But it wasn't needed. I left at the Corumba-Puerto Suarez exit further south. I left like any other toursit, an exit stamp in the passport and that's it, even though I had my crash helmet in hand. Obviously by that time you're handing in your latest tourist paper slip which doesn't show you moto number plate.

I would still photocopy the first slip if I did it again. It might also help with any complications at the airport check-in desk using a return flight ticket to Brazil (i.e. with no onward flight out of Brazil).

I had also taken the precaution of writing an official letter, dated and signed by the friend who stored my bike, incl. the address.

Though I think it's not an issue in Brazil, it's better to be safe than sorry . . . just in case at the border you get the grumpy one!

All the best,

Bob
Santa Cruz, Bolivia