Leaving Bolivia with expired Temporary Import papers?
 

When I entered Bolivia from Argentina I was asked for 'Seguros' - I didn't have any as all of my research suggested I only needed it in Argentina. They weren't going to let me in but after much haggling they agreed to give me 70 days for my bike (90 day visa for me). I had intended to go to the Peruvian border today to ask for an extension but I've just limped into La Paz with what I think is a blown cylinder head gasket (though I sincerely hope not!).

Anyway, I have 3 days left on my temporary import paper and no chance of repairing my bike in that time. Has anyone left Bolivia with expired TI papers? Should I chance it or should I take a bus to the border and explain my predicament in the hope of being granted the extra 20 days to match my visa?

In Argentina customs usually took my TI papers off me, threw them on the desk and waved goodbye but in Chile I seem to recall them punching the info into the computer.

I'd appreciate anyone's experiences.

Cheers

Adam
Short Way Round

I crossed into Peru from the Copacabana border last October and my papers weren't checked properly on the Bolivian side. I just handed them to a friendly official outside the customs building after having my passport checked, and the guy didn't really look at them. I had trouble at the other side though, the Peruvians didn't want to let me into the country without seguro and couldn't sell it to me either. Said I'd have to take the bus to the next city (2 hours away) to buy it, while leaving the bike at the border. They are after bribes (as well as the police behind the border, they stopped me and asked for insurance straight away).

Not saying this will work for you but we didn't even have temp import papers for the bikes in Bolivia as we forgot to stop at the Aduana on the way in from SPDA (Bolivian border has a separate place for passports for some reason). No one asked for them as we were heading into Peru though he did ask for a small bribe, however we had just spent the last of our Bolivianos on the ruins nearby (which actually weren't that great) so just showed him my empty wallet which seemed to do the trick.

That said, I generally felt the cops in Peru were 'at it' (particularly north of Lima nearr Barranca) while we didn't have any problems with the Bolivian officials.

What actually happened...
 

NOTHING! That's what. The official at the border near Copacapana was pretty grumpy and I thought I was going to have a hard time. However, despite a good look over my Temporary paper he either missed, or ignored, the expiry date. I was with a lad who'd stored his bike in La Paz for 10 monhs and had NO temporary paper. They didn't like him too much butter after much talking and checking of documents they let him pass. All with no mention or suggestion of a bribe.

Adam
Short Way Round