Leaving foreign motorbike in Colombia
 

I want to leave my KLR in Colombia from mid June and then fly back around October/November some time to continue traveling with her. As far as I know you are only allowed to have the bike in the country for the validity of your visa, which in my case means 90 days. Does anybody know if there is an easy way around this?
I am in Chile at the moment, heading north. I know there are other countries that allow long term storage (1 year in Uruguay and in Brazil nobody cares how leg you leave your bike), but I am flying out of Colombia some would love to leave my bike there.

Thanks, Rubin

contact Motolombia.I think they have a storage program

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Things change. Brazil have started issuing TIP again, at least at the main borders.

Leaving foreign motorbike in Colombia
 

You can leave it here and come back several months later. You must then drive to nearest DIAN office and pay 'sanction'. It is approx 50K COP per month of overstay. Double check this but that's what I have understood. Whenever I get a chance I can upload/mail the paperwork stating this (Spanish only). After you pay the fine they'll give you whatever you have in your passport (presumably if you arrive on 90 day visa you'll get another 90 days). This isn't illegal per se, just make sure you get the vehicle there and get the paperwork squared. Remember tourists only get 6 months calendar per year. NB if you get pulled by the cops you have 5 days forthwith to get your ass to the DIAN. No idea what they'll have to say about it not being insured with SOAT.

Any word on what I were to do if I'd lost the original registration?

What did you end up doing, Ruben? Im heading to Colombia now and want to leave my bike there for a few months as well. Were you able to come back to the bike and leave the country without any problems?

I am also thinking of doing something similar.

My plan is to buy a motorbike in March then fly to Brazil without the bike for two months before returning and continuing my travels.

Can anyone provide information about a secure place to store my bike for two months.

Bump. Need information regarding a secure place to leave my bike for two months in Bogota. Any info is appreciated

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storage in bounded parking lot
 

why not leave your bike in a bounded parking lot? cheap and secure

Any new information?
 

I am looking at storing my motorcycle in Colombia as well. I am currently in Guatemala. If anyone knows of a contact for storage, paperwork process, link, email, etc, it would be muchly appreciated.

Thanks,

Kevin

Colombia's Dian is far from being overlander friendly. I have been travelling and living here for over 40 years. For this reason I have never asked a visa other than a tourist visa even if my sons were born here 25 years ago.

I have not seen change of the attitude of the Dian. One guy I know was trown in Jail for over staying his visa. This is unsual, but the operator can
dictate what he wants and there is no appeal.

they are only 2 way to do that without risking any issue with the Dian. The first one is to secure your bike in an inpounded parking. The bike is considered being out of country. I know Cartagena's port has an impounded parking.

The other way is to store your bike to the zona franca between Colombia and Venezuela. the Zona franca is through Paraguachon. A lady has a storage business and one can leave his bike for $50. a month.

Damn those are nasty rules.
You should check if you can just leave your bike a parking lot too I think. If the regulations allow you, then it shouldn't be a problem.

Colombia quick report
 

Parking a bike in Colombia is a piece of cake. I asked about it the first hotel I have found on my way towards Equador near Pasto and got very friendly feedback, paying 2 USD/day, covered parking place + all bags stored with a separate room. When I wanted to do the same in Mexico, sometimes I had impression that I'm asking for parking an airplane instead of motorbike.
If you don't want to park in the hotels, each city has a dozens of city parkings with the long term plans (you will have to pay on monthly basis then).
Your bike is not stamped into your passport.
My impression was while I was riding through Colombia (2 weeks ago) that police and military check points have a special order not to disturb bike travelers. Every day I have passed 10-20 checkpoint never being stopped or asked. In 80% you will see their thumb up and that all. I parked my bike for a month only, but otherwise I'd go to Ipiales border for checkout and then park somewhere in the nearest parking.

For what it's worth, when I spoke to the DIAN in Medellin last December (while extending my TIP for an extra 3mths), out of interest I asked if it was possible to leave a bike in Colombia while taking a short trip overseas. The lady, who was very helpful, said it was not possible. The bike would be confiscated. She double-checked this with her superior. No exceptions.

For others looking to store bikes in Colombia, I would double-check this with the likes of Motolambia (I think they're based in Cali, I've never contacted them) and also call the Aduana in Medellin or Bogota for an update. You can get their info online.

I've stored my bike in Brazil before (2015), but as other bikers have said, the rules are apparently changing / changed.

Peru was possible in 2016 and probably still is. I left my bike with a friend for a month while I flew to Britain. As long as you return to Peru and leave the country within the 3mths TIP you're fine. Again, check the rules haven't changed.

Good luck!

Bob

A new overlanders-bikers friendly place in Eje Cafetera called Steel Horse in Filandia could shed some light.

We are currently here. The guys are super awesome, the place is new and waits for overlanders and maybe they have some updates.

For sure they have space for bikes but they may know things about the notorious & stupid DIAN regulations.

check them here: https://steelhorsefilandia.com/

You could ride to Equador border hand in Tip (if you have already been riding there) then return to town and store there see ioverlander for more info from someone who has done it. I was there the other day and didn't seem like would be a problem whether is legal or not might be a different story.

I was also at the Paraguachon Col/Vn border and i doubt you would now be able to store there as it is closed for vehicles so unlikely Dian would stamp you out or in, Dian in Maicao is not helpful however the current Jefe in Santa Marta is.

I have a naive -maybe stupid as well- question:

A guy did it and stored his vehicle in Ipiales after cancelling the TIP. So, when he crosses the borders to Ecuador, the DIAN will ask for nothing? Is this so simple?

Because if it is, it will be the best solution for our travel plans!

This is good info ... but you are leaving out one very important element:
These storage facilities need to be able to supply you with an OFFICIAL document of some kind (approved by DIAN I assume) that proves your bike was held in Bond for a specific amount of time.

Regular vehicle storage places are fine for local vehicles but FOREIGN bikes with TIPs may need more serious and official verification issued so rider has something to show when exiting the country. Without this, I'm guessing they may confiscate your bike. In Peru', that is FOR GOOD.

IIRC, most ports and airports provide bonded parking. But whether these places can provide official paperwork for riders is unknown. You have to have something to justify the OVERSTAY of your TIP to show Aduana when exiting country.

Re-setting a Visa is less complicated, just exit country, return the next day. Also, if you're in a capital city, you could visit Migracion to get an extension. Same goes with TIP ... in some cases you may get an extension of time on your TIP. All a major PITA to do. Lots of waiting around for corrupt officials to return from their 4 hour lunch. :oops2:

It is very funny because there are several reports from people who actually flew out of the country and found one or another way to deal with the TIP & the DIAN and all claim that TIP & Migracion are totally unrelated.

However, the first thing that the officer of DIAN in Cartagena told us when clearing our vehicles was that these two things go always together.

At this stage, I am not sure who is right, who is wrong and what is legal and what is illegal.

i just found and talked with the amigo who parked his car for 10 months in Ipiales after cancelling the TIP at the borders. He said exactly the same. The vehicle is considered to be out of the country. On your way out of Colombia and in to Ecuador, nobody bothered from the DIAN side for a foreign vehicle to go out of the country after 10 months without a TIP. But it confirms what poorbuthappy mentioned!

Can't really comment on the specific policy of Colombia (or Ecuador) but many times your passport is NOT linked to your TIP and there is NO indication in your passport that you own a bike or that it is in country. Therefore many times a person
(not with bike) and leave or enter said country at will, renewing visa upon each entry. (with some exceptions)

Other countries link your Passport/Visa to your vehicle and often staple your TIP IN YOUR PASSPORT. In that case you cannot leave country without your vehicle or without paperwork canceling TIP or doing some other work a round.
Interesting as normally Aduana handles vehicle whist
Migracion handles People and Visas. But I guess DIAN sort of covers it all ... a Gestapo like organization if I recall my dealings with them when I was there. IIRC, DIAN make up any rules they want at the time regarding foreigners.

Yes, sometimes they are linked but not always. When you say "clearing" your vehicle, were you entering or exiting Colombia? I assume Exiting?

Nor am I. Good luck!

This makes sense and is hopefully how things work. Was your "amigo" a foreign national (Gringo)? Was his bike on out of country plates? All this matters as some policies change for locals vs. Foreigners.

What I've done in past ... if in the capital, go to head office of Aduana, DIAN, tourism. Try to talk to someone fairly high up the food chain, best would be TOP GUY. Schmooze that guy with letters of introduction from your sponsors or from other govt. officials.

Request he write a letter stating he approves of what you want to do and it is, by his reckoning, legal.

Letters from big Jefe's on official stationary work wonders at borders and in any encounter with other "officials". Also, official letters from USA State Dept. on official stationary (or your home country govt.) are very effective too (but not as much as in years past! doh)
bier

Leaving a bike in Colombia
 

I left my bike in Colombia (near Pasto) for almost 3 monts and flew home in Europe. In July I continued my trip through S. America, when leaving Colombia to Ecuador nobody asked or was interested with my bike status. I have left papers to Aduana (not expired TIP) including handshakes and they waved me wishing a safe journey.
In Colombia I passed 30-40 road checks, was stopped only once (to take a photo) no one asked even for any custom papers

Hi, I am unclear on the details of your post. I am planning on leaving Uru where my bike has been revisited every year for the last 9 years and riding north. I would love to leave our bikes (2 now) in Col. in early 2018. The plan would be to go home to Canada for a year or less and return to continue our ride north to Canada. Are you saying that in Col once our motos have passed the TVIP allowed duration (90days?) we can when we return to Col (in 2019) go to Dian and pay a fee to get new and valid TVIP so that we can again travel freely in Col? If I am on track here, have you any idea what that fee may be? Thank you for your assistance!

Are there any updates regarding this ?

I'd like to leave my bike in Colombia for perhaps six months at a time.


If not, I may sell it there. Any info regarding selling a U.K registered bike in Colombia ?

Thanks. bier

Selling a Chilean bike in Colombia
 

Hi all !!!!!
I'm a Spanish citizen from Barcelona
Bought a KTM 990 ADV in Chile a while ago.
Registered at my name with Chilean plates.
Traveled SA with no problems.
Entering Colombia next September.
Considering finishing my trip there.
Not sure what alternatives I may have for my bike.
Can it be sold?
Could I leave it there for one year?
Any thoughts will be highly appreciated.
thanks