Motorcycle licence required in South America?
 

Hi there,
I am looking at doing a motorbike trip around SA starting Feb 2013.
This may sound like a stupid question but will I need a motorcycle licence while over there? Or will an international drivers licence (car) be sufficient to keep authorities happy (there isnt alot distinguishing vehicle classes i.e car/motorbike on international licences)?
I know how to ride but living rural means i've never had to worry about a licence for roads in New Zealand.
Any help would be much appreciated, just trying to save some $$$ involved in getting a licence here which i dont really need!
P.s. from going through previous posts Santiago, Chile appears to be the easiest place for a foreigner to purchase a bike? Has anybody got any up to date info on bike purchases in Buenos Aires? Would suit my itinerary alot better and also have a local friend there to help facilitate the process.
Thanks once again!
Ben.

I rode from Reno, NV to Ushuaia this fall. No one asked to see my international license. But they did ask for my US one at about every border. Like many travelers I made a color copy of the actual license and plastic wrapped it. That is the one I showed them. Frankly I think the 15 bucks to get the international was not wasted. They also asked to see your moto's title and registration and they often ask you to give them copies of all these documents. I don't know if they would notice the lack of the motorcycle endorsement, but if they do, they might not let you into the country. So I would go out and get one.

Regarding bike purchases in Argentina I met a Swiss guy who did that. He was told he could not bring the bike out of Argentina and had to turn back and sell it in Rio Gallegos and take the bus. I know this does not make sense but that is what he said. It was something like he had to bring the bike in to get the Aduna to bring it out. Maybe you should contact an Argentine counsel. Dave

cherckerdd's friend is correct. If you buy a bike legally in Argentina as a foreigner you can't leave the country with it.

If you buy another traveler's bike, registered outside Argentina, you can make it work.

A thorough search of this site will yield detailed instructions and confirmation of the above. Good luck.

Mark

Thanks fullas!
Yeah I might aswell take this oppurtunity to finally get a bike licence….
And head to Santiago for a horse.
Much appreciated, safe travels!
Ben

I just got my bike licence before I left. The police in Ecuador and Peru only asks for my internacional licence, they don´t know what to do with my Dutch one.

Dutch (european) driving license in Arg/Chi/Bol
 

Has anyone info/advice/recommendations on driving in Argentina/Chile/Bolivia with a Dutch driving license? I'm already in S.America so can't get a (Dutch) international driving license issued since that has to be done in person in the Netherlands itself.. :(

@ arnedeknegt
Was asked for it at route 14 Argentina and offered it today in Chile as they didn't know what to make of my Dutch license (just to speed things up).

hey kenny013.
tilburg?
you have experience buying a foreign owned bike in south america (chile, argentina) or did you ship your own bike to s.america?

i'm considering buying a bike in chile from a fellow traveler, but not entirely sure wheter that is hassle free or not...see quite some pro's and con's online.
would love to hear from your experiences and your trip. mail me on yellow_cosmic_warrior@yahoo.com

ps, mark (kjiratsiekoedel), thanx for ur quick response!

I spent a few weekes riding in Peru a couple of years ago, and from the info i got from the Peruvian embassy and from my insurer before i left, was if i was licensed to ride in Oz, that was ok for Peru, no need for international or local licenses, for the rest of SA, could not offer any advice,

international is required. spent 1 hour with arg police
 

Argentina --- yes. international

it was a short conversation when they roll out the english speaking poliman

this euro license is correct but it is not recognised, you need the internatioal one. thankfully did have, unfirtunatly i was missing my seguru (insurance) but after lots of chatting and polite i promised to stop in the next town and buy it, with the directions he gave me. with awarming route 14 has lots of police checks because of the drug smuggling route.

I can see others have offered advice, but the one key thing missing is that YES, you should have a bike licence. Without it any insurance will end up being void (you will be buying insurance won't you? )

Buying in Chile is dealt with well in this thread

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...santiago-45637

And this web page Guide to Buying a new motorcycle (or a car) in Chile for foreigners | Ondrej Jurik

However 2 things,

1) I hit an issue after buying privately, the RUT number will only work with a commercial dealer until you have the physical card. We then went north on notary letters, until Peru which would not allow us in (owner must be at border with bike on entry). As we did not need to go further north not 100% a major issue.

2) Bikes are more expensive in Chile

In all countries in SA (apart from Chile which I did visit) I was only ever asked for UK license at the border NOT international. On the road I always showed international because that was the one I was will to lose if they wanted a bribe!
I'm quite sure you'll be OK with the Dutch one but make a good copy and get it laminated (I didn't and wish I had).
This info is current, well a month ago.

Cheers
Pete

Pete, Thanks for the info!
you travel with ur own UK bike it seems based on the pics on FB?
you have first hand knowledge of foreigners driving on another foreigner's bike with a power of attorney? seems like that's the easiest and most legal way for buyer and seller to transfer a bike from one to another?

would appreciate any type of feedback ;)
thanks,
arne de knegt
Relocate

Hi,
We were also without driving licence and did it in Buenos Aires in October, legally in 3 working days (3hrs of examinations, 2*3hrs of theory classes and exam after) for about 120 pesos
We bought after 2 Yamahas YBR 125 in Santiago de Chile, registered them with TEMPORARY RUT without problems and are now in Bolivia. As compared our YBRs were 20% cheaper in Chile than in Argentina.
Important is that as a foreigner you can't go from Chile to Peru and Bolivia, you have to go through Argentina.
During our trip we were asked only 1 time for driving licences much more important were PADRON (certificate of ownership) and international insurance in Argentina.
In our opinion if you don't care for your health insurance in case of an accident you can easily photoshop your car driving licence. Because only that can be a problem. Till now we experienced, that police here cares much more about cars than motorbikes.
All the best with trip!
Rafal

Any ideas how long the driving license takes in Chile?
 

Hi,
I also don't have a motorcycle license, which wouldn't have bodered me, but my driving license from Canada is also expired after beeing in South America since over a year already! Does anybody know how long it takes to get one in Chile?
Buy the way how much dud you pay for yourYBR 125?
I'm also looking to buy a small engine motor bike!
Cheers,