Urgent: If and where insurance for Argentina in Southern Patagonia
 

Hi

anyone who crossed recently: do I need insurance to cross from Chile into Argentina? Or are they as stringent at the border as they are with importing bikes and maybe deny me entry?

And if so, does anyone know where in Southern Patagonia in Argentina where you can get mandatory insurance ? Im crossing soon around the O'Higgins area from Chile. I could only find the one insurance company the guy nicely posted from Zanella ATM in Bariloce, way too far north for me. Please help , thanks

Two and a half years ago I crossed the border repeatedly in both directions without ever needing insurance. In fact, the only time anyone mentioned insurance was heading over the low pass toward Bariloche from Puerto Montt, where the border guard was roundly ridiculed by the locals standing in line when he asked about my insurance. He let me through without further complaint.

I understand that things may have toughened up since then, but most of the stories I've heard have involved entering northern Argentina, not the south. If you're riding a motorbike across from O'Higgins, they'll be so surprised to see you that you'll probably have to remind them of their duties anyway--no motorbikes making that crossing when I was in the neighborhood. I know someone who did it with a DRZ400 and said it was really, really hard.

One more thing to bear in mind: after Jan 7th 2013 you'll need to pre-pay any reciprocity fees at all land, air and boat points of entry. At least, that's the theory. So if you haven't paid and come from a place like the USA, they're not supposed to let you in. The requirement is that you pay in advance on-line using a credit card. Note that this is only hearsay at this point, although they sounded serious about it.

YMMV, of course.

Mark

They did check ours back in November when we crossed at Los Andes. And the Bolivians also wanted to see it.

Ask around the local town you are in, look for Seguros General. There should be a small shop somewhere as it is mandatory. Every one knows you need it, no one ever seems to know where to find it :-)

I went to Chile last week and they didn't ask for the insurance, but they did beofre. Even though they aren't going to ask for it, it's cool to have it just in case.

Some Borders Insurance is Required
 

Hi all,

Just a reply, follow up and update to my older post from my Argentina/ Chile border crossings with regards to motorbike insurance in Argentina.

When I crossed from Chile into Argentina at Paso Roballo I didn't have motorbike insurance. I was used to paying for insurance when it was mandatory for entry in Central America and South America at the convieniently located insurance offices at the borders. This is a fairly remote border as compared to the more major ones.....

The Argentinian border guard asked for my "international insurance", I pleaded ignorance, but he was quiet determined that he wouldn't let me enter without it. Eventually another biker friend who spoke better spanish persuaded the officer that I would buy the insurance when I crossed into Argentina at the next town. The officers then stamped me and my bike into Argentina and said I could probably get it at Perito Moreno or south at El Calafate. They also said that the police officers may not be so friendly if they caught me without insurance. I was heading south so I chanced it to El Calafate.

The main reason I was concerned with getting insurance, was because a friend of mine a month earlier was asked for all forms of identification and insurances after being pulled over. Including: the usual moto paperwork, passport, home country drivers licence, international drivers licence (I had never been asked for this in 42,000kms through the Americas), some form of motorbike insurance and a few other obscure papers that he luckily had. My friend believed he was just trying to catch him out to get a bribe. Therefore I wasn't keen in being in that situation.

When I arrived at El Calafate I was directed to Federacion Patronal Seguros S.A.

They were very helpful, Samantha Guibe was the officer who assisted me,

the address is Gobernador Gregores No. 1206 P. Alta Oficina 6 El Calafate, Santa Cruz
Tel: (02902) 494824
email: infofedpat@cotecal.com.ar

the insurance cost 153 pesos or $22 USD for 4 months
the insurance also covered Chile, Uruguay, Bolivia, Brasil and Paraguay.
Apparently you can buy it online at www.fedpat.com.ar or pay more to extend the coverage online or over the phone.

I believe there is another one in Perito Moreno from other posts.

At the other Argentinian border crossings in southern Patagonia I crossed multiple times near San Sebastian and near Puerto Natales, I wasn't asked once for insurance.

So yeah, I guess its up to the rider if you want to take the chance.


cheers and hopefully this helps other riders out

Dom

ps does anyone know if it is illegal to ride a motorbike in Argentina without insurance?

Yup

Great info thanks and useful for us forward planning knowing the rules seem to be changing and tightening all the time.

We crossed at Chile Chico and many places near Tierra del Fuego and were never asked for insurance. The only time we were asked was when we crossed from Uruguay back to Argentina (at Concordia). Aduana officials actually called the insurance company to verify the policy was for real.

If you get stuck, you can email Klaus at info@abgefahren.info He is a german expat living in El Bolson, who has setup a system to help travelers get legit insurance for Argentina. He does everything via email, but it does take a few days to process. He charges a fee (25-50 Euros), but for us, it was worth the cost to not have to spend an entire day driving around looking for someone in Chile to sell it to us. His policies are also MECROSUR, so they will cover you in many other countries throughout South America.

Good luck!

Hi there, yes, a liability coverage for motorvehicles is mandatory by law. It must cover damages or lesions to third parties up to a certain amount of money (approx 100,000 U$). Insurance policies also cover the vehicle in MERCOSUR countries (Argentina. Brasil, Paraguay, Venezuela, Bolivia, Uruguay).