Bike questions - South America
 

Hee there!

I got a few questions which you guys probably or hopefully can answer.

- My plan is to buy a motorcycle in Colombia. I am traveling with a friend to Bolivia through Peru and Ecuador. The only thing is, we are not sure if actually can sell the motorcycle in Bolivia. Does anyone have experience with this? Are we allowed to sell the motorcycle? And how can we sell it?

- We want to drive to Ecuador so we have to pass the border from Colombia to Ecuador. Are there any worries about getting our bikes into Ecuador? How much will the taxes be to get into Ecuador (or Ecuador->Peru, Peru->Bolivia)?

- Are there any other worries which we need to know?

Hope you can help us with these questions.

Regards,

Mark Kruip

Temporary Vehicle Import Permits
 

mkrulp, As a foreign tourist - which I am assuming you are, you might legally purchase a new or used Colombian plated motorcycle in Colombia. But once you leave Colombia with the bike you will be issued a TVIP that precludes selling the bike in the country you have just entered. This is a universal throughout South America.

If a title trace, after a serious accident, indicates an illegal title transfer has occurred, whatever insurance you have purchased becomes null and void. Please see my recent HUBB posts - "the elephant in the room and the cobra in the toilet"

here: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...u-s-bike-94215 and here: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...possible-94268

A bribe to an official is a criminal offense and might result in legal action against the official just trying to support his family in a very challenging environment, and legal action against the foreign tourist who has been misled by some who post here, who will not be anywhere to be found when his/her advice dead ends the gullible tourist in a South American jail.
rosal del desierto

Rosa,
Sadly, corruption is alive and well in most of Latin America ... it's endemic to the culture, from highest to lowest levels of institutions. It's how business is done. Sorry, that's the reality in many situations.

Could a tourist get busted for offering a bribe? Absolutely. But it all depends how the little drama plays out and depends on both parties coming to an agreement. Most times everybody is happy ... and you continue on your trip.

To the OP:
Yes, you can buy a bike in Colombia, then travel to all the countries in the area and cross borders.

If you go through proper procedures when buying (most dealers can help you with this), you will get a title in your name for your bike. So with this, you can travel anywhere. You should always buy insurance for EACH country you visit.
It is required.

But as stated ... selling is technically ILLEGAL in ALL Latin American countries outside of Colombia. You and your bike are in a country as a guest and your bike is on a temporary import permit.

You have a time limit and are supposed leave the country with your bike and to Cancel your TVIP upon exit.

So, your options could be:
Do a BIG LOOP and circle back and end up back in Colombia and sell your bikes there.

Find someone in Bolivia who is not concerned that the bike is of Colombian origin and is willing to take that chance. Of course, in this case the price will be well below market value in most cases.

Local bikes shops, indy mechanics and dealers may be willing to buy your bike.
But you may not, in future be able to enter Bolivia with a vehicle or would have to pay fines for leaving without canceling your TVIP. You, yourself will face no such restriction, only any bike you're riding.

Lots here on HUBB all about this. I suggest taking a day or two and READ UP on these subjects. Many good threads and posts.

While Bribes can sometimes solve a problem or get you out of trouble, they can't always be applied in all situations. It can also take an artful application of diplomacy to "make a deal" with an official on the spot. Not always easy.

Certain situations will preclude any sort of Bribery going on, and in this case, you could end up in jail if not careful. So tread lightly in this area.

But suffice to say, anything is possible.
Try to keep it all legal ... learn as much as you can here on HUBB. It's all here.

bier

I hope not.
[T]he poor OP...is simply trying to get a few straight answer....

What?
 

Mollydog, Please answer my questions. thanks rosa del desierto

South America
 

@ Rosa.

Pls if you have to warn travelers and you tell they will end up in jail, pls post links to traveler websites of people who have gone to jail for that reason.

Sure I am not saying that what you describe can not happen, but pls dont forget the OP could leave his hotel and an airplane could fall on his head as well. :innocent:

@ mkruip0504.

Mollydog has answered your questions:

And yes, I just had two travelers from Belgium here at my place in Bolivia and they did not understand that the price they will get for their bikes is a lot below what the same bikes with Bolivian documents would cost. I adivsed them to go to Chile and sell them where they are plated.

Good luck with you journey.
Saludos
mika

Sell in the country where you buy.
 

Mika, thanks for taking the time to express your opinion. You , mollydog, my husband and me are of a similar mind. This is not the question.

It is seldom someone who has paid bribes and got caught, falsified /photo shopped titles and got caught, or ended up in a South American jail for committing crimes is going to post about it on the web.

rosa del desierto

The last several posters have a few options:

One would be to edit your own posts so that you are responding to the OP’s questions, not drifting off-topic or accusing each other of various irrelevant stuff.

A second would be to wait until I get home from work this evening and do the editing for you.

Not optional: Please stick to the topic(s) at hand and play by the rules.

Thanks.

Mark

Ok folks, editing those posts was about ten times more work than deleting them entirely.

Make it worth my while by 1. staying on topic, i.e., addressing the questions asked by the OP, and 2. refraining from attacking, insulting, or writing snidely about each other. Do this even if someone else fails to do so; in other words, don't sink to their level.

Seems simple enough.

Thanks in advance.

Mark

Thanks for all the reactions!

We did not find buyers yet who want to buy our motorbikes! Of course we do not want to end up in jail, but we just want a small amount of money for it. We do not really know the exact amount of money yet.

It is quite a big effort for us to go back to Colombia, we prefer them to sell them in Bolivia/Chili/Argentina.

@Mika, I replied on your email. Sorry for the later reaction. I would like to hear from you.

Regards,

Mark Kruip