I am getting a bike from US but cant change the name on the title. Would it be enough to go thru borders with bill of sales? Thanks

I leave in Costa Rica and will be driving the bike to CR. That is why i cant change the name on the title since i dont have a address here is US.

The basic answer is no, you can't do it. For temporary import at each border (and for insurance at each border which requires it) you need to be the owner of the bike. Period.

Exceptions: if you are exceptionally persuasive and/or circumspect, you might pull it off. If you happen to have decent photoshop skills (and don't run into anyone in a position of authority who cares to look closely) you might pull it off. If you can get an international notary stamp on the bill of sale you might pull it off. A certain amount of graft is likely to be involved.

But....why not register in the States? There are dozens of threads about how to do this and which states make it possible. Mine, for example--Washington. Do a search and study up. Getting a local address is easy--you could use mine. It's finding a bike for sale in a state which will allow you to use an address at which you don't really happen to live which is sometimes difficult.

So....what state is the bike located in? What state is it registered in? Some won't allow it, some will.

Mark

Ownership is a must. There are smart guys at the border and the last thing one wants is turning back.

I wonder if a notarized power of attorney (to act on behalf of the registered owner of the motorcycle) along with a notarized statement from the registered owner giving the rider explicit permission to carry out the specified voyage (including general route description and dates of travel) would be sufficient.

My Canadian-plated motorcycle is registered in my wife's name (a leftover from long ago, when I was not resident in Canada). I've never had any inquiries from border guards or the various insurers in different countries because the bike is not registered in my name. This could be, perhaps, because my wife and I have the same last name, but it does suggest that neither the border guards or the insurance clerks pay a whole lot of attention to what's written on the ownership document.

My experience has been that they just want to see that you possess the ownership (registration) document, and they then check in their computer systems to confirm that the motorcycle is not listed as being stolen.

Michael

Tricky yet one can get thro with this. Notary of documents are Generally valid

What countries? Which borders? It's worth noticing that others have had very different experiences.

A national notary stamp (the normal stamp given by a Canadian or American notary public, for example) has no validity out of its home country. Try transferring ownership of a piece of American real estate while in Canada and you'll quickly learn you need to find an American notary--maybe at an embassy or consulate. In much of the world your stamp might be accepted anyway, depending on everything, but then again it might not. There are internationally-valid notary stamps, but I know little about them except that they do exist.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

1. Shipping by air from Canada to both France and Germany,
   
2. Shipping by sea from the United States to England,
   
3. Crossing all of the following borders by land (meaning, while riding it)

• All contiguous EC country borders,
• The three Baltic countries before they joined the EC
• Romania and Bulgaria before they began the process of joining the EC
• Slovakia into Ukraine
• Ukraine into Romania
• Greece into Turkey & v.v.
• Spain into Morocco & v.v.
• Italy into Tunisia & v.v.
• Tunisia into Libya & v.v. (back before it fell apart)
• Croatia into Bosnia into Montenegro into Albania into Greece into Montenegro into Kosovo into Bosnia into Croatia (last month & this month) - see the documentation for that trip at this discussion: Balkans Insurance - Here's the story, with details & sample documents

Mark:

You are correct that notarized documents from one jurisdiction are often of no validity in other jurisdictions. Having said that, my experience travelling internationally with my motorcycle has been that border guards and traffic policemen seem to be primarily concerned that the bike is not stolen. Beyond that, they really don't care too much about the details.

It could be that others have had problems because authorities have been looking for a reason to shake the rider down for a bribe. Or, as I mentioned in my original post, it could be that I have had no problems because my wife and I have the same last name.

Michael

You CAN get the bike registered in the USA ... and you will have to register it if you plan to get through Mexico and Cent. America. Without a TITLE in your name ... No puede pasar. Notarios no vale amigo.

You could use seller's address, dealer's address or any friend. No importa. In some states you wait for your new Title (2 to 6 weeks depending on state) in other states they can mail out a new title quick.

To start the process ... show up at local DMV with Title that is signed off and filled in properly by you and seller, pay transfer taxes and fees.

Some states can issue a new title ON THE SPOT. Not sure what states do this. Most just want their money. You did not say where you are. This would help.

Maybe the seller can go with you to DMV to help with the transfer? Should only take an hour or so. (if your lucky) Get help, sounds like you need it.
You CAN cross into Mexico with a Temp. Title/Registration. When permanent title arrives at your USA address ... your "friend" can mail it to you in Mexico or wherever you are. (FedEx)

If the bike is stolen ... the Mexicans may have that info. USA exchange Data with Mex. Aduana/Militares ... computers will pick it up when they run the placa y VIN when you cross border or apply for TVIP.

More and more now Militares/Federales stop riders coming into Mexico and check them out. Happened to me twice of last 4 trips. They wanted to see current registration, proof of insurance, searched for GUNS. Polite but firm.
Aviso: La frontera es una zona militar ... en los dos lados.

Suerte!

Or it could be that you're describing traveling in North America, Europe and North Africa. I think your experience would be quite different--probably sooner, but certainly later--in Latin America, which is what the OP asked about. He's most likely to get hit entering Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and/or Honduras, but each of the 5 to 7 borders between the USA and Costa Rica has pretty much the same rules and procedures for TVIPs.

Mileage varies.

Mark

What does TVIP stand for?

Temporary vehicle import permit

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Is a TVIP something that is unique to Central America? In all the countries that I have entered (see post #7 above), I have never been issued any kind of permit for importation of the bike.

The Turks made an entry in my passport noting that I came into the country with a vehicle, but I think the purpose of that entry was just to make sure that I left the country with the same vehicle (in other words, I didn't leave the bike behind in Turkey when I left).

Michael

In the whole of Central and South America, Russia and the 'Stans I've been issued a TVIP. Maybe, in between, there were one or 2 countries who wrote vehicle details in my passport exclusively, some took the opportunity to do both.

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Here in Arizona, one can register a bike and get the title on the spot. There are official state of Arizona motor vehicle offices with massive lines and hours' long waits, but there are also off-site offices that can offer the same services for an extra fee, as well as hand out license plates, registration stickers, etc. Those are worth the extra cost. The only thing you would need is an address of someone. I had asked at one of these off-site motor vehicle places a couple years ago, and the guy who worked there confirmed this, but I probably should ask EXACTLY what is needed before I get people too excited. But, yes, the title is issued on the spot along with license plates and registration sticker. How a visitor can do it--I will inquire...