Buying and registering a motorcycle in Chile

[timyarb]

Hello everyone,

I'm preparing for my first international motorcycle trip: a 1-month trek through Chile and (time-permitting) some of Argentina. Rather than shipping my own motorcycle, I plan on purchasing and a bike in Iquique and selling it at the trip's end. Since all things bike-related are the biggest wild card for the trip, I'd like to glean from the collective wisdom and experience here regarding buying, registering and selling a bike. Specifically,

• Tips on the buying, selling, registering process? (e.g. how?)
• How much time should I expect the registration process to take? Hours? Days?
• Recommendations on places to find a bike (Iquique-specific, online resources, etc.)?
• War stories?
• Other tips & tricks?
• I understand that one doesn't need a Carnet for S. America. Is this correct?
• Relevant rules & regs for selling the bike in Chile vs. Argentina?

I apologize if this is already floating out there in the HUBB but I could only find info pertaining to riders' personal bikes shipped into the country.

Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

[zaplaje]

Hi, Im Roberto, Im Chilean

1st, you don't need a carnet for Chile or Argentina or any other country in America.

2nd, If you will buy the bike in Iquique, you will have some problems... because Iquique is like a DutyFree port or something like that, the prices are cheapper, but with the vehicles there are special laws. If you buy a vehicle in Iquique, it must stay there, in the region, because they don't let you have a "zona franca" vehicle outside the "zona franca". the only people that can do that are the people who lived in Iquique for at least 5 years. Other people can buy vehicles too but the have to return to Iquique every 3 or 4 month (I don't rember exactly) to check with the autorities that the vehicle is staying in the zone. Not even we who live in Santiago can buy vehicles in Iquique.


the prices of the bikes in Iquique are lower, like a 20% lower, but there not to many bikes to buy. here in Santiago you will find a better "catalog". for example, a DR650 1996 you can find it for like US$3000.

The registration procces is very fast. you need to go to a "registro civil" with the owner and make a "contract". you can do this directly on the registro civil (some minutes slower, but cheaper, and you get the first papers to your name inmediatly) or you can do it on a "Notaria" (more expensive, and you will get your papers later). IF you do this paperwork on a big Registro civil office, some times they give you all the papers done at the same moment, if is a small office, they send it to your place of stay, and takes like 2 weeks.

the final paper, that says that you are the owner is the "padrón"

to do all this paperwork fast and with no problems, the bike must to have some papers on rule:

-obligatory insurance
-permit of circulation
-technic revision

all this has to be on rule, not necesarly on your name, only the "padrón" is in your name

all the process, will cost like 50-100 bucks if the bikes is relatively cheap

just come down here and I can help you, is relativelly easy and fast! I will glad to help you, Im a adventure biker too

cheers!!!

pd. sorry for my stinky english!!!

[timyarb]

Muchas gracias, Roberto! Tu ingles huele bien ;-) Escribire en ingles para que los otros puedan entender (y porque mi espanol no huele tan bien).

Santiago does sound like a much better option for bike buying but my hope was to buy a bike in the northern part of the country and then ride down. Do you think I'd have better luck finding a bike in Antofagasta or maybe Arica? Both seem to be bigger than Iquique from a population-wise.

So, just to clarify, since I'd need to take care of all the paperwork within a day or two my best bet is to go with the owner to a registro civil, correct? If they don't give me the required paperwork right away, will they give me a temporary padron or something allowing me to prove the bike is mine until I receive the padron? I ask just because I can't wait several weeks for the official padron and am hoping I could then travel with the temporary padron.

Also, what exactly do you mean by "on rule"? Are the three things you mentioned typically already in place under the current owner's name? If so, do I just need to be sure to get these documents from the owner?

Thanks again!

[zaplaje]

Originally Posted by timyarb

Muchas gracias, Roberto! Tu ingles huele bien ;-) Escribire en ingles para que los otros puedan entender (y porque mi espanol no huele tan bien).

Santiago does sound like a much better option for bike buying but my hope was to buy a bike in the northern part of the country and then ride down. Do you think I'd have better luck finding a bike in Antofagasta or maybe Arica? Both seem to be bigger than Iquique from a population-wise.

So, just to clarify, since I'd need to take care of all the paperwork within a day or two my best bet is to go with the owner to a registro civil, correct? If they don't give me the required paperwork right away, will they give me a temporary padron or something allowing me to prove the bike is mine until I receive the padron? I ask just because I can't wait several weeks for the official padron and am hoping I could then travel with the temporary padron.

Also, what exactly do you mean by "on rule"? Are the three things you mentioned typically already in place under the current owner's name? If so, do I just need to be sure to get these documents from the owner?

Thanks again!

Iquique is bigger than Arica, more interesting for me too. Antofagasta is like Iquique. the 3 cities are state capitals, so I think you can find big "registros civiles"... but I'm not shure if you can get the padron the same day. I do that only once here in Santiago, but I can check that.

Yes, to do it you MUST go with the owner, and if the paperwork takes longer, they give you a paper like a temporary padron, but I'm not shure if you can leave Chile by bike with that paper, but I think so.

the only paper that confirms you like the real and present owner is the padron, the other papers (circulation permit, obligatory ensurance and tecnical revission) must be on rule (I don't know how is in english, the papers must be from this year, you have to actualice it yearly... you understand me?)

several bikes around here have papers problems, some have only the padron, but they are not street legal

when you will arrive here?, for how many time?, where do you from?
maybe we can find the way to buy you the bike around here, the 75% of the bikes are in santiago only, the market is giant here compared with other regions. how much will be your budget for the bike?

I can help you if yo need, cheers!

[Kelvination]

Hi Roberto,

As I was browsing through some posts I came across this one and your thoughts on getting a bike in Santiago. Although nothing is definite I think I will probably be heading that way with the aim of picking a bike up in Santiago. I just wanted to ask whether I do and I have a look around whether I could get in touch with you for some more advice? I`m looking for a bike that I can continue my journey through South America on.

Ciao for now,

Kelvin

[JimD]

Roberto, I have been looking around for a place in SA to buy a Honda CG 150 JOB. I see that they sell them in Chile, now my question is, can I buy one(new), and have it registered in my name as a tourist and get full papers? If so, what would be the new list price? I hope I'm not asking too much. Thanks in advance.

[zaplaje]

Originally Posted by Kelvination

Hi Roberto,

As I was browsing through some posts I came across this one and your thoughts on getting a bike in Santiago. Although nothing is definite I think I will probably be heading that way with the aim of picking a bike up in Santiago. I just wanted to ask whether I do and I have a look around whether I could get in touch with you for some more advice? I`m looking for a bike that I can continue my journey through South America on.

Ciao for now,

Kelvin

Of course I can help you, you can email me (zaplaje@hotmail.com) or PM me with any questions... I will glad!!!

[gjw1957]

I saw your information so am asking you a similar favor

i am ion australia and intend on going to chile then north to peru anmd then further north

option one
i go to chile and buy as bike

option 2

i take my bike from here..dr 650 se


3

i ahve a feiend who has an american registerdd bike in valpariso
i can buy it chaeap and it is in good condition
but how do i trandfer it all over to me with no problems
he is in usa and i just collect the bike
there will be no papers in my name
i can get somne form of sales document

can you please advise me

can we talk direct

gwoodmanagement@optusnet.com.au

regards
gary

your english was good..
is there any problems taking the chile bike out of the country ??

Originally Posted by zaplaje

Hi, Im Roberto, Im Chilean

1st, you don't need a carnet for Chile or Argentina or any other country in America.

2nd, If you will buy the bike in Iquique, you will have some problems... because Iquique is like a DutyFree port or something like that, the prices are cheapper, but with the vehicles there are special laws. If you buy a vehicle in Iquique, it must stay there, in the region, because they don't let you have a "zona franca" vehicle outside the "zona franca". the only people that can do that are the people who lived in Iquique for at least 5 years. Other people can buy vehicles too but the have to return to Iquique every 3 or 4 month (I don't rember exactly) to check with the autorities that the vehicle is staying in the zone. Not even we who live in Santiago can buy vehicles in Iquique.


the prices of the bikes in Iquique are lower, like a 20% lower, but there not to many bikes to buy. here in Santiago you will find a better "catalog". for example, a DR650 1996 you can find it for like US$3000.

The registration procces is very fast. you need to go to a "registro civil" with the owner and make a "contract". you can do this directly on the registro civil (some minutes slower, but cheaper, and you get the first papers to your name inmediatly) or you can do it on a "Notaria" (more expensive, and you will get your papers later). IF you do this paperwork on a big Registro civil office, some times they give you all the papers done at the same moment, if is a small office, they send it to your place of stay, and takes like 2 weeks.

the final paper, that says that you are the owner is the "padrón"

to do all this paperwork fast and with no problems, the bike must to have some papers on rule:

-obligatory insurance
-permit of circulation
-technic revision

all this has to be on rule, not necesarly on your name, only the "padrón" is in your name

all the process, will cost like 50-100 bucks if the bikes is relatively cheap

just come down here and I can help you, is relativelly easy and fast! I will glad to help you, Im a adventure biker too

cheers!!!

pd. sorry for my stinky english!!!

[zaplaje]

Hi everybody

I met Timyarb here in Chile... he called me when he are just buying a really bad bike... I saved him

then we try to find something else... we finally find a used KLR650 1993, really cool. We went to see it and talk with the owner and he accept Tim's offer, so yesterday they went to the registro civil and the people in there was on a STRIKE! hahha so they had to go to a notaria. there, they didn't permit Tim to registrate the bike on his name, so he registered the bike in my name, and then we made a paper that allow Tim to go Argentina with the moto.

If he wasn't too hurry, he could go to IMPUESTOS INTERNOS and create a RUT, very fast (the same day), and register the bike in his name.

now Im not too shure if a foreign can just register a vehicle in his name, because the registro civil is in strike right now, may be if Tim and the previous owner did go to the registro civil they could make the registration properlly with out having a rut

[zaplaje]

Originally Posted by gjw1957

I saw your information so am asking you a similar favor

i am ion australia and intend on going to chile then north to peru anmd then further north

option one
i go to chile and buy as bike

option 2

i take my bike from here..dr 650 se


3

i ahve a feiend who has an american registerdd bike in valpariso
i can buy it chaeap and it is in good condition
but how do i trandfer it all over to me with no problems
he is in usa and i just collect the bike
there will be no papers in my name
i can get somne form of sales document

can you please advise me

can we talk direct

gwoodmanagement@optusnet.com.au

regards
gary

your english was good..
is there any problems taking the chile bike out of the country ??

Hi Gary

you can do the follow things:

1.- Search and find a bike here (I can help you), talk with the owner, go with him to the registro civil and try to regiter it in your name. If you can, you will have a bike and can do what ever you want with it

2.- If you can't register it in your name in the registro civil, you can go to the SERVICIO DE IMPUESTOS INTERNOS and ask for a RUT (like a social security number) and then go to the registro civil with the bike owner and register it to your name

3.- If you need to register the bike after 14:00 you must do the paperwork on a notaria, it's expensiver and all the papers tooks 1 month to get it, but you can demostrate that the bike is yours with another paper that is given by the notaria.

4.- If you don't want to do all that stuff, you can find a person you trust and register the bike in his/her name and he/she must make a permission to let you go out the country with the bike.

5.- Or just come here with your bike (here a DR650 cost new $4.000.000 chilean pesos) (a good used one can be found for $3.000.000)

I hope you can understand me

my email is zaplaje@hotmail.com

[drmoto]

Originally Posted by zaplaje

Hi, Im Roberto, Im Chilean

1st, you don't need a carnet for Chile or Argentina or any other country in America.

2nd, If you will buy the bike in Iquique, you will have some problems... because Iquique is like a DutyFree port or something like that, the prices are cheapper, but with the vehicles there are special laws. If you buy a vehicle in Iquique, it must stay there, in the region, because they don't let you have a "zona franca" vehicle outside the "zona franca". the only people that can do that are the people who lived in Iquique for at least 5 years. Other people can buy vehicles too but the have to return to Iquique every 3 or 4 month (I don't rember exactly) to check with the autorities that the vehicle is staying in the zone. Not even we who live in Santiago can buy vehicles in Iquique.


the prices of the bikes in Iquique are lower, like a 20% lower, but there not to many bikes to buy. here in Santiago you will find a better "catalog". for example, a DR650 1996 you can find it for like US$3000.

The registration procces is very fast. you need to go to a "registro civil" with the owner and make a "contract". you can do this directly on the registro civil (some minutes slower, but cheaper, and you get the first papers to your name inmediatly) or you can do it on a "Notaria" (more expensive, and you will get your papers later). IF you do this paperwork on a big Registro civil office, some times they give you all the papers done at the same moment, if is a small office, they send it to your place of stay, and takes like 2 weeks.

the final paper, that says that you are the owner is the "padrón"

to do all this paperwork fast and with no problems, the bike must to have some papers on rule:

-obligatory insurance
-permit of circulation
-technic revision

all this has to be on rule, not necesarly on your name, only the "padrón" is in your name

all the process, will cost like 50-100 bucks if the bikes is relatively cheap

just come down here and I can help you, is relativelly easy and fast! I will glad to help you, Im a adventure biker too

cheers!!!

pd. sorry for my stinky english!!!

Roberto's information above is quite accurate.

Getting the bike registered is unfortunately a two-step process, which involves: a) The REGISTRO CIVIL, an office run by the central government, where you obtain the necessary paperwork (and the license tag in case of a new bike), which allows you to get the "permiso de circulación" (registration) at the: 2) local Municipality (Municipalidad) or City Hall. The latter will issue your registration, which is the slip of paper that allows you to ride your bike on pubic roads. You can also purchase obligatory (compulsory) insurance at these offices for about US$50/year. Insurance can also be obtained on-line from various companies, but you must have a valid license tag to do so. NOTE: riding without insurance can lead to your bike being impounded on the spot plus a heavy fine.

"Technical revision" (technical inspection) -equivalent of the German TÜV- is a must for every motor vehicle in Chile. This certificate is usually the responsibility of the seller, and you should demand he/she presents you with a valid (current) Revision Técnica when you buy the bike. New vehicles usually come with a Certificado de Homologación, which waives the revision Técnica for usually 3 or more years.

The title transfer paperwork can also be done at a "Notaría" (Notary Public), which is an infuriating remnant of Spanish 16th Century Colonial rule. The process may be slightly quicker but they will shake you down for a few additional thousand pesos plus the meaningless stack of papers you must collect. I personally avoid Notarías whenever possible.

An additional note of caution is to make sure your bike has no pending fines or liens, for which you need a "certificado de anotación vigente" or CAV. You can obtain this online from various government websites for a token fee. Do a search on google.cl on the document name.

The whole process sounds more intimidating than what it actually is, although it can be nightmarish compared to what it takes in the US. The upside is that when you are done you will be fairly certain your vehicle has a clear record and is certified for use on public roads.

Dont hesitate to contact me for further info and hints to navigate the increadibly beutiful Chilean roads and its irritating bureaucracy.

Best,

Frank Campbell

drmoto@vtr.net

[sergioishere]

Hi all,

i'm new to this website but i love it already. I saw lots of interesting posts, but as some are a bit old I'd like to ask a few questions in the event things have changed.

I'm planning a motorbike trip across Chile, Argentina and probably Bolivia somewhere next year. I think it's best to buy a bike in Santiago and sell it back to the same place.

I read posts about registrations etc, and i wonder what are my best options to have a smooth and fast buying experience. I was hoping that it would be possible to buy a second hand bike at let's say a BMW shop and sell it back there at the end of the trip. Would thy help speeding up the procedure and ensure all the docs i need will be correct and functional? or is it a crazy idea?

let me know your thoughts thanks a lot
Sergio

[db01]

Sergio,
Doing the same with my wife Feb->May 2017.
From what I can gather, the laws changed last year so that you can only get a RUT now (required to purchase a bike there) by having temporary residency or through some sort of Notary (or a friend). I got a RUT on a tourist visa in 2014, but I believe it can no longer be done.
The 2nd problem is selling the bike if you're only there for a few months. Renting bikes seems to have a 1 month cost/benefit before flying your own bike in starts becoming viable (bike dependent of course).
So....could get a temporary resident visa & subsequently a RUT to buy one there, but the higher cost there (than here in Australia) + potential problem in needing to sell there at the end means we're taking our bikes with us. A 3 month permit for the bikes + a 3 month extension if needed seems to be the go. Longer than that, they can be stored in Argentina and brought back to Chile later - if that's a consideration.
I'd be happy to hear options with a simpler (and cheaper) solution !
David
Sydney Australia

[zalderman]

G'day David and Sergio, I would love to hear if you (or know of anyone) had any success registering a bike in your name in Santiago recently since the laws have changed? On a side note, I know that the police in Colombia ride DR650s and hence registration for foreigners in Colombia is something I may try to look into further also.

Cheers,
Zac

EDIT re: my Colombia comment... this post covers that topic quite well
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...colombia-90238