Please advise: exit Colombia with foreign plated bike & TIP
 

Fellow riders, please advise:

I am in the process of buying a Canadian plated DR650 in Medellin, Colombia. Got a Poder from the notary, stating I am the new titleholder for the bike, allowed to sell it, cross borders etcetera.

Only issue we face is the Temporary Import Permit (TIP). The DIAN (customs) office in Medellin told us that we can only change this to my name at the border, which means we have to drive 900ks back and forth.

Now a different office said that we do not have to change the TIP, as long as I leave the country with the current one before it expires. This makes sense, as they just want to make sure that vehicles who enter the country also leave(?).

Of course I want to be sure that i will be able to leave the country and not get into trouble. Anyone experienced with this, please advise! Thank you.

Greetings and safe travels, C

No experience with Colombian system but in three other sales/purchases the vehicle had to leave the country while the original TIP was still valid and the Poder was needed to explain the discrepancy with the paperwork for the car not being in your name.
Often the paperwork will not even be checked, but that isn't a given.

If the original TIP has expired.........!

Hi Tony,

Do you mean that in order to buy the vehicles, you still needed a border hop? Or were the new owners allowed to drive it, show the Poder when crossing the border and proof that it was allright?

Greetings, C

Been an expat for many years in Colombia, I was involves in numerous purchases/sales. I would say the seller has to leave the country. I wouldn't say it's a must because the owner has been ask to leave the country, that's the way to go.

I have been in and out of South America for 48 years, half of them in Colombia being maried to a colombiana. I have learnted after msny disapointments, to ask what sould I do. Colombia is no worst than any other country because there is an agreement between the Andan counties regarding the local mport of vehicles to avoid a tsunani of american cars in order to protect the market of pre owned vehicles.

If it was me, I would have no problem to make to ecuador, knowing everything is done the right way. Tell so on your way back to the customs.

Please don't try to fool the system and you will see the system works in your favor. And don't forget to express your gratitude.

They like to hear that you follow an advice

In response to poorbuthappy:

Thanks for the response and sharing your experience. First of all, let me say that its clearly NOT my intention to fool the system. If a border cross is the only way, i will do it. But i like to understand the rule first, and see if there is an alternative.

The idea behind the TIP system, which you mention, makes a lot of sense. Its a procedure with a begin and an end (the bike enters and leaves the country within the given time). However, the subject of this seems to be the bike and not the person. Me taking the bike out of the country instead of the previous owner would be in line with what the rule seeks to accomplish, right? And with the power of attorney (Poder), I can proof that I am eligible/responsible to take care of this.

Please let me know what you think. This trail of thought is not my own; I was told by a company in Bogota that helps motortravelers and they say that more people have done it this way. I would like to hear that first hand :) (also asked the company for contacts btw).