After a lot of forum searching here, I'm still none the wiser about the title question, and I really can't be the first person in this position. Whilst preference #1 will be to sell to another gringo, I'm getting offers from Argentinians (and a guy who is a dual national, which should tick the gringo box). If selling to them is legal (noting I assume they have to pay some sort of import duty), can you just go to Aduanas in BsAs and cancel your TVIP, no questions asked? Thanks in advance!

did you get an answer?

so what about Chile / Brazil ?

Paraguay is a possibility.

In Chile it is forbiden to import used cars/motorcycles. Except of "Zona Franca".
In Brazil it is expensive as hell...

There certainly are ways to game the system and they certainly work - most of the time. However, back to the OPs question, it is quite common for travellers to leave their vehicle in Argentina for extended periods while they go back home for a few months. 8 months is the usual limit and in my experience even though even doing that is probably illegal, there is never any hassles from immigration when leaving or returning PROVIDED you don't ask aduana if it is OK because they will say NO.
(However look at the current in Uruguay where there are a lot of anxious owners, some with hugely expensive RVs and trucks, sitting around for months hoping they can get their vehicles out of impound)

So, if you left and never returned .....? and gave the keys to a local for safekeeping ...??? and ....

But to make it clear, when you enter a country and bring a vehicle in under a TVIP, you sign an undertaking to always have it under your direct control while in the country and to take it with you when you leave. With very few exceptions.

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Tony
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Dear fellow Hubbers,
I am risking another ten days of exile from HU by correcting misinformation all too often shared on the HUBB. I risk exile in an effort to inform innocents who believe those who believe it is OK to violate the laws of countries they visit as tourists.

While Cholo apprears to have some knowledge of Argentine TVIP regulations, he/she is incorrect by stating :

"importing a bike is expensive and a PITA, only people that can do so are Argentines returning to live in Argentina after at least 2 years abroad."

This is categorically untrue. I am a citizen of the USA and I applied for and received an Argentine DNI (identity document) as a Permanent Foreign Resident of Argentina. The process to receive my "permanent" DNI took three years residency in Argentina, proof of financial solvency by depositing monthly into an Argentine bank account while having been issued a Temporary DNI, and presenting INTERPOL , FBI and my local police department's clean records, a copy of my US birth certificate with apostile from the Department of State of my State of birth, and waking at 4 AM to que in line in order to be among the few who were admitted for quarterly mandatory appointments with Argentine immigration.
The wait was interminable and when I was finally approved and asked to pick up my permanent DNI, a careless clerk had spelled my name wrong and that took another 6 months to correct. But in the end, I was issued a valid DNI as a Permanent Foreign Resident of Argentina.
As a Permanent Foreign Resident of Argentina, I had the right to import one vehicle - within 6 months of the issuance of my permanent DNI... this I accomplished and and to long time readers of my HUBB posts know I legally imported a Harley Davidson motorcycle, had it legally nationalized and legally sold it to an Argentine. This cost me about 75% of the Aduana's (customs) Blue Book value plus about $1,000.00 USD in fees. I still made money on the deal.

So know that if you as a foreign tourist apply for and obtain permanent foreign resident status in Argentina you will have the right to legally import and nationalize one foreign registered vehicle.

My second point is that there is no difference in Argentine law between selling a foreign registered vehicle/motorcycle entered into Argentina on a TVIP (temporary vehicle import permit) to a "local" or to another foreign tourist. Both sales are absolutely illegal and grounds for nullifying all vehicle insurance in the event of an accident. And, the vehicle/motorcycle will be confiscated and the seller and buyer risk being charged with breaking the law.

So there, is the interest of correcting the record I await my next ten day exile, smiling and knowing full well the risk I continually take by sharing my now eleven years of residency in Argentina, with those who might otherwise be hood winked by the well meaning and not so well meaning who also post here.

Eat, Drink and know Exile can be enjoyable if entered into with a true heart and in the interest of one's fellow traveller' well being.

xfiltrate

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Motorcycle Parking Buenos Aires, Argentina
www.xfiltrate.com

Cholo, gracias por tus amables palabras.

xfiltrate

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Motorcycle Parking Buenos Aires, Argentina
www.xfiltrate.com