Buying a car in Chile and South America

Hi all

We bought our vehicle in Santiago almost 4 months ago and have been traveling around parts of South America in it. It has been an amazing experience, but sadly we are now at the end of our trip and are selling the van.

We have a fully kitted out Ford Aerostar Van, 1993, and it's in great condition. We also have all sorts of camping gear to throw into the package including a gas stove, blow up matresses, camping table and chair set, cooler box, cooking equipment, lamp, etc. We drove the car through Chile, Peru and Ecuador, and the freedom it gave us was incredible.

Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in buying the van or if you have any questions about the process or just about driving around South America in general.

Happy travels
Garth

We are looking into buying a car in Santiago to be used in the Chile relief effort around Pichelimu. There is a team of people ready to go out and help with rebuilding houses, but they don't have a car as of yet. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Hi

We are currently doing a trip in South America with a Volkswagen Kombi that we bought in Santiago, Chile. The car is from 1990 and has been transformed in a camper by the previous owner. You can see some pictures on our website, just to get an idea about it:
http://www.8luni.ro/new/8luni/img/18peru2/DSC_9576.JPG
http://www.8luni.ro/new/8luni/img/18peru2/DSC_9293.JPG

Some info on the car:
- 1600cc engine, needs around 10l of gasoline for 100km, ~160.000km so far
- the engine is 80% new as we replaced it almost entirely before we left
- it has
a bed
stove with gas
sink
fridge
shower on the exterior of the car
portable chemical toilet
a tent you can set up on the roof
a curtain that can be installed while parked on the side of the car to protect from sun
plenty of storage space (for clothes and kitchen as well)
- we installed a second battery for using while parked
- new tires, bought in Santiago before we left
- the price: 6000usd

We also will provide all the maps we have (we've been so far in north of Chile, Peru, now we are in Bolivia and next we'll be Argentina and again Chile, the south) and information about border crossing and all...

Stefan

Hi guys,

to me buying a car in South America can be very exiting. I wanted to do the same, but a friend of mine had a bad story with the car he bought. The thing is that you will not get any guarantee.
Moreover it will be difficult to sell it when you will come back to your home countries...
To me the best option, is to rent one. Of course it more expensive, but you will have the same pleasures
with more guarantees and safety!

Enjoy your trip!!

We are now in Santiago and are looking to sell the car. New price:USD5500

Hi, I found this thread on google, so first off, apologies for necromancing this thread.

Anyway, I'm after doing a Latin American road trip in about 3 years, starting in Santiago. My idea is something like a late 80s/early 90s BMW 3 series. I think I gauged the price in England as about £600-800. How much would such a car cost in Santiago (in Sterling and Pesos plz)?

Also, if you don't think it'd be up for going up to Mex City, down to Rio and then up to Caracas, could you say something that would be?

On a tangent, is Valparaiso North or South of Santiago, because I'd really like to stop by there, but if it's further South it's probably not practical.

It is much easier to buy a car than in Argentina. Here the process is more complicated and time consuming. You also have problems leaving with the car to neighbouring countries if you are not a resident in Argentina.

helo
i'm going to argentina next week and i plan to buy a car in chile and go all over argentina and chile.
does it matter where i buy and sell the car? because i heard thet it easier and cheaper to buy in south chile and easier and more profitable to sell in north chile.
is it true or it doesnt matter?

thanks lior

Hi everyone - some really useful information on these threads.

One thing I have not managed to find too much information on is comprehensive insurance. I know it is possible, and compulsory, to have 3rd party insurance but is it possible to obtain comprehensive insurance to cover most/all south american countries?

At the moment, we have found comprehensive to cover Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. Just wanting to get comprehensive to cover Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador.

Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks so much!

Hi... have a diesel Ford pickup for sale in Argentina, has US number plates , and clear title, must sell to person with a foreign passport. also camper fully self-contained, sleeps 4, bath, shower, kitchen, microwave and more..... very economical and exc. condition