Driving through CA and selling my 4Runner in Panama City...

[petrasjazz]

Hi, I'm driving through CA during May and June and am terminally planning on selling my car in Panama City, then flying back to the US. I am posted this for two reasons: i'm trying to figure out what exactly needs to happen for me to sell my car down there and also chekcing to make sure that I have everything that I may need for a drive like this-

It sounds like as I enter panama I have to pay 15% tax on the value of my car (which they decide). I know that I need a clear title for my car, and registration, however I dont know if there is any other forms that I need to or can fill out prior to getting there. Is it possible to simply enter the country and go to a dealer to sell it? Also, are there any suggestions on how to establish someone how will purchase my car before I get down there, just to save time?

To drive through Central America, I have my up-to-date passport, an international drivers license, US auto insurance, registration, title, and personal international health insurance. It sounds like I can purchase tourist Visas at the border of each country, and also can purchase that country's auto insurance at the border. Does this sound about right? Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks and safe traveling... ~ PMouser

[georgeherd]

Hi,

you sound sorted as far as documentation is concerned. I'm doing a similar trip and leaving next week. See here: http://www.aardvarktravel.net/a-cheap-flight-forum/viewtopic.php?t=19560 for what I have managed to learn about selling your car in Panama, which I also hope to do.

George

[panamapartner1]

[quote="petrasjazz"]Hi, I'm driving through CA during May and June and am terminally planning on selling my car in Panama City,

Driving a car through Mexico and Central America should be a very interesting experience but I understand you should be careful, specially in Mexico. Not to scare you but it is important to be alert. My recommendation is that you do not drive out of the cities at night in Mexico. From Costa Rica to Panama there is mountain range called "Cerro de la Muerte" which you should try to drive trough in the morning since it gets foggy in the afternoon and at night.

To enter the car into Panama you do not need to pay the import duties. You only pay them when you start the process of selling the car. One option is that the buyer pays the import duties. Any customs broker can help you in Panama with the paperwork. Many of them speak english. You may try running an ad at the newspapers or go to a used car dealer. There are several in Panama. I met a gentleman from Texas the other day that opened a used car dealership. He is located at Avenida 12 de Octubre.

Hope you have a very nice trip.
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Alfredo Mejia
Panama Partners
www.checkoutpanama.com

[Emwen]

I noticed a lot of people are trying to sell their car once they get to panama. I am planning a road trip from Virginia to Panama in June and wanted to fly back home. I was curious if someone would want to fly to Panama and make a road trip back to the States. Anyone interested please let me know, and lets talk out the details.

[213traveler]

why do people do this? do cars go for higher prices in Panama??
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[Emwen]

well: this is my assumption from my own experience but people try to sell their cars in Panama because they have time limitations for the road trip (shipping the car back is quite expensive). Therefore it makes sense to take several weeks one way and then get the rid off the car.

[Rum1]

I drove a Ford 150 from Seattle to Belize about 5 years ago and, though it was a great adventure, I'd never do it again. Take serious caution on your trip. Do not drive at night, ever. Do not park overnight anywhere but in gated hotel parking areas. Have all paperwork at the ready because you will have cop problems in every country you drive in. Be ready to give up some money to those cops. Do your research and have a planned route, and stick to it. Selling your car when you get there won't be a problem. If you speak Spanish, I would recommend placing a for sale ad online and in local newspapers. You may be able to avoid a lot of red tape by selling to a person as apposed to a dealer. Good luck.
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[travelcat12]

One of my friends had a similar plan to drive from California and sell his car to a buyer in Mexico City. On his way down, he got into an accident and that brought up a whole bunch of auto insurance issues. Make sure you figure out what your insurance covers when you are driving internationally

[PanamaBluebird]

I have just sold my car in Panama and it was quite difficult even though I had bought it there.

Always go with a Spanish and English speaker as in the municipality buildings very little English is spoken.Steps are:

1. Go to the car muncipality office. You will need photocopy of your passport
Dont go at the end of the month as this place is used to pay the car taxes and they all leave it to the last day to pay. The first time I went there were 200 people in the queue outside the building
Dont go on the first day of the month as the computer system will not be up as it is still processing th previous days applications
Dont go on the second day of the month as it is designated roll over day for the people who failed to pay on the last day of the previous month.

In this place they will start the car registration process, it cost $7 and they will give you a bit of paper. It will take one hour here

2. If you have a Panamanian driving licence, goto another building near the airport and pay $1 after waiting in a long queue

3. Go to the National bank of Panama and give the $20 and they will give you a receipt

4. Go to another municipality office (you will need copies of all your documents) give them the $20 receipt and the transfer is done.

Best to start the whole thing off as early as possible in the morning.

Good luck
_________________
Michael Price

www.panamainvestmentvacations.com

[sophiealexi]

hey,
i'm in panama city and want to drive back to california. i want to buy a US registered car to do it so i can sell it when i get back to the states without having to pay import taxes and stuff. hopefully i can help out someone who is driving down so they don't have to pay import in to panama.

sophie

[und.tschuess]

HI there,

we are a german couple travelling with a car registered in Texas and are planning to sell it in Panama. Planning to be in Panama approx. at the end of May.
It´s a VW Jetta, manual, 2000, 100000 miles.
If interested we can send you more information.

[Belizean]

[und.tschuess]

Hey there,

we are meanwhile in Nicaragua.
If you don´t want to drive the whole way to the USA you can try to sell the car in Mexico, Guatemala or Belize.
We had offers for the car in all 3 countries. But especially the Mexicans love the car.

[andrehhhh]

[funkymonky]

I'm driving down to Panama City in May and have a minivan with 70,000 miles on it for sale. it has an automatic transmission and it's in great shape. i'd like to sell it for $6,000 USD. if you're driving back to the states you wont have to worry about import taxes, registration and insurance issues!