Learn how to: Get a RUT number, search for a car, transfer the title, how to pay, other relevant documents for crossing borders.
INTRODUCTION:
There are many beautiful places you can visit in Chile and South America with a car. Having the freedom to drive along the Pan Americana Highway and explore many wonders of our world is fantastic. With a vehicle - multiple adventures await you.
When I decided to buy a bus, I had many difficulties obtaining a RUT number and the paperwork that goes along with it. I was turned away, had been given incorrect documents, papers with spelling mistakes and told it was ‘impossible' as a foreigner to buy a vehicle. At the time, I was staying two hours outside Santiago in a small coastal town called Santo Domingo. It took me multiple return visits to the same office, as they had never seen a foreigner obtain a RUT number before. Don't let my experience scare you – It IS possible!
CHOOSING A VEHICLE FOR YOUR NEEDS
Your vehicle must suit the purpose and requirements of your travel. You will need to think about the countries and places you wish to visit. What weather conditions you will be driving through. Will you want to go away from the typical tourist route and require 4-wheel drive? Will you need space for sleeping inside your vehicle or will you just be using the vehicle as a mode for transport. And lastly, what is your desired budget?
If you are looking for a campervan, buying one already set up will be the most likely the cheapest and easiest option. There are plenty online for sale from previous overlanders who have traveled from Alaska or other nearby countries.
If you wish to convert a vehicle in a foreign country like me, it is a great experience. Yet, like anyone who has done it before – it is not for the faint-hearted. However, if you have the time, patience, budget, access to building tools, and basic Spanish; it is gratifying creating your own tiny home you can travel around in.
SEARCHING FOR A VEHICLE
Most travelers who follow the Pan Americana Highway or Argentina to Alaska route buy their cars in Chile. This is because the price of vehicles is cheaper in Chile compared to Argentina.
Searching for vehicles is relatively easy and can be purchased from foreigners, dealerships or local Chileans. I would avoid dealerships as the cars are often overpriced and not worth your time.
Buying a vehicle from a foreigner can be less complicated due to no language barriers (if you can't speak Spanish). You may find ‘quicker sale' prices because of foreigner’s visa restrictions and vehicles that are already fully set up for travel.
The following websites and travelers groups are foreigners selling their vehicles can be found by browsing:
- Pan America Travelers Association https://www.facebook.com/groups/panamtravelers/
- www.drivetheamericas.com
- www.suzisantiago.com
As my bus was particular to my travel requirements I used chileautos to look for my vehicle as it gave me more search options. If you don't speak great Spanish, don't worry as most Chileans are super friendly and use Whatsapp to communicate. To find a Chilean used vehicle look at the following websites:
- www.chileautos.cl
- www.yapo.cl
GETTING A RUT NUMBER
What is a RUT number?
A RUT (Rol Unico Tributatio) is a 9 digit identification number given to all Chilean citizens that allow them to pay tax on those items such as cars, land, and property. As a foreigner on a traveling tourist visa, you CAN obtain a RUT number.
You will need:
- A sponsor
- Passport
- Basic Spanish (or a translating app)
Step 1: Find a ‘sponsor'.
As you do not have a Chilean identification number you will require a local who is willing to help you. I was lucky enough to have a friend from a 'work away' program who was my sponsor.
You can find sponsors by asking around at hostels, Air BnB hosts, or web forums such as couch surfing and facebook pages mentioned above.
If you would like a more professional service Suzi Santiago is a company set up in Santiago. They specialise in buying and selling vehicles to foreigners, converting cars for travel, and can help you obtain a RUT number for a fee.
Step 2: Obtain a RUT F4415.1. form.
Go to your local Servicio de Impuestos Internos (SII) and explain you want to buy a car and require an F4415.1. form. There is an SII in all major towns and cities. Some advice, Chileans love their lunch and close most shops between 1-3pm. We made this mistake many times and would use this as an excuse to go eat a local empanada (tasty Chilean cuisine bread filled with filling).
Step 3. Go to a notaria.
A notaria is an office which creates formal documents. Notaria's can be found in all towns using ‘maps me' or by asking the SII. The notaria will help you prepare a document called an ‘affidavit'. This paper explains you wish to buy a vehicle and allows you to get your RUT number with your sponsor's help.
The notaria will take copies of your passport and fingerprints, stamp your document and you will need to sign some papers with your sponsor. This costs around $1,000CLP ($3.40 AUD). Be sure to check ALL numbers and spelling on your name, date, passport number – Chilean offices are very strict and will not process incorrect information costing you a return trip to the notaria and SII.
Step 4: Return back to the SII.
Take a ticket and wait in line. When you are called, hand over the filled in F44151.1 form as outlined below.
Section A: Complete with your details
Section B: Leave blank
Section C: Leave blank
Section D: Leave blank
Section E: Complete with the address of your sponsor.
Section F: Leave blank
Section G: Leave blank
Section H: Complete with your ‘sponsors' details.
Section I: Complete with YOUR details.
Sign at the bottom.
The SII will process the information immediately and they will give you a temporary RUT number - literally a number written on a scrap piece of paper. Previously your RUT number use to be sent to your sponsors' address, however, now all you need to do is log online to the registro civil webpage, type in your RUT number and voila print it out.
Congratulations! Now, you have a RUT number and you can purchase a car!
TRANSFERRING THE TITLE:
1. Go to the notaria with the seller.
Once you have found your vehicle be sure to check that your seller is able to provide you with ALL the following documents and they are ‘up to date':
- Certificado de inscription (vehicle title)
- Anataciones vigentes (outstanding road accidents)
- Revision Technica (annual roadworthy certificate)
- Certificado de emisiones contaminates (emission certificate)
- Seguro obligatoro (third party mandatory insurance)
- Permiso de circulacion (pardon)
The notaria will make a 'compraventa', this is a legal contract between the seller and you outlining the price of the car and you agree to buy it as is. The notaria will also check for any outstanding fines (multas de transito no pagadas) and if the car is appropriately registered.
Before you go ahead and transfer the titles into your name, you will need to pay tax on the vehicle (the purpose of the RUT number). This is calculated as a percentage of the total cost of the car (1.5%) and paid to the notaria or the local bank.
Once the tax is paid, you will have to pay a transfer fee, notaria fee and registro civil fee. This cost me around $110,000 - $120,000 CLP ($240AUD) plus the added RUT tax. Once you have paid all the fees and signed the papers over, double check all the details, numbers and spelling is correct.
PAYING FOR YOUR VEHICLE
The option for payment will depend on the decision made between you and the buyer. This could be via online banking, pay-pal or cash. Online bank transfers are safer and smoother than handling large sums of money. Though, they can take up to 3-4 weeks to deposit into international accounts and not convenient on a tourist visa.
Most people will prefer a cash transaction, as it is the fastest payment option. It is also an ideal way to ask for lower "cash now" price when buying and bargaining down the car.
International currency rates and fees can vary depending on your bank association. I would recommend notifying your bank of your overseas purchase and discuss what payment option is best for you regarding exchange rates, conversion fees, and automatic teller machines (ATM).
In Chile, some ATM machines will only allow a certain amount of Pesos to be withdrawn at one time. Some travel money cards have daily withdrawal limits, so allow a few days to collect your total cash amount.
CHANGING THE TITLE
1. Collect your solicitud de transferncia and padron
The official transfer of title is a document called solititud de transferencia with YOUR name on it and picked up from any registro civil office. It takes 2-4 weeks to process. As we patiently waited, i began converting my bus into a rolling home.
After 4 weeks we went to our local registro civil and collected our title. At the same time we printed out our ‘certificado de inscription', a small card sized document stating the bus is in your name and costs $840 CLP ($1.70 AUD) to print.
I highly recommend copying and laminating 2 copies of the ‘certificado de inscription.' This is the most asked vehicle document I have shown at all boarders crossing.
OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS
Due to the increase of foreigners buying vehicles in Chile and exiting into other countries at the Peruvian and Bolivian border has created some difficulties. The reason being, legally a car from Chile is not allowed to leave the country for more than 180 days without returning back.
Fortunately, when we crossed into Peru we had no troubles at all and told the Aduana's we were only exiting Chile for 3 weeks into Peru before returning back to Chile (a little white lie).
However, if you want to be certain for a secure border crossing between Chile, Peru and Bolivia you can always create a ‘declaracion jurada’. This is a certified document which outlines you promise to return the vehicle back to Chile within 180 days. This can be done at any notaria and ensure you a smoother border crossing if you encounter any problems.
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