When Is The Right Time To Buy A Car?

justderrick

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I'm moving in a few months to Buenos Aires and have plans to purchase a vehicle but will I be able to register my vehicle and insure it being an extranjero?
I don't have any documents from the country yet because they require you to be residing in the country for at least a year before you can get your DNI I think so does that mean I can't drive a car until then? I have my drivers license from the states and thats about it.
 
Hi Derrick, You actually must have a DNI to stay in the country ("legally") more than six months out of twelve. Getting a DNI first involves getting at least temporary residency which allows you to stay in the country for one year at a time.

I believe you can buy a car and get an Argentine license without a DNI but the license will expire when your tourist visa expires. Your 90 day tourist visa can be extended once (for an additional 90 days) at the office of migraciones.

After that, if you get stopped (to check your documents) and you do not have a valid visa or driver's licensee you might find yourself being escorted to your next destination, which, according to an attorney who posts here, could be a detention center.

PS: A DNI is required for importing your stuff duty free (as you mentioned mention in another thread) and you have a six month window to bring your stuff into the country after you receive your residency. I believe you must use a licensed shipping company (though not necessarily a customs broker).

In the other thread you mentioned bringing in the "tools of your trade" but you did not specify what your trade is. If you could be more specific about your profession (or trade) someone might be able to tell you if you will face any obstacles from the Aduana, even if your "tools" are used and you bring them in checked luggage..

The bottom line is that you can't just "move" to Argentina and start working (even as a self employed person) without temporary residency (and the DNI), even though you can buy a car without a DNI.


PS2: Others have posted (though quite some time ago) that they have driven with their foreign license and didn't have any problem. Traffic stops are common in the province. If you get stopped you will be asked to show your license, green card (title), proof of insurance, and possibly the required "safety equipment. If you show a foreign license you will probably be asked to show your passport. If you have a valid 90 day visa or the 90 day extension (prorroga) from migracions you might be OK.

If you are detained you might be deported without the chance of retrieving your car or your possessions. I don't know if that has actually happened to anyone, but I would not want to take the risk that it could.
 
Hey thanks for the reply steveinbsas, It really doesn't make much sense how you can only bring your stuff in duty free after you have your DNI but it takes 6 to 12 months to attain the DNI after I've attained my temporary visa which which allows me to stay one year at a time like you stated.

So my stuff will stay in the states for 1 year or more before I can transport them ? By that time I would have bought everything new in Buenos Aires. I don't know how they expect you to move to the country with nothing and then have to wait a year or more before you can bring your belongings.
My tools are for refrigeration and air conditioning. Common hand tools such as pliers, cutters, wrenches, screwdrivers and different wrenches of sorts and then electrical testing meters.
Megohmmeter, clamp meter, thermistors, refrigerant detectors, micron meter, and things of that nature for the trade.

I don't plan on working anytime soon. I will most likely just be traveling out there for a bit, hanging out and just living life before I start to get involved again with work. Financially I'd say I'd be okay living in Argentina for a year or more without working.

So bottom line is I can drive without DNI and all I would need is my drivers license? No DNI would be needed for insurance? I can purchase a vehicle out there but I'd like to drive it legally lol a lot of the areas I go to are pretty low and I'm sure alot of them don't have seguro on their cars. I'm not sure if insurance is a requirement in the country for a motorized vehicle.
 
Hey thanks for the reply steveinbsas, It really doesn't make much sense how you can only bring your stuff in duty free after you have your DNI but it takes 6 to 12 months to attain the DNI after I've attained my temporary visa which which allows me to stay one year at a time like you stated.

So my stuff will stay in the states for 1 year or more before I can transport them ? By that time I would have bought everything new in Buenos Aires. I don't know how they expect you to move to the country with nothing and then have to wait a year or more before you can bring your belongings.
My tools are for refrigeration and air conditioning. Common hand tools such as pliers, cutters, wrenches, screwdrivers and different wrenches of sorts and then electrical testing meters.
Megohmmeter, clamp meter, thermistors, refrigerant detectors, micron meter, and things of that nature for the trade.

I don't plan on working anytime soon. I will most likely just be traveling out there for a bit, hanging out and just living life before I start to get involved again with work. Financially I'd say I'd be okay living in Argentina for a year or more without working.

So bottom line is I can drive without DNI and all I would need is my drivers license? No DNI would be needed for insurance? I can purchase a vehicle out there but I'd like to drive it legally lol a lot of the areas I go to are pretty low and I'm sure alot of them don't have seguro on their cars. I'm not sure if insurance is a requirement in the country for a motorized vehicle.

It should only take 30 to 60 days to get a DNI after you get temporary residency but you must qualify for temporary residency to get a DNI. You can get temporary residency in a number of categories. You don't get it by just "moving" here. I suggest you see the thread "Imigration for Dummies" and it is advisable to start at the end of the thread and work backwards. And thank khairyexpat as often as possible as you go through the thread. He spend a lot of time composing and posting the information.

If by "financially OK" means you can show migraciones a stable and interrupted source of income in the amount of at least $30,000 pesos per month you can apply for thew visa rentista. That will allow you to stay in the country for a year at a time and get an Argentine driver's license. Technically, your foreign driver's license is only valid for 90 days.

If you wait more than six months after your DNI is issued you will not be able to import your things duty free. Be prepared to post a bond for the value of the items. You may be able to claim the "tools of your trade" as something you need for a hobby, but the folks at the Aduana aren't stupid. They'll want to know why you are bring tools like that into the country.

I think you will be able to use your passport to get car insurance but one member here posted that his insurance company refused to pay a claim because he did not have an Argentine driver's license. Once your tourist visa (or its extension) expires you don't want to get stopped by the police and if you are involved in an accident it will be even worse..

Yes, insurance is require for all cars and trucks operated on any public thoroughfare in Argentina. It doesn't matter how may Argentines drive without insurance. If you get caught driving without it at any point you will have a problem. If you are also caught driving without an Argentine license more than 90 days after your arrival in Argentina you will find yourself in double jeopardy. There are inspection stops within city limits as well as on the highways. It doesn't matter if they are high or low areas. The police like to operate in any area where they can write the most tickets and confiscate the most vehicles.

PS: There are separate stops by tax agents to see if the patentes (license plates) are up to date. I've also seen stops for motorcycles (and scooters) where a flatbed truck was on hand to transport impounded bikes whose riders were not wearing helmets or did not have the appropriate documents.
 
Thanks again steveinbsas, looking at the categories for application of residency I really don't think I would apply for any of them. I don't know if rentista would apply because I can bring in money into the country and show it as income but it's money I already have or make through cryptocurrency exchanges.
I can most likely have a company sponser me as a technician but I don't see myself working right away once I land in the country. I thought I'd be okay with just having my documento de domicillio once I show proof that I am residing somewhere.

I was actually told directly at Migraciones that I may be able to obtain temporary visa by going to el registro civil and saying that I have a girlfriend and can provide proof.
I know you can obtain it through marriage but I was shocked that he told me this but he did say some Registro Civiles will acknowledge it.

It's good to know I can drive though Buenos Aires without DNI. My final documents from that I need to take is my criminal background check and I will get an international drivers permit as well believe I leave and probably renew my drivers license as well.
As for those inspection stops you speak of, I have seen them plenty of times out there. Mostly through San Isidro running up through Tigre.
I think I seen more stops out there in Argentina than I ever have here in the states but it goes to show there is some kind of law being enforced out there.
I'm bringing all of my belongings with me through air travel. I will be making (2) round trips to Argentina. My first flight with my clothes, bike and laptop and second trip with more clothes, tools and my guitar. My tools probably round around 3000USD that I will be flying with and it may be a gamble but it's one I'm willing to take because I don't know how else I'd be able to bring in my stuff without temporary residency. That 3000USD can be an easy 6000USD in Argentina, that's if I can find the equipment out there.

My mirgraciones papers for information on residency with work visa when I went there directly.

http://i.imgur.com/QNQhShE.jpg
 
I'm curious if anyone knows if theres one of the European delivery plans for Argentina? You know where you can buy your car in Europe drive it around there and ship it back?
 
justderrick said:
I can most likely have a company sponser me as a technician but I don't see myself working right away once I land in the country. I thought I'd be okay with just having my documento de domicillio once I show proof that I am residing somewhere.

If you have a company "sponsor" you you would be applying for temporary residency based on a work contract and if you didn't actually work for them they would likely be in trouble with migraciones, so it would be wise not to pursue that route.

A certificado de domicilo would only be required by migraciones if you were apply for temporary residency. It does not confer any right to stay in the country.



justderrick said:
I was actually told directly at Migraciones that I may be able to obtain temporary visa by going to el registro civil and saying that I have a girlfriend and can provide proof.

I know you can obtain it through marriage but I was shocked that he told me this but he did say some Registro Civiles will acknowledge it.

You can obtain permanent residency through marriage and never have to deal with migraciones again, but because you are a foreigner you would still have to obtain the permanent residency at migraciones.

justderrick said:
It's good to know I can drive though Buenos Aires without DNI. My final documents from that I need to take is my criminal background check and I will get an international drivers permit as well believe I leave and probably renew my drivers license as well.


Keep in mind that your foreign license will only be valid as long as your tourist visa is valid. I am not absolutely sure that the 90 day extension of the tourist visa gives you an additional 90 days to drive with you foreign license.

Be sure to ask your insurance agent if you will be covered in an accident (or any claim) if you don't have an Argentine license. They will sell you a policy but they may not even know for sure if the insurance will pay a claim if you don't have one.

You will only need a criminal background check if you are applying for temporary or permanent residency and the background check must be recent (no more than 90 days old) when you apply for the residency).



justderrick said:
I m bringing all of my belongings with me through air travel. I will be making (2) round trips to Argentina. My first flight with my clothes, bike and laptop and second trip with more clothes, tools and my guitar. My tools probably round around 3000 USD that I will be flying with and it may be a gamble but it's one I'm willing to take because I don't know how else I'd be able to bring in my stuff without temporary residency. That 3000USD can be an easy 6000USD in Argentina, that's if I can find the equipment out there.

I think you should be prepared to pay 50% duty on whatever migraciones says your equipment is worth when you try to bring it in with you. They might not take into account that the equipment is used. Another question is whether they will use US or Argentine prices to determine their value.

Since the last time I flew into EZE I hear they are using the red light-green light system for screening luggage. I'm not exactly sure what would happen if you didn't declare your equipment and got the red light, but I am sure it would cost a lot more if that happened.

Then again, they mare care even less about some used tools than phones and laptops that are more than 18 months old.


justderrick said:
My mirgraciones papers for information on residency with work visa when I went there directly.

http://i.imgur.com/QNQhShE.jpg


Are your sure that you could get a job as a migratory worker (as an air conditioning/refrigeration technician)? I thought "work visas" were given when an employer could prove that the work could not be performed by an Argentine. I have always been able to find an installer or repair technician when I've need one.
 
I purchased a car without DNI, some insurance companies could not enter into their digital forms a Foreign passport number (doesn't match) or the drivers license Format. Some insurance companies refused payment with a foreign CC.... :cool:
 
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