2001 2.5Gen Montero LWB - Need your opinion about selling

[Blueyonder]

Hi guys, i don't know if it's appropriate to ask this here, but i thought i gave it a try.

I am from Europe, and have the dream of traveling from Argentina to Alaska by car. Since i would like to take my 2001 Montero and that is quite expensive to ship from here to Argentina, and then back i was wondering if it would be feasible to sell it in Canada or the US afterwards. Can someone give me some advice/opinion about this idea? Do you guys think there would be some interest or would the import taxes be too much for a deal to be interesting? I am not looking to "make" money only try to find an interesting and economically viable solution for my adventure

Thanks in advance

 

[plh]

Not sure if you know this, but its not possible to drive the entire distance. You will have to deal with the Darian Gap issue. I've heard its expensive and time consuming.

 

[Eric M]

Canada, most likely yes. USA, most likely no.

 

[Blueyonder]

Thanks, i do know.. and now there's even a ferry to help that cross, not cheap but cheaper... ( http://wikioverland.org/Panama_to_colombia_car_ferry_xpress for anyone interested ).
I was pondering this option because it costs about 800 euro (each way) to ship the car, and I'm doing the math to see what would be better, although i might end up not wanting to sell even if it's possible , just checking all possibilities

 

[Sabre]

Yeah, you may be able to sell it in Canada, but it's almost certainly not going to be importable to the US.

 

[plh]

Thanks, i do know.. and now there's even a ferry to help that cross, not cheap but cheaper... ( http://wikioverland.org/Panama_to_colombia_car_ferry_xpress for anyone interested ).

Thought I read something that the ferry was discontinuing service permanently in mid April '15. Then its back to the cargo containers. Not sure if there is RORO in that area.

 

[vanroth]

The short story is that yes you can sell it in the US, but it would require the buyer (or yourself) to complete a permanent import (versus a temporary import for travel through purposes). This can be done, although it would require expensive Federalization. The 25 year import exemption obviously doesn't apply here.

These trucks simply aren't worth that much in the US and I doubt one could sell it for the cost of Federalization. Not to mention the difficulty finding a buyer willing to purchase a grey market truck that has very little collectible value that is readily available here.

You *may* be able to get a certificate of destruction and have it parted out to offset your costs. For the US, you have 90 days to export the truck back out of the US or have it destroyed. I will state the DOT has been very strict in recent years regarding destruction (mainly due to grey market LR Defenders and Nissan Skylines), and by law destruction means crushed. :O. The good news is that there is no duty or bond for temporarily imported vehicles.

The Canada or Mexico may offer you some additional options. Alternatively you could enter the Mongol Rally -- Mongolia will be more than happy to disposition your truck for free!

 

[Blueyonder]

Thanks for all the answers , i guess it will be better to either take a cheaper car and "destroy" it at the end of the trip, or take it back with me to Europe. I wish I could buy (and legally insure it) a used car in Canada or the US for the trip. I've heard people say that in Quebec i would be able to do that even being a foreigner, but i can't seem to find anything supporting that other than a French couple that claims to have done it and are now selling the van in Costa Rica...

 

[mapper]

Thanks for all the answers , i guess it will be better to either take a cheaper car and "destroy" it at the end of the trip, or take it back with me to Europe. I wish I could buy (and legally insure it) a used car in Canada or the US for the trip. I've heard people say that in Quebec i would be able to do that even being a foreigner, but i can't seem to find anything supporting that other than a French couple that claims to have done it and are now selling the van in Costa Rica...

Interesting. I always thought this would be the easiest way to do a trip like you are proposing. I'm always kind of perplexed as to why people ship their vehicle across an ocean as opposed to buying a vehicle once they are on the ground. Out of curiosity, and ignorance, what prevents you from purchasing on your arrival in North America?