When it comes to vehicle storage in Colombia, Ipiales is the number one choice. Many will often refer to Ipiales as a free zone or (legal) gray area. It is in fact not a free zone and the law is black and white. Unfortunately for me (fortunately for you) I learned this lesson directly from DIAN.
NO TIP = NO SOAT = ILLEGAL
What is the worst case scenario? The police have the legal authority to impound your vehicle. The chances of getting it back (if ever) can and will cost thousands and require a lawyer. Here is a table of contents to easily select the parts you wish to know
Steps to Cancel TIP and Store Vehicle in Colombia
- Park where you are storing your vehicle
- Uber/taxi to the border
- Go to DIAN, cancel TIP. Takes 2 minutes. *Do not say anything about your passport or ask for the tax return for items you purchased in Colombia*
- Exit Colombia via airplane, passport is stamped out per usual
- Return to Colombia, fly to vehicle storage and drive to the border
- Park on the side of the road before DIAN
- Walk to the second building to stamp your passport out
- Drive over the bridge and park on the side of the road
- Stamp passport into Ecuador and then get TIP for Ecuador
This is the only border crossing in the Americas where no one checks your paperwork leaving Colombia and no one checks your paperwork entering Ecuador.
Vehicle Storage in Colombia
Here is a popular place for vehicle storage. The family lives on the property and they are kind, helpful and their parking lot is full of overland rigs and bikes. During my time here, the owner shared stories of other overlanders storing their vehicles up to 3 years. My Toyota Tacoma with a pop up camper was stored my truck here for 4 months, the cost was about 15 USD per month.
In addition to storage, if you need, they can start your vehicle, change the oil, etc.
Vehicle Storage Options in Ecuador
Finca Sommerwind is owned and operated by a German man named Hans. He is EXTREMELY helpful with anything and everything one could possibly need. He also offers vehicle storage at his property. That process looks like this.
- Exit Colombia, Enter Ecuador.
- Drive 2 hours to Finca Sommerwind, store the vehicle
- Cancel Ecuador TIP and leave
- Option 1: Fly from Ipiales Colombia. Drive, with Hans 2 hours back to the Ecuador/Colombia border, cancel TIP and enter Colombia by walking over the bridge. Once you’ve stamped your passport in, take an uber to the airport, about 30 minutes.
- Option 2: Fly from Quito, Ecuador. Drive with Hans 4 hours round trip to the border and cancel your TIP, return to Finca Sommerwind. Next day, take transportation 3 hours to Quito.
- On return
- Option 1: Fly to Ipiales Colombia. Drive to the Colombia border, park before the bridge, stamp passport out, drive over the bridge and enter Ecuador.
- Option 2: Fly to Quito, Ecuador. Transport the 3 hours to Finca Sommerwind. Drive 2 hours each way to the Ecuador/Colombia border and get a new TIP.
How does Ashley know vehicle storage in Colombia is illegal?
Colombia is similar to France with tax refunds for goods purchased within the country. In Colombia, travelers get the 19% tax back on goods purchased. During my time in Colombia, I had upgrades done to my truck, I spent the max, therefore I was due to get the max refund.
Before leaving Bogota, I went to DIAN and explained my situation. They advised that I would need to present my truck with receipts in Ipiales to submit the claim. Even though by law this must be done at final port of exit, this was an exception as it obviously it is not possible to store a truck in Ipiales and physically present it at the port of exit: Bogota.
Ipiales: After I cancelled my TIP, I then inquired about the refund. Considering DIAN in Bogota advised me of this plan, to my surprise the DIAN officer started asking questions.
I immediately knew something was off, but had no clue as to what. Was he looking for a bribe? After clearing the confusion he kindly explained this was illegal.
NO TIP = NO SOAT = ILLEGAL
Sadly during this time I was storing and leaving my truck because my dog has passed away. My flight was in less than 24 hours, I had no place set to go in Ecuador, it was getting dark.
Ultimately, the DIAN officer advised this: If a police officer asks for TIP paperwork (which is very unlikely) do NOT show the paper version on TIP as it is signed and stamped cancelled. Instead, show a screenshot of the email confirmation of the TIP.
