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 also offers vehicle storage at his property. That process will go like this:
- Exit Colombia, Enter Ecuador. Legally, per usual stamp out, stamp in.
- Drive 2 hours to Finca Sommerwind, store the vehicle
- Cancel Ecuador TIP / Options to leave South America
- Option 1: Leave your vehicle at Finca Sommerwind, drive with Hans 2 hours back to the Ecuador/Colombia border, cancel TIP.
- Leave: Enter Colombia by walking over the bridge. Stamp your passport in, take an uber to the airport (about 30 minutes) and depart South America via Ipales airport.
- Option 2: Drive with Hans 4 hours round trip to the Ecuador/Colombia border to cancel your TIP. After you have returned to Finca Sommerwind the next day or same day if the time works out and you’re willing, you can take transportation 3 hours to Quito airport and depart South America.
- Option 1: Leave your vehicle at Finca Sommerwind, drive with Hans 2 hours back to the Ecuador/Colombia border, cancel TIP.
- On return
- Option 1: Fly to Ipiales Colombia. Taxi/Uber to the Colombia/Ecuador border, stamp into Ecuador. Have Hans meet you there to get a new TIP. Drive the 2 hours to Finca Sommerwind, pay for your storage and get back on the road.
- Option 2: Fly to Quito, Ecuador. Transport 3 hours to Finca Sommerwind. Drive 2 hours each way to the Ecuador/Colombia border to get a new TIP. Pay Hans for vehicle storage and continue your trip.
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. Goods only, if you have truck maintenance / repairs completed you are not entitled to a tax return on the cost of labor, only the physical goods purchased in Colombia and you need to show the receipt and physical goods on departure to be awarded the refund. During my time in Colombia, I had many upgrades done to my truck, I spent the max, therefore I should have been awarded 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 and be granted the tax refund. 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 present a truck at the port of exit: Bogota airport.
When I cancelled my TIP in Ipiales I inquired about the refund. Between the advisement of DIAN in Bogota and my hope of the tax refund I was surprised when the DIAN officer started asking questions. If you’ve crossed a border or two, you know questions lead to problems.
I immediately knew something was off, but had no clue as to what. Was he looking for a bribe? Was he new in his role and unaware? Back in Costa Rica I had to explain that just because I had a US passport didn’t mean I arrived at the border from the US, but that I was entering from Nicaragua by land. He had to call his supervisor to gain clarity. After clearing the confusion he kindly explained that canceling your TIP and leaving a vehicle in Colombia is in fact illegal.
NO TIP = NO SOAT = ILLEGAL
If you are reading this prior to entering Colombia, SOAT is auto insurance. Sadly during this time I was storing and leaving my truck because my dog, Porter had passed away from liver cancer in Colombia. My TIP had already been extended to six months and I did not know exactly when I would be returning. My flight was in less than 24 hours, I had no place set to go in Ecuador, it was dark outside now.
Ultimately, the DIAN officer advised this: If a police officer asks for TIP paperwork (which is very unlikely) do NOT show the paper TIP as it is signed, stamped, cancelled. Instead, show a screenshot of the email confirmation for the TIP. Do what that what you will.