Thread: RV Living in Panama - Transferring a Great Lifestyle To South America

Hello,

We are full-time working professionals who live in a Class A (Large Motorhome) here in Seattle,WA area. We rent some acerage in Kirkland and find that this lifestyle is ideal for us in terms of mobility and comfort. I work at Microsoft and my wife works at a law firm in Seattle.

We do NOT live in an RV park nor are we looking to do that in South American. We are, however looking to put an RV on a boat and ship it to Panama and buy a small piece of land where we can install electrical, water and septic to support our coach much like a house.

If we decide one year to spend time in David instead somewhere else we can simply move there.

Import tax is the big one. We have emailed an law firm in Panama and asked what they think of this idea with regard to import tax and a vehicle. We know we can come in with one car not taxed but I don't know if a Motorhome would qualify, and I assume not. If that is the case then this may not be practical considering the value of a large motorhome.

Another issue is that I can't seem to find anyone who has been to South America in a motorhome except for a couple people.

Any of you who are from the states know that this is a very popular and cheap way to live unless you are on the road a lot. Have any of you ever seen an RV such as a motorhome, 5th wheel or such. I'm not thinking small stuff. I mean over 30 feet.

Now there are some issues that we are researching. Safetly is one. We can't put metal bars on the coaches windows and it seems like this in common practice down there. Not to sound too paranoid but if that is an issue we have to address it.

Your thoughts are welcome, love to hear what some of you think of this.

The Caravellis

I would guess 25-27 % of the value is needed to import it + fees, hassle and possibility of not being able to use it during paperwork process.

How do you know that you can come in with one car not taxed?

Originally Posted by kcaravelli

Import tax is the big one. We have emailed an law firm in Panama and asked what they think of this idea with regard to import tax and a vehicle. We know we can come in with one car not taxed but I don't know if a Motorhome would qualify, and I assume not. If that is the case then this may not be practical considering the value of a large motorhome.

You must be kidding........I wouldn't bring an RV with you. You would be the only one on the road with one and people would be hailing you down, thinking you are a Collectivo or local bus and wanting a ride. Yes, you need bars. If you wanted a side job, that would be a good one for you, to drive around David all day long and pick up people and learn some Spanish at the same time. As for taxes, they would be outrageous for the bus...you could buy two of them for the price of getting one here.......better to buy a Collectivo in David and put some bars on it and dress it up like a Diablo Roja, and that way, you would fit in. A 30 foot RV wouldn't need a sign on it. It would say to the locals "Hi, I'm a Gringo from the US and on the inside of this bus, it is filled with goodies like laptops and cameras, cash and jewellery". It's a popular way to travel in North America, but after a few stops south of the border where they have machine guns and dress in fatigues and make $8 a day, you will wonder if they are army, police, thieves or rebels, and you will ask yourself if this was exactly the right thing to be doing at this time in your life. I find the idea absolutely fascinating. Don't forget to bring your " I Love Hugo Chavez " T-shirts. And you can wear a head band that says "Noriega Rules". You will want to remain popular while you are here. Cheers.........jT

It's my understanding the the Pensianado Program allows for up to $10k tax free personal goods and one car that escapes the import tax.

If you would have read my message you would have avoided the lame assumptions you are making. I do not intent to "drive it around". It will come off the bus and go straight to our property and stay there.
As for fear, they will learn soon enough that "Ben" lives inside with us. He is not a gun but for those dumb enough to break into our coach they will find a 100 pound Rottie waiting for them.
I refuse to live in fear.
If you were right, then even without the coach they could follow up to "expat village" which ever one I choose and sit and wait for us to leave our high-end Gringo Villa and take us right there.
No thank you, I'm looking for reality and I think there are some important cautions to take, you are probably way off bay....we'll see if others chime in and feel that way.
By the way, have you ever been to David? or anywhere in Panama for that matter?

They might have changed that law. Last I heard it was around 12 % for pensionados. You have to wait maybe 1-2 years to get the carnet though.

I would drive it from the US and down here instead of shipping it. Then you can use it while "importing it" or deciding not to. 6 months is allowed.

You might like this: http://www.amazon.com/Days-Panama-Ex...dp/0974908037/

I drove my car down from San Diego to here - it's really not a big deal.

Originally Posted by kcaravelli

It's my understanding the the Pensianado Program allows for up to $10k tax free personal goods and one car that escapes the import tax.

If you leave it for more than 2 weeks in area without a 24/7 guard for sure it will be cleaned down to the bones. They will also remove all internal copper wires rendering any repairs beyond the realm of possibilities. In my friends house in David they cut the power cord to a $1400 refrigerator for the copper.

Originally Posted by kcaravelli

If you would have read my message you would have avoided the lame assumptions you are making. I do not intent to "drive it around". It will come off the bus and go straight to our property and stay there.
As for fear, they will learn soon enough that "Ben" lives inside with us. He is not a gun but for those dumb enough to break into our coach they will find a 100 pound Rottie waiting for them.
I refuse to live in fear.
If you were right, then even without the coach they could follow up to "expat village" which ever one I choose and sit and wait for us to leave our high-end Gringo Villa and take us right there.
No thank you, I'm looking for reality and I think there are some important cautions to take, you are probably way off bay....we'll see if others chime in and feel that way.
By the way, have you ever been to David? or anywhere in Panama for that matter?

Hi!

Have you started your pensionado visa already? Last I heard that they did away with bringing a car in duty free last August. From previous posts on this forum and other forums the tax is now running about 25% of the value of the vehicle and if older there is a minimum $3K but that is if you have a pensionado visa. If you are coming on a tourist visa you will have to leave the country every so many days and it can change overnight here - currently I believe it is 90 days.

I know of several people that have driven down here in their RV's or 5th wheels and bought property to do what you are talking about, but they already had thier pensionado visa when they brought the motorhome into Panama. Up until this last year there used to be a 20-30 motor homes that made the trip from the U.S. to Panama and then back. It was a 3 month round trip out of Texas and they had hired a wagon master to help them drive down here and with all the paperwork.

As was stated above, you need have so many days to make the vehicle legal after it has entered the country. You can't just run across the border every so many days.

I hope this answers some of your questions.

Mary
www.whypanama.com

1. I strongly doubt there is a minimum 3k import tax if you are a pensionado. Pensionados are subject to a reduced tax.
2. You can import the car/RV even if you have a tourist visa.
3. You can use it while it is being imported.
4. The car has to be outside the country for 90 days for your to be able to go in and out 180 days (in Costa Rica).
5. You can park/leave it in no mans land in between Costa Rica / Panama and have it in no country if away.
6. If you own the vehicle without loans each border is about 2-3 hours.
7. Big problem will be getting the paperwork for dog - see the book above. They nailed it.

Originally Posted by whypanama

Hi!

Have you started your pensionado visa already? Last I heard that they did away with bringing a car in duty free last August. From previous posts on this forum and other forums the tax is now running about 25% of the value of the vehicle and if older there is a minimum $3K but that is if you have a pensionado visa. If you are coming on a tourist visa you will have to leave the country every so many days and it can change overnight here - currently I believe it is 90 days.

I know of several people that have driven down here in their RV's or 5th wheels and bought property to do what you are talking about, but they already had thier pensionado visa when they brought the motorhome into Panama. Up until this last year there used to be a 20-30 motor homes that made the trip from the U.S. to Panama and then back. It was a 3 month round trip out of Texas and they had hired a wagon master to help them drive down here and with all the paperwork.

As was stated above, you need have so many days to make the vehicle legal after it has entered the country. You can't just run across the border every so many days.

I hope this answers some of your questions.

Mary
www.whypanama.com

Yes, I live in the David area and have for a long time now.......Sorry if you were offended by my humour. It was just such a funny picture you created in your e-mail of some nerdy guy from Microsoft and his abogada esposa, touring Panama in a 30 foot RV and passing through road checks........you will have to live here for awhile to appreciate the humour. Criminals here are well aware of dogs and I think the rotweiller is close to the national bird in popularity here. Dogs are killed or poisoned here by robbers who come prepared. You will live in fear........mostly for Ben's life. You will find that I am not way off bay, or as I prefer to say, way off base. I could build 10 comfortable casitas for what your RV will cost you to get it here. The land is not a problem. You can park anything you like on most any piece of property. Whether it will be there when you get back from shopping or a weekend away, is another thing......And I know that you won't appreciate the humour because you don't live here. I think that you should come here for a month or two and get the lay of the land first........It's just an opinion from a North American in Panama........jT

Panama has lots of buses - you might be better off buying one with a dead or dying engine and converting it into an RV. There must be places with guards where you can park when you are out of the country.

ok and now from someone who has a m/h here , i drove a 32 ft class A here pulling a 30 ft enclosed trailer almost 4 yrs ago , would i drive again ? i am not sure , things have changed in mexico ans other countries , i bought 5 acres of land and lived in it until 2 months ago , when i moved into the yet , unfinished house . i really have not even moved everything out and cleaned it yet to sell it . i have never had any prolbems in the area where i live , i have no ( bars on the windows ) LOL , in fact i never closed of locked the door , just used the screen door to stop the cat from bring her mouse friends home , so as far as living in a coach , yes why not , but dont move to Panama Jims neighbourhood as it does not sound that nice , do some reasearch and find another area , and for the record i know 2 other fulltimers here . also something to think about , if you have any thoughts that someday you might want to sell your coach remember you will not have a easy time if it is a tall dollar one ,(diesel pusher etc ) the locals are just not into it , i have not run ads for mine but it is only about a 16 g m/h , so i think even some panamians might be interested , feel free to get in touch if you have question , oh and on the import tax , it was 3 g to the goverment as mine is older ,1998 , and a little to the aduana guy like usual