Thread: Buying a car was a chid's play today.

I found the vehicle I liked on encuenra24.com and called he owner Monday. The same day I drove in my rental to PC and met the guy. He was very nice and I told him I got 3 other vehicles to check out and then I will get back to him.
The car was in excellent shape, he kept it well maintained and at night I called asking him to come down with the price a bit more because I am on a budget and just arrived to Panama. He asked for time to talk it over with his wife and returned my call today at 9am. He came back at a price I could live with and we agreed to meet at noon. I drove to PC again and spent 2 hours sitting in one place before the bridge of the Americas because someone climbed to the top of it and threatened to jump. The matter was resolved and they carted his ass off to a mental hospital and traffic resumed.
Once I reached our meeting point the owner came 10 minutes later and we drove to the Municipio (sp) together where he took care of all the paperwork making copies of my passport and filling out all paperwork. I had to pay $22 there and we walked over to a nearby bank where I had to pay $20 more. With the copy of that receipt we walked back to another office in the same building where they gave me all the papers (ownership and another small library of papers). The whole ordeal lasted 45 minutes including the walk and back to the bank. I gave the $ to the guy and he then led me all the way to Tocumen to return my rental car after which we all drove back to the city. He was fluent in English and will help me opening a bank account and set me up with contacts for my intended business. We will also get together on the weekend with his 3 kids and mine and talk by the pool.
He asked how I liked Panama and was surprised (pleasantly) that I told him all the positive things I found and that I indeed liked it here which is not a lie. So I don't doubt there are assholes who will try to fuck you coming and going and are ape like dumb but anyone who stereotypes Panamanians as such jerks is just as big a moron.

Let's all hope there's no more to this story!

1. Check VIN and motor number on title and compare to car. You should have checked this before. If there is an error prepare to spend days on end correcting it.

2. Send (previous) owner to autodepot close to Los Pueblos to pick up the vehicle's ID card. You will not be able to do this after transfer.

3. Get copies and original of the most recent revisado and plate payment. Otherwise you will not be able to hire an outside firm to deal with annual plate torture.

4. Buy insurance and put in car. Make copy passport, carnet, title, driver's license, minor accident form, reglamento and put in car. The vehicle's ID card also goes in the car.

5. Make sure to have a $10 in the car at all times so you can pay for instant fines. 98 % of all police officers in Panama are common criminals.

1, Did that
2, The transfer is done.
3, Got it it has been paid I got all papers to that effect.
4, Will do that tomorrow, he said I can use his insurance (gave me paper) until I do.
5, I know that and have the $ already in the car.

6. Have a large Abuelo with ice and dismiss the legal hell of having the inevitable accident gig. (Gringo is guilty)

I hate to disappoint you, but the first $22 paid at the municipio had to be paid by the seller and not you.
I know it's not a big deal compared to the thousands you paid, but you should know that you just became a victim of Panamanian "juega vivo".

Originally Posted by Romeo

I hate to disappoint you, but the first $22 paid at the municipio had to be paid by the seller and not you.

Hi
I have bought and sold some cars in Panama now and always both on purchase and sale the buyer has covered all these costs. It is in my understanding a well accepted thing in Panama.

Originally Posted by Thomasjefferson

Hi
I have bought and sold some cars in Panama now and always both on purchase and sale the buyer has covered all these costs. It is in my understanding a well accepted thing in Panama.

I bought a car a month ago in PC. We asked the guy working there at the municipio and he told us that it was the seller who had to pay the $22.
Then I went to the Banco Nacional de Panama to pay the $20 in the name of the ATTP

It's 100 % negotiable. There are no laws regulating this, but it appears to be the standard.

Originally Posted by Romeo

I hate to disappoint you, but the first $22 paid at the municipio had to be paid by the seller and not you.
I know it's not a big deal compared to the thousands you paid, but you should know that you just became a victim of Panamanian "juega vivo".

Does the car have expired plates or are they up to date - I mean the ones on the car?

Very well done otherwise! Probably top 2 % in your class.

There is no doubt that you will survive Panama at least for the time being!

Originally Posted by Sir Stressalot

3, Got it it has been paid I got all papers to that effect.

The sticker is good until March next year. I will call the guy and ask about the vehicle ID card tomorrow. Now that the car is in my name can I go get it or does it have to be the seller?

The card will have his name on it so you cannot get it unless you get a form from him authorizing you to get it out. They will need a copy of the title and carnet I believe. Maybe he has a copy of his old title - that would fix it. There could be an updated card there a few months after your next revisado, but I would not care for that.

Great that you have a sticker - if the previous owner missed a payment and had old stickers the new owner most likely has to go get a temp permit every 80 days for about 2 years.

Originally Posted by Sir Stressalot

The sticker is good until March next year. I will call the guy and ask about the vehicle ID card tomorrow. Now that the car is in my name can I go get it or does it have to be the seller?

Originally Posted by Romeo

I bought a car a month ago in PC. We asked the guy working there at the municipio and he told us that it was the seller who had to pay the $22.
Then I went to the Banco Nacional de Panama to pay the $20 in the name of the ATTP

Jooo. I guess I have been a little "vivo" as well then, since the ones bought my last car payed for it all.

dont sweat it, you got off easy. I bought a vehicle and the seller didn't bother with squat. He paid the 20 bucks and got the receipt as is normal but didn't bother with the vehicle card or the previous inspection record. It's ok, you did pretty well there. I hope it works out for you, most of the time this doesn't. The worst offenders are the gringos I find.

When I bought my car I asked the ATTT about the vehicle ID card. They told me that the Registro Unico De Propiedad Vehicular would be enough.
But, since most panamanians don't know anything about what they are talking about, I better obtain it asap, in order not to give those corrupt cops any excuse to extort money.

hello Ed, on a post early this year you mention being able to open bank accounts for expats in Panama. Are you still able to do this? I need a new bank account for a new corporation. thanks, john

hello to everyone,
I am new to this forum an been living abroad for the last 7 years. Thinking of moving to Panama and planning a visit this month. Trying to open a corporation to do some business. We'll see how it goes.

We bought new car in Ricardo Perez company and paid extra fee for registration and number plates. The car we got 31 October. The numberplates was promised next day. Next day after 2 more days. After some more. I am promised now to get numberplates 11 November. Yesterday I got the scan copy by mail of all documentation.
Anyway the stuff is very polite and try to help that I can't get angry I understand that some things in Panama does not happen so quick yet.
I personally know at least 10 countries where this procedure is much complicated and expensive

Hi everyone,
thanks you guys for such valuable information...
A question regarding p.1
”Check VIN and motor number n title and compare to car.”
I compared the VIN on the carriage and on the paper. On the carriage (as an exp)- ABCDEFxxABCxxxx, on title- only ABCDEFxx. So I missed the second partof the number...Might it be a problem?
Thank you.

The last 6 numbers of the VIN is the serial number of the vehicle. The preceding letters/numbers tell the county of assembly, manufacturer, make, engine and body style, check digit, assembly location, and the the 6 digit sequence number of the vehicle; which makes the VIN unique to the vehicle as compared to the one before and after coming off the line. The VIN has to be a completed 17 digit value to be valid.

Thank you for information. I told the owner that I am not going to buy a car with an incorrect VIN and he let correct the registro unico...
Meanwhile I ve learned something new: here are 5 things you have to have in your car when police stop you. In case you don’t have any of them – they can charge you 50 bucks(per missed thing)

Originally Posted by Romeo

When I bought my car I asked the ATTT about the vehicle ID card. They told me that the Registro Unico De Propiedad Vehicular would be enough.
But, since most panamanians don't know anything about what they are talking about, I better obtain it asap, in order not to give those corrupt cops any excuse to extort money.

Here is a discussion about Tarjeta vs. Registro.