Hello All,
My wife and I will be continuing to visit Chiriqui a few times a year until we move down.
It seems that going ahead and buying a vehicle is preferable to more rental fees.
How can we locate a well maintained, late model, used SUV?
Are there any peculiarly Panamanian difficulties with purchasing, titling, licensing, insuring, etc.?
Thanks for your advice.
Replies
I dont agree with you.... laws in Panama don't change from week to week. That is not true. Problem is that even we nationals dont know all the laws we have in Panama and lawyers, government officials tend to interpret them according to their interest.
In Panama japanese cars dominate the market. You will find dealers for all those cars. Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, Honda, Mitsubishi, Isuzu, Suzuki... Also the koreans are popular like Kia, Hyundai. On the high end for big pockets the BMW, Mercedes and Porsche are popular. Specially their SUV. American brands are sold but they are not so popular as they were in the past.
families prefer 4 wheel drive vehicles because on weekends people like to go to their weekend houses, farms, beach, etc and those vehicles are handy for that kind of use.
Bikes and scooters are used very much but remember that we have a rainy season from april to november and using thosw vehicles wont be useful if you dont want to get wet and catch a cold.
Roger
Do Panamanian dealers negotiate price with their customers?
Thanks.
I am not so sure about prices of car in USA compared to Panama. I got the impression that here are a little bit more expensive because they are all imported: shipping, customs, fees, etc. are part of the cost.
In Panama is not considered bad to bargain, to ask for discounts and negotiate. It is part of our multicultural environment.
I'll check at dealerships when next in Panama.
Will also speak with an attorney about vehicle ownership by a nonresident (albeit homeowner!).
Someone is planning a visit for 3 months... isn't that the maximum time your foreign license is good? If you extend your tourist visa does that apply to your foreign license? Also, can you title a car here if you do not have residency? I don't need the answers but someone visiting should have them if they are purchasing, or driving for an extended perod.
I was stopped after being here over 3 months and the policia checked my ID and foreign license. He saw my residency was issued many months earlier. Then he wanted my passport to see when I entered Panama... told him I did not have it (I did but I knew what he was doing).. Also told him my ID was issued before I entered the country... Confused him enough so I went on my way... Following month I got my Panamanian license.
we are coming to chirique for the months of dec/jan/feb and want our own transportation. it appears that the rental agencies want 3 grand plus to rent even modest transportation. what would 3 grand buy me in your market. i could leave it there for a return trip or sell it in feb.
thanks;
rick
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