If you’re traveling by motorcycle around South America, you’ll need to purchase third-party liability insurance for your vehicle — it’s required in most countries. The easiest option is MERCOSUR insurance (also known as ConoSur insurance).
This policy covers multiple South American countries, saving you time, hassle, and border paperwork. It can be arranged digitally, with all documents delivered straight to your inbox.
Key Information
Third-party insurance is mandatory in most South American countries.
MERCOSUR insurance covers multiple countries under one policy.
Can be arranged online with documents sent by email.
Only covers third-party liability — not your bike or your injuries.
Some countries still require local insurance (e.g. SOAPEX, SOAT).
Countries Covered
Not all MERCOSUR insurance providers include Peru & Boliva.
MERCOSUR Insurance covers the following countries:
- Argentina
- Uruguay
- Brazil
- Paraguay
- Chile
- Bolivia (depending on provider)
- Peru (depending on provider)
For the remaining South American countries, third-party insurance must be purchased locally — usually at the border or in a nearby town. In some cases, it can be arranged in advance online or via WhatsApp/email with the help of local agents.
In Peru, additional SOAT insurance is often requested on top of the MERCOSUR insurance.
In Chile, additional SOAPEX insurance is required, and can be bought online.
Ecuador is the only country in South America that does not require third-party liability insurance for foreign vehicles.
What is covered?
MERCOSUR insurance and/or local third-party policies only cover:
- Third-party bodily injury
- Third-party property damage
They do NOT cover:
- Damage to your own motorcycle
- Medical coverage for you or your pillion
- Theft, loss, or mechanical breakdown
For full protection, it’s essential to pair this policy with separate travel medical insurance — and, if possible, additional vehicle insurance that covers theft, damage, and breakdowns.
Coverage Limits
When purchasing insurance, always check the actual coverage amounts. Local third-party policies — especially those bought at borders — often provide only the minimum legal limit, which can be as low as $5,000 to $20,000 USD, depending on the country. In many cases, you won’t have the option to upgrade these policies.
With MERCOSUR insurance, you may have more flexibility. It’s worth buying from a reputable provider who can offer higher coverage limits, often ranging from $600,000 to $1,000,000 USD per incident. This can make a significant difference if you’re ever involved in a serious accident and need real third-party protection.
Where to Buy?
We were quoted €10 per month per bike, plus a €70 issuing fee per bike. The policy duration was capped at 4 months, with the option to extend for €17.50. The limited period is mostly due to Argentinian inflation and currency fluctuations.
We went with them because everything could be arranged via email, and payment was easy via bank transfer to a EUR account. Their communication was clear, support was good, and they included Peru and Bolivia in the coverage — which not all providers do.
📧 gisela@speiserseguros.com.ar
They quoted us ARS 64,000 for 6 months per motorcycle — a longer policy, but they didn’t include Peru, so we decided not to proceed. Payment options included bank transfer in USD or local payment in ARS via PagoFacil.
Their quote was ARS 11,500 per month per bike, plus a USD 45 issuing fee per bike. The issuing fee could be paid via PayPal, but the policy itself had to be paid by credit card — no debit cards accepted.
We didn’t have a credit card at the time, and even if we did, we weren’t comfortable sending our card details via WhatsApp, which was their preferred method.
Additional Requierments
While having MERCOSUR insurance saves you a lot of paperwork at most borders, Peru and Chile still require additional local insurance — even if you’re already covered by a MERCOSUR policy.
Chile requires SOAPEX, a separate insurance policy that covers personal injuries to all parties involved — including the rider. It does not cover property damage.
Cost: Around $15 for 3 months
Can be bought online at the HDI Seguros SOAPEX site
Digital purchase, quick and easy — worth doing before arrival
▶ Peru - SOAT
Peru is a bit unclear. While your MERCOSUR insurance may technically offer coverage, customs and police often still ask for local SOAT insurance.
It’s not officially required in writing for foreign vehicles, but in practice, officers may insist on it.
Not having SOAT can result in your bike being immobilized or even fined.
For peace of mind, it’s best to just pay for it — around $10/month, often arranged at the border or via WhatsApp.
🧾 Tip: Riders often recommend contacting Anibal via WhatsApp at +51 990 128 105 to sort SOAT ahead of time. You can also verify activation here: www.soat.com.pe
