“How to Bring Your Car Into Mexico”
June 4, 2008
So, you want to bring your car into Mexico. Here’s How !
Every foreigner is allowed to enter Mexico with a vehicle, which is not Mexican plated (e.g. US or Canadian), as long as you have the following:
1) Mexican Insurance,
2) FMT (Tourist Visa), FM2 or FM3,
registration/ownership in your name, and
3) a credit card or cash to cover a bond for the vehicle.
The Mexican government will charge your credit card for approx. $40 (costs subject to change), or you have to put up the cash for a percentage of what the car is worth, and the type of car it is.
Note: (Much more paper work to do it this way.)
The government will then provide you with a temporary importation permit, and a sticker for the windshield.
Remember to turn this registration and sticker into customs when leaving Mexico with your vehicle.
If you enter Mexico by vehicle on a Tourist Visa (FMT), you must drive the vehicle that you entered with back out of Mexico.
It is illegal to leave the vehicle in Mexico that you entered with unless you obtain an FM2 or FM3 while you’re here.
According to Mexican custom officials, you are not allowed to have more than one foreign plated car registered in Mexico per person
(A husband and wife could bring two cars in for example if the names on the title were in both names or one in his name and one in her name only.)
Not everyone follows the rules of course, but your illegal car could be confiscated.
Also, it is illegal to sell your foreign plated vehicle in Mexico.
The only legal way to do this is to legalize it in Mexico (e.g. get Mexican plates for it), which is a complicated process and may not be possible at all.
If you do sell your vehicle here you will be fined the next time you enter Mexico with another vehicle. Also, if the vehicle you’ve sold here is in an accident 2 years down the road, and the person you sold it to walks away, you can be held liable for damages caused in that accident.
If your car is stolen, and reported to the police, and to your insurance company, and even if you have gotten a return from your insurance company, you may still be fined once you return to Mexico with another vehicle.
I recommend you do not mention the stolen vehicle when entering Mexico with a replacement vehicle.
If they do notice, you will have to pay the fine if you want to bring the new vehicle in.
You can petition the government later for the fine and get your money back, but you will have to put up the money to begin with.
You are no doubt wondering, “Why would I have to pay a fine?”
Well, it’s actually quite simple. In the past couple of years the Mexican government has found out that a number of imported vehicles had actually been reported stolen in the States and Canada, but really had not been stolen.
The cars were then driven to Mexico, the owners would then fly back to the USA or Canada and collect the proceeds from their insurance companies for their car being stolen.
Then, they return to Mexico and either sell the car or drive it in Mexico and just never exit Mexico with it.
Cars With a lien
If your car has a lien on it you must get a Notarized letter from the lien holder which authorizes you to bring the car into Mexico.
Bring the title in your name and your proof of Mexican Insurance.
INSURANCE:
Liability insurance to cover the other car is required. Check the rates at several places as the rates vary considerably.
You can also buy your policy on line and print it out before leaving home.
California License # OC24601
3819 Saint Austell Way
Perris, CA 92571
Tel: 888-800-9988 951-657-4220
Fax: 626-638-3255
Right at the border inside the building where you get your permission to enter Mexico is of course the most expensive place to buy car insurance.
Also you may want to check the rates for six months or a year especially if you plan on being in Mexico again within the policy period.
Sometimes for just a few dollars more you can double the covered period.
Once you live here you can find very competitive rates in our area.
I just paid approximately $150.00 USD for a year’s coverage of liability only.
Be sure you policy has bail bond protection. In serious accident without this coverage you might spend the night in a Mexican jail until they can sort out just who should pay damages to whom.
Crossing the Laredo Bridge at Night
This is a NOT A GOOD IDEA
What If I’m already in Mexico on a tourist permit and I decide to stay and get an FM3 residency permit ?
Must I drive to the border to re-register my vehicle? I already have my car windshield sticker where I registered it as I entered Mexico on my FMT (Tourist Permit)?
The simple answer is “No” . Your car permit is good as is as long as your personal legal status in Mexico is valid.
So there you have it.
29 Responses to ““How to Bring Your Car Into Mexico””
If I have a 6 year old car can I keep US plates on it while I have a FM2 like I did with a FM3?
Hi Dennis, Thanks for your question on keeping US license plates on your car while living here at Lake Chapala, Mexico.
Yes, you can keep US license plates on your car here as long as you live here legally. You obtain a “temporary” import permit when you drive your car into Mexico.
Of course you should keep the registration current in your home state. Some people here do not do so, but could run into problems with the validity of their insurance, etc. Best to keep the registration current to avoid potential problems.
I use the word “temporary”above in quotes because as long as you live here you will never have to re-export the car to the USA as long as you keep your personal immigration status up to date with an FM2 or FM3 immigration status.
If you ever apply for and obtain imigrado or citizenship status you’re required to re export the car to the USA.
One way to keep it would be to convert it to Mexican plates assuming it met the requirements in effect at the time your personal immigration status changed.
Every few years the rules have changed as to just which cars qualify to be converted to Mexican plates. Currently, to be best of my knowledge in July 2009 the vehicle must be exactly 10 years old and manufactured in the USA, Mexico, or Canada, and it can not be classed as a “luxury car” like a Cadillac.
Thanks for your questions. I enjoy playing “Radio Shack”. You have questions. I have answers. Siempre tu amigo, Sid
What if you are not a tourist, but a Mexican citizen, but you are coming back to Mexico temporarily? We have a car with registration and title in TN.
Hi Sid:
I am so glad that I found your important posts and would like you to be my one and only buyer`s agent .
The next big thing is to ask you about bringing a Jeep Liberty 2002 into Mexico from Germany. I own this car since 2001 and recently shipped it to Germany from California where I thought I would stay for the rest of my life. So, would it be a problem to import a US car with German title and plates ??
The US title I had to turn in when I had the car registered in Germany. Thank you for any help, Inga
Hi Inga, WOW ! Music to my ears about being your exclusive buyer’s only agent.
But, I must admit that I’m not sure about your German plated car. My guess is that it would be OK, but please check with one of the legal sites like http://www.ajijiclaw.com/.
They handle immigration matters on a daily basis. They’re b lingual and have a very informative website. If you e mail them address your question to Kevin there.
I’ll nose around a little and if I can find out anything that might help, I’ll post it here.
Let me know when you’ll be coming down, because I want to block out some time to show you the area.
All for now. Sincerely, Sid
I entered Mexico in November ’07 with a motorcycle. When I left with it and crossed the border late at night, no Mexican officials were manning the border station, and so I just kept going.
On driving down with my wife in November ’08, the Mexican border officials would not let me put our car in my name because of the motorcycle. No amount of explaining helped, so we put it in my wife’s name. (I have an FM3 by then but she did not)
I was told by helpful Mexicans that it was OK to drive this car and just show my FM3 and how it is my wife’s imported car. This year I sold the motorcycle in California and contacted the Mexican consulate in San Francisco, CA, three times with no response in an attempt to get things straight.
How can I get the car into Mexico legally in my name? The tourist sticker has run out, of course, and we are leaving it down there. Thanks!
Hi Jim, First please understand that I’m on your side, but I have to tell you what I think.
You agreed (knowingly or unknowlingly) to re export the motorcycle when you imported it. As far as the Mexican government knows you sold the Motorcycle in Mexico. You have no proof that you in fact exited Mexico with it. Even if you could prove that you exported the motorcycle and and sold it outsie of Mexico you still violated the terms of your agreement with them to check the vehicle out of Mexico when you left.
You might try talking to a local immigration professional here.
Your Mexican friends told you correctly about driving your wife’s USA car here. My Mexican wife drives my USA plated car here all the time, but carries her marriage license with her and of course the car title.
I suspect, but do not know, that you can probably pay a fine and reinstate your ability to bring a car in in your name.
Another solution is to just buy a car with Mexican plates.
I’m actually surprised that the government approved your FM3.
Sorry, I could not help more. Don’t shoot the messenger – Sid
i am moveing to lake chapala mexico in a couple of years and i own a 1959 pontiac. I want to bring the car with me and eventually get mexican plates. The car is canadian and i do plan on going to the states every once in awhile for car shows(eg. las vegas, texas). Is it easier to do so with mexican plates and that way i only need my mexican insurance or do i need to buy travel insurance when i go to the states? Is it hard to bring in and/or get insurance for such an old car?
HI Trevor, Welcome to our Club. Thanks for your question. First, currently the way the officials here are interpreting the law you willnot be able to change your 1959 Pontiac to Mexican plates.
Two reasons: It’s considered a classic due to its age (25 Years or older) and secondly the only cars allowed to be nationalized now must be exactly 10 years old and made in the USA, Canada or Mexico.
So next year only model year 2000 will be allowed in 2010 to be nationalized.
I don’t see any problem with you bringing it in however and just keeping the current plates on it. Just be sure and get your car importation paper work done either at the border or even better before you arrive at the border. Soime Mexican COnsulates will help with this.
I dont think you’d have any trouble getting insurance here on it either. Not sure about replacement cost collision, but liability should be easy. A great thing about having older cars here. There are lots of older cars on the road and there are good mechanics at fair prices… and body work is a super bargain compared to North of the Border prices.
Hope this helps. Siempre tu amigo, Sid
I really need someone’s help. i drove my US-plated car into mexico this october and am working (illegally) as a teacher. I’m here on a 180 day tourist visa. I want to fly back to the US for one week during Christmas rather than drive my car to Houston, Texas from Guanajuato. If my car were new (I have a 97 Honda Civic w/ 150,000 miles) I wouldn’t mind driving back. However that’s not the case. What do I need to do? I want to visit my parents for a week and fly back here to continue teaching. Help me.
My husband and I own a truck that is here with my in the united states (he lives in Mexico). I want to take the truck to him on my next trip and leave it there for him. is it leagal for me to do this?
Hi Billiejo, Send me a e mail to Sid @ChapalaClub.com with all the details like who is the truck registered to, are either of you Mexican citizens etc. and I probably can be of help. Sid
I am considering moving to mexico for a few years (I have dual citizenship). I have a 2009 Pontiac on a loan and would like to take it with me. Is it possible to keep my car there for longer than the 6 months the permit allowes me to? How many times can I renew the permit? I know you cannot legalize the car in Mexico unless it is 10 years old, is there some type of fee if I don’t?
Thanks.
Hi Mayra, To bring a car into Mexico with a lien on it you must have the lien holder sign a Noatarized letter giving you permission to drive the car into Mexico.
Entering Mexico with a foreign plated car you obtain a temporary import permit which is good as long as your personal immigration status is valid. So when you leave Mexico the car has to go with you and the permit is canceled.
So, if you enter with a tourist visa when you leave the car must leave with you.
You mentioned dual citizenship. If you’re entering Mexico as a Mexican Citizen and not as a US Citizen visiting Mexico on a tourist permit I do not think they will allow you to enter with a US plated car.
Dual citizenship is great but it can complicate issues like car importing. To legal or nationalize a foreign car in Mexico the current law is to best of my knowledge that the car must be exactly 10 years old, must not be considered a luxury car, must not be considered a classic car, and must have been made in the USA, Mexico, or Canada.
Before taking action please check with your local Mexican consulate in the USA to be sure things are still as I believe them to be.
Hopes this helps some. Sid
Sid,
I called the Mexican Consulate as well as “Contacto Ciudadano” and it was recomended that I export the car as an American citizen so I can get the permit which I have to renew every 6 months. For everything else it was recommended to claim myself as a Mexican citizen.
Now I’m wondering what I have to do as far as keeping my car registration active in the US. Would you know anything about that?
Thanks.
Hi Again, Mayra, I think you got good advice at the Mexican Consulate.
Sorry, each state has it’s own rules about keeping a car properly registered in the USA. Some folks here at Lake Chapala Ajijic
use family members addresses in the USA and register their car at the family member or friends address. They may have to drive back to the selected state from time to time to get safety inspections stickers renewed if their state requires this, or renew insurance in the state to prove financial responsibility to renew registration etc.
Some people register their car in South Dakota which has some very simple registration procedures. See my article about how to do this at “http://tiny.cc/7qEUT”
Hope this helps. Sid
i am an american citizen and some friends of mine want me to put their truck in my name and drive it to mexico, get a permit and then basically sell it back to them so they can legalize it themselves in their state and not at the border where it is much more expensive.
my question is can this be done legally without me having problems? i myself have visited mexico with my own car ,but i had to return the paperwork with the car at the border. i just dont want any problems
HI Judy, A Mexican can not buy a US plated car legally inside Mexico, So, once they put their truck in your name it beomes your truck and therefore you can;t sell it to them inside Mexico.
This is the way I understand the law. Please consult competent legal authority. The Mexican government is very serious about protecting their automotive market.
Sorry, to be the bearer of perhaps bad news. Sid
I have a 1991 vehicle that I brought into Mexico under a temporary permit and intend to leave it in Mexico. I have an FM3. What are my options if one day, and that may be sooner than I’d like, it finally breaks down and is beyond repair? I will want to bring in another vehicle and I’ve been told that I can’t do that since I already have a vehicle in Mexico. Should I permanently register it now?
Hi Kathleen, You’re supposed to re-export the car each time you leave Mexico. If you’re just visiting out of Mexico most folks of course leave the car in Mexico.
If it become in operable at some point you will have to somehow get it out of Mexico as you can’t legally sell it here (even to another North American).
You could get in serious trouble selling it here even a salvage vehicle.
With so many good mechanics in the area you should be able to keep your 1991 running great for many years.
I have a friend who has a 67 Cadillac here and it’s still going strong. The engine finally gave up and she had her mechanic install a Chev Suburban engine in it and it’s as ever.
When you’re ready for a new car drive it to Laredo, Texas (after stopping to have the car import sticker canceled) and trade it off for a better one and re-import the new one.
I have two Mexican plated Ford Explorers and one US plated Ford Explorer. None are new. When one is in the shop both my wife and I have a car to drive.
She gives area tours and of course I’m helping clients find just the right home for them… so we take our transportation seriously.
Hope this helps. Siempre tu amigo, Sid
I could really use some help in finding someone who can tell me exactly how to have my import sticker on my disabled car canceled. I have heard I can have it towed to the airport here in Guadalajara and it can be done there. Does anyone have experience with this?
Hi, I would like to take a 2001 grand prix to mexico. I understand that i will need a FM2 or FM3 but the part that confuses me is that once it is in mexico,you still need to take it across the boarder every time you leave mexico? My wife an i have bought a condo in, puerto valarta and we plan to go there 4 to 6 months in the winters. We would like to take a car and a boat,can someone please shed some light on, when you drive a car into mexico,do you need to drive it back everytime you leave mex,or can we fly out and next year fly back in, and leave the car and boat in mex without any problem?
Hi Friend,
As I understand the rules each time you leave Mexico you are supposed to take you car out. It’s a temporary car import permission. That being said, there are lots of people who leave their car in Mexico and fly in and out.
I do this and most of my friends here do the same. I’m not a Mexican Immigration specialist but I see no risk in doing this. Perhaps someone else has better info. By the way when the weather get’s almost unbearable hot and sticky in Puerto Vallarta come to Lake Chapala to escape to perfect year around weather. We’re just a half day drive from PV.
We have a sizable number of home owners here who have condos at PV but live here most of the time. That’s just another great thing about Mexico. You can afford to have a home in the mountains with lake views and perfect year around weathe AND a condo on the ocean. Siempre tu amigo, Sid
Hi, I just wanted to get something clarified. I plan to move to Mexico for about a year and I want to take my car with me. As long as I renew my visa after the 180 days are up my temporary import permit for my car will renew automatically along with my visa???
Hi Brenda. As long as your Visa is good your car permit is good, However, they likely will not renew your tourist visa for another 180 days. So, while you’re here on your tourist visa get an FM3 or FM2 which is good for a year at a time.
If you don’t want to do this you’ll have to exit Mexico with your car canceling the car import sticker and then re enter under another tourist visa and get another car permit. I’d opt for the FM3. You can renew it year by year without leaving Mexico. After 5 years you must apply again.
Hope this helps. Sid
Hi Sid,
Is it possible to renew the six month temporary car importation sticker here in the Chapala-Ajijic area? (I want to avoid having to drive back to Nuevo Laredo to do this)
Thanks!
Hi, If your personal immigration status is valid then your car import sticker is valid even though it may show to be expired on it’s face. So, if your personal status is OK, no need to go back to the border or seek out authorities here.
Hope this helps in your situation. Sid
I am trying to purchase a sailboat that is registered in Colorado but is in San Carlos..I want to trailer this boat back to the u.s. What papers will I need for the boat/trailer so as not to have any problems at the border??
Hi Dennis, First I’m not a import or immigration specialist, but my thinking is that in all probability the boat came in on a trailer behind a car and the two are linked togetehr on the vehicle import sticker/registrration.
The seller could wind up in trouble later if you just hooked the trailer up behind your vehicle and left Mexico with the boat and trailer.
Hopefully someone with personal experience will see your post and be better able to help.
Alternatively you could contact one of the immigration specialists some of who are lawyers.. or have a bilingual person contact Banercito (SP) which would know the answer.
If you find out from another source let us know on this forum.
Hope this helped a little anyway. Sid
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