Comments on: “How to Bring Your Car Into Mexico”

By: Sid Grosvenor

Sid Grosvenor — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 01:58:32 +0000

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

By: dennis

dennis — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:22:47 +0000

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??

By: Sid Grosvenor

Sid Grosvenor — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 02:14:36 +0000

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

By: David A.

David A. — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:47:32 +0000

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!

By: Sid Grosvenor

Sid Grosvenor — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 03:42:20 +0000

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

By: Brenda

Brenda — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 21:11:43 +0000

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???

By: Sid Grosvenor

Sid Grosvenor — Thu, 20 May 2010 01:31:13 +0000

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

By: Julo Goncalves

Julo Goncalves — Mon, 17 May 2010 23:23:49 +0000

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?

By: Gail Rooney

Gail Rooney — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 22:47:16 +0000

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?

By: Sid Grosvenor

Sid Grosvenor — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 02:35:48 +0000

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