BajaNomad - Buying Baja Registered Vehicles

depends largely on your immigration status
if you don't have permanent residency you can't register a car in Baja
and then there still the rumors that cars intended for the US market are better/safer than identical cars sold in Mexico
its on the Corona/mask/vaccine level

I used to import cars to the US
most Americans believe (note the word "believe") that a Mercedes intended for sale in the US is better/safer than the same Mercedes built for the European market
my first neighbors in LA also asked me whether my parents in Germany had a phone or TV
nuff said

Thanks, that answers my question. So we as visitors still will either have to rent or bring our own vehicle down at some future date.

4x4abc - 8-31-2021 at 11:42 AM

have a "neighbor" buy/register one for you
Mexicans are trustworthy
saves you the double insurance (Mex/US)
makes it less likely that the police intimidates you into bribes

JDCanuck - 8-31-2021 at 12:07 PM

have a "neighbor" buy/register one for you
Mexicans are trustworthy
saves you the double insurance (Mex/US)
makes it less likely that the police intimidates you into bribes

The bribe issue was one of my major reasons to look into this. Insurance doubling secondary. Maybe we can do a deal with a neighbor, may be workable. Reasons to get permanent residency keep building.

Bob and Susan - 8-31-2021 at 12:21 PM

you cant drive a mexican plated car without a mexican drivers license
you need to be a resident to get that

... only a rental... those cars have different plates

only foreigners can drive a foreign plated car ( not mexican)

it cost around 2k to import a car and has limited yrs and manufacture
origins

if your car is low in value ... it doesn't make sense to import it
the problem is you need to insure it in the usa to keep the plates current $$$

the reason people dont buy the new cars in baja is the interest on a loan is 18 to 24 percent ,,, not 3.8 like the usa... and there is NO leasing available

its cash and carry

JDCanuck - 8-31-2021 at 12:39 PM

Perhaps I named this thread wrong. It should have been"The issues surrounding permanent residency"

So...how difficult and costly is it to achieve permanent residency status? And then...if i get that taken care of, how difficult to get a Mexican driver's license?
As we intend to reside at our new place 2-6 months each year, retaining our Canadian residency and citizenship, we are trying to find the best way to move around there freely. Rental cars are exceptionally expensive.

[Edited on 8-31-2021 by JDCanuck]

SFandH - 8-31-2021 at 01:23 PM

Well, you can drive a Mexican plated car with a Canadian license, it's just illegal. Come on, take a chance, live dangerously!

Before you leave Canada go to the closest Mexican Consulate and apply to become a Mexican resident. You'll finish the process in Mexico at the Mexican immigration office closest to your house. You must start the process in your home country.

TONS of info on the Internet.

bajatrailrider - 8-31-2021 at 01:40 PM

I have both Mex plated trucks and Us. Most used cars In mexico are salvage . You don't want those I carry both lic CA and Mex . I only drive my Mex plated truck in states because INS cheap . Also my USA plate trucks cheap to INS in Mex .

JDCanuck - 8-31-2021 at 01:46 PM

Quote: Originally posted by SFandH

Well, you can drive a Mexican plated car with a Canadian license, it's just illegal. Come on, take a chance, live dangerously!

Before you leave Canada go to the closest Mexican Consulate and apply to become a Mexican resident. You'll finish the process in Mexico at the Mexican immigration office closest to your house. You must start the process in your home country.

TONS of info on the Internet.

Well that's out then. No time to travel over to the Mexican Consulate before this trip down. Wish I had asked this question a couple weeks back. Looks like it's similar to applying for passport but with additional financial info provided which will also take some time to put together. So for now...tourists we remain.

4x4abc - 8-31-2021 at 02:26 PM

where in Baja do you want to live?

4x4abc - 8-31-2021 at 02:31 PM

Mex driver license
go to office with your current driver license
bring health cert (go to any Simi store for that) and a blood test (for type)
better, go to driver license office and ask what's needed (things might have changed)
with papers in hand get Mex diver license (couple of bucks)
no tests needed
no Spanish needed

bajatrailrider - 8-31-2021 at 02:51 PM

You cannot get DL without resident card

JDCanuck - 8-31-2021 at 03:09 PM

Yes, and I have just been told by the local consulate that to apply up here there is at least a 4 week wait to obtain an appointment after you do all the back and forth emails to submit the required info.
Interesting process. Next year perhaps, but I will ask my lawyer down there about this issue when we see him.

[Edited on 8-31-2021 by JDCanuck]

JDCanuck - 8-31-2021 at 03:14 PM

where in Baja do you want to live?

We are building a house out on the pacific west of you

JDCanuck - 8-31-2021 at 03:19 PM

Maybe i can rent a burro for grocery trips, will take a bit longer but be far more scenic. Only 10 km there and back, should be able to do 2 km per hour so a five and a half hour trip.

[Edited on 8-31-2021 by JDCanuck]

Don Pisto - 8-31-2021 at 03:29 PM

Quote: Originally posted by SFandH

have any pre 2020 FMM's? look into their amnesty program, all done here in mexico and no financial requirements!

JDCanuck - 8-31-2021 at 04:03 PM

I did see an option of applying to REMAIN in Mexico. Did this change in 2020?
And they took our old FMM's when we returned on the plane each time we flew back.

[Edited on 8-31-2021 by JDCanuck]

Don Pisto - 8-31-2021 at 04:09 PM

I did see an option of applying to REMAIN in Mexico. Did this change in 2020?
And they took our old FMM's when we returned on the plane each time we flew back.

[Edited on 8-31-2021 by JDCanuck]

I don't know anymore than this, its been on a number of fb groups.....https://www.mexperience.com/mexico-offers-special-residency-procedure/
https://www.mexperience.com/mexico-offers-special-residency-...

[Edited on 8-31-2021 by Don Pisto]

4x4abc - 8-31-2021 at 04:10 PM

check with Baja Paperworks in La Paz
I believe you can do the entire paperwork for residency locally (no embassy)

Lee - 8-31-2021 at 04:40 PM

https://www.mexperience.com/mexico-offers-special-residency-...

have a "neighbor" buy/register one for you
Mexicans are trustworthy
saves you the double insurance (Mex/US)
makes it less likely that the police intimidates you into bribes

The bribe issue was one of my major reasons to look into this. Insurance doubling secondary. Maybe we can do a deal with a neighbor, may be workable. Reasons to get permanent residency keep building.

Got some good generalizations going here. Mexicans are trustworthy? Police ''less likely'' to intimidate you if you drive a MX plated car? Wow. Not the Baja I know.

Bigger issue here hasn't been addressed. I think you have a confidence problem. That'll come with more time in Baja. Do you speak enough Spanish to negotiate with the police?

A great source for not being intimidated by police, or how to deal with cops, generally, esp. where mordida is involved, is from Paul (gnu kid).

He has written great advice on verbal and mental jiu-jitsu in how to handle cops.

My experience getting a RP was 15 years ago and it was a royal PIA. Don't know how a Canadian can get RP and still have to be in Canada 6 months a year. Guess MX doesn't know that.

JDCanuck - 8-31-2021 at 05:20 PM

Quote: Originally posted by lencho

Quote: Originally posted by Don Pisto

How strange. I wonder why they're doing this? :?:

I wonder if this was related to the people who could not return to their countries because flights from Mexico were cancelled due to Covid?

eastmeetswest - 8-31-2021 at 05:34 PM

I will tell you the things that have applied to us. We are Canadian. You can not drive a Mexican plated car without a Mexican drivers license. If you get stopped - fine and possibly the car impounded - depends on the cop and your negotiation skills. Many people (Americans and Canadians drive cars plated in South Dakota becasue you can get a decal wihout buying insurance. SD doesn't need to see the car to register it. Then you can buy Mexican insurance and avoid the double insurance. We bought a car off craigslist in SJD that was registered in New Jersey and transferred it to SD, then bought Mexican insurance online. I have been stopped without issue. The car did not have a salvage title. I have been told that you can get Temporary residence without starting at an Embassy outside Mexico. However, this will require a fixer (someone that you pay who greases the system). I have not done this yet as it isn't necessary in our circumstances. You can bring a car registered in British Columbia down to Mexico. You will need to buy Mexican insurance. When the car is situated in Mexico, you can cancel the British Columbia insurance and tell ICBC that it is not coming home. You can then register the car and get decals every year without insurance. Rate class 919. You can get a Mexican drivers license without residency. you pay a fixer. I paid $4000 pesos total and they took care of the doctor's certificate and everything else. The cost for the license if you do it yourself is about $700 pesos at the drivers license office plus the cost of the doctors certificate and the other accompanying documents. If you pay the fixer, you will get your license in a couple of hours.

So, in summary, if you don't have a Mexican DL, buy a car with US plates. SD is the easiest.

JDCanuck - 8-31-2021 at 05:41 PM

Quote: Originally posted by eastmeetswest

system) When the car is situated in Mexico, you can cancel the British Columbia insurance and tell ICBC that it is not coming home. You can then register the car and get decals every year without insurance. Rate class 919.

Thanks a lot for that one: I talked to two ICBC agents and they both said this was not possible. Yet, several friends have done this without any problems i have heard of. What can i say...it's ICBC

surabi - 8-31-2021 at 09:53 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Lee

Don't know how a Canadian can get RP and still have to be in Canada 6 months a year. Guess MX doesn't know that.

What are you talking about? There aren't any rules about how long you have to stay in Mexico when you have a RP. Mexico doesn't care if you spend 4 months in Mexico each year and 8 in Canada, or whatever.
And where did you get the idea that Canadians have to be in Canada 6 months a year? I spend about 11 months a year in Mexico and 1 in Canada. All it means is that I'm not covered by Canadian health insurance unless I were to go back and spend 3 months there so the insurance kicked back in.

JDCanuck - 9-1-2021 at 06:45 AM

Surabi: So you are still eligible for full CPP and OAS while you are out of Canada more than 6 months per year? Interesting, I had thought otherwise from my reading of the conditions. I did know you lost the Medical. Would be great to see the 3 countries move towards more of a cooperative block like the EU has.

surabi - 9-1-2021 at 10:36 AM

Surabi: So you are still eligible for full CPP and OAS while you are out of Canada more than 6 months per year? Interesting, I had thought otherwise from my reading of the conditions. I did know you lost the Medical. Would be great to see the 3 countries move towards more of a cooperative block like the EU has.

It depends upon whether a Canadian declares non-residency in Canada. There are no hard and fast rules for that- it is based upon many factors, not simply how many months a year you spend in Canada. If there is a dispute about it, it is determined by an immigration judge.

Many Canadians who primarily live in Mexico find it preferable to declare non-residency, as it means that while they would have their CPP and OAS payments reduced by 15%, it also means they don't have to file or pay Canadian taxes.

Quite different from the US, which taxes its citizens, even if they have never lived or worked in the US, or even stepped foot on US soil, as opposed to its residents. Only other country in the world that does that is Eritrea.

JDCanuck - 9-1-2021 at 11:02 AM

Thanks so much for that additional info. Lots to think about, and we are definitely going to examine the pros and cons surrounding this issue. Local Mexican health insurance I assume is also available if you are a permanent resident, which may offset significantly what we pay for our extended insurance here.

charliemanson - 9-1-2021 at 06:54 PM

All you need is a Mexican DL which takes 20 min and your good.. Thanks for trying to do the right thing as you will be much more respected by locals who do pay the minimal yearly taxes. For me its all of 300 pesos for a 2019 truck. Or you can to the gringo< cheat the system route, and spend more and get no respect from Mexicans and do the SD thing.

Just MHO.

PS. I get free health care if I choose to go through the system, but choose no to wait and just go pay for it

Last MRI was all of 75 bucks

charliemanson - 9-1-2021 at 07:22 PM

All you need is a Mexican DL which takes 20 min and your good.. Thanks for trying to do the right thing as you will be much more respected by locals who do pay the minimal yearly taxes. For me its all of 300 pesos for a 2019 truck. Or you can to the gringo< cheat the system route, and spend more and get no respect from Mexicans and do the SD thing.

Just MHO.

PS. I get free health care if I choose to go through the system, but choose no to wait and just go pay for it

Last MRI was all of 75 bucks

Lee - 9-1-2021 at 08:08 PM

No time limit for someone with a MX RP being outside of MX. When I transitioned from RT to RP (RT required for 4 years), there were restrictions on how long the applicant could be outside of MX during the process.

The Canadians I know in Baja have Canadian health insurance. They go North within 6 months.

Alm - 9-3-2021 at 03:57 PM

You're misreading the rules on Canadian pensions.
CPP doesn't depend on out of country time, GIS does (there might be non-resident tax on CPP, don't remember, but you have to officially sever residential ties by writing a letter).

OAS doesn't depend on out of country time either, but there is non-resident tax (15%?) for those who have officially become non-residents.

GIS stops after 6 months of uninterrupted absence, not 6 months per year. If you try and go back-forth for a couple of months, say, 5 times a year - this might work for a while but at some point they might catch up and deem you to be not "ordinarily residing in Canada" because your routine life is tied to Mexico more than to Canada, and thus not eligible for GIS. Then they will want you to return GIS overpaid for all the years that you were not eligible.

Back to the cars...
The easiest way would be to bring an old car from Canada and leave it in Baja. ICBC refunds you insurance for the time that car stayed in Mexico, but you have to pay every year non-refundable licensing fees - not much. Did this every year though it was for my regular Canadian car, not permanent "Baja car". The problem is - you can't bring it now to Baja because CAN/US border is closed. You could try buying in Baja but I don't see many Canadian-registered cars for sale in Baja.

[Edited on 9-4-2021 by Alm]

Alm - 9-3-2021 at 04:17 PM

Quote: Originally posted by charliemanson

All you need is a Mexican DL which takes 20 min and your good.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, we don't need Mexican DL to drive a US or CAN plated car in Mexico.

Or, if this is for driving Mex-registered car bought used in Mexico and imported by a previous owner or Mex dealer - from what I hear, you can't register a car in Mexico without at least a temporary residence. Was possible in the past with FMM, not anymore.

JDCanuck - 9-3-2021 at 06:15 PM

Thanks Alm, that's a whole lot of good info for me personally. Yes, we had planned on driving one of our vehicles there and leaving it to fly back, using it on our frequent visits there to head into town for supplies. With the border closed still we abandoned that idea and are flying in and out this time.
When they open the US borders we will revisit that, as it is just too good a vehicle for our purposes to scrap and too old to be imported from what we've read.

OAS...i already claim it as taxable income so no difference there, CPP the same, GIS...i don't get any so no loss there. Replacing the medical (increasingly less value) and at 200/month plus medical travel insurance on top for increasingly lower value Blue Cross extended medical with Mexico sourced medical insurance may be very workable.

How charliemanson managed to get an MRI for $75 is beyond me, as it cost my daughter several thousand up front when she needed one on a sudden injury in La Paz despite being covered by Blue Cross.

[Edited on 9-4-2021 by JDCanuck]

[Edited on 9-4-2021 by JDCanuck]

4x4abc - 9-3-2021 at 07:11 PM

How charliemanson managed to get an MRI for $75 is beyond me, as it cost my daughter several thousand up front when she needed one on a sudden injury in La Paz despite being covered by Blue Cross.

[Edited on 9-4-2021 by JDCanuck]

some La Paz hospitals prey on foreigners
be super careful

few years back (La Paz did not have an MRI machine yet) I went to a Cabo hospital (high prices, designed to fleece cruise tourists)
I was quoted $US 2,500 when I called in
when I filled in my paperwork with address and CURP the front desk lady said "Oh, you are a local, then you pay only $US 1,100."
good!

bottom line - be careful in the tourist triangle

Lee - 9-3-2021 at 08:19 PM

Quote: Originally posted by lencho

Quote: Originally posted by Lee

When I transitioned from RT to RP (RT required for 4 years),

Was that back in the FM-3 -> FM-2 -> Inmigrado days, or had they already gone to plastic when you started?

That's it. Dark ages. Bureaucratic BS. Wouldn't do it again.

Alm - 9-3-2021 at 10:49 PM

$75 MRI must be for one small area like elbow. Without contrast.

"I have been told that you can get Temporary residence without starting at an Embassy outside Mexico. However, this will require a fixer (someone that you pay who greases the system). "

I wonder how this is possible other than the above mentioned special processing for expired FMM. Only a couple of immigrant classes can apply in Mexico - like spouses of Mexicans or parents of Mex-born children. For retirees the process of applying in Embassy is straightforward anyway, gathering the papers and taking photos is all that there is to it.

[Edited on 9-4-2021 by Alm]

Alm - 9-3-2021 at 11:25 PM

OAS...i already claim it as taxable income so no difference there, CPP the same,

[Edited on 9-4-2021 by JDCanuck]

[Edited on 9-4-2021 by JDCanuck]

Taxable, not taxed. OAS and most of your CPP goes into tax exempt. You're paying taxes on your other income.

eastmeetswest - 9-5-2021 at 03:34 PM

Quote: Originally posted by charliemanson

All you need is a Mexican DL which takes 20 min and your good.

If you are driving a US or CDN plated car in Baja, you don't need a Mexican DL. If you buy a US plated car and you are Canadian, you need to do a work around to get a US address to register the US car in South Dakota. We used Jankovics in San Lucas. He set up a US partnership using his office address in the US and then we used that address for our SD registration. It worked, but I am sure there are other ways to do it.

Alm - 9-5-2021 at 06:23 PM

Quote: Originally posted by eastmeetswest

If you buy a US plated car and you are Canadian, you need to do a work around to get a US address to register the US car in South Dakota. We used Jankovics in San Lucas. He set up a US partnership using his office address in the US and then we used that address for our SD registration. It worked, but I am sure there are other ways to do it.

Americas Mailbox handle SD registration for $50 or so, plus whatever the state will charge. They offer SD address for $200/year including mail forwarding but I understand that it doesn't have to be SD address. Canadians do need to some US address. I wonder if they can use any of those parcel-receiving outlets along the US border. Many of them only charge a small fee when you pick up something, no annual plans. They provide a normal physical address - Jane Dow, 123 Zero St, ZIP code, state.

eastmeetswest - 9-6-2021 at 09:16 AM

Quote: Originally posted by eastmeetswest

JC43 - 9-6-2021 at 09:45 AM

I haven`t read everaything in detail in this thread when I realized that at least 50% of info is wrong. Headline: Buying Baja registered vehicles.
Yes you can buy a Baja car without beeing a PR. In case you are pulled over by police, nobody is asking if or not you are a PR (English) or RP(Spanish) But the question is mainly: Buying a car for living in Baja or importing a one. Nonsense that ALL cars in baja are bad/scrap. It is like always: You get what you pay for. But for about 3000 US you will get a reliable car. Now: Calculate the value of your car. Add: Importation is about 2000US. -depends of the value of your vehicle-. Waiting at the border about 10 days until importation is done: $$$ (BOOOORING to stay where you don`t want to stay!) And the imporattion agency doesn`t like any private importation. They prefer it is done with a broker: $$. End up being more expensive than buying a reliable Baja registered car and having no trouble at all. For the money you have to spend incl the valaue of your vehicle, you can bay a car for more than 5000US here in Baja. And that will give you a really good car.
A DL not possible without being a resident??? 50% true and false. It depends on where you go. Not all DL ofices are asking for PR. And btw. as far as I know it is written nowhere and not a must to have the PR. In La Paz or Cabo i.e. getting a DL is far more complicated than in a small community where nobody is asking you for anything. Those small communities prefer taking your money over asking too much. It is neither illigal to have it - no matter how - nor will anybody ask you later how you got your DL. Summary: Flying to your destination, using your car which is at your destination is much cheaper than driving.
Downside: You will do that only if you have seen everything right and left along MX 1 or 5 and beyond. This is for travelers who want to enjoy their vacations at the place they live in Baja. Not for travelers who want to see all of Baja in one trip.

bajatrailrider - 9-6-2021 at 03:05 PM

Your half correct Yes possible to get Mex DL without PR. Except when paper work goes to main office 95% . Reject the DL you got you say BS to Salvage cars in Mexico sorry on that too. Very large % are just that. How would I know 45 years in that work. When we get a total in states . It gets a stamp can no longer be repaired and tagged . Also get marked EXPORT ONLY. HAHA yes direct to Mexico resold and Mex plates. Im happy with my one of each baja plate and South Dakota.

Alm - 9-6-2021 at 05:27 PM

You can't get Mex plates without RT/RP. If you can't get plates, you don't need Mex DL either

.
Being Mexico, everything is possible but most likely they will refuse registration without RT/RP.

Not that I need any of this now - was lucky to leave my decrepit Canadian car in Baja before Covid. When I plan to go to another town (doesn't happen too often), I bring plates from Canada and then return them and get a refund for the time I stayed in Baja. This takes planning, sudden long trips are out of question. In the village nobody cares about plates, not much traffic. Not enough incentive to get RT/RP, - maybe later when this car dies. Even then, it could be cheaper to go SD route than RT/RP.

[Edited on 9-7-2021 by Alm]

JC43 - 9-6-2021 at 08:00 PM

You can't get Mex plates without RT/RP. If you can't get plates, you don't need Mex DL either

Not correcct t.m.h.o. You buy a car in Baja, it got plates. No matter if or not you are an RP or whats-o-ever. You pay for the car - you drive off. DL in small towns: Go to the DL office. Take a blood test w/ you only to detremine your blood type. Make the vision test. Pay. Get the DL.

karenintx - 9-7-2021 at 09:57 AM

Two years ago a couple of our Canadian friends that owned a Mexican plated car went to the DL office to renew their Mexican DL. They were told they now need a CURP number in order to get a DL, this was in CSL. At that time they didn't have their R/P, which they have now.

They sold that car and drove a car down from Toronto. The Baja is a "free zone" so they can legally drive a non-Mexican plated car with their R/P status...while in The Baja.

JC43 - 9-7-2021 at 03:39 PM

Two years ago a couple of our Canadian friends that owned a Mexican plated car went to the DL office to renew their Mexican DL. They were told they now need a CURP number in order to get a DL, this was in CSL. At that time they didn't have their R/P, which they have now.

They sold that car and drove a car down from Toronto. The Baja is a "free zone" so they can legally drive a non-Mexican plated car with their R/P status...while in The Baja.

only half correct. You forgot to mention that one can drive their foreign plated car "if one does not own property in Mexico" and is no RP !

[Edited on 9-7-2021 by JC43]

SFandH - 9-7-2021 at 04:12 PM

Quote: Originally posted by JC43

only half correct. You forgot to mention that one can drive their foreign plated car "if one does not own property in Mexico" and is no RP !

[Edited on 9-7-2021 by JC43]

Do you have a link to a reputable website, perhaps a Mexican government website, that spells that out. I don't think that's true but I'm not sure.

Why couldn't an American that owns property, or rents it for that matter, in California drive a car with California plates regardless of what type of Mexican visa s/he has?

Many people own property in both countries and live where they want when they want.

[Edited on 9-7-2021 by SFandH]

Alm - 9-7-2021 at 07:49 PM

Quote: Originally posted by JC43

You buy a car in Baja, it got plates. No matter if or not you are an RP or whats-o-ever. You pay for the car - you drive off.

The point is that you can't register a Baja-bought "importado" car in your name without RT/RP.

If Baja-bought car has current Mex plates - not all of them do, btw - when tags expire you will get stuck with a car that you can't drive, legally.

Alm - 9-7-2021 at 08:04 PM

... drove a car down from Toronto. The Baja is a "free zone" so they can legally drive a non-Mexican plated car with their R/P status...while in The Baja.

I'm not sure about the "legally" part. Gringos are telling each other that in Baja you may keep foreign plates after you've become an RP, but it appears to be more a lack of enforcement (in Baja) than something legal.

[Edited on 9-8-2021 by Alm]

willardguy - 9-7-2021 at 08:22 PM