Charlie Nichols
Newbie
Posts: 22
Registered: 7-21-2015
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Towing vehicle into Baja
So, I've been googling and facebooking and found about 238 different answers, so I thought I'd try here for another 46 or so thoughts....have a car
that needs some work done to it (2004 Toyota Avalon needs a transmission rebuild). Found a shop in Mexicali that will do it for about half what shops
on the norte side of the border want. But...since the transmission is shot, I will have to trailer it down there. Registration is good, pink slip is
in hand and in my name on the tow vehicle, the trailer AND the car. I have a written estimate of the work to be done from the shop and a translator
that spends as much time in Mexico as he does in the US. Am I good to go or will I be turned away at the border because the car is on a trailer?
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PaulW
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I trailer a rig all the time back and forth. Here are my experiences for going south:
* Current rig registration is always required.
* Registration agrees with your passport name. (seldom checked)
* Tags must match the rig registration.
* Occasionally I have had to start the rig to prove it was not salvage.
* Never needed a pink slip.
I have been told if the rig had any body damage expect a hassle, but the above should still suffice.
Hopefully when you start the motor on unusual sounds will be heard.
Do not tell the Mx customs guy you will have repair work done in Mexico, because I think that is a no no.
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sancho
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This doesn't exactly fit your question, a couple reports of
late, Motorhomes towing a toad, had to unhitched on this side,
then driven across, they were denied entry towing the towed car.
Many of the interactions nvolving Mex Customs
depend solely on the descretion of the Officer you deal with
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Charlie Nichols
Newbie
Posts: 22
Registered: 7-21-2015
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Quote: Originally posted by sancho  | This doesn't exactly fit your question, a couple reports of
late, Motorhomes towing a toad, had to unhitched on this side,
then driven across, they were denied entry towing the towed car.
Many of the interactions nvolving Mex Customs
depend solely on the descretion of the Officer you deal with
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Much like many interactions with LEOs on this side of the border....
thank you for the info.
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aburruss
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Registered: 2-6-2018
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I have towed a broken down (and undriveable) race car into Mexico before, and only went through the standard registration and paperwork check. This
may be different because it was a race car, and not a standard automobile. They may have a different level of concern in that scenario.
One thing that you WILL get checked on is that the trailer has a visible VIN on it. I've gotten hassled for a missing VIN (and spent an hour
explaining that everything was fine), and have also had a relative get turned around because there was no visible VIN on the trailer. It doesn't have
to be a factory-placed VIN (sticker, tag, etc). If you don't have the factory stuff, you can simply stamp it with some metal stamps - that is
acceptable to the people checking at the border. But that's definitely something that I've learned to make sure is properly handled before going
south!
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