BajaNomad

What if I cancel my credit card and leave vehicle in Mexico?

JRabbit - 1-16-2008 at 12:59 AM

I'm a little confused about the credit card vehicle permit. I know the purpose of the permit is to prevent people from leaving vehicles in Mexico, but why only charge $25 or so on a credit card? Are they assuming that if the vehicle stays in Mexico then they are going to charge a further amount to the card? How do they know there is enough credit on the card? How do they determine the amount to charge if the vehicle stays? What if I cancel my card after I pay the $25??

Will the government follow me home?

rhintransit - 1-16-2008 at 06:53 AM

I'm assuming you know that the vehicle permits are not required for Baja. okay, for the mainland, below the free trade zone, essentially Guaymas, Sonora for you if you are planning to drive from Canada. the permit allows the vehicle to be legally in Mexico for up to 6 months. as you said, 25 bucks on your credit card doesn't do much except to pay for the permit. and identifies you as having a card matching your papers. but the threat in the past has been to charge your card, I've never heard of such happening.

anyway, the decal is important. you can be stopped at any time for a check of the decal and papers. (or have an accident, etc) no decal, no decdal, expired decal, no papers=impound. impound=probable loss. the holographic permit can be checked, should be turned in when you leave, and now that computers have entered the Mexican bureaucracy picture, it's more difficult just to 'leave' the car when you leave the country. (and yes they will know if you have more than the permitted two vehicles, I have heard of that)

so, you must either legally import it to Mexico mainland, or do the every six month border shuffle turn around. in Baja, tourist card holders are supposed to leave, with all their possessions, at the expiration of their card, 6 months/yr. FM2 and 3 holders, and their personal property, may stay as long as their documents are up to date.

my understanding. am sure others will correct me/expand if my knowledge is off base.

rhintransit - 1-16-2008 at 06:56 AM

ah, I see by your other posts that you have been inquiring about ferries to the mainland. when you hit the mainland you will need to get the decal, except in Guaymas (the most expensive ferry) where you may head for the border or remain in the free trade area. so you want to leave your vehicle on the mainland after crossing?

wilderone - 1-16-2008 at 10:06 AM

Not only do you pay for the vehicle permit, but your credit card is charged and held a bond charge:
"The fee to process the permit will be approximately $25.00 (remember that fees change every six months according to the respective law). A bond must be posted at Banjército either in cash (US$200 to 400.00 depending on the model of the car) or by credit card, to ensure foreign made vehicles will be taken out of the country at permit expiration date. Visa, American Express, or Master Card are welcome by Banjército. To check the car out of Mexico, tourists must return to exactly the same Customs office upon leaving the country; otherwise they run the risk of further credit card charges and/or they forfeit the bond posted."

If you never plan to return to Mexico and you don't mind possible snafus with your credit card company and credit report 6 months later, take the chance.

CaboRon - 1-16-2008 at 04:19 PM

There is some good advice above.....

Don't fool around with this.... the Mexican gov't is very serious about illegal import of vehicles.

-CaboRon

bajalou - 1-16-2008 at 05:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by wilderone
Not only do you pay for the vehicle permit, but your credit card is charged and held a bond charge:
"The fee to process the permit will be approximately $25.00 (remember that fees change every six months according to the respective law). A bond must be posted at Banjército either in cash (US$200 to 400.00 depending on the model of the car) or by credit card, to ensure foreign made vehicles will be taken out of the country at permit expiration date. Visa, American Express, or Master Card are welcome by Banjército. To check the car out of Mexico, tourists must return to exactly the same Customs office upon leaving the country; otherwise they run the risk of further credit card charges and/or they forfeit the bond posted."

If you never plan to return to Mexico and you don't mind possible snafus with your credit card company and credit report 6 months later, take the chance.


When I got a Vehicle Temp Imp permit. they did NOT take Amex, just Visa and Mastercard.

There was no deposit paid by me, only the permit price. I haven't found anyone who had to pay a deposit in the last few years.

I was told that I could turn permit in at ANY Banercito office. This told to me at the office I got the permit. I turned it in at another office with no problems.

Things do change - this was about 2 years ago.

[Edited on 1-17-2008 by bajalou]

JZ - 1-16-2008 at 05:07 PM

You can turn it in at any office.