BajaNomad

Car with foreign plates

Rolly - 5-9-2008 at 01:57 PM

Since I live on the mainland, I am very familiar with the rules for temporary importation of cars. I know that with the permit and a valid visa (FM3, etc), it is not necessary for my CA plates to be current -- in fact, they are 7 years expired.

I know the rules are different in Baja -- the temp import permit is not required. I have 2 questions:

If I drive over to Baja with my expired plates, will I have a problem?

If I live full-time in Cabo with an FM3, do my foreign plates have to be kept current?

Thanks for your help.

[Edited on 5-9-2008 by Rolly]

Wow

BMG - 5-9-2008 at 02:06 PM

It surprises me that they let you do that on the mainland.

I do know that in La Paz the police will stop U.S. plated vehicles and issue a ticket if the plate tags are expired. It happened recently to some friends of ours.

bajaguy - 5-9-2008 at 02:30 PM

Why would you be driving a car (anywhere) with plates that have been expired for 7 years?????

Rolly - 5-9-2008 at 03:10 PM

I'm sorry you guys don't understand the law as it applies to the mainland of México. Current plates are not required so long as your permit and visa are in order.

I am asking if it is different in Baja. I guess you are saying it is, that corrent plates are required.

comitan - 5-9-2008 at 03:16 PM

Rolly

In BCS you have to have current plates, WHY would you be thinking Cabo? from the lifestyle you've been living, Cabo is high priced, CROWDED city in BCS.

TMW - 5-9-2008 at 03:17 PM

I see expired plates all the time in Baja some 2-3 years or more.

sylens - 5-9-2008 at 03:27 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by TW
I see expired plates all the time in Baja some 2-3 years or more.


mordida bait:P i, for one, am not willing to take a chance. but there are many out there much more adventurous than i.:tumble:

and yes, the rules on the mainland are frequently different.:bounce:

Rolly - 5-9-2008 at 03:41 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by comitan
WHY would you be thinking Cabo?


I'm not. I'm just trying to expand my knowledge of issues of living in México. As you may know, I maintain a large website crammed with information about living in México, but it has not a word about Baja. I trying to fix that.

If any one wishes to read my website and offer information where things are different in Baja, I would be eternally grateful.

Rolly

Udo - 5-9-2008 at 04:09 PM

Ey, Rolly!

Thanks for your great link. You really put some effort into building you site. Lots of photos as well as superb food links (with photos).
WOW![/red]

Bob and Susan - 5-9-2008 at 04:18 PM

you guys should tread lightly:o
rolly brook wrote the book on correct things to do:lol:

Rolly Brook is a true hero by helping some of us with info whe there was none available

here in baja if you have a temp import tag
(that big sticker in the window good for 10 years)
then you are current
the california tags can be expired
you wont get pulled over

comitan - 5-9-2008 at 04:23 PM

Bob

You better explain about the temp. import for Baja, its news to me.

BMG - 5-9-2008 at 04:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Rolly
I'm sorry you guys don't understand the law as it applies to the mainland of México.


Don't feel sorry for me. I don't care one iota about the laws, or rules, regarding expired tags on the mainland. I was just passing on some information that I thought applied to one of your questions. I'll be more careful in the future.

bajalou - 5-9-2008 at 04:48 PM

Rolly - I've got a lot of info from you website in the past and referred others there for good info. Several of the other forums have mentioned that they have never found incorrect info there.

Regarding the temp. imp of vehicles. I believe that the law applies to ALL of Mexico but not being requited to have the permits here, very few are familiar with the concept that the Temp Imp. Permit supersedes any foreign plate as to the legality of the vehicle in Mex. I believe while the Temp Imp Permit is not required in Baja Calif or Baja Calif Sur, if you have one, you are covered.

bajalou - 5-9-2008 at 04:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BMG
It surprises me that they let you do that on the mainland.

I do know that in La Paz the police will stop U.S. plated vehicles and issue a ticket if the plate tags are expired. It happened recently to some friends of ours.


BMG, did the friends car have a Temp Imp Permit decal on the windshield?

BMG - 5-9-2008 at 04:55 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajalou
Quote:
Originally posted by BMG
It surprises me that they let you do that on the mainland.

I do know that in La Paz the police will stop U.S. plated vehicles and issue a ticket if the plate tags are expired. It happened recently to some friends of ours.


BMG, did the friends car have a Temp Imp Permit decal on the windshield?


I'll find out next week.

comitan - 5-9-2008 at 07:25 PM

Rolly

This site says the Temp. Import for the mainland is only good for 180 days.

http://www.mexonline.com/drivemex.htm

Rolly - 5-9-2008 at 08:51 PM

They are talking about tourists with an FMT. It is correct that a temp permit with an FMT is good for a max of 180 days. BUT if you have an FM2 or FM3, the permit is good so long as your visa is valid, including renewals for the rest of your life if you wish.

Read the law here: http://rollybrook.com/article_106.htm

bajalou - 5-9-2008 at 10:11 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by comitan
Rolly

This site says the Temp. Import for the mainland is only good for 180 days.

http://www.mexonline.com/drivemex.htm


I thought that also, till I went to the mainland and had to get the TIP in Sonora. It was issued for about 11 months - till the renewal date for my FM2 - and I was told the same as Rolly states, it's good thru all renewals.

BMG - 5-13-2008 at 05:52 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajalou
Quote:
Originally posted by BMG
It surprises me that they let you do that on the mainland.

I do know that in La Paz the police will stop U.S. plated vehicles and issue a ticket if the plate tags are expired. It happened recently to some friends of ours.


BMG, did the friends car have a Temp Imp Permit decal on the windshield?


No.

stanburn - 5-13-2008 at 07:28 PM

There you go.

oladulce - 5-13-2008 at 10:08 PM

Nice to see you here Rolly! Hope you're doing well. I always appreciated your thoughtful answers to questions I posted on Mexico connect. Sorry, I know nothing about this subject.

What about insuring the vehicle

villadelfin - 5-14-2008 at 03:47 AM

If your plates are expired, is it possible to purchase car insurance and have coverage? I mean sure one can buy a policy, but the policy is void unless current registration is maintained, no?

Russ - 5-14-2008 at 04:32 AM

Lots of good questions. If a temporary importation on a car exempts it from having currant US plates I want to know more. I have more than one car here and the Calif. registration and insurance is a lot of money and trouble for cars that only see the US for two or three weeks a year if at all. I have Mex. insurance on all the cars but it may not be valid without currant plates.
So, can I get the temporary import in Santa Rosalia? If not where? And does the car have to be taken to where ever it's applied for? And can you get a temp. import on a diesel?

oldlady - 5-14-2008 at 05:12 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by villadelfin
If your plates are expired, is it possible to purchase car insurance and have coverage? I mean sure one can buy a policy, but the policy is void unless current registration is maintained, no?

Correct, we just went through the whole magilla. If you have US plates they must be current for the insurance to be in force. We just changed to Mexican plates, had to get new insurance, since the other policy only covers the vehicle with US plates.

[Edited on 5-14-2008 by oldlady]

DENNIS - 5-14-2008 at 06:26 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by oldlady
We just changed to Mexican plates, had to get new insurance, since the other policy only covers the vehicle with US plates.



Was that the "drivers license" insurance which will insure license or car? Isn't a Mexican policy much more costly? I talked with somebody who has a Baja plated, ten year old car and he's paying around a thousand dollars per year for full covreage.

bajalou - 5-14-2008 at 08:13 AM

You can get TIs for diesel vehicles.

oldlady - 5-14-2008 at 09:11 AM

Hi DENNIS,
We have an 11 year old Tahoe. Full coverage (and that means that anyone with a current driver's license from any country is covered when driving the beast) was 4700 pesos for one year. Liability only was quoted at 1200 pesos for one year. They didn't check for points:lol:
ol

[Edited on 5-14-2008 by oldlady]

ckiefer - 5-14-2008 at 08:51 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by oldlady
Hi DENNIS,
We have an 11 year old Tahoe. Full coverage (and that means that anyone with a current driver's license from any country is covered when driving the beast) was 4700 pesos for one year. Liability only was quoted at 1200 pesos for one year. They didn't check for points:lol:
ol

[Edited on 5-14-2008 by oldlady]

So this insurance policy is on mexican plates, right? Can you give us the name of the insurance company? Thanks!:D

oldlady - 5-14-2008 at 08:59 PM

Yes, the car has mexican plates. We used the Ortiz Insurance Agency in La Paz. The underwriter is ING.

ckiefer - 5-14-2008 at 09:03 PM

Well thank you so much!

oldlady - 5-14-2008 at 09:09 PM

anytime...plenty of people here have helped me, glad I could do so for a change.