BajaNomad

MX Plates vs US Plates

ckiefer - 1-29-2009 at 11:37 PM

I have two cars down here in Baja that I expect will stay here. One is plated in CA the other in NV. The CA plated vehicle has expired tags with MX insurance. The NV plated vehicle has current tags, US insurance and MX insurance. NV law states that any vehicle registered in the state must carry insurance, no exceptions. So I carry the insurance. Sigh... So while the NV plated vehicle has no issues, it's just a pain in the wallet having to carry the insurance to the tune of $1400/yr for something that's not being driven in the U.S. anyway!
I have read the posts on plating a vehicle in SD already and feel that it won't be long before the cops get hip to having a SD plated vehicle with a CA or NV drivers license. So, I don't think that would be an option.
Does anyone have any suggestions for me? How does one go about legally importing their vehicle?
Please, no smog posts!
Thanks!

Woooosh - 1-30-2009 at 12:26 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by ckiefer

I have read the posts on plating a vehicle in SD already and feel that it won't be long before the cops get hip to having a SD plated vehicle with a CA or NV drivers license. So, I don't think that would be an option.
Does anyone have any suggestions for me? How does one go about legally importing their vehicle?
Please, no smog posts!
Thanks!


Many people have homes on both side of the TJ/San Diego border and go back and forth weekly- if not more. It's very normal to have your car registered and insured in CA with a CA driver's license down here. I don't think that part is a big deal. I'd keep your plate stickers current though. IMHO

[Edited on 1-30-2009 by Woooosh]

ckiefer - 1-30-2009 at 12:45 AM

Registered in CA, driving with NV license and it has never seen north of Todos Santos in a few years. I purchased the vehicle in California with the intention of driving it across the border and leaving it here. I may need to get the sticker renewed, but probably won't if I have to carry US insurance too. Doesn't make sense.

BajaGringo - 1-30-2009 at 01:40 AM

I think a lot of that depends on how much time you spend on each side of the border, how often you cross, etc. What works for me now was to just get a Mexican driver's license, buy a vehicle here in Baja with Baja plates and for the once a month or so trip across the border I just buy the daily insurance available in any OXXO. It is $9 USD for one day, $15 for 3 days and gets cheaper the more days you buy. It works for me - may or may not for you based on your patterns...

ckiefer - 1-30-2009 at 02:30 AM

Happy to see you found a solution to fit your situation. I fly across the border, not drive. For me, six months here, six months there. In the future I plan to spend more time down here or maybe even move mainland.

BajaDove - 1-30-2009 at 08:01 AM

If you are stopped for any reason your drivers license and registration are supposed to be the same country

longlegsinlapaz - 1-30-2009 at 08:24 AM

On another thread, Comitan posted that there's a temporary freeze on importing any year model car. But if I were you, I'd be driving the car with valid NV plates & your NV license for the immediate future.:rolleyes:

vandenberg - 1-30-2009 at 08:36 AM

ckiefer,
We have 3 vehicles here and decided the best way to keep them here without too much trouble is to register them in South Dakota,Clay County. Had trouble with the final one, registered in Ca., so got our registration money refunded and transfered it ( 84 Suburban ) to S.D. Have the inf. on a different computer, but if you want more inf, U2U me.

bajaguy - 1-30-2009 at 09:04 AM

Just carry the minimum basic insurance as required by Nevada. Can't be as expensive as $1400.

ckiefer - 1-30-2009 at 09:35 AM

If there is indeed a freeze then I'll have to go the SD route. Driving the NV plated vehicle for now.
Quote:
Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz
On another thread, Comitan posted that there's a temporary freeze on importing any year model car. But if I were you, I'd be driving the car with valid NV plates & your NV license for the immediate future.:rolleyes:

From Nevada DMV

bajaguy - 1-30-2009 at 09:46 AM

Nevada requires that automobile liability insurance policies carry minimum coverage of $15,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in any one accident; $30,000 for bodily injury or death or two or more persons on any one accident; and $10,000 for injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident. Coverage must be reported by an insurance company authorized to do business in the State of Nevada.

The Insurance Verification Program applies only to liability insurance. Comprehensive and collision coverage is not reported to DMV.

ckiefer - 1-30-2009 at 04:38 PM

I contacted an import company today. Here's what he said:
"Right now there are some issues with the importation of vehicles. The government change the fees starting this year and right now costs around $3,000 USD to import a car."

BajaGringo - 1-30-2009 at 04:46 PM

That's why I didn't import mine - it's easier right now (and cheaper) to just buy a car down here...

Woooosh - 1-30-2009 at 07:12 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaGringo
That's why I didn't import mine - it's easier right now (and cheaper) to just buy a car down here...


but don't buy a used big black SUV with tinted windows, right?
:saint:

BajaGringo - 1-30-2009 at 09:41 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Woooosh
Quote:
Originally posted by BajaGringo
That's why I didn't import mine - it's easier right now (and cheaper) to just buy a car down here...


but don't buy a used big black SUV with tinted windows, right?
:saint:


Well....

Mine is actually a gold color and yeah, I do get stopped from time to time but never even been asked for a mordida. They look at my Baja license, my tarjeta de circulacion, ask a couple of questions and wish me a nice day. The upside to that is now I have gotten to know most of the Policia Federal in Rosarito and San Quintin...




MitchMan - 8-19-2009 at 07:18 PM

I understand that if you have an FM3, that you can keep a California registered car in baja indefinitely so long as you keep the California registration and tags current and maintain tourist type Mexican insurance current. I have my car in La Paz, never got any kind of Mexican sticker or permit when I drove it across the border early last year and it has been in La Paz ever since.

California doesn't require US insurance on a California registered car that is out of the country so long as you show the DMV your current Mexican Insurance coverage when renewing annual California tags. Am I in violation with Mexican requirements somehow?

Oops, just found a post that said as of 1-1-09 California DMV requires US auto ins coverage even if you have the car in baja and covered by Mexican tourist Ins. policy. Responding posts put that is some doubt, however. A post reported (GenuKId) that the DMV uses a third party to verify ins coverage, but the post was ambiguous as to whether the verification was of the US coverage or of the Mexican Ins coverage. So, ultimately, as usual, not clear.



[Edited on 8-20-2009 by MitchMan]

bajalou - 8-19-2009 at 08:45 PM

I have been told by DMV in Calif that I must have insurance coverage by a approved company that electronically reports coverage to Calif. DMV. No other coverage conforms to Calif. law.

BajaGringo - 8-19-2009 at 09:03 PM

I recently got an annual policy from a Qualitas agent in San Ysidro. They accepted it at SENTRI...

LaTijereta - 8-19-2009 at 09:04 PM

CA DMV finnaly got wise to the Mexican isurance "senario", after 8 years providing new tags they have come back to require CA insurance on our cars that are kept in BCS.
We used to provide proof of Mexican insurance every year with no questions:rolleyes:
Looking at some other options over the next few months..

Bajajorge - 8-20-2009 at 08:32 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
Just carry the minimum basic insurance as required by Nevada. Can't be as expensive as $1400.


Maybe he has to pay $1400 cuz he had alot of wrecks.:lol:

BMG - 8-20-2009 at 08:48 AM

We have been using SD plates with ID D.L.s and everything listing an AZ address. No problems so far. We buy a yearly MX policy since most of the driving on both vehicles is in MX. Not sure about your argument about the cops getting wise.

We would use ID plates if we could but that requires the yearly smog testing (this month was the first time in years that we've even been back to ID) and proof of insurance, same problems you are having. I just call our Allstate agent when heading north and they issue a new U.S. policy over the phone. We'll call again and cancel it when we leave the U.S. About $300 for a 6 month liability only policy.

BajaRob - 8-20-2009 at 10:10 AM

Arizona DMV is very user friendly. We have 4 vehicles and 2 trailers registered through Yuma DOT. After the initial verification of VIN #s, renewels can be done online for 1 or 2 years. They do not require smog tests and you can sign a de-insurance certificate stating that you will not drive the vehicle in AZ. The rates are much lower than California's.

CP - 8-20-2009 at 11:14 AM

Hey LaTijereta,
Is this a very recent change for CA DMV? We renewed our CA reg about four months ago and they accepted the Mexican insurance...but I did have to do a change of address to our BCS address this year which I did not in previous years.
Thanks,
-CP
Quote:
Originally posted by LaTijereta
CA DMV finnaly got wise to the Mexican isurance "senario", after 8 years providing new tags they have come back to require CA insurance on our cars that are kept in BCS.
We used to provide proof of Mexican insurance every year with no questions:rolleyes:
Looking at some other options over the next few months..

LaTijereta - 8-20-2009 at 12:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by CP
Hey LaTijereta,
Is this a very recent change for CA DMV? We renewed our CA reg about four months ago and they accepted the Mexican insurance...but I did have to do a change of address to our BCS address this year which I did not in previous years.
Thanks,
-CP



I am not sure how recent, but they are now asking for electronic filing by your "CA" insurance company, I went down to the DMV office in person to try and sort this out. No luck without proof of CA insurance, even though the truck is kept out of state...

Fred-o - 8-20-2009 at 12:41 PM

If you have CA plates and a CA D/L check this outfit. You will be amazed at the low rates, and I mean LOW! I've had no claims to verify how good they are, but they will meet the CA License requirements.

http://www.wawanesa.com/


fred
lomas del mar