What are the current rules for importing a used car from the USA to Baja California? Are there limits on the model year, value, anything else?
The car would be a 2006 model year Ford Escape that I've owned for over a year. If it IS possible (may not be), any ideas on the approximate costs
and requirements in San Felipe (import via Mexicali)?
Thanks!
We have a gentleman that does our cars
Keri - 5-19-2009 at 05:49 PM
Call him he can answer your questions Frenchy 646-196-3723 or nextel 152*15*157,kbajalou - 5-19-2009 at 05:51 PM
Chumpo's ice cream and pizza place on Mar De Cortez (Across from Thrifty Ice Cream) handles importations. If you're in SF, stop in and check with
him.Paulclark - 5-19-2009 at 06:00 PM
Currently car importation is restricted to years 1999 to 2004 -- and only certain models. I have a list, but it best you talk to a broker as the rules
change frequently.Riom - 5-20-2009 at 05:19 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Paulclark
Currently car importation is restricted to years 1999 to 2004
Thanks, that does rule out my 2006 car - regardless of model. I'll have to think of something else.
The US have now decided that "tourists" (that's me, when in the US, as I'm not an American) can no longer register cars in the US. Well, it's
possible, but not for crossing the border any more. Looks like it'll be a while before I'm back in San Felipe.gnukid - 5-20-2009 at 08:32 PM
This is easily resolvable???
Many many options are available to you, US registration or importation. Register the car where it will be used and where you have an address.
Your post makes no sense, you won't be back in San Felipe for a while but you want to import the vehicle to Mexico? You don't live in CA but you want
to register there?
Get your story straight and pursue the proper registration. The first problem is your story doesn't add up. Make a clear and reasonable statement and
the DMV will help you complete your registration or Mexico will import the vehicle.
You may want to search on those subjects here and read the replies.
All importations go through TJ and US registrations may be completed through any county or border town such as in Imperial county. Follow the proper
channels and procedures.
Temporary annual Mexican registration is also possible where you can receive a sticker and paper which is positioned on the rear of the car if you
plan to leave the car in Mexico.Riom - 5-20-2009 at 09:06 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by gnukid
Many many options are available to you, US registration or importation. Register the car where it will be used and where you have an address.
Just to clarify things - I do currently have the car registered in the US (no problem there), and I have a home (and FM3) in San Felipe, where I spend
most of the time (when in North America), plus a home in Yuma that I now spend very little time at. This has been fine for a while now. The problem
is not with the car, but the immigration problem it causes.
So what is different from the normal case is that I'm not an American. Doesn't stop me owning, registering, insuring a US car (or indeed a Mexican
car), or owning a US home. But it does have one side effect that I've only just become aware of.
The most recent time that I crossed into the US (where I am now) I was told that "visitors cannot own a US car" and that I would be denied future
entry to the US if I crossed with it again. This was a surprise, since there is no such rule.
But after some research what they basically mean is that it is one factor that indicates somebody intends to live full-time in the US. Essentially
anybody entering on a temporary visa is looked at with a great deal of (even more) suspicion if they own a car in the US. Most commonly this is a
problem for Canadians working in the US on temporary visas, who are sometimes rejected at the border if they have a US car as it implies they intend
to stay for ever.
Of course, there are other factors, such as length of each stay in the US (much less than the time in Mexico, in my case), owning a home in another
country that you intend to return to (fine, in my case), and so on - but it is essentially irrelevant as the border person has COMPLETE discretion to
stop anybody entering for just one reason (without taking all factors into account) or even for no reason, generally without appeal.
This particular border person stated that owning a US car was enough reason for her to refuse me entry, without any other factors being considered,
but she would let me in this ONE time. (this is after many, many crossings without it even being mentioned before). She made notes on my file stating
I had been told this.
So, this is why I am now in the US, not able to go back to San Felipe with this car (unless it then stays down there forever, since I am not allowed
to take it back to the US). I need to either make the car Mexican (doesn't appear possible, yet), or sell it and get another either in Mexico or that
is eligible to import.
And all this is why I focused my initial question on just the importing - the reasons are complex and don't alter the question (and fairly obscure,
for Americans who don't realise how much hassle non-Americans have proving every single time they cross the border legally that they REALLY don't want
to settle in America - it's hard to prove a negative, and hard to follow unwritten rules).
I can explain in more detail if required :-)
[Edited on 2009-5-21 by Riom]Mulegena - 5-20-2009 at 09:34 PM
I can sympathize, Riom. Can only concur that the border agents, who have an admittedly rough job, exercise very discretionary authority.
My partner carries a British passport, lives in Baja fulltime as a business owner with FM-3.
His son and business partner lives in San Diego County. We travel north for short family visits several times per year. We are almost always pulled
into secondary in Tecate and he spends at least a half-hour inside with them doing god-knows-what while I am confined to the car.
Its a pain. This never has happened crossing thru TJ, perhaps because they are so busy.
No advice for you, amigo, just a wish of good luck.gnukid - 5-20-2009 at 10:07 PM
Ok, I am really sorry that happened to you. Its horrific how they treated you for being Canadian.
This is more complicated. Its reasonable that you are Canadian and you were in Mexico and visit the US to go visit friends. Right? This is in fact
true?
As a temporary visa holder, you of course would enter the country, would have the right to transit in a vehicle and to drive that vehicle...
The issue is that you own that vehicle and that vehicle is registered to you in the USA. I guess that is wrong according to the BP.
Would it be better if the vehicle was registered in Mexico? It would be best if the vehicle was registered in Canada. It would make more sense? Or if
the vehicle was registered to someone else? And they were driving.
Sounds like you should either get a ride or proceed with a Mexican importation and see if that helps. But it is expensive-depends I think on the
value, $1000s I think and you don't know if that is any better. Declare the value of the vehicle as low as possible. You can 'work with' importers at
transit offices in San Felipe or TJ and go slow. Do not over pay, they will import or register the vehicle through some moment in time or exception to
allow the vehicle to be imported, the laws change often.
You need to be careful what you say when you enter the country, when you imply you are living full-time (majority of time/more than 200 days/yr) in
Mexico they treat you very badly, unless of course you are Mexican. Or if you say you will live in the USA they freak. Instead you should not say
anything at all about your life/status in Mexico/USA.
When they say Q. Where are you coming from, how long have you been there and what were you doing, Where are you going?
A. I was on vacation, we went camping and it was really fun, a vacation of a lifetime. I go every year. I am going on vacation now to visit the US. It
was really fun. I went fishing (be specific with locations and details to validate the story)!"
Many people who have a temp visa go on vacation and continue to visit the USA every single year. That's what you are doing.Riom - 5-20-2009 at 10:37 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by gnukid
This is more complicated. Its reasonable that you are Canadian and you were in Mexico and visit the US to go visit friends. Right? This is in fact
true?
No, I'm not Canadian but British. I used Canadians on temporary work visas as an example as that's the most common case where owning a car causes a
problem. Somebody from outside North America owning a US car and crossing the border frequently (like me) is a more unusual case - which
unfortunately means it is one that is more likely to be handled differently by different border agents.
My reason for visiting the US is shopping, tourism etc. (I had a trip north, including to Canada, planned for the summer after a few more weeks in San
Felipe). Apart from a couple of trips to secondary I've had no problems entering often over a period of several years, more than a year now with the
current car.
One of the trips to secondary they misheard me when there was a loud lawnmower nearby so they thought I lived in the US, they checked my Mexican
residence info and even the US car registration and were happy with everything that time. This time though it was a different person, so different
rules.
I don't have the option of a Canadian car. Actually, it does seem technically possible to register it in Nova Scotia as a non-resident but it's a
long drive! Not really possible in the other provinces.
My current car is not eligible to import into Mexico (too new).
So basically I'm stuffed at the moment, but it is solvable with probably a replacement car, or the passage of time so the car ages (I may go elsewhere
for a while anyway, I'm none too happy with the US right now).
I've even considered bring a car over from Europe (it's not that expensive), but tiny cars from there would get squashed by SUV's here - and insurance
is really, really hard. And anyway bringing my car over from Europe would indicate "I intend to stay", so would be back to square one.
[Edited on 2009-5-21 by Riom]gnukid - 5-20-2009 at 10:46 PM
Well lets just consider that the BP was just threatening you, as they often do. As long as your story is straight and makes sense you will always get
through, eventually, especially as a citizen of the UK.
Again I am really sorry about what happened. So you know, they not much nicer to us and they often say silly things too. Just use my strategy, talk
about camping and fishing in detail and go on and on about the locations and details and they will get real sick of the story fast and send you on
your way. I wouldn't worry about it and just keep using your car as it is.Riom - 5-20-2009 at 11:17 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by gnukid
Well lets just consider that the BP was just threatening you, as they often do. As long as your story is straight and makes sense you will always get
through, eventually, especially as a citizen of the UK.
The difference is they require me to take specific action (not having a US car) before I enter again, and have noted on my file that they have asked
me to do that. That is a valid threat I need to treat seriously.
To be fair, in isolation they do have a point, owning a US car is not the normal action of a short-term visitor.
There is no special treatment for UK citizens.Bajahowodd - 5-20-2009 at 11:44 PM
Beg to differ, slightly. Anyone who speaks fluent English actually does get special treatment. Having friends from Greece, and family from Germany, I
know from what I speak. That being said, it doesn't mean you couldn't be toast.gnukid - 5-21-2009 at 12:31 AM
I understand they can pull you and restrict your entry into the USA. I mentioned some suggestions. You can leave vehicles on each side of the border,
get a ride, take a bus, go with a friend, have a car with plates from mex or somewhere else. And likely you should be able to justify having a US
plated vehicle registered to as temporary visa holder-at no point have we clarified that their threat is valid nor should it be in your case.
BTW Prior to my preference for Baja, I enjoyed summers in the UK and ended up with an interrail pass instead of eurail. On occasion I was pulled from
my seat and threatened with expulsion since my ticket was intended for citizens of Europe only and I was tan and obviously American. I would put on my
best Jackie Stewart accent and be eventually released. jajaja
