Riom - 5-24-2009 at 05:57 PM
I'm looking into owning a Mexico-registered car (either import or brought locally), in the San Felipe area. A US car no longer works for me (I'm not a
North American).
I do realise there will be various high annual costs and fees, and the insurance gets more complex. This isn't about costs (yet), but whether it is
even practical.
Does anybody have some current real-world experience of running a BC car - are there annual inspections, does the car need to be at a particular place
on a given date each year, can renewals be done by post/internet etc? Can it all be done in San Felipe or does it involve Mexicali?
This is for a car that would mostly be in BC, but it might be parked up in the US for lengthy periods if I've flown off somewhere else, so I need to
know if there's anything specific I need to do on an anniversary date each year?
The same would apply for the Mexican driver's license (I've been told I need it, and told I don't need it), how long is it valid for, is there
anything I need to do annually? Is it essential?
Finally, is reasonably comprehensive insurance available for an FM-3 holder (with Mexican license, if I need it)? Is there any insurance that allows
multiple trips up to the US, and if so how long for on each trip? Or, if it has to be brought in advance for each trip, what is the maximum trip
length?
Thanks! I'm basically trying to find out if owning a car in Baja is practical if I'm not there all year, and whether that car can easily visit the US
(insurance-wise).
flyfishinPam - 5-25-2009 at 09:46 AM
a lot of questions there but I can respond to having a car in BCS. everything aside from importation of the vehicles can be done in your city. if
its a newer vehicle chances are that you'll have to pay tenencia (tax) each year to the state. once that is done go to your seguridad publica and
register the vehicle. you'll need to pay a fee to do this and here we pay it each year. i can't remember what the tenencia or the fee to the
municipio is because it is low. then you will need a bc drivers license which can be procured in the same seguridad publica. ours here are good for
three years. if you drive a Mexican plated vehicle then you need a Mex drivers license. yes you can get insurance here on the vehicle. also that
insurance can extend to the us but if your trips are fairly short then its probably cheaper to get it at the border on a temporary basis. if the
vehicle will spend most of its time out of Mexico then I wouldn't recommend plating it in Mexico. there are no annual inspections and they only ask
make, year, model and color of the vehicle to determine the tax rate. sometimes at the state officer they actually look out the window at your
vehicle but that's as detailed as it gets here. go to your state finanzas office and they will have a checklist of paperwork you will need to do
this.
[Edited on 5-25-2009 by flyfishinPam]
Riom - 5-25-2009 at 01:46 PM
Thanks Pam, very helpful.
I've found a BCN "Placas y Tenencia" page https://www2.ebajacalifornia.gob.mx/Placas/ where I can type in a few random BCN number plates (example: BAH1235) and get a fairly good idea that
a typical up-to-date (most aren't!) tenencia is around 700 pesos a year, and it could be done online for renewals. (but as that involves them mailing
it I'd be better off going into the San Felipe. Same for drivers licenses, can be renewed online.
I'm going to be researching this more and probably leaving a decision until the autumn as the insurance isn't straightforward. The only policies
I've found so far for "seguros para USA" (MX car in US) are cheap, but liability only and require me to be a PERMANENT Mexican resident - so FM-2
rather than FM-3.