BajaNomad - Question on drivers license

Question on drivers license

conquestkm - 7-23-2009 at 02:34 PM

As I get closer and closer to moving down to Baja MX permanently,or at least more permant . A question I haven't been able to answer is the following .

If you move out of Calif to Baja MX Is there any advantage of re registering your car in another state such as AZ to save on auto fees ? Which state offers lower registration fees AZ or NV ? . With that when the time comes, do you also surrender your Calif Drivers license?

BajaBruno - 7-23-2009 at 02:41 PM

All good questions that others can answer better than I, but I used Texas registration for several years while traveling around and they were very easy to deal with. If out of state, they would waive the otherwise required annual inspection, and let me renew by mail.

Others have mentioned that Mexican law requires your driver's license country to match the country of the vehicle license plates.

osoflojo - 7-25-2009 at 11:31 PM

Years ago when I got my BCS drivers license I did not have to surrender my US one. Even if you did you could get a duplicate from the US since MX does not participate in the National Drivers Registry.

Woooosh - 7-25-2009 at 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by conquestkm
As I get closer and closer to moving down to Baja MX permanently,or at least more permant . A question I haven't been able to answer is the following .

If you move out of Calif to Baja MX Is there any advantage of re registering your car in another state such as AZ to save on auto fees ? Which state offers lower registration fees AZ or NV ? . With that when the time comes, do you also surrender your Calif Drivers license?

Why drive around with a "Zonie" stigma withe AZ plates? eeew. I think the last time we tossed this subject around, South Dakota was the state of choice.

rhintransit - 7-26-2009 at 06:00 AM

IF you decide to register in AZ, remember to do so outside of a municipality that requires smog inspection...see previous threads on the difficulty of this. and yes, if you register your car in another state you need to get a driver's license in that state which would require surrendering your CA license.

karenintx - 7-26-2009 at 08:00 AM

BajaBruno...can you explain in detail more about your Texas registation.

Being from Texas as far back as I can remember the states annual smog test has never been "connected" to getting the license plate tag...which is now a windshield sticker. Drivers are required to show proof of insurance when renewing their drivers license, buying the renewal for the car tags and when having the annual smog test.

We keep our car in CSL full time now. We just received the car tag renewal in the mail so I went online to print up our proof of "liability only" (US coverage) then drove to the local Kroger to purchase the windshield sticker. When we return to CSL in August the hubby will put replace the old with the new.

Do you know something I need to know about "a wavier"?

Thanks

DENNIS - 7-26-2009 at 10:07 AM

I just registered my Baja Beater in South Dakota. One phone call [a real, nice person answers the phone] to establish your yearly fee...download the application....send it in with a check [mine is 23 bucks per year] and the ownership papers. No insurance or smog required.
In two weeks, you'll receive your new plates and a new certificate of ownership.
Nothing about your license. It's all legal and when I want to take it across the border, I'll buy a one day policy.
Eventually Arnold will see the loss of revenue and he'll pull some kind of crap but, today it's all good.

bajajudy - 7-26-2009 at 10:30 AM

We just registered a vehicle, a boat, and a trailer in SD too. Easy, nice people in the office. Boat and trailer are for 3 years.
You have to go to SD to get a drivers license.
Edit to get the correct state!

[Edited on 7-26-2009 by bajajudy]

vandenberg - 7-26-2009 at 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajajudy
We just registered a vehicle, a boat, and a trailer in ND too. Easy, nice people in the office. Boat and trailer are for 3 years.
You have to go to ND to get a drivers license.

Had our vehicles registered in ND for years. Inquired about the necessity of needing a ND driver's license and was told there was no such requirement.

So, who's correct ??

I guess you will find out if you get stopped in Ca. and have ND plates and a Ca license. :biggrin:

Only if you're a Mexican

Dave - 7-26-2009 at 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaBruno
Others have mentioned that Mexican law requires your driver's license country to match the country of the vehicle license plates.

CaboRon - 7-26-2009 at 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
I just registered my Baja Beater in South Dakota. One phone call [a real, nice person answers the phone] to establish your yearly fee...download the application....send it in with a check [mine is 23 bucks per year] and the ownership papers. No insurance or smog required.
In two weeks, you'll receive your new plates and a new certificate of ownership.
Nothing about your license. It's all legal and when I want to take it across the border, I'll buy a one day policy.
Eventually Arnold will see the loss of revenue and he'll pull some kind of crap but, today it's all good.

I also registered in SD before moveing to mex. I kept my CA liscense and had no problems with that when stopped by mex politizi ,,,,

This is only for those who do NOT plan on driving in California,
Only for keeping the vehicle in mexico.

[Edited on 7-26-2009 by CaboRon]

Dave - 7-26-2009 at 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by morgaine7

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave
Only if you're Mexican

It must vary by location. The La Paz tránsito law states specifically that a foreign license is valid here only if you're driving a car with matching plates.

Kate

And what about a rental?

I only have a Mexican drivers license. It's perfectly legal for me to drive both Mexican and U.S. plated vehicles. A National with a Mexican license and without expressed consent of the owner cannot drive a U.S. plated car.

CaboRon - 7-26-2009 at 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by morgaine7

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave
Only if you're Mexican

It must vary by location. The La Paz tránsito law states specifically that a foreign license is valid here only if you're driving a car with matching plates.

Kate

I have been stopped on four occasions by La Paz police and showed my California lisc. with South DaKota plates on the vehicle.

So, do they not know their own law. I was never cited for anything.

vandenberg - 7-26-2009 at 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave
And what about a rental?

Which means that when you get stopped in a US plated car you will have to show nationality (passport) or be subject to profiling. :?:

BajaBruno - 7-26-2009 at 06:16 PM

karenintx, you may have just explained why Texas DMV was so kind to me about not needing a vehicle inspection! Maybe it was never necessary to begin with! Hahaha! Wouldn't that be priceless?

I had a Colorado driver's license, my truck was registered in Texas, and I lived in Mexico, Washington, and California. So, perhaps you can forgive me for being a bit confused with all the different jurisdictions.

DENNIS - 7-26-2009 at 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CaboRon

So, do they not know their own law.

It's a fluid interpretation process. :lol:

karenintx - 7-26-2009 at 07:03 PM

BajaBruno, no problema...I was thinking maybe we could get around the liability insurance, it is cheap and not that big of a deal.

We feel better having our drivers license and the car's license plates matching... never know if you are going to get pulled over by a policeman that "knows the law"!

osoflojo - 7-27-2009 at 12:33 AM

Virgin Islands drivers license, Oklahoma plates, Arizona insurance. Never a problem. There is a very easy way around the AZ somg requirement that I would be glad to share with anyone who wants to know.

GEMcC5150 - 7-27-2009 at 12:10 PM

I just called SD and was told that you had to live in the state to have there plates. She told me that there were people who were lieing to reg they car there but are at risk of have the state come after them for fraud:

DENNIS - 7-27-2009 at 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GEMcC5150
I just called SD and was told that you had to live in the state to have there plates. She told me that there were people who were lieing to reg they car there but are at risk of have the state come after them for fraud:

What is SD? San Diego...South Dakota...What? Who did you talk to? Who did you call in SD? What are you talking about?

DENNIS - 7-27-2009 at 12:19 PM

By the way, GEMcC5150....does this have anything to do with your name here?

Health Code
5150 Mental case, not responsible (provides for 72 hour confinement for observation)

DENNIS - 7-27-2009 at 02:34 PM

Answers please...........Have them unzip the restraints so you can type.

DENNIS - 7-27-2009 at 04:16 PM

Still waiting........... You will regret it if I fall asleep with my face in the keyboard...........Yeah man.....thats when I get really mean....you ain't seen nothin like it. Gawdawful [I've been told] How can you subject yourself to this? Do the right thing and respond.
EEEEEEEHAW...........