BajaNomad

Bring Car to Mainland

Mika - 1-13-2010 at 07:22 PM

Hi,

I am thinking of going to Santa Rosalia to Guaymas by ferry and taking my car, and trying to figure out if I still need a vehicle permit before I get on the ferry. What is current official policy? I checked Santa Rosalia ferry website and it is not working well....

Import permit

CasaManzana - 1-13-2010 at 09:09 PM

We go to the mainland every year from La Paz via ferry. The import permit is totally required to get on...period. Problem for you- the SR permit office is now closed so you have to get your permit in TJ as you come down or in La Paz. And you better check cuz I heard the SR ferry was not running now...uncomfirmed.

Kimpatsu_Hekigan - 1-14-2010 at 07:36 AM

The destination for the Santa Rosalia ferry, Guaymas, is within the Sonora "Hassle Free Vehicle Zone" where no vehicle Temporary Importation Permit is required. So you may not need one.

You will need a vehicle permit if you plan to drive farther south on the mainland, but you can get the permit at the checkpoint at Km 98 just south of Empalme on Hiway 15.

I would make more of an effort to check the ferry website, or talk with someone who has actually made the trip recently.

FWIW,

-- K.H.

wilderone - 1-14-2010 at 05:18 PM

"but you can get the permit at the checkpoint at Km 98 just south of Empalme on Hiway 15."

I wouldn't risk being able to get a vehicle import permit at a checkpoint. In my experience, they are not set up to issue one, and will send you back to the nearest border entry/exit. If you will be traveling on the mainland, get the vehicle permit at the TJ/Tecate border or La Paz ferry. Make sure you have all necessary documents and 2 copies of each.

David K - 1-14-2010 at 05:28 PM

Cindi, things on the mainland are done a bit more professional or cilvilized than in the frontier land of Baja California... So, I have heard.

We need to get over to that side... It has been a long time since I was last over there!

bill erhardt - 1-14-2010 at 06:14 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Kimpatsu_Hekigan
I would make more of an effort to check the ferry website, or talk with someone who has actually made the trip recently.
-- K.H.


I took the ferry Santa Rosalia - Guaymas in January, 2006. At that time a temporary import permit was required to take a vehicle across on the ferry. I got a permit for my truck at an office near the ferry dock in Santa Rosalia.
Last year, in January, 2009, I towed my boat north from Loreto and stopped in Santa Rosalia to get a temp. permit for my boat (for future use). The office was closed where I got the permit three years earlier. I was told that since the line of demarcation for required vehicle/boat permits on the Mainland had been moved south of Guaymas it is no longer required that one have permits to cross on the ferry from Santa Rosalia. After the change on the Mainland, the office that had previously sold the permits in Santa Rosalia was closed.

Pompano - 1-14-2010 at 06:19 PM

Same story as Bill. Last year in Feb, I took my pickup to hunt doves on a ranch near Guaymas. Ferry required no vehicle permit at that time. I can check again in Santa Rosala in a few days and report what I find out.

So it looks like you will not have a problem...but remember...This is Baja. :rolleyes:

stanburn - 1-15-2010 at 06:51 AM

Wilderone,

The 98 kilometer checkpoint is a permanent building set up at the end of the no permit zone to allow those heading farther south to obtain a TIP for the vehicle.

It isn't a couple of guys with weapons looking at your vehicle.

wilderone - 1-15-2010 at 09:40 AM

I'm certainly not referring to a couple guys with weapons. I'm talking about the computerized input of information, processing of credit card deposits, paperwork shuffling, forms to be completed, copies made, etc. that is required when one gets an auto registration. And when you go further and have those windshield stickers checked, there is no provision at a checkpoint to get a permit, and you have to go back and get one if it is required. OK - fine - if there's an office at the end of the no permit zone and it's their function to issue permits, then yeah, good information. Thank you. And a little different than a "checkpoint". And let's hope it's open when one needs the permit and they're going in that direction.

Mika - 1-15-2010 at 11:04 AM

I appreciate your comments/info very much!
I heard from somebody in mainland that the rule changed recently, so I was getting worried.
Pompano, I would love to know what you find out when you are in Santa Rosalia next time.

I think I am pretty used to how things operate in Baja and other parts of Mexico, but I still wish if these sort of official info is more easily available. : )

Kimpatsu_Hekigan - 1-16-2010 at 10:33 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by wilderone
I'm certainly not referring to a couple guys with weapons. I'm talking about the computerized input of information, processing of credit card deposits, paperwork shuffling, forms to be completed, copies made, etc. that is required when one gets an auto registration.

Apologies for any confusion. "Checkpoint" was an unfortunate choice of words.

The "facility" at Km 98 south of Empalme (a few minutes beyond Guaymas) is operated by Banjercito who administers the vehicle Temporary Importation Permit (TIP) program on behalf of Aduana Mexico (Mexican Customs). They do indeed have all the services mentioned by wilderone above, and will issue both "All-of-Mexico" and "Only Sonora" TIPs.

This location is popular with RV caravans, as it is woefully underutilized and hence, there is almost never a wait to get the vehicle permits unlike the busy Km 21 "facility" south of Nogales where waits can stretch into hours.

Currently, all southbound foreign-plated vehicles are diverted off of Hwy 15 at the Sonora-Sinaloa border to check for the TIP sticker and/or papers.

HTH,

-- K.H.

[Edited on 1-16-2010 by Kimpatsu_Hekigan]