BajaNomad - Mexican plates for US car

Mexican plates for US car

oxxo - 5-2-2010 at 01:57 PM

What are the current rules for registering a US plated car in Baja? Does it have to be 5 years old? What is the cost?

comitan - 5-2-2010 at 02:07 PM

If you have someone in La Paz do it for you be careful, a friend of mine wanted to sell a vehicle that he had imported in La Paz, had plates for 3-4 years so thought everything was fine when the person he sold it to went to get vehicle transferred into his name, found out that all the documents were forged my friend had to take it back now will take it to the states to sell it. As and add the only legal way to import is at the border, it will be cheaper, but you will be tied up at the border 4-5 days. Cost + year-value of vehicle, Don't know what is importable right now.

Woooosh - 5-2-2010 at 04:30 PM

If it was easy and economically practical, a quarter of northern Baja car plates wouldn't be outdated California ones. A few years back, in the middle of the narco-violence, a Mexican group marched to the US border at Otay and closed it for several hours. They weren't protesting the crime or violence, but unfair car import taxes- if that tells you anything.

Riom - 5-2-2010 at 06:02 PM

My understanding is it's currently cars 5-9 model years old that can be imported in the border areas. So cars 2005 model year or a few years earlier currently, and 2006 model year from 1st November 2010. Has to be a vehicle made in North America.

It appears the duty is 3% (10% on mainland), and 11% VAT (16% on mainland), and another 0.8% fees, plus whatever an agent adds on. Value based on current NADA.

It anybody has exact recent figures and real-world experience I'd love to hear of it, I'm still considering importing my car in November when it becomes old enough, or replacing it with a Mexican car. The costs are fairly close (thousands of dollars either way).

Sources (in Spanish):

current law:
http://www.economia.gob.mx/pics/p/p487/D118.pdf

procedure:
http://www.aduanas.sat.gob.mx/aduana_mexico/2008/vehiculos/1...

The border zone rate was reduced to 3% last March, after initially also being 10%.

Rob

Kimpatsu_Hekigan - 5-2-2010 at 08:32 PM

Couple of questions:

1) From the Aduana (Customs Mexico) website, it's pretty clear that the required documentation (Identificación oficial del importador) could only be produced by a Mexican citizen or someone with Inmigrado status.

Have you found a way for someone on an FM-T tourist card or an FM-3 residence permit to nationalize a vehicle (get Mexican plates)? Would the brokers on the border take care of this?

2) Again from the Aduana website, it looks like only cars exactly 10 years old can be nationalized (automóviles que corresponden a los 10 años modelo inmediato anteriores).

I take this to mean that, this year, 2010, only cars manufactured in the year 2000 can be imported. Cars from 1999 and earlier and cars from 2001 and later would be ineligible. Is this the way you read the regulations?

Thanks!

-- K.H.

Riom - 5-2-2010 at 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kimpatsu_Hekigan
1) From the Aduana (Customs Mexico) website, it's pretty clear that the required documentation (Identificación oficial del importador) could only be produced by a Mexican citizen or someone with Inmigrado status.

An FM-3/2 is a "Forma Migratoria con fotografía", which is on the list of acceptable ID. Note you also need a CURP (easy to get).

Quote:

Originally posted by Kimpatsu_Hekigan
2) Again from the Aduana website, it looks like only cars exactly 10 years old can be nationalized (automóviles que corresponden a los 10 años modelo inmediato anteriores).

Mainland maybe. Articulo 4 II of the law covers the border areas: "Vehículos usados cuyo año-modelo sea de entre cinco y nueve años anteriores al año en que se realice la importación, que se importen definitivamente por residentes en la franja fronteriza norte, en los Estados de Baja California y Baja California Sur ..." - so between 5 and 9 years.

This is just what I read, I haven't imported my car yet (haven't even decided if that is the best option), so if somebody has they can jump in here and correct me...

Rob

durrelllrobert - 5-3-2010 at 06:58 PM

The plaque on the door jamb of my 2002 GMC Yukon says it was made in Mexico. Anyone think I need to import it? I'm currently using South Dakota plates/ registration but would prefer getting Baja plates and license. :?:

Bob and Susan - 5-4-2010 at 05:20 AM

my solar panels were made in tj

but...

can ONLY be sold in the USA

they NEEDED to be imported

the rate was cheaper than if they were made in china though

any cars made in china?

everything else is

Osprey - 5-4-2010 at 07:06 AM

Money talks. Around here you can get almost any car/any year imported: the bad news is your plates and papers may only hold up in this state, on village streets and ramals but not on federal highways ----- depends on how much you pay. The law reads you cant import/register cars whose VIN #s begin with J (Japan) yet I have an Isuzu made in Japan and it has good plates --- I paid cash for the car, an extra 1K for the fact that it was already PROPERLY? imported. MY plates are good everywhere. I can do it again for plates and papers for off highway use for $300 to $400 bucks. OONAPAFA is only about $150 bucks but you will never get a good night's sleep with those stickers on your car. (unless you can sleep with one eye open)

durrelllrobert - 5-4-2010 at 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob and Susan
my solar panels were made in tj

but...

can ONLY be sold in the USA

they NEEDED to be imported

the rate was cheaper than if they were made in china though

any cars made in china?

everything else is

Thanks, I thought so :mad:

Bajatripper - 7-6-2010 at 05:25 PM

I imported a '98 Honda CV-R last September, right after the rates had changed. We used an agency in Tecate for the transaction. They drove it across to the U.S., where it had to undergo a clearance inspection by U.S. authorities to ensure it wasn't a stolen or otherwise wanted vehicle. We dropped the vehicle in on a Tuesday and took the bus to Ensenada. We returned on Friday and everything was done by 1200. We paid the agency $900 U.S., and then had to get a highway permit (about $40, if I remember) to drive the vehicle to La Paz. Once in La Paz, it had to be registered in BCS before everything was done.

Hope that is of some help

k-rico - 7-7-2010 at 04:31 AM

I just checked into importing a '91 F-150 using an agency like Bajatripper did. - $700

Bob and Susan - 7-7-2010 at 05:24 AM

does anyone have a source

phone
address

fishabductor - 7-7-2010 at 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by k-rico
I just checked into importing a '91 F-150 using an agency like Bajatripper did. - $700

I thought the law was a car couldn't be older than 10years old to be imported,

K-rico if you can actually pull off the importation I'd love to hear how it's done. I have a 91 I would love to get imported!!

Lee - 7-7-2010 at 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishabductor
K-rico if you can actually pull off the importation I'd love to hear how it's done. I have a 91 I would love to get imported!!

What are the pros and cons of having a MX plate? Other than being targeted as a gringo.

fishabductor - 7-7-2010 at 10:52 AM

For me it's the ease of renewing my plates, the cost of renewing my plates, the lack of emission/insurance requirements.

It's also nice not to be targeted as a tourist. When they see the plates, more likely than not, the police/crooks know the gringo has been in Baja awhile and knows the game.

k-rico - 7-7-2010 at 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishabductor
For me it's the ease of renewing my plates, the cost of renewing my plates, the lack of emission/insurance requirements.

It's also nice not to be targeted as a tourist. When they see the plates, more likely than not, the police/crooks know the gringo has been in Baja awhile and knows the game.

That's all true plus another big reason for me is that I can more easily sell the vehicle since I live here and most prospective buyers would prefer Mex plates. I think they risk getting the vehicle confiscated if it has American plates and registration and they don't have a driver's license that matches the registration.

Another detail is legal aspect for me. I think to conform to Mexican law I should have Mexican plates, since I live here.

fishabductor - 7-7-2010 at 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by k-rico

Quote:

Great points k-rico.

k-rico - 7-7-2010 at 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishabductor

Quote:

Originally posted by k-rico
I just checked into importing a '91 F-150 using an agency like Bajatripper did. - $700

I'll let you know what happens if I decide to do it.

viabaja - 7-7-2010 at 07:46 PM

Please note if one has Mexican plates one needs to have a Mexican drivers license also.

fishabductor - 7-7-2010 at 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by viabaja
Please note if one has Mexican plates one needs to have a Mexican drivers license also.

This is true, however it's easily obtainable. Mine took me all of 2 hrs start to finish. Lincense in hand. And under $700 pesos if you want to drive a truck. For a car it's around $480 .

fishabductor - 7-7-2010 at 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by morgaine7
Cost, convenience, can sell car to anyone. Blending in. In three years of driving in La Paz, I've only been stopped once (non-event, guy didn't see my windshield sticker). I don't have a choice, since I don't have a residence anywhere else, but if I did, I'd still have a Mexican car.

Kate

ditto

CP - 7-22-2010 at 02:53 PM

Hi,
I tried to find this on-line but could not...it may not exist...
Can anyone point me to a MEX law that says if its a US plated vehicle you have to have a US DL? I am just trying to make a point with someone and I need proof.
If there IS proof. He has better arguments than I do that it is not the law.
Thanks.
No argument about Mex plated and Mex DL.

fishabductor - 7-22-2010 at 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CP
Hi,
I tried to find this on-line but could not...it may not exist...
Can anyone point me to a MEX law that says if its a US plated vehicle you have to have a US DL? I am just trying to make a point with someone and I need proof.
If there IS proof. He has better arguments than I do that it is not the law.
Thanks.
No argument about Mex plated and Mex DL.

That's the way I have always understood the law. I have no proof however.

us plates us license and vice versa

monoloco - 7-22-2010 at 03:51 PM

We have had Mexican plated vehicles and I can tell you that it a lot more expensive for the registration in Mexico than it is in Oregon.

Riom - 7-22-2010 at 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by morgaine7
Each state has its own rules, I believe, but here's something along those lines from the Municipio de La Paz Reglamentos de Tránsito:
...
Rough translation: "Driver's licenses issued by other municipalities of the state, as well as those from other states, are valid so long as they are current; likewise, those issued by the authorities in other countries where reciprocity exists, and in this last case, so long as the vehicle bears current plates and registration from the country where the license was issued."

The rules do seem to vary by municipality. In Mexicali (source) there's no mention of the plates of the car anywhere that I could spot, just that there is a valid driver's license (from anywhere):

ARTÍCULO 52.- Para conducir un vehículo de motor en el Municipio, será necesario
que el conductor obtenga y lleve consigo la licencia vigente expedida por la
autoridad estatal competente, de acuerdo al vehículo o servicio que corresponda, de
conformidad con los requisitos y procedimientos de la Ley de la materia.
En el Municipio se reconocerá validez de las licencias de conducir vigentes
expedidas por autoridades competentes de otras entidades federativas o del
extranjero.

"...In the Municipality is recognized pre-existing driver's licenses
issued by competent authorities of other states or
abroad. "

So with my Driver's Licence from a European country I can legally drive a US car in Mexicali (and San Felipe), but not in La Paz! Same would apply to a Canadian with a US registered car.

Rob

CP - 7-22-2010 at 05:20 PM

Wow - seems to vary by municipio. OK, nothing cut and dry for all over.
Thanks mucho Kate and Rob for providing me with actual written stuff.
Sorry that I could not find that on my own.
Really really really appreciate you all.

longlegsinlapaz - 7-22-2010 at 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by morgaine7

Monoloco, Oregon must be awfully inexpensive, because the 2010 registration for my Mexican plated car was 315.73 pesos. Or are you including the tenencia (late model car tax)?

[Edited on 7-22-2010 by morgaine7]

It is, especially compared to Washington rates! Oregon passenger vehicle registration/renewal rates:

http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/DMV/fees/vehicle.shtml#RegularReg

But the 4,000 mile round-trip drive for DEQ testing is a killer! :lol:

Heather - 7-23-2010 at 09:31 AM

We just drove down our '95 Isuzu Rodeo and left it with my step-son in Cabo. He and my husband went to Oonpafa (sp.?) and paid about 1800 pesos for stickers and an ID for my step-son. He was to take off the CA plates (after we left), and he is the only one that can drive the car...unless we get the special ID, too.

We'll see what happens! Guess he has to pay about 30 pesos a month to renew the ID or stickers?? He is a Mexican citizen, so probably a bit different than for US citizens. Seemed pretty easy to me, and a lot less hassle than when we imported our Ford F-250 to haul down the trailer!

I'm deciding what to do with the CA registration. Don't know if I should report that it was transferred, (I read that it isn't officially out of my name until the new owner sends in registration fees...not happening), or report it as non-operational. Any advice on this? The car has officially been retired and will not be making it north across the border again!

Riom - 7-23-2010 at 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Heather
We just drove down our '95 Isuzu Rodeo and left it with my step-son in Cabo. He and my husband went to Oonpafa (sp.?) and paid about 1800 pesos for stickers and an ID for my step-son.

Previous comments on Onapafa are mixed:
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?fid=1&tid=422...

(edit: just noticed Heather that you were part of that thread, so you presumably already know it's not legal).

Rob

[Edited on 2010-7-23 by Riom]

Heather - 7-23-2010 at 01:29 PM

Like I said, we thought this would be a good route for us to go. Step-son is now in charge of car and any problems that come along with it!!!

I'd just like to have the car available when we go down for vacations. The car was 15 years old and had made at least 15 trips down to the tip...see fit to retire my, "taxi rojo" there!

monoloco - 7-24-2010 at 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz

Quote:

We register our vehicles in Bend where there are no DEQ inspections required.

[Edited on 7-24-2010 by monoloco]

grito - 7-28-2010 at 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by viabaja
Please note if one has Mexican plates one needs to have a Mexican drivers license also.

Are you sure? I've owned Mexican plated cars in Jalisco and Nayarit and a Mexican DL definitely wasn't required.

oxxo - 7-28-2010 at 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by morgaine7
In BCS (at least La Paz) a Mexican DL is required. The traffic law says a foreign license is acceptable only for a car with plates from the same country.

Kate

I dunno........I inquired at a new car dealership in San Jose del Cabo ( 3 months ago) and they said a Mexican DL was not required. They said a valid US DL was all that was required to drive a Mexican plated car.

[Edited on 7-28-2010 by oxxo]

fishabductor - 7-28-2010 at 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by grito

Quote:

Originally posted by viabaja
Please note if one has Mexican plates one needs to have a Mexican drivers license also.

Are you sure? I've owned Mexican plated cars in Jalisco and Nayarit and a Mexican DL definitely wasn't required.

I am also sure it is necessary. I just went thru it about a month ago. MEX plates...Mex License.. That is now the law. Last year that wasn't the law or at least it wasn't enforced.

I am in san jose del cabo. The guy I bought the truck from a month ago didn't have a mex license, however when we put the truck in my name i needed a DL. The cop said it was the law.

[Edited on 7-29-2010 by fishabductor]

güero - 7-28-2010 at 09:37 PM

Advantage of mexican plates for me:

I have a US plated vehicle and a mexican plated vehicle. The US pickup is only used very seldom locally to launch a boat or for hauling. I don't insure it with full time US / Mexican insurance. Too expensive, I take my chances!

If I need to go to the States, in my mexican vehicle, I can get a one day policy for 10 bucks, 30 day liability policy for 30 some dollars, and less than a dollar more per day after that. I think a yearly policy is less than $150 but I don't know for sure. If I take my US plated truck, I have to go online and find the cheapest agent in the states, get a 6 month policy @ 30 some dollars a month, pay for 2 months then cancel when I cross back into Mexico. If my trip is just 1 day or 6 or 15 or 25, big expense and a big hassle too.

I know there are things I don't know about this, I'm only giving my personal experience. I'm sure I'm stirring the pot with people that "really know" there stuff. So be it. I hope to learn from your feedback......güero

fishabductor - 7-28-2010 at 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by güero
Advantage of mexican plates for me:

I have a US plated vehicle and a mexican plated vehicle. The US pickup is only used very seldom locally to launch a boat or for hauling. I don't insure it with full time US / Mexican insurance. Too expensive, I take my chances!

If I need to go to the States, in my mexican vehicle, I can get a one day policy for 10 bucks, 30 day liability policy for 30 some dollars, and less than a dollar more per day after that. I think a yearly policy is less than $150 but I don't know for sure. If I take my US plated truck, I have to go online and find the cheapest agent in the states, get a 6 month policy @ 30 some dollars a month, pay for 2 months then cancel when I cross back into Mexico. If my trip is just 1 day or 6 or 15 or 25, big expense and a big hassle too.

I know there are things I don't know about this, I'm only giving my personal experience. I'm sure I'm stirring the pot with people that "really know" there stuff. So be it. I hope to learn from your feedback......güero

Who do you use for insuring your mexico car in the states?

Also mexican insurance from lewis and lewis is cheap at about $190/yr for full coverage. i cant remember exactly

güero - 7-28-2010 at 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishabductor

Quote:

Who do you use for insuring your mexico car in the states?

Also mexican insurance from lewis and lewis is cheap at about $190/yr for full coverage. i cant remember exactly

güero - 7-28-2010 at 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by güero

Quote:

Originally posted by fishabductor

Quote:

Who do you use for insuring your mexico car in the states?

Also mexican insurance from lewis and lewis is cheap at about $190/yr for full coverage. i cant remember exactly

Sorry about that, I never tried to quote a reply.

I cross the border in Tijuana and take the first exit, San Ysidro, go right and stop at the triangle place that changes money and sells insurance. They only sell States / side insurance to Mexican plated cars.

durrelllrobert - 7-29-2010 at 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Riom
Has to be a vehicle made in North America.

Has to be a vehicle MANUFACTURED FOR SALE IN THE USA. The plaque on the front door post of my Yukon says "MANUFACTURED IN MEXICO" but it still has to be imported :mad:

sorry, I forgot that I posted somrthing similar last May

[Edited on 7-29-2010 by durrelllrobert]

grito - 7-29-2010 at 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishabductor

Quote:

Originally posted by grito

Quote:

Originally posted by viabaja
Please note if one has Mexican plates one needs to have a Mexican drivers license also.

Are you sure? I've owned Mexican plated cars in Jalisco and Nayarit and a Mexican DL definitely wasn't required.

So it is the law in some municipalities or in some states?

grito - 7-29-2010 at 04:14 PM

Thinking about-it a law saying you have to have a Mexican DL to drive a Mexican plated vehicle would have to be a state law as they are the only ones that have the jurisdiction over this. A municipality shouldn't be able to over ride this but who knows in Mexico. It must vary from state to state. I wouldn't take a cop's word for it being necessary as they often don't know the law and often invent things to try and get a bribe.

GEMcC5150 - 7-29-2010 at 07:56 PM

Getting your Mexican DL is no big thing.. Take you US Lic and 300 paeos to the polica station with a 3/4" x 1 "photo and your done.. No test no questions.

fishabductor - 7-29-2010 at 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GEMcC5150
Getting your Mexican DL is no big thing.. Take you US Lic and 300 paeos to the polica station with a 3/4" x 1 "photo and your done.. No test no questions.

I had to take a writen test...however..one of the girls took it for me!!