BajaNomad

Buying owning a car

measomsan - 9-2-2010 at 12:15 PM

i bought a used 2002 explorer in cabo from a US guy. It is registered in AZ..the import tax was payed but the plates are still AZ. have already been hit by the Feds for the sticker out of date. Trying to regester it in Cabo but do not have a Mexico Dl yet. Got to do that FM thing in November. have a crib in El Tule between the two cabo's....thinking of gettng rid and buying a new ride. Do i have to have a Mexico Dl to drive a car with Mexico plates? Still new to the area....

mtgoat666 - 9-2-2010 at 12:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by measomsan
have a crib in El Tule between the two cabo's....


"crib?" how old are you?

sounds like you got a paperwork headache. good luck!

DENNIS - 9-2-2010 at 12:21 PM

Yes on the DL question. Mexican plates require a Mexican DL.

measomsan - 9-2-2010 at 12:46 PM

thanks on the plates and DL answer

Testing Testing

MrBillM - 9-2-2010 at 02:19 PM

I had a friend who got his Mexican Driver's License in San Felipe.

Test was in Spanish.

They allowed (for a "convenience" fee) his Latina girlfriend to fill out the test for him.

That Policy "may" vary from location to location. Or, clerk to clerk.

DENNIS - 9-2-2010 at 02:37 PM

If they ask you to take a written test, just tell them you're blind and they'll give you your license. :lol:

jorgie - 9-2-2010 at 02:41 PM

don't they accept International Licences ???? Most countries do .

DENNIS - 9-2-2010 at 02:52 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by jorgie
don't they accept International Licences ???? Most countries do .


They probably wouldn't know one if they saw one.
I think their law is pretty clear...Mex plates require a Mex DL. US plates, a US DL. It's not really a good idea to confuse them.

Are you sure?

Dave - 9-2-2010 at 04:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Yes on the DL question. Mexican plates require a Mexican DL.


I don't recall presenting my Mexican license when registering my vehicle... Just my FM2. They simply wanted documentation to prove that I owned the vehicle.

It is not a requirement to have a Mexican DL to operate a Mexican plated vehicle. And, Mexico does accept a valid license from other countries.

DENNIS - 9-2-2010 at 05:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Dave

I don't recall presenting my Mexican license when registering my vehicle... Just my FM2. They simply wanted documentation to prove that I owned the vehicle.


I wasn't talking about registration. I was refering to being pulled over on the street which brings me to your next points.
Quote:
It is not a requirement to have a Mexican DL to operate a Mexican plated vehicle. And, Mexico does accept a valid license from other countries.


I've been under the impression that the opposite is the case and the mix 'n match doesn't work. I've always been told this is how it is.

Could be, but...

Dave - 9-2-2010 at 05:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by fishabductor
Things have changed since you registered.


What does registration have to do with operating a vehicle? Isn't registration simply proof of ownership and fees paid?

The only time I was asked for an ID was when I picked up my new plates. The guy simply wanted proof that I was who I said I was. He didn't want to give the plates to the wrong individual.

Dave - 9-2-2010 at 05:18 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
I wasn't talking about registration. I was refering to being pulled over on the street which brings me to your next points.


As long as the name on the registration and DL matches or if you can establish you have the owner's permission to operate the vehicle it's perfectly legal.

But, whether the cop respects that is out of my hands. :rolleyes:

Different Places Interpret the Law Differently

Gypsy Jan - 9-2-2010 at 05:40 PM

Common wisdom says origin of DL must match the plates, i.e., Mexico - Mexico or U.S.-U.S. This is the simplest scenario for a local cop to decipher.

If things don't match up, i.e., the vehicle is registered in a another person's or company name, and/or mismatching country, then a signed permission-to-drive letter in Spanish, countersigned by a local notario is a good and fairly cheap piece of insurance that goes a long way to minimize hassles.

Paperwork, especially signed and notarized paperwork, is usually just as effective as a silver cross and garlic braid is for repelling vampires.

By the way, when hubby and I took our Mexican DL test, they had just installed touch-screen computer terminals. The examiner allowed me to look over Mr. GJ's's shoulder and indicate the answer, but he had to touch the screemon his own. Everybody was happy. Mr. GJ passed the test and the examiner felt that he had followed the rules.

Dave - 9-2-2010 at 06:30 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by fishabductor
I couldn't even put the truck in my name without a Mex DL.


So...What you're saying is the only way to register a vehicle is if you are a licensed driver?

If my Mexican neighbor who doesn't drive wanted to purchase a vehicle for his grandson yet keep the registration in his name...he couldn't?

comitan - 9-2-2010 at 07:18 PM

You cannot register a car in Mexico unless its imported! And whether he says the taxes are paid or not you have to have the import papers.

longlegsinlapaz - 9-2-2010 at 09:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by measomsan
i bought a used 2002 explorer in cabo from a US guy. It is registered in AZ..the import tax was payed but the plates are still AZ. have already been hit by the Feds for the sticker out of date. Trying to regester it in Cabo but do not have a Mexico Dl yet. Got to do that FM thing in November. have a crib in El Tule between the two cabo's....thinking of gettng rid and buying a new ride. Do i have to have a Mexico Dl to drive a car with Mexico plates? Still new to the area....


measomsan, it sounds like you may have a bigger problem than you might be aware of.

Was the seller a "friend" or a stranger? Did you get the importation paperwork with the vehicle? Did you get the title? Is it a AZ or a Mexican title?

IF, as you were apparently told....the former owner did have the vehicle legally imported, then the vehicle would not have AZ plates; the final portion of the importation process is to get Mexican plates....either National plates for legal driving throughout the entire country or Frontier plates for Baja only driving.

You can't "register" it in Cabo or anywhere else in Mexico unless it's imported. From what you've said, I don't believe it was imported....sounds like you may have bought someone else's problem!:(

You can not legally sell a US plated vehicle to a Mexican. You could only sell it to another gringo & only if you have the title/pink slip to transfer ownership in AZ. You can't legally junk or otherwise abandon a US plated vehicle in Mexico.

No, you cannot legally drive a Mexican plated vehicle, other than rental, on a US DL. Mexican law states country of plate must match country of DL. Do a search someone posted the actual law here recently....I believe it was Morgaine7. Bottom line is US plates = US DL....Mexican plates = Mexican DL.

It's true that how the law reads is not necessarily how the law may be applied if you get stopped or heaven forbid if you get in an accident....but worst case scenario would be the vehicle being confiscated. Do you feel lucky?

Maybe ask this type of questions here BEFORE you do anything else major until you gain a better knowledge of Mexican law. It can save you a lot of $$ & headaches! :(

CAN'T Caveat

MrBillM - 9-2-2010 at 09:53 PM

In Mexico, "CAN'T" is usually qualified.

As far as "Can't" transfer a U.S. Plated vehicle unless imported, that is "Likely" the written word.

However, from personal experience, I can say that it HAS been done on at least two occasions.

The "Not-Imported" U.S. plated vehicles in question WERE transferred and plated by a Mexican National.

Cash "Convenience" fees were involved, though.


[Edited on 9-3-2010 by MrBillM]

BajaRat - 9-2-2010 at 10:20 PM

Why don"t you make an attempt in your local Municipal and see what they require from you in person? They caught El Barbi you should be safe. :)

measomsan - 9-3-2010 at 10:13 AM

Much info and thanks. The moran i bought it from was (turns out) wack job. But new to the area and tired of renting cars for a month or so i jumped in..SPLASH.....I have the papers showing he paid the import fee. my friends down in Cabo , neighbors, say the papers look in order. I went to San Jose police department and that's when it started getting funky. To get a legal DL..the FM process has to take place. We will be in country all of Nov and dec..so we will get that started. The new car dealerships say I can drive a Mexico plated car if it is paid for. not financed. I can do that, and they say the will take a trade in. I just want that car out of my life....:?:

Has been a real adventure..but do love the baja

shari - 9-3-2010 at 10:26 AM

Not all areas require taking a DL test in Spanish...maybe go to a small town...find out the dates the license guys with the machine will be there and go to the town. They come here every couple months and you just show your ID, tourist card whatever, pay the fee, they take the picture and they give you a license...it's good for photo ID too.