BajaNomad

Buying a car in Mexico

Reinventwen - 11-18-2010 at 02:11 PM

Just did a search on this site but my question might have been too specific.

I want to sell our car in Toronto before we come to Baja. Its a 2000 Saturn SW that has a compressor "leekage". My husband wants to have it in Baja because a mechanic told him the car could last for years (except maybe not so much in the desert).

I would rather buy a used car in Baja, but we will only have FMM visas. Would it be possible to buy w/o the FM2 or FM3?

Or is buying in Mexico not a good idea?
If I'm not allowed to buy a car in Mexico, what are my options? Bringing one from Canada?

[Edited on 11-20-2010 by Reinventwen]

Riom - 11-18-2010 at 02:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Reinventwen
I would rather buy a used car in Baja, but we will only have FMM visas. Would it be possible to buy w/o the FM2 or FM3?

Or is buying in Mexico not a good idea?
If I'm not allowed to buy a car in Mexico, what are my options? Bringing one from Canada?


In Baja California (Norte, south might be different) you need a Mexican drivers license to register a car, and you need an FM2 or FM3 to get the license. (these are the rules but as always there may be local exceptions).

Whether you should bring a car depends on how long you're staying for. If it's just winters then just bring a car (and return it), but since you're asking about registering locally maybe you're planning a permanent move.

In that case, bear in mind there are limits to which cars you can eventually import (change from Ontario to Baja California plates). Currently, it's cars 5 to 10 model years old, excluding some luxury cars and convertibles (anything soft-top, like a Tracker, is a convertible!).

So assuming you're planning to get an FM3 sometime, one option is to bring a tested Canadian car, but pick the age/type so that you could give it local plates, if you want/need to, in a year or two.

Another widely-used option, using US plates from a low cost place like South Dakota, isn't recommended for non-Americans (can cause problems at the US border).

Rob

Reinventwen - 11-18-2010 at 05:18 PM

Thanks for clarifying the issues. Yes, we are planning a permanent move to Baja norte. I guess by the time we decide we are in fact "staying" and applying for an FM3 the car will be too old to register in Mx.

I guess we can't buy a car from an American either?

krafty - 11-18-2010 at 06:28 PM

Just keep the car you have and see what happens-are you driving from Toronto to the Baja? May need a new car after that!!:lol: We have been in BN for several years and honestly never thought of registering a car here, but keep everything uptodate in the States-we do have MX insurance-way cheaper

YARDSAIL - 11-18-2010 at 08:25 PM

In Los Barriles, you can get a mex. drivers licsense with an FMM and your passport....then you can register a Mexican car.

bajabass - 11-18-2010 at 09:15 PM

So, in La Paz you must have an FM2 or FM3, but a short drive south, an FMM will suffice? Sounds like a day trip to me!

Reinventwen - 11-18-2010 at 10:39 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by YARDSAIL
In Los Barriles, you can get a mex. drivers licsense with an FMM and your passport....then you can register a Mexican car.


Sounds like a plan, Yarksail. :yes:
We don't want to drive from Toronto in an old car that has a leeky compressor.

Krafty - its okay for Americans in BN to junk an old car because they only have to cross the border to get another one. We don't want to have to fly back to Canada and then drive back down just to get a car. And who knows how many car repairs on the trip...

Alan - 11-19-2010 at 03:31 PM

Why not just fly to San Diego and buy a used car from craiglist then drive it down. Car prices in Baja (at least the La Paz area are significantly higher than in the states and typically not as well maintained.

How about just replacing the compressor?

El Camote - 11-19-2010 at 04:29 PM

Seems the simplest option is just to replace the compressor and drive the car. If you're refering to the A/C compressor, it's not a necessary part unless you want to use air conditioning. As such, it's only a $400. part

Why make it so complicated. ;D

Reinventwen - 11-19-2010 at 05:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by morgaine7

Alan, if they bought a car in San Diego, how would they register it?

Kate


This is what I'm wondering myself.

Reinventwen - 11-19-2010 at 05:30 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by El Camote
Seems the simplest option is just to replace the compressor and drive the car. If you're refering to the A/C compressor, it's not a necessary part unless you want to use air conditioning. As such, it's only a $400. part

Why make it so complicated. ;D


Apparantly the teeny "hole" is in the head which is about $3000 and the car is not worth it because it doesn't have air either.

So I'd really like to find out if I could register a car in San Diego.

DavidE - 11-19-2010 at 06:26 PM

Lots and lots and lots and lots of hurdles...

Driver license must agree with country of license plates. Cops can make this a sticky point, if someone other than the registered owner is driving the car.

Tags on plates must be current UNLESS the car has a valid mainland Mexico 180-day car permit (not practical don't ask). You will get tickets if you drive an automobile with expired USA state or Canadian Province license plate tags.

California registered cars must have a permanent address inside the state, and must carry liability insurance before vehicle license is issued. The car must pass emissions testing which means it being connected to a dynomometer connected electronically to Sacramento DMV.

There are two types of licenses for cars available in Baja California (ther northern state) FRONTERA or FRONT and PLACAS NACIONAL. The latter does not need a car permit to travel on the Mexican mainland. The former needs to be bonded to drive on the Mexican mainland.

BajaBlanca - 11-19-2010 at 07:17 PM

How does one get a car bonded ? Next year we shall be traveling to the mainland with our FRONT licensed tracker.

DavidE - 11-20-2010 at 02:47 PM

You can bond with a MEXICAN VISA or MasterCard in the name of the registered owner of the automobile to be bonded. The applicant must have a Mexican driver license with an address that agrees with the automobile registration. FMM, or FM-2 or FM-3 immigration papers are necessary.

Not if a Mexican citizen is applying for the 180-day temporary import permit, then they can use their federal (voter) I.D. as well as a valid Mexican driver license.

Title of the car must be indisputably in the name of the person with the license, credit card, etc.

Be sure to surrender the car permit when exiting mainland Mexico. The ONLY place you can do this easily between Sonora and Baja California is at the SHCP /SAT / Banjercito module 5 miles East of Sonoyta. You cannot surrender a car permit at a ferry crossing point, either side of the gulf. This is because these POE's don't have the fancy electronic scanning gizmo that scans the car permit hologram after it has been scraped off the windshield.

Cypress - 11-20-2010 at 02:58 PM

Jeez, Buying anything in Mexico that you can't eat on the spot or stick in your pocket seems get complicated. Why is that?

Riom - 11-20-2010 at 03:33 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Cypress
Jeez, Buying anything in Mexico that you can't eat on the spot or stick in your pocket seems get complicated. Why is that?


It's because it's different from the way you have always done it. It's a different country.

For a non-American in the US it can be just as hard. Much, much harder if they don't have a Social Security number.

At least Mexico understands the concept of part-time residents, and has simple systems in place that work for them (FM3 allows you to get a drivers licence that allows you register a car). In the US, to be a part-time resident you can only be a "visitor" who can't legally get a drivers license that lasts longer than six months in most states and who can't normally get a social security number. So, for example, some US banks won't allow online banking, it's hard to open utility accounts, some states won't allow car registrations at all, etc.

Mexico is very easy to deal with compared to the US, for a part-time resident. Much more welcoming, and clearer rules (the US doesn't even have an immigration category yet for a seasonal property owner).

Rob

Cypress - 11-20-2010 at 04:02 PM

Riom, Thanks, The Mexican govt. welcomes people with money in their pockets to spend in Mexico. That's big of 'em :rolleyes: