I recently read a thread about importing a car and the advice of skipping the middle man. I thought I was doing this when we checked the internet and
found Jose Humberto Izquierdo Villabazo at Automotriz California, located in Tijuana. He pretended to be an import agent and quoted a total cost of
$830 US. Thinking this was reasonable my wife and I made the hour and half drive to his place of business only to hear the cost had gone up to $975
because of increased cost that he found out about after our phone conversation but he said don't worry, you don't have to pay any money until the
whole business is finished. We should have walked then but we didn't and agreed on his new rate.
Arrangements were made for my father in-law to pick the car in a week as we were headed on holiday the next day. A week later he was called and asked
to come pay as everything was finished. They needed the $975 to go get the car and he could come pick it up the next day. He went back the next day
and of course they didn't have the car yet. Three days later after numerous phone calls he was told to come get the car. Well you guessed it, when he
went to get the car the rate had gone up to $1,139. The car stayed.
When we went to get the car 10 days later Jose wasn't there but his niece was in the office and didn't have an explanation for the increase in cost.
They also didn't have the factura that is needed to get your plates at the Mexican DMV. She said that they would email the factura, no problema. We
decided to wait until the next day when Jose would be there and called ahead to make sure the factura would be with the rest of the paperwork. All day
we waited and finally were told that they had the original factura.
When we arrived the coward Jose wasn't there. His wife was behind his desk and she presented us with a copy of the factura. When asked about the
increased rate she just looked stupid and pretended that she didn't understand. With a little more pressure for an explanation she said it was because
the car was made in Japan. Half the cars in their lot were made in Japan. After that the rest of my inquiries were met with that dumb look that she
was so good at.
To finish with this ramble, we went to the Palacio in Ensenada to get the plates and guess what, we were missing another important document. After
numerous phone calls, about 4 hours later Jose finally found the time to send a copy of the document in an email. Back the next day to the DMV, an
hour and 2,091 pesos later we walked out with the new plates.
The pretend to be broker: Jose at Automotriz California
The real broker: Jorge Macias Jimenez
Prolongacion Paseo De Los Heroes #12650 Col. 20 De Noviembre
The real agent: Importaciones Autoplacas
341251 San Ysidro Blvd, San Isidro CA. 92143
Just curious
Dave - 8-3-2011 at 11:43 AM
Why did you feel it necessary to import the car?jakecard - 8-3-2011 at 12:36 PM
I am curious too.
What are the putative advantages of importing a car to Baja?
Thanks in advance,
JakeBajatripper - 8-3-2011 at 01:27 PM
One BIG difference I found out about a few years ago; it takes almost twice as much money to insure an imported vehicle (Mexican plates) as it does to
insure my still-US-plated vehicle. Go figure.
But, my Mexican wife can drive the Mexican-plated car, but can't legally drive the other one.
[Edited on 8-3-2011 by Bajatripper]Dave - 8-3-2011 at 01:34 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Bajatripper
But, my Mexican wife can drive the Mexican-plated car, but can't legally drive the other one.
If she were listed on the title, she could.güero - 8-3-2011 at 06:49 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Dave
Why did you feel it necessary to import the car?
Some of the reasons for importing the car are:
I am naturalized and live in Mexico full time.
I bought the car in California. I would have had to drive the car to Idaho (my US address) to register it and pay Idaho sales tax and get an Idaho
insurance policy for visits to the States. Then a full coverage US insurance policy that covers living and driving in Mexico full time. Maybe things
have changed but all this used to be rather costly.
My wife is Mexican and she can drive the car legally with Mexican plates.
I can bring an older Idaho registered car (about $20 per year) down and the wife and I are both covered for liability with our currant policies on the
other cars. According to my insurance agent, technically she can't legally drive a US plated car since she is not a US citizen, even if the US plated
car is in her name, but insurance wise she is covered.
My insurance is reasonable, about 5,500 pesos per year for $5,000 plus full coverage insurance which includes liability in the US & Canada.
My wife is named on my policy as primary driver which gives her liability for any car she drives in Mexico, US and Canada, including cars with US or
Canadian plates. I am named as the primary driver on my wife's policy which gives me liability for the same.
What do you think so far? There are more reasons but its time for a walk and then a c-cktail.jakecard - 8-3-2011 at 07:15 PM
Man, Baja is complicated.
JaekWoooosh - 8-3-2011 at 07:28 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by jakecard
Man, Baja is complicated.
Jaek
Not if you do things the way everyday Mexicans do. jakecard - 8-3-2011 at 08:09 PM
Which is?
Jake
Quote:
Originally posted by Woooosh
Quote:
Originally posted by jakecard
Man, Baja is complicated.
Jaek
Not if you do things the way everyday Mexicans do.
Bajatripper - 8-5-2011 at 08:58 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by jakecard
Which is?
Jake
Quote:
Originally posted by Woooosh
Quote:
Originally posted by jakecard
Man, Baja is complicated.
Jaek
Not if you do things the way everyday Mexicans do.
Are we going to open that can of worms?DENNIS - 8-5-2011 at 10:05 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by jakecard
Man, Baja is complicated.
Jaek
Jake....my man.....you're gonna fit right in here. You can't even spell your own name right.
Welcome to Messeeko. jakecard - 8-5-2011 at 10:16 AM
Thanks for the warm welcome.
Pathetic, isn't it?
Jaek!güero - 8-5-2011 at 02:51 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Bajatripper
One BIG difference I found out about a few years ago; it takes almost twice as much money to insure an imported vehicle (Mexican plates) as it does to
insure my still-US-plated vehicle. Go figure.
[Edited on 8-3-2011 by Bajatripper]
Just paid 5,200 pesos for 1 year full coverage insurance in Mexico. In case of accident the deductable is 5% of the value of the car. If stolen, 10%.
According to my agent anyone with a currant or expired drivers license is covered to drive the car in Mexico. Included in policy is liability coverage
in US & Canada with $200 road side assistance and towing. The payouts in Mexico, US & Canada, for medical, comp, property damage etc, are
middle of the road.
This is a 2002 car valued around $5,500 so the insurance premium is based on this amount.
