BajaNomad

BC car plates

colamex4 - 8-29-2011 at 12:26 PM

Hi:

I live in BC North.

Last year I bought a car in Tijuana that is "Frontera" plated ( it was legally brought in to BC from San Diego by the guy I bought the car from).

I am told that Frontera plates mean I can only drive it legally in Mexican States that border the US, and that I can't drive it in BC Sur (Cabo).

Does anyone know whether that is correct?

Thanks.

DENNIS - 8-29-2011 at 12:37 PM

I didn't realize, or think of BCS being on the list, but the rest is true and correct.

Welcome to BajaNomad.

colamex4 - 8-29-2011 at 01:07 PM

Thanks.

Any idea where/how I can get a definitive answer about Frontera plates in BCS?

DENNIS - 8-29-2011 at 01:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by colamex4
Thanks.

Any idea where/how I can get a definitive answer about Frontera plates in BCS?


Hang tight here for a while. Someone will be along with the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Monday mornings are kinda slow for most here.

shari - 8-29-2011 at 01:21 PM

we see lots of Frontera plates here...maybe if you LIVE in BCS, you need to change plates...but what the hell do I know:?:

DENNIS - 8-29-2011 at 01:29 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by shari
we see lots of Frontera plates here...maybe if you LIVE in BCS, you need to change plates...but what the hell do I know:?:



Well...I'm not sure either. I know FRONTERA plates can't go into the mainland past a certain point like Guaymas, or something like that.

Where's HOOK. He knows.

RnR - 8-29-2011 at 02:26 PM

I think that ALL of Baja is considered "Frontera".

That is why you don't need a car import permit like is required on the Mainland. (And the IVA rate is different, etc.)

Riom - 8-29-2011 at 06:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by colamex4
I live in BC North. ... I am told that Frontera plates mean I can only drive it legally in Mexican States that border the US, and that I can't drive it in BC Sur (Cabo).


I have a BC Frontera plate. I was told I would need to do the credit-card bond temporary import sticker (just like a US car) if I drove beyond the border zones on mainland Mexico. Both parts of Baja California are fully within the border zone (for customs purposes).

You can of course also drive it in the US and Canada, with the appropriate insurance.

colamex4 - 8-29-2011 at 06:47 PM

So it seems I can travel freely throughout all of Baja in my frontera car. That's good news.

Thanks everyone!

durrelllrobert - 8-31-2011 at 11:13 AM

I hope you have MX drivers license to go with those plates.

colamex4 - 9-1-2011 at 06:30 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by durrelllrobert
I hope you have MX drivers license to go with those plates.



Sure do.

Riom - 9-2-2011 at 10:59 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by durrelllrobert
I hope you have MX drivers license to go with those plates.


Yes, a Baja California license is required, to be able to register a car with BC plates including the Frontera version. Can't be done (legally) without one.

Rob

DENNIS - 9-2-2011 at 11:02 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Riom
Yes, a Baja California license is required, to be able to register a car with BC plates including the Frontera version. Can't be done (legally) without one.

Rob


Although, there's nothing to stop one from buying an imported vehicle.....regardless of DL. :light:

comitan - 9-2-2011 at 11:05 AM

We just drove ca,az,ut,nv with BCS plates, Last year we drove to Maryland and back with BCS (La Paz plates)

Mulegena - 9-2-2011 at 11:50 AM

Hi, Comitan and Co-Pilota

Back home safely? Good. Sure you've had/are having a great travel adventure.

Question: do you acquire US insurance when you cross into the US
or would Mexican auto insurance suffice?

Riom - 9-2-2011 at 12:59 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Although, there's nothing to stop one from buying an imported vehicle.....regardless of DL. :light:


Bit pointless buying it if you're not legally able to transfer the registration to your own name.

For those who asked about insurance in the US, it depends on the Mexican insurance policy. Some, not all, do include liability and/or full coverage in the US. Each policy is different.

For Canada, higher liability limits are needed which most policies don't have, but it's possible to get a top-up policy. I'm currently in BC (Canada) with my BC (Mexico) car, with an add-on policy that provides the yellow non-resident insurance card needed for Canada.

Rob

DENNIS - 9-2-2011 at 01:06 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Riom
Bit pointless buying it if you're not legally able to transfer the registration to your own name.



It might make a dandy gift for your gardner. :biggrin:


.

[Edited on 9-2-2011 by DENNIS]

Dave - 9-2-2011 at 01:31 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Riom
Bit pointless buying it if you're not legally able to transfer the registration to your own name.


Title registration denotes ownership not operation. You do not need a Mexican (or any other) driver's license to register your vehicle. A blind paraplegic could register. The only proof you need is residency.

Riom - 9-2-2011 at 01:41 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Dave
Title registration denotes ownership not operation. You do not need a Mexican (or any other) driver's license to register your vehicle. A blind paraplegic could register. The only proof you need is residency.


Maybe this is one of the things that varies by town on how it is enforced. In San Felipe, they require a BC driver's license of the owner to register a car. (see http://www.bajacalifornia.gob.mx/portal/servicios/enlinea/pl... - one of the requirements to get plates after you buy a car is "licencia del propietario de bc vigente").

Rob

comitan - 9-2-2011 at 02:33 PM

All of my vehicles are insured by Qualitas and all of my polices as of this year have a rider for insurance while in the USA.:lol::lol::lol:

DENNIS - 9-2-2011 at 03:09 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Dave
A blind paraplegic could register.


And many do, judging by the quality of work-hour traffic.

Hook - 9-3-2011 at 05:49 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by shari
we see lots of Frontera plates here...maybe if you LIVE in BCS, you need to change plates...but what the hell do I know:?:



Well...I'm not sure either. I know FRONTERA plates can't go into the mainland past a certain point like Guaymas, or something like that.

Where's HOOK. He knows.


I'm on the road in the US. Off the grid, for the most part.

Been to San Anton, Austin, Vicksburg, Memphis, Nashville, Clarksdale Miss, St Louis, Chicago. Baseball and Blues Tour, you might say, with a little twang thrown in. Oh yeah, and Steely Dan, too. Great band but Fagan's voice is gone.

This frontera plate question, I dont know.

[Edited on 9-3-2011 by Hook]

DENNIS - 9-3-2011 at 06:18 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Hook
This frontera plate question, I dont know.




Thought you might know where the line is drawn down by your place.

Have a good trip.

Hook - 9-3-2011 at 07:34 AM

I know where the line is drawn for actual foreign plated vehicles. It's just south of Empalme, Sonora. I just dont know if this affects frontera plated vehicles.

BTW, they are now making most ANY RV, or even trailers pulling quads, to get a TIP, regardless of their length of stay. Just too many vehicles being sold illegally down here.

durrelllrobert - 9-3-2011 at 09:20 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Riom

.

For Canada, higher liability limits are needed which most policies don't have, but it's possible to get a top-up policy. I'm currently in BC (Canada) with my BC (Mexico) car, with an add-on policy that provides the yellow non-resident insurance card needed for Canada.

Rob
My GIECO policy automatically sends me the Canadian Non-Resident card every year, even though we may not go to Canada, since my wife is driving with a canadian DL

Riom - 9-3-2011 at 12:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by durrelllrobert
My GIECO policy automatically sends me the Canadian Non-Resident card every year, even though we may not go to Canada, since my wife is driving with a canadian DL


Is that a US-issued policy? Most of the policies issued in Mexico only have US$100k combined single limit liability coverage when outside Mexico (some much less), which isn't enough for the C$200k legal minimum in Canada, so they can't issue the card with the policy.

I guess most US-issued policies would already have much higher liability coverage, so can issue the Canada card if there is a need for it, without extra payment.

Rob