BajaNomad

Buy a car with FMM

Nookster - 10-13-2012 at 09:41 AM

I apologize for this question because I'm sure the answer in somewhere in this forum. Can I buy a Mexican plated car and leave it in Baja Sur as I fly in and out with just a FMM? Is having a U.S. drivers license an issue when buying, driving or registrating the car? Can I resell it in Baja in the future? Is this possible or do I need an FM3 for this purpose? Thanks for your response.

woody with a view - 10-13-2012 at 09:51 AM

as a tourist you are not supposed to leave anything of value when you leave the country.

i'm sure there are ways around it but you'll have to wait for the answer.....

Pescador - 10-13-2012 at 09:54 AM

You are way ahead to have a car with South Dakota plates and then you do not have to have a Mexican Drivers License (for which you will need an FM2 or FM3)

DENNIS - 10-13-2012 at 09:55 AM

You'll need a Mex DL to operate a Mex plated car.
I think you can buy or sell a car any time.....with or without immigration papers. Registration may have some immigration requirments. You have more concerns down south than we do up here.

Alan - 10-13-2012 at 10:18 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
You'll need a Mex DL to operate a Mex plated car.
Are you sure this is accurate? I have never rented a car down here with foreign plates.

DENNIS - 10-13-2012 at 11:23 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Alan
Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
You'll need a Mex DL to operate a Mex plated car.
Are you sure this is accurate? I have never rented a car down here with foreign plates.


He mentioned he was going to buy a car....not rent one. I'm sure it doesn't apply to rentals.

Wally - 10-13-2012 at 11:24 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Alan
Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
You'll need a Mex DL to operate a Mex plated car.
Are you sure this is accurate? I have never rented a car down here with foreign plates.


Yes, technically you are supposed have a Mexican license to drive a Mexican plated vehicle and a US license for a US plated vehicle. I never drive with my US DL because if they ticket me I don't want the risk of them losing it. I have been pulled over in our US cars and they have given me grief but have always moved on and either ticketed me for whatever they pulled me over for or sent me on my way. I don't know what the penalty is if they ever did enforce it though.

This does not apply to rental cars.

Nookster - 10-13-2012 at 02:22 PM

Thanks for the feedback everyone. It looks like my two options would be leave a Nevada plated vehicle at my residence in Mexico and since in Nevada I don't have to have the vehicle present to re-register it I could just get a tag each year. Or get a Fm3 and do it that way even though I didn't want to hassle with that since I don't think I'd be there enough to justify it. From other post I've read it says you're not supposed to leave a vehicle in Mexico if you leave the country but I don't see who would know if its on private property.

DENNIS - 10-13-2012 at 02:56 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Nookster
I don't see who would know if its on private property.


No one.

kingrich - 10-13-2012 at 06:01 PM

Thats exactly what I am doing with my Canadian plated vehicle. I do not have to have it in Canada to re register it every year and from what I gather that is what they are looking for...current registration no matter where the vehicle is from. I could get a FM3 too but seems like a hassle at the time but wil get onel in the future as time allows me to spend more time there.

I have a Mex plated vehicle there also that is Mex registered and have a Mex drivers license...all without a FM3...cost me a few extra bucks.
Rick

Nookster - 10-13-2012 at 06:36 PM

kingrich,
Can I get a Mex drivers license with my passport? Or by showing my states license? Is the "few extra bucks" a fee or a mordida? LOL

kingrich - 10-13-2012 at 07:41 PM

Yes its a mordida. lol

Alm - 10-13-2012 at 09:20 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by Nookster
I don't see who would know if its on private property.


No one.

He said he'll "fly out". If he flies out of Baja, he leaves his FMM stub with Mexican airport immigration. It doesn't say on the stub how exactly he got in, but it does say "by car" on the other part that he left at the ground crossing when driving in. Though it doesn't say - what car, whose car etc. The chance that they will catch up does exist, though very remote.

RnR - 10-14-2012 at 08:08 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Nookster
It looks like my two options would be leave a Nevada plated vehicle at my residence in Mexico and since in Nevada I don't have to have the vehicle present to re-register it I could just get a tag each year.


If you want to keep your "Nevada plated" vehicle tags current and valid, you also have to keep a Nevada basic liability insurance on the vehicle. Cancel the insurance and NV DMV cancels the registration. Then, if you ever want to re-instate the registration, you get to pay a $250 fee for the lapse in insurance.

You can get a NV state minimum 15/30/10 basic liability policy for about $120/yr. So, add this cost to the annual registration fee for a yearly total. No smog required if "garaged" outside of Reno or Las Vegas. Vehicle does not need to be present to be re-registered. No inspections.

Of course, your NV insurance policy is worthless in Mexico so you'll have to get a Mexican insurance policy, also.

Does South Dakota have a mandatory insurance requirement?

DENNIS - 10-14-2012 at 08:27 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by RnR
Does South Dakota have a mandatory insurance requirement?


No. No insurance or smog requirments.

Nookster - 10-14-2012 at 08:32 AM

RnR,
Yes you are correct. If you let insurance lapse on a Nevada registration you have to turn in the plate. I have an address in Pahrump Nevada which is adjacent to Las Vegas's Clark County and no smog is required there. So by maintaining liability only I could leave a car down south indefinately. As to the issue that "Alm" posted about as far as flying out and the remote possibility of having a problem. I could drive down and leave my vehicle at my friends home and ride back to San Diego with them when they go. Then just fly in and out. I think with everyones imput I've just about got this figured out. ;)

Nookster - 10-14-2012 at 09:12 AM

DENNIS,
When I was down south I saw several South Dakota plates. I was thinking "Man, these South Dakotans sure love Cabo". Lol. For curiostiy sake, can you title and register a vehicle there through the mail or over the phone without having a local address or D.L.?

gnukid - 10-14-2012 at 09:21 AM

The mexican laws affecting your outcome are Custom laws which inter-relate to Immigration laws and are in transition to be in effect on Nov 12th (supposedly). Therefore the answer to your question is really not clear at this time to anyone who is a position to make a reading.

Though we know from experience:

1) You should have a mexican license to drive a mexican plated car except rental cars.

2) You should have a temporary residency visa (not FMM entry permit) to leave physical items such as a car in mexico.

3) All of this will change.

DENNIS - 10-14-2012 at 10:06 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Nookster
DENNIS,
When I was down south I saw several South Dakota plates. I was thinking "Man, these South Dakotans sure love Cabo". Lol. For curiostiy sake, can you title and register a vehicle there through the mail or over the phone without having a local address or D.L.?


Yeah....here in PB there must be a thousand of them.
The first step in registering a car in SD is to call the treasurer and tell them what the make and year of the vehicle is. Different cars have different fees and that is the amount you have to pay when applying.
The application you can get online from their site.
You will need a stateside address if for no other reason than to recieve your new plates and Pink Slip.
I would imagine there are other reasons, but that one is for sure.

SD doesn't care if you have a DL or not.

http://www.claycountysd.org/




.

[Edited on 10-14-2012 by DENNIS]

Alm - 10-14-2012 at 11:15 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by gnukid
The mexican laws affecting your outcome are Custom laws which inter-relate to Immigration laws and are in transition to be in effect on Nov 12th (supposedly).

Could you elaborate, please?

kingrich - 10-14-2012 at 09:47 PM

Nookster there is no TIP(temp import permit) in Baja as in most of the rest of Mexico which is why they do not document your vehicle when getting your FMM in Baja.

As long as you can keep current registration on vehicle for whatever country it is from and a current drivers license for the same we are fine.

Fly in and out and drive your vehicle. I for one have been pulled over several times and never asked for FMM. If they do then I flew down and someone else had drove my vehicle...what are they going to do. Thats what the free trade agreement is about no TIP required.

Rick

gnukid - 10-14-2012 at 10:12 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Alm
Quote:
Originally posted by gnukid
The mexican laws affecting your outcome are Custom laws which inter-relate to Immigration laws and are in transition to be in effect on Nov 12th (supposedly).

Could you elaborate, please?


I'm no expert, just trying to figure these things out like yourselves. The laws affecting what plates and license are decided by Customs aka Aduana, immigration laws affect the visa or entry permit requirements. The two components INM (immigration) + Aduana (customs) combine to make the rules to determine requirements for foreign visitor owned vehicles. Revised laws will be in effect about 30 days after they were signed in, which was about Oct 12th so they come into effect about Nov 13th.

Of course, it seems like the laws are always changing and interpretation of the laws can change too, not sure why this is the case.

it's awkward that as of Nov 12th laws will change that may affect vehicles + visas for residents and visitors already in Baja.

A common question is whether Permanent Residents (non working vs working) may have USA plated vehicles on Baja after Nov 12th and may they have 1 or 2 vehicles per family. TBD



[Edited on 10-15-2012 by gnukid]

kingrich - 10-15-2012 at 12:04 AM

Yeah it seems like it has always open to interpretation. Hope the new laws regarding vehicle ownership and residency in Baja will be more clear this time.

Alm - 10-15-2012 at 01:23 AM

In English annotations of the new law I couldn't find any major changes in FMM/tourist system. Which was what the OP asked - FMM and foreign plated car. Tourists were not allowed to leave their cars before, it was just not enforced in Baja. Without a system like Banjercito this is difficult to enforce. In Baja they don't even enter your plates on the FMM record. Adding plates to the record is easy, can be fixed any time and I doubt a new law is needed for that. Just a minor change on the form. It will still require a financial motivation like Banjercito to make a tourist obey the law. But, I don't hear anything official or unofficial about Banjercito coming to Baja.

kingrich - 10-15-2012 at 02:01 AM

Things ever change I guess that will be the motivation for me to get a FM3 and pay the $150 renewal every year. I own property there and having a FM3 or FM2 was not a problem when I bought that either...not enforced. Push comes to shove will have to bite the bullet and get it and until then enjoy what we have.

gnukid - 10-15-2012 at 04:17 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Alm
In English annotations of the new law I couldn't find any major changes in FMM/tourist system. Which was what the OP asked - FMM and foreign plated car. Tourists were not allowed to leave their cars before, it was just not enforced in Baja. Without a system like Banjercito this is difficult to enforce. In Baja they don't even enter your plates on the FMM record. Adding plates to the record is easy, can be fixed any time and I doubt a new law is needed for that. Just a minor change on the form. It will still require a financial motivation like Banjercito to make a tourist obey the law. But, I don't hear anything official or unofficial about Banjercito coming to Baja.


The OP asked about buying a Mexican Plated car with a US dl license and FMM... very different from simply having a us plated car.

Mula - 10-15-2012 at 06:43 AM

I bought and registered 2 rigs (vehicles) with BCS plates with only my Alaska Driver's License. In Loreto in the last 6 years.

No problem.

No one even asked to see my FMM, FM3 or FM2.

They were happy to register them for me and take my money.

Also, I got a Mexican Driver's license last December here in Lopez Mateos and no one asked to see my FMM, FM3 or FM2.

I have one truck with South Dakota plate,
2 with BCS plates and 2 with ONAPAFA.

And have never had any problems with anyone over anything - as long as the registrations are current and you have a Driver's License of some type.

The South Dakota plated truck we used for the occasional trip to the border.

You are making a mountain out of a mole hill.

Nookster - 10-15-2012 at 07:54 AM

Thanks everyone for all the good info. It turned out to be a great thread with lots of information thats going to be helpful to me as well as others who may have had the same type of questions.

gnukid - 10-15-2012 at 09:13 AM

The only requirement for a mexican DL is a a proof of blood type (blood test) and to be of age and have a valid ID. The actual process is different in different parts of mexico, where in some cases the dl is for life and in others for a set period. It's not very expensive either. So if you need the Mexican DL to drive a mexican plated vehicle go get the license usually people line up near the transito office in La Paz. Of course there will be a requirement for photos too and probably a utility bill to prove the address.

Alm - 10-15-2012 at 01:51 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by gnukidSo if you need the Mexican DL to drive a mexican plated vehicle go get the license usually people line up near the transito office in La Paz. Of course there will be a requirement for photos too and probably a utility bill to prove the address.

I think a permanent address for a tourist is about same legal as those Dakota plates renewed every year with FMM and US license. If it comes to any serious investigation, like insurance accident for example, a tourist with Mex DL will look very very interesting.

gnukid - 10-15-2012 at 02:25 PM

When you have a serious accident you remain in custody until the identified individual with financial responsibility is established and funds are in place, typically. An insurance policy would cover you and the adjuster comes to meet you at the jail/court.

A Mexican plated car and Mexican DL would require a Mexican based policy typically a liability only policy runs about 850-1000 pesos yr.

[Edited on 10-15-2012 by gnukid]

Alm - 10-15-2012 at 03:53 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by gnukid
When you have a serious accident you remain in custody until the identified individual with financial responsibility is established and funds are in place, typically. An insurance policy would cover you and the adjuster comes to meet you at the jail/court.

Didn't have to go through this yet, thanks God. But, from what people reported, insurance adjuster often comes to the place of accident and then you don't go to jail. That is, if you have a Mex liability insurance. If you don't have it, you go to jail until they sort things out, no matter whether your plates are Mexican or US.

There is no clear picture on what happens if you do have a Mex insurance but also have some er... inconsistencies ;) in your papers, like Mex plates and valid FMM status, or US plates and expired FMM visa, or no visa at all. Insurer will take your money and sell you the policy, yes, but they can easily deny your claim if they find something funny in your papers like above.