OK, the time has come for me to think about renewing my South Dakota driver's license. It expires next year.
When we first got it in 2008, it was mandatory to be there, take the written test, etc. As we had a valid CA D.L. when we applied, we did not have to
take a driving test.
I imagine it is still mandatory to apply in person. Any of you other residents of SD heard differently?
Anyway, assuming it's the same, I got to thinking about ways to avoid driving or flying up there (x 2) to get this done.
What about a Mexican driver's license.............?
They are simple to get. I have an FM3 equivalent so I believe I qualify in that regard. I hear a MDL is accepted in the States and Canada.
Is one allowed to drive foreign plated vehicles in Mexico with a MDL? I would continue to keep my SD plates current. Will the states in the US hassle
me for having an MDL and vehicles registered in the US? What about getting insurance? I like having insurance in the US and down here.
Are there other advantages/disadvantages I'm missing?Bob and Susan - 12-27-2012 at 02:45 PM
i have a mexican divers license...
i'm interested too in the answerDENNIS - 12-27-2012 at 02:45 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Hook
Is one allowed to drive foreign plated vehicles in Mexico with a MDL?
I thought not.vandenberg - 12-27-2012 at 02:54 PM
Have been stopped twice in a SD plated car and both times showed my Mex. DL without any problem. This was in BCS. Maybe different in Sonora.
Your License Has to Match the Plate
Gypsy Jan - 12-27-2012 at 02:59 PM
A U.S. plated vehicle must have a driver with a U.S. license.
A Mexico plated vehicle must have a driver with a Mexican driver's license.
That it what I have been told, but, I have never been held to a test.
We have both U.S. and Mexican drivers' licenses.
FYI, our friends in San Miguel de Allende say that the farther you get into the interior, the police enforcement of the licensing rules are very
strict.DENNIS - 12-27-2012 at 04:08 PM
Oh Boy.....another one of those questions with a thousand answers.bajajudy - 12-27-2012 at 06:03 PM
This is one of those....."how many answers do you want questions", so I will promptly go off topic....
When my husband went up to the states in August, we rented a car from Budget and when he gave them his Mex driving license and his Mexican credit
card, he got a 10% discount for being international...sweet!
OOPS
forgot to give my 2cents worth.....we have been stopped in our Mex plated vehicle and our SD and given the opposite license and they didnt
care....these were local cops. My understanding is that the Federales are the only ones who REALLY care.....that would be here in BCS or even more
specific in Los Cabos.
[Edited on 12-28-2012 by bajajudy]Mula - 12-28-2012 at 06:26 AM
I have driven Cal, S. Dakota and Onappafa and BCS plates cars with my Alaska Driver's license, Mexican driver's license and my Onapaffa credential.
Never any problems about being over licensed.
Mexican licenses are fairly easy to get. The main thing is you MUST know your blood type.
Last year between Christmas and New Year the whole office - computers, printers, photo guy and laminating machine pulled in to Lopez Mateos for 3
hours. They set up shot at the Centro Civico.
We got our Mexican Licenses for 218 pesos each and paid our property taxes with a 25 per cent discount. The licenses are valid for 3 years.
[Edited on 12-28-2012 by Mula]Bob and Susan - 12-28-2012 at 06:42 AM
mula you left out you need to pay a yearly renewal fee...
you keep the receipt with the mexican license...then its good
...still no one posted a "real" answerjohn68 - 12-28-2012 at 07:30 AM
There's an annual renewal fee for the driver's license?
I got mine in April and it just indicates a three-year expiration.Bob and Susan - 12-28-2012 at 07:43 AM
there is here..i was confused too
to keep the license current you put the receipt with the license
then
you're good to go
[Edited on 12-28-2012 by Bob and Susan]Howard - 12-28-2012 at 07:52 AM
In Loreto where mine was issued, it was good for 3 years.
Does anyone know the procedure and cost for a renewal in Loreto?Mula - 12-28-2012 at 07:52 AM
I renew the Baja California Sur license plates on 2 of our rigs yearly.
My Mexican Driver's license says right on it:
de Expedicion 18/12/2011
Vencimiento 18/12/2014Bob and Susan - 12-28-2012 at 08:05 AM
nope...the YEARLY fee is 43 pesosMula - 12-28-2012 at 08:09 AM
Well, I will ask about the driver's license renewal fee - today when I go to pay my taxes.Bob and Susan - 12-28-2012 at 08:12 AM
remember 30% off taxes today too...only in mexico
in jan 20%Mula - 12-28-2012 at 10:01 AM
Just got back from doing the taxes thing in Lopez Mateos - Municipality of Comondu. Things are a little different here, apparently.
25% discount on taxes today.
No cost for renewal or reactivation of Mexican Driver's License (it is valid and activated until expiration in 2014), but there is a 43 pesos cost for
the sticker for the window of your vehicle that comes with the renewal of your Mexican License Plates on your vehicle.Alm - 12-29-2012 at 10:50 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Gypsy Jan
A U.S. plated vehicle must have a driver with a U.S. license.
I understand that Montana LLC - and I think one other state too - can establish an offshore corporation for any foreigner. They would make you a
director and register your car or RV in Montana, and send you Montana plates by mail. Doesn't make a lot of financial sense with what fees they
charge, but, since the service exists, there must be some demand.BajaBlanca - 12-30-2012 at 11:27 AM
you might want to check out Texas for driver's licenses. I think you have to go in person the first time and then it is by mail from then on....but I
might be mistaken.karenintx - 12-30-2012 at 11:47 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by BajaBlanca
you might want to check out Texas for driver's licenses. I think you have to go in person the first time and then it is by mail from then on....but I
might be mistaken.
Actually you can renew online every other renewal. In other words...one time in person then the next time online.
my daughter got one in texas last year...she had to show something with her address on IN TEXAS
so you need some kind of proof you are a residentAlm - 12-30-2012 at 08:05 PM
for those wanting to be a Texan - kind of - the Escapees mail forwarding address is the proof. At least, this is what I hear from everybody. No
personal experience, didn't need that.Alm - 12-30-2012 at 08:17 PM
Forgot to ask - since the topic went sideways already - does this Onappafa thing require a status? This would seem logical because how can you tell
tales about being "in process of importing" when Visitante is not supposed to import any cars? Though, "logical" is not applicable to Mexico...
