BajaNomad

Driving in Los Cabos

Shawndy - 1-4-2014 at 06:36 AM

I'm sure that this has been hashed over before :yawn:

My wife and i are Canadians wintering at our condo in San Jose del Cabo.

Last week we were involved in a car accident on hwy 1 just outside of Cabo where we were nailed by a taxi/van running a red light at very high speed.......we are lucky to be alive - lucky for no major injuries too. Our nice little Honda is likely a writeoff but won't really know for a while as we all know the wheels turn slowly down here. We were insured thru Lewis and Lewis and hope we made the right choice.

We are now stuck without a vehicle for the moment (not the end of the world i know) but would like to be able to get around a little easier than walking/using the bus if possible. Car rental seems very expensive and probably out of our budget longterm.We were looking for some insight, suggestions, advice from the members here.

We are on 180 day tourist cards and under the assumption that we are unable to LEGALLY buy another car in Mexico. Is this true? If so, anyone got any ideas? :light:

Appreciate any help from the Baja Nomads

cheers, Shawndy

Mula - 1-4-2014 at 06:39 AM

I have 3 vehicles I bought here in BCS over the years that all have BCS plates in my name on them.

I insure them through the bank.

Shawndy - 1-4-2014 at 07:00 AM

Really Mula? How does that work?

Thanks for your reply, by the way. This is our 1st year living down here and we are feeling quite lost with this whole situation.

Mula - 1-4-2014 at 07:06 AM

Find a vehicle, buy it, get a bill of sale and the title. And make sure all the previous taxes fees are paid on that vehicle. That will usually entail a trip to Finances Department with the previous owner to get that taken care of.

Take it to the Police Station DMV section.

They will issue you a new registration, sticker for the window.

Then you go to any bank and get insurance.

Shawndy - 1-4-2014 at 08:34 AM

And i'm able to do this without an FM3 using just a 180 day tourist card?

Thanks for your advice, Mula!

Mula - 1-4-2014 at 08:40 AM

I did and have bought with just a tourist card.

Katiejay99 - 1-4-2014 at 08:42 AM

It was my understanding that Finanzas would not give you plates or register it in your name unless you have a Mexican drivers license and you need more than a tourist visa to get one of those (I think). I am talking about an imported Mexican registered vehicle.

Shawndy - 1-4-2014 at 11:04 AM

That was my assumption KatieJ

Guess i'll have to do some more investigating :cool:

karenintx - 1-4-2014 at 11:38 AM

Sorry to read about your accident but glad no one was seriously injured.

Perhaps a call to the Canadian Consulate would help...especially if you are taking the new/used car back to Canada. Just trying to think outside of the box!

Islandbuilder - 1-4-2014 at 12:06 PM

Glad you guys are OK! Wow.

I just rented a VW pointer through Budget, and pick it up in San Jose on Tuesday.

The price per day is $46.77US for 5 days! So less than $10/day.

I haven't picked it up yet, so can't speak to any hidden costs. I've rented cars in San Jose in the past, and found it one of the most expensive rental markets in the world, and have no idea why this rate is so low. Maybe it's not? But it might be worth checking into it. I got the rental through Orbitz when I bought the plane tickets.

If you find comparable rates then it might be a feasible short term solution until you can score a permanent vehicle. Better not to look for a new/used car when you're desperate, like not grocery shopping when you're hungry!

Shawndy - 1-4-2014 at 12:16 PM

Thanks Karen. We did call the consulate and they weren't much help, suggest renting a car from Budget :?:

We were intending on leaving the car here and flying back and forth anyways

Shawndy - 1-4-2014 at 12:24 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Islandbuilder
Glad you guys are OK! Wow.

I just rented a VW pointer through Budget, and pick it up in San Jose on Tuesday.

The price per day is $46.77US for 5 days! So less than $10/day.

I haven't picked it up yet, so can't speak to any hidden costs. I've rented cars in San Jose in the past, and found it one of the most expensive rental markets in the world, and have no idea why this rate is so low. Maybe it's not? But it might be worth checking into it. I got the rental through Orbitz when I bought the plane tickets.

If you find comparable rates then it might be a feasible short term solution until you can score a permanent vehicle. Better not to look for a new/used car when you're desperate, like not grocery shopping when you're hungry!


Thanks for that. Yes, the rentals here are really expensive...watch out for the hidden insurance costs as they are around $25/day. If you use your CC insurance and damage the vehicle they max out your card and you have to go after them to reverse it and settle the claim. This happened to some friends of ours and it was a nightmare for them.

Mula - 1-4-2014 at 03:09 PM

A Mexican Driver's License is easy to get as long as you know your blood type and have an address with a receipt for water, telephone, electric or rent. Get it at the Police Department.

A tourist permit is fine for getting a Driver's license. And you don't have to turn in your Canadian License.

ActuallyI bought all 3 of my Mexico BCS plated vehicles before I had a residency card or a Mexico Driver's License - only had my tourist card.

And I did this in Loreto.

Bajahowodd - 1-4-2014 at 06:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Mula
A Mexican Driver's License is easy to get as long as you know your blood type and have an address with a receipt for water, telephone, electric or rent. Get it at the Police Department.

A tourist permit is fine for getting a Driver's license. And you don't have to turn in your Canadian License.

ActuallyI bought all 3 of my Mexico BCS plated vehicles before I had a residency card or a Mexico Driver's License - only had my tourist card.

And I did this in Loreto.


Not so sure I would consider that easy....

Shawndy - 1-5-2014 at 07:28 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Quote:
Originally posted by Mula
A Mexican Driver's License is easy to get as long as you know your blood type and have an address with a receipt for water, telephone, electric or rent. Get it at the Police Department.

A tourist permit is fine for getting a Driver's license. And you don't have to turn in your Canadian License.

ActuallyI bought all 3 of my Mexico BCS plated vehicles before I had a residency card or a Mexico Driver's License - only had my tourist card.

And I did this in Loreto.


Not so sure I would consider that easy....



That's what i was thinking. Nothing to do with dealing with any authority here seems easy.....to me

Mula - 1-5-2014 at 07:31 AM

You only need to:
1. know your blood type
2. have some type of receipt (1) with your address on it.
3. Go to the Police Department and get the license.

It's around 500 pesos - give or take . . .

No tests, eye exams, driving test . . . nothing else.

What is so difficult about that?

Wally - 1-5-2014 at 06:14 PM

Where in Canada do you reside?


.

apple - 1-6-2014 at 12:26 PM

I would look for a Canadian (or maybe American) plated car for sale on CraigsList. There are usually a bunch of them.
http://bajasur.en.craigslist.com.mx/cto/4261182946.html

Aren't you supposed to have a Mexican driver's license to own/drive a Mexican plated car? Getting one of those requires resident status

[Edited on 1-6-2014 by apple]

Mula - 1-6-2014 at 01:03 PM

Getting a Mexico Driver's license does not require resident status.

And if you have resident status, word is you are not supposed to have a US plated vehicle.

In Loreto and Constituction both, I have been stopped with my S. Dakota plated vehicles - checking to make sure the tags are current and registration valid. Don't know why, but have.

bc4me - 1-6-2014 at 10:41 PM

I see prices right around $50 with taxes included at the SJDC airport for most major car rental companies, Fox and National to name a few. They might have monthly rates that are even cheaper if you ask.

apple - 1-7-2014 at 10:15 AM

The prices are cheap online but they don't show you the insurance costs until you get there. We reserved a car in Guadalajara in October for $60 for a week online, but after the insurance, the rental ended up costing us almost $300 for the week. And we waived the extra collision/damage insurance because our credit card covered that

Shawndy - 1-13-2014 at 03:16 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Wally
Where in Canada do you reside?


.


Vancouver Island, BC

Kgryfon - 1-13-2014 at 06:14 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Islandbuilder
Glad you guys are OK! Wow.

I just rented a VW pointer through Budget, and pick it up in San Jose on Tuesday.

The price per day is $46.77US for 5 days! So less than $10/day.

I haven't picked it up yet, so can't speak to any hidden costs. I've rented cars in San Jose in the past, and found it one of the most expensive rental markets in the world, and have no idea why this rate is so low. Maybe it's not? But it might be worth checking into it. I got the rental through Orbitz when I bought the plane tickets.

If you find comparable rates then it might be a feasible short term solution until you can score a permanent vehicle. Better not to look for a new/used car when you're desperate, like not grocery shopping when you're hungry!


Island, Any update? What did it actually end up costing for 5 days?

Wally - 1-14-2014 at 12:53 PM

There is a Ford Windstar for sale on Finisterra Street but it's got Alberta plates on it.

Shawndy - 1-14-2014 at 06:16 PM

Thanks Wally.

Well, we are getting F'd over by the insurance company

I will start naming names next week if things don't start looking more promising.

Getting them to spring for a rental car has been a major pain, still havn't got one 2 weeks later.:fire:

Baja DL

captkw - 1-14-2014 at 06:55 PM

Don't know if anything has changed in regard to Baja DL's but my wife at the time got one in La paz with a tourist card 15 years or so ago..hardest part was waiting in line to pay a very small price ..(as I recall) was under 20 Bucks and no test of any sort (Yikes!!) But,,In fairness,,I prefer driving Baja than calif.. Hands Down !!! and at the rate this (hahum) winter is going here in Monterey bay (&ca) its starting to look like Baja around here more and more...Damn..are those redwoods??? K&T:cool:

Islandbuilder - 1-14-2014 at 11:32 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Kgryfon
Quote:
Originally posted by Islandbuilder
Glad you guys are OK! Wow.

I just rented a VW pointer through Budget, and pick it up in San Jose on Tuesday.

The price per day is $46.77US for 5 days! So less than $10/day.

I haven't picked it up yet, so can't speak to any hidden costs. I've rented cars in San Jose in the past, and found it one of the most expensive rental markets in the world, and have no idea why this rate is so low. Maybe it's not? But it might be worth checking into it. I got the rental through Orbitz when I bought the plane tickets.

If you find comparable rates then it might be a feasible short term solution until you can score a permanent vehicle. Better not to look for a new/used car when you're desperate, like not grocery shopping when you're hungry!


Island, Any update? What did it actually end up costing for 5 days?


Like others have posted, the basic liability was an add-on to the base rate quoted. I ended up paying around US $30/day for the 5 days. Not that bad.

It was a tiny Nissan that I didn't so much get into as put on, but it did the job and moved out pretty well when I overslept on my last day and had to drive like a gringo from La Paz to Los Cabos. Fortunately I stayed up late the night before watching the Dakar rally, so I knew how to do it.:yes: