BajaNomad

buying a car

singleshot - 6-3-2014 at 01:04 PM

After 4 years without transportation, I'm ready to buy. I'd like to be able to cross the border rather than just keeping it in Baja only. I'll be paying cash and buying cheap so as to carry liability only.

Buy a car registered in the US or here in Baja? Pros and cons of each and any other pitfalls that I might encounter.

Any other advice, suggestions or personal experiences are welcome.

DENNIS - 6-3-2014 at 01:38 PM

Where is "here in Baja?"

chuckie - 6-3-2014 at 01:58 PM

Wherever he is ?

DENNIS - 6-3-2014 at 02:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chuckie
Wherever he is ?



Nah...that don't work. BN...BSUR...two different worlds with different methods to approach his questions.

Udo - 6-3-2014 at 02:59 PM

Me thinks he's in BOLA.

bajaguy - 6-3-2014 at 03:01 PM

If he wants to cross the border to the US occasionally, buy in the US, title and register in South Dakota, buy US liability insurance and insure for Mexico with Bajabound
Quote:
Originally posted by singleshot
After 4 years without transportation, I'm ready to buy. I'd like to be able to cross the border rather than just keeping it in Baja only. I'll be paying cash and buying cheap so as to carry liability only.

Buy a car registered in the US or here in Baja? Pros and cons of each and any other pitfalls that I might encounter.

Any other advice, suggestions or personal experiences are welcome.

singleshot - 6-4-2014 at 08:04 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
If he wants to cross the border to the US occasionally, buy in the US, title and register in South Dakota, buy US liability insurance and insure for Mexico with Bajabound


Quote:
Originally posted by singleshot
After 4 years without transportation, I'm ready to buy. I'd like to be able to cross the border rather than just keeping it in Baja only. I'll be paying cash and buying cheap so as to carry liability only.

Buy a car registered in the US or here in Baja? Pros and cons of each and any other pitfalls that I might encounter.

Any other advice, suggestions or personal experiences are welcome.


Thanks, I'm in Rosarito btw.

I'm curious about the S Dakota plate thing. A California drivers license isn't going to work, will it?
Do I need to get a Mx DL?

DENNIS - 6-4-2014 at 08:21 PM

Ca DL with SD plates is fine.
Mex DL ...only for Mex plated cars.
US DL for US pLated cars.

No mix 'n match.

If you buy a Baja plated car, the price will reflect an expensive import fee.
Just get a US beater and register it in SD, like you mentioned.

bajaguy - 6-4-2014 at 08:32 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by singleshot

I'm curious about the S Dakota plate thing. A California drivers license isn't going to work, will it?
Do I need to get a Mx DL?





Think a CA DL and SD plates will work unless you want a SENTRI

singleshot - 6-5-2014 at 01:25 PM

No sentri... if I get pulled over in CA and show a CA DL and a SD plate/registration, that doesn't cause problems?

anybody have any experience with any of the auto auctions in Otay?

[Edited on 6-5-2014 by singleshot]

bajaguy - 6-5-2014 at 01:27 PM

Regards to getting pulled over:

P.U.N.G.D.O.T.S.

Probably
Usually
Normally
Depends
On
The
Situation..................

What ties do you have to or in California???

Auto auction...........why not Craig's List???
Quote:
Originally posted by singleshot
No sentri... if I get pulled over in CA and show a CA DL and a SD plate/registration, that doesn't cause problems?

anybody have any experience with any of the auto auctions in Otay?

[Edited on 6-5-2014 by singleshot]




[Edited on 6-5-2014 by bajaguy]

greengoes - 6-5-2014 at 01:29 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by singleshot
No sentri... if I get pulled over in CA and show a CA DL and a SD plate/registration, that doesn't cause problems?

anybody have any experience with any of the auto auctions in Otay?

[Edited on 6-5-2014 by singleshot]


In the past it caused problemas grande.

Bite the bullet, buy and register in CA. It will cost more but so much easier.

vandenberg - 6-5-2014 at 03:44 PM

Ca Dr. license and SD plates combo may cause some problem. So get yourself a Mex. DL and use that when in Ca. Give a Mex. address.

Done this for years.

Fernweh - 6-5-2014 at 03:53 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by vandenberg
Ca Dr. license and SD plates combo may cause some problem. So get yourself a Mex. DL and use that when in Ca. Give a Mex. address.

Done this for years.


Good idea, thank you...perfect;D

singleshot - 6-6-2014 at 08:13 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
Regards to getting pulled over:

P.U.N.G.D.O.T.S.

Probably
Usually
Normally
Depends
On
The
Situation..................

What ties do you have to or in California???

Auto auction...........why not Craig's List???

Quote:
Originally posted by singleshot
No sentri... if I get pulled over in CA and show a CA DL and a SD plate/registration, that doesn't cause problems?

anybody have any experience with any of the auto auctions in Otay?

[Edited on 6-5-2014 by singleshot]




[Edited on 6-5-2014 by bajaguy]


my Texas DL expired while I was living in SLP, after I moved to Rosarito and started to get my SS, I got a mailbox in San Ysidro then got a CA DL... no ties

I check out craigslist all the time and that's fine but the auction is way cheaper, I was curious if anyone had a preference for one auction over the others and why...

singleshot - 6-6-2014 at 08:19 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by greengoes
Quote:
Originally posted by singleshot
No sentri... if I get pulled over in CA and show a CA DL and a SD plate/registration, that doesn't cause problems?

anybody have any experience with any of the auto auctions in Otay?

[Edited on 6-5-2014 by singleshot]


In the past it caused problemas grande.

Bite the bullet, buy and register in CA. It will cost more but so much easier.


I will most likely buy in CA. Buying a vehicle in MX seems much more risky unless you know the person you are buying from and I might just do what you suggest, since I am so close the border anyway.

singleshot - 6-6-2014 at 08:22 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by vandenberg
Ca Dr. license and SD plates combo may cause some problem. So get yourself a Mex. DL and use that when in Ca. Give a Mex. address.

Done this for years.


thanks, this is exactly what I was thinking

I have this option or register the vehicle in CA, what are the pros/cons either way?

vandenberg - 6-6-2014 at 09:27 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by singleshot
I have this option or register the vehicle in CA, what are the pros/cons either way?


Mullah !!! ....and NO SMOG !!:light::light:

durrelllrobert - 6-6-2014 at 09:32 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
If he wants to cross the border to the US occasionally, buy in the US, title and register in South Dakota, buy US liability insurance and insure for Mexico with Bajabound



+100% and if you don't live or work in California you can still get a CA DL and not have to worry about mismatched plates (unless you have a SENTRI pass). No matter what DMV tells you about needing a physical address to get a CA DL you can use your San Ysidro PMB like I do. Only those people that have a CA residential address (meaning they live in CA) have a problem driving a SD plated car if they get stopped for some reason.

[Edited on 6-6-2014 by durrelllrobert]

durrelllrobert - 6-6-2014 at 09:44 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by singleshot

my Texas DL expired while I was living in SLP, after I moved to Rosarito and started to get my SS, I got a mailbox in San Ysidro then got a CA DL... no ties

I check out craigslist all the time and that's fine but the auction is way cheaper, I was curious if anyone had a preference for one auction over the others and why...

There's a guy down here that buys lots of cars at Father Joe's Village auction in Otay then brings them down here to sell.

singleshot - 6-7-2014 at 11:08 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by durrelllrobert
Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
If he wants to cross the border to the US occasionally, buy in the US, title and register in South Dakota, buy US liability insurance and insure for Mexico with Bajabound



+100% and if you don't live or work in California you can still get a CA DL and not have to worry about mismatched plates (unless you have a SENTRI pass). No matter what DMV tells you about needing a physical address to get a CA DL you can use your San Ysidro PMB like I do. Only those people that have a CA residential address (meaning they live in CA) have a problem driving a SD plated car if they get stopped for some reason.

[Edited on 6-6-2014 by durrelllrobert]


My CA DL has my mailbox address on it.
So you're saying that driving a car that's registered and plated in SD and driving with a CA DL is NOT going to cause problems either at the border or if I get stopped?

singleshot - 6-7-2014 at 11:09 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by vandenberg
Quote:
Originally posted by singleshot
I have this option or register the vehicle in CA, what are the pros/cons either way?


Mullah !!! ....and NO SMOG !!:light::light:


thanks for confirming my thoughts

bajaguy - 6-7-2014 at 11:34 AM

Register and title in SD, get a Baja Drivers License

Mulegena - 6-7-2014 at 02:08 PM

Questions:
While in the United States...
1) Can we operate a US-plated car with a Mexican DL?

2)Can we operate a So.D.-plated car with a Calif. DL with a post office box listed as opposed to a residential address?

[Edited on 6-7-2014 by Mulegena]

Fernweh - 6-7-2014 at 05:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Mulegena
Questions:
While in the United States...
1) Can we operate a US-plated car with a Mexican DL?

2)Can we operate a So.D.-plated car with a Calif. DL with a post office box listed as opposed to a residential address?

[Edited on 6-7-2014 by Mulegena]


SD will not register a vehicle with just a P.O. Box address, needs to be a real address (of the P.O. Box business) or so.
Also, need to supply SS#'s for all owners as well.

[Edited on 6-8-2014 by Fernweh]

Mulegena - 6-7-2014 at 05:22 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Fernweh
Quote:
Originally posted by Mulegena
Questions:
While in the United States...
1) Can we operate a US-plated car with a Mexican DL?

2)Can we operate a So.D.-plated car with a Calif. DL with a post office box listed as opposed to a residential address?

[Edited on 6-7-2014 by Mulegena]


SD will not register a vehicle with just a P.O. Box address, needs to be a real address (of the P.O. Box business) or so.
Also, need to supply SS#'s for all owners as well.

[Edited on 6-8-2014 by Fernweh]

This is good to know regards the requirements to register a car in South Dakota.

However, my questions were referring to operating a car in the US:
1) Can we do so with a Mexican drivers' license?
2) If we use a California drivers' license must that license list a physical address or will a p.o.box suffice?

singleshot - 6-8-2014 at 01:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Mulegena
Questions:
While in the United States...
1) Can we operate a US-plated car with a Mexican DL?

2)Can we operate a So.D.-plated car with a Calif. DL with a post office box listed as opposed to a residential address?

[Edited on 6-7-2014 by Mulegena]


1) I think that's only going to work with SD registration because they will register vehicles from out of state and out of country.

2) I used my mailing address for my CA DL and told them that's what it was and they were fine with that. As far as the SD reg w/ CA DL... I don't know