BajaNomad

Buying a Mexican car

Mulegena - 3-31-2017 at 12:10 AM

How to buy and legally own a car in Baja California Sur, Mexico?
What to seek? What to avoid? What makes a car legally Mexican?
What if a car for sale has no license plates? What paperwork should one expect?

Terms, what do these all mean and what are their specific limitations: Importado/Imported
Nationalizado/Nationalized
Fronterizado
Americano/American
Sin aduedos/Without debts.


[Edited on 3-31-2017 by Mulegena]

Alm - 3-31-2017 at 12:57 AM

Going to be a very long thread.
Quote: Originally posted by Mulegena  
What makes a car legally Mexican?
What if a car for sale has no license plates?

1: I guess, purchase from a legal Mexican dealership or completed process of importation.

2: Hard to tell. Car is not legal (not eligible to be registered and plated in Mexico), or the owner doesn't drive it at the moment.

Archie - 3-31-2017 at 11:59 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Mulegena  
How to buy and legally own a car in Baja California Sur, Mexico?
What to seek? What to avoid? What makes a car legally Mexican?
What if a car for sale has no license plates? What paperwork should one expect?


Just like in the US, or anywhere in the world, you want a dependable and trustable seller. If you want a brand new car, go to a reputable dealer, most of them are located in La Paz and Cabo area, in think there are some in Loreto and Constitución.

If you want a used car, i prefer private owners than car lots ("yardas" is the local name), but that does not exclude thieves and liers from trying to get your money, since a lot of people are opting to sell used cars as a side business.

Most of the used cars on sale in the lower peninsula are from NOB, people buy them in auctions in the north, fix them and bring them south in hopes to make some cash, usually charging 50 to 80% or more of what they payed.

All cars for sale, if imported have to have a factura (invoice) from the broker, original title, a copy of the import papers and a contract between seller and buyer to be able to register and obtain local plates. In Baja norte you also have to get a report of not being stolen from the police and a emissions control certificate.

A very important note its on the title, if its marked "salvage", "for export only" or "non-repairable" can give you an idea of the origin of the vehicle and sometimes checking the VIN will give more details of the history.
Quote: Originally posted by Mulegena  

Terms, what do these all mean and what are their specific limitations:

Importado/Imported


Legally imported for sale or use in Mexico, only in the border zone not in the mainland, unless you get a TIP (temporary Import Permit) valid only for 6 months. It still has to be registered in the state you´re taking it.

The border zone includes the entire baja peninsula, in Sonora there is a partial zone that goes from the border to a point 10 km east of Pto. Peñasco, and 10 km south of Sonoita and the Cananea municipality.
Quote: Originally posted by Mulegena  

Nationalizado/Nationalized


Imported legally for sale or use in all of Mexico, still have to be registered in the state of your residence.
Quote: Originally posted by Mulegena  

Fronterizado


Imported for use or sale in the border zone, may still be registered with valid plates, or non-registered, that means no plates.
Quote: Originally posted by Mulegena  

Americano/American


Not imported, usually still under US registration (valid license and plates), but sometimes seller keeps the plates and sells only with title.
Quote: Originally posted by Mulegena  

Sin aduedos/Without debts.


Currently registered (US or Mx) without fines, fees or requirements from local/state/federal govt.

willardguy - 3-31-2017 at 12:09 PM

I recently looked into this and found this helpful
http://www.rollybrook.com/buying_a_car.htm

Bob and Susan - 3-31-2017 at 01:27 PM

here is a paper from the governors office...
the papers you need to register a Mexican car

DSCF3891.JPG - 151kB