I'm been lurking here for a while and learnt a lot, thanks! This is my first question... Sorry it's so long!
I'm British, and I have a winter home in Arizona and now a home near San Felipe. I will be applying for the FM3 soon. In the US, I use a visitor visa
(I'm not a resident, and don't want to be). I don't work in either country.
Until now, I've rented cars as needed but as I plan to spend much of the year in Mexico with long trips to the USA I need to buy a (used) car. I'm
trying to choose between buying/registering it in Arizona, or Baja California. What do other non-North Americans do in this situation?
With an Arizona car, I'm very limited in the choice of insurer, as I'm not allowed to get an Arizona drivers license (they're almost as hard to get as
passports now). So I'd be paying "high risk" premiums for at least the first three years (roughly $100-150/month), plus then the Mexico insurance on
top. In addition, having a US car would give the US immigration the wrong impression about where my main home is (quite important when entering on a
visitor visa). The benefit is better choice and maybe quality of cars, service in English, and higher insurance limits.
With a Mexico car, it seems I can get a Mexico drivers license easily (with FM3), and then register a car in Mexico. I can buy liability insurance
for Mexico and for the US/Canada for under $500/yr in total, but it seems that it is hard to get anything other than the legal minimum coverage in the
US (which is a bit risky). Is that correct, or is there a way to get a Mexico car fully insured for both countries?
The downsides include the limited choice of cars and having to deal in Spanish (I'm far from fluent), the paperwork being in Spanish and with variable
rules, difficulty of checking the history of the car, and the insurance limits. Also perhaps the extra interest a BC car will attract elsewhere in
the US (I can imagine it'll get stopped more than one from Arizona).
A third choice might be to buy/register in AZ for a little while and import the car into Mexico, but that's probably even more expensive. I can see
little difference in the price of small, cheap, 2-5 year old used cars in either country.
So, do others here have a car registered in BC that they take to the US for lengthy periods, with decent insurance coverage? Any other advantages or
disadvantages in either state that I haven't considered? Any other options? Thanks!
For the last 10 years
Tucker - 3-2-2005 at 03:11 PM
I have driven Mexican registered cars, there is no shortage of decent cars if you look around. When I go to the states I buy a one month policy
(liability only). Last year it was 46 USD. I cant imagine paying registration fees, massive amounts for insurance in the states, when I can do it
for probably 10% of the cost down here. Riom - 3-2-2005 at 04:53 PM
Thanks Tucker for the reply. Given the reputation used car dealers have everywhere, is there any system in Mexico for checking the history of a car
when buying? (not that I really care but it'll be crossing the border frequently, has to be squeaky-clean).
Quote:
When I go to the states I buy a one month policy (liability only). Last year it was 46 USD.
That's the main problem with the Mexican insurance - US coverage seems to be legal minimum liability only (I've been quoted under $200 for an annual
policy apparently with no maximum length per trip to the US/Can, excellent value but limited).
The large savings on the US insurance make it affordable to self-insurance for collision etc but I'm a bit concerned about high liability claims in
the US.
Are there any annual inspections needed for cars registered in Baja California, and are the registration costs high? Or is this one of the things
where the "rules" vary by town? (I'm not complaining about that, I enjoy the differences!).
The safest bet for buying a used Mexican vehicle
Tucker - 3-2-2005 at 05:17 PM
Is to buy a "national" vehicle, one that was sold new in Mexico, they have license plates that are different than the "frontera" plates that are
issued to imported vehicles.
In my area license (placas) renewals require an inspection if you bring the car in, if not, it's usually certified anyway as long a you pay the
inspection fee. Of course every transaction with "transito" (DMV) is a new adventure, so nothing I say here might be true in your case. I use
"Gestors" (people who do everything for me for a modest fee), It works well for me!
Overall it is not a daunting task unless you allow it to be.
Registration fees are minimal ($20 $30 dollars). Import fees are usually several hundred dollars.
[Edited on 3-3-2005 by Tucker]bajalou - 3-3-2005 at 09:30 PM
If you have Frontera plates and you go to other parts off Mexico outside the "Frontera" ie; beyond Sonoyta Sonora you must get a vehicle permit much
like the ones US registered cars need. costs is about the same but believe it is only good for the one trip. The permit for US registered cars is
good for as long as the owner's permit to be in Mexico. (FMT,FM2, FM3
Don't believe really new cars (2004-2005 models)can be imported at all - only slightly older ones.
Dave - 3-3-2005 at 10:19 PM
I have a imported Baja plated vehicle. Last time I went to the interior (two years ago) there was no charge. I did have to get a permit and it was
only good for the trip. MUST be surrendered at the point of origin.
Bruce R Leech - 3-4-2005 at 08:23 AM
Riom It seems to me that there could be a problem with having a Mexican registered vehicle as your primary vehicle in Arizona with an Arizona address.
I don't know anything about the Law there but a lot of states wont allow that. I visit the U.S allot and don't have a problem. with my Mexican plates
. but a few years ago I went to Colorado for 9 months and the police there told me I had only 30 days to re register my car. They hassled me the whole
time I was there. I would check the local laws there before you make your decision. Part of the problem was that I clam Colorado as my legal U.S.
address.
[Edited on 3-4-2005 by Bruce R Leech]Riom - 3-4-2005 at 08:36 AM
Quote:
If you have Frontera plates and you go to other parts off Mexico outside the "Frontera" ie; beyond Sonoyta Sonora you must get a vehicle permit
Thanks Bajalou, that sounds like another reason for "national" plates. It's looking very likely that's the way I'll go, especially for a cheap car.
I've now found there are insurance companies that will insure a Mexican car in the US for higher that the legal minimum liability (plus medical
payments), so that's not a problem.
Thanks for the responses.Riom - 3-4-2005 at 08:50 AM
Quote:
a Mexican registered vehicle as your primary vehicle in Arizona with an Arizona address.
My Arizona address is a second home where I'm a visitor, on a tourist visa. As a non-American I'm not permitted to be "resident", i.e. they won't
allow me to have an AZ drivers license.
I do see your point though Bruce, it could certainly affect an American.
However, there are thousands of Canadians driving around Yuma for six months a year on their Canadian plates, and Baja Califonia plates are extremely
common there also (I won't stand out).
I've just checked with the AZ DMV and I become an AZ resident for drivers license purposes if I "Remain in Arizona for a total of 7 months or more
during any calendar year, regardless of permanent residence". I won't be in AZ that much each year. A car needs to be registered locally only if am
resident, using that definition.
Thanks for bring up the point though, was worth checking.
Bruce R Leech - 3-4-2005 at 08:58 AM
sounds like you have it under control Riom good luck. it will be nice to have a Brit in Baja, come visit if you ever git down to Mulege.bajalou - 3-4-2005 at 09:04 AM
If you register a car in Calif. and show a Mexico home address the cost is lower. (no county taxes added) - They allow it but remind you they will not
send renewal notices to you - got to remember it yourself.
Imperial county CA does not have periodic smog check requirements - only on title transfer or re-registering from another state.
Riom - 3-4-2005 at 03:31 PM
Quote:
If you register a car in Calif. and show a Mexico home address
Interesting Bajalou that that's allowed. I can see that registering a car in Calexico might work very well for San Felipe, especially for an American
with no US address.
For me I think that would be even more expensive than using my AZ address though! BC national plates look like the way to go for me (most effort,
least cost).
