BajaNomad

What do I need to know about buying a car in Baja?

fire - 10-14-2018 at 11:31 PM

Hi there, I plan to come down to Baja quite often, year after year.. therefore, it seams to make more sense to buy a car than rent,

Any recommendations / things I should know about what to look out for -
in terms of paper work / dos and dont's from Baja veterans?

weebray - 10-15-2018 at 08:26 AM

If you are only visiting Baja California and your immigration status is tourist, buy a car anywhere and drive on. Generally speaking, automobiles are less expensive north of the border. If you are planning to immigrate to Mexico and plan to only visit/live in Baja and never visit the mainland the same applies. There are some nuances here but this is basically factual. Above all remember that Mexico is not as black and white as "el otro lado".

David K - 10-15-2018 at 08:34 AM

As weebray mentioned... you must be an immigrant to Mexico (a part or full time resident 'visa') in order to leave any property behind in Mexico if you leave Mexico.

Tourists (FMM card holders) must not leave or sell any property of theirs in Mexico. You go, have fun, and go home (a vacation). If you buy anything in Mexico or take something to Mexico (a car, land, palapa) that is not going back to the United States with you, then you are supposed to change your immigration status and get the correct visa... for full legal protection. No, not everyone does it... big surprise, right? ;)

charliemanson - 10-15-2018 at 01:43 PM

I say just do the right thing and buy a car here that is legally plated, costs about 200 pesos a year. Insurance is cheap and if you have a problem the carrier will be there with you quickly. Do some research on what happens when you do get into an accident. If you plan on spending time here and want to be or become part of the solution of not trying to get away with everything you can, help pay for the roads with your license fees... it is just not that much.

If you would be interested in a 92 jeep to run around in, we have a nice one we rarely use. It is plated and legal. we are in the southern La Paz area. u2u me if you want more info as I would not want to post it for sale here.

fire - 10-17-2018 at 09:33 PM

Thanks Charlie,

I am curious about cars that are advertised that say "have mexican plates"

If I have a regular tourist visa from Canada, what benefit does this have for me?
I surmise it means I dont have to go through the importation procedures. but as a tourist, am I able to legally insure a mexican plated car?
Quote: Originally posted by charliemanson  
I say just do the right thing and buy a car here that is legally plated, costs about 200 pesos a year. Insurance is cheap and if you have a problem the carrier will be there with you quickly. Do some research on what happens when you do get into an accident. If you plan on spending time here and want to be or become part of the solution of not trying to get away with everything you can, help pay for the roads with your license fees... it is just not that much.

If you would be interested in a 92 jeep to run around in, we have a nice one we rarely use. It is plated and legal. we are in the southern La Paz area. u2u me if you want more info as I would not want to post it for sale here.

weebray - 10-18-2018 at 08:13 AM

Quote: Originally posted by fire  
Thanks Charlie,

I am curious about cars that are advertised that say "have mexican plates"

If I have a regular tourist visa from Canada, what benefit does this have for me?
I surmise it means I dont have to go through the importation procedures. but as a tourist, am I able to legally insure a mexican plated car?

Quote: Originally posted by charliemanson  
I say just do the right thing and buy a car here that is legally plated, costs about 200 pesos a year. Insurance is cheap and if you have a problem the carrier will be there with you quickly. Do some research on what happens when you do get into an accident. If you plan on spending time here and want to be or become part of the solution of not trying to get away with everything you can, help pay for the roads with your license fees... it is just not that much.

If you would be interested in a 92 jeep to run around in, we have a nice one we rarely use. It is plated and legal. we are in the southern La Paz area. u2u me if you want more info as I would not want to post it for sale here.


None, correct, yes.

shari - 10-18-2018 at 09:43 AM

I think you need a Mexican drivers license to drive a mexican plated vehicle.

It is easy to find gringo vehicles for sale and you could probably get away with driving it depending on where you hang out. I now people with tourist visas who keep a vehicle in Loreto to have to use when they fly in.

Here in the villages it's not a problem but if you get stopped by a Federale there may be an issue with a Canadian drivers license and American plates...or not...many Mexicanos just think Canada is part of the states!;) Depends how good of a yarn you spin.

David K - 10-18-2018 at 09:51 AM

Yes, we are all "norteamericanos" after all, eh?

As for insurance, do make sure you are covered in a Mexican plated car by contacting the insurance company before buying one. The typical Mexican Auto Insurance sold is for tourists driving their U.S. (or Canadian) insured car in Mexico, on a vacation. That is why it is so inexpensive. If you are living in Mexico a few months a year, at the same address (not traveling, camping) year after year, you are no longer a 'tourist on a vacation' but instead, you are a 'part-time resident'. If someone purchased something in Mexico that stays in Mexico, after you leave, that is also not a 'tourist' as defined.