BajaNomad

How can I keep my van in BCS?

Squash - 3-14-2022 at 01:28 PM

I just got my permanent resident visa and I'm totally confused about how to keep my van legal here in BCS.
I didn't have the visa when I arrived this time, I had only applied for it, so I entered on a tourist visa. I had bought Mexican car insurance through baja bound before I arrived, as a tourist (they asked). So I'm in BCS and now have my PR visa but my understanding is that since my van is 27 years old, that I'm not allowed to register it here or to keep it registered in the states and drive it here legally.
I love my van, have invested way more than it's worth (it's supposed to be my "forever" van and only has 130,000 miles on it) and really want to keep it here!
I cannot afford to buy a new van that meets the requirements to import (I've read different things, but they all say it's not possible if the vehicle is over 10 years old).
I have so many questions but first
-Do I need to change the Mexican car insurance I bought since I'm now a PR? Am I driving it illegally with that insurance? I paid for a year and have been here 2 months so far, maybe there's an amnesty period? FYI my plan is to drive back to the states next month and return in the fall to live here basically full time (9 months to a year each year going forward). Can I import the van like my household goods duty free within the next 4 months? (I know that's a stretch, but I'm grasping at straws here).
I still have other questions but for now I'm just gonna throw this out there and ask
What are my options to keep my van here legally?? Even creative solutions are appreciated.
Ok thanks in advance for any help.
PS- I'm sorry if the info lives somewhere else here. I read some other posts/threads here like "Transferring ownership of US vehicles in Baja" and honestly I'm still confused bc there's so much conflicting info...





[Edited on 3-14-2022 by Squash]

David K - 3-14-2022 at 01:54 PM

Contact Baja Bound to hear about the insurance question. You should have their email and phone numbers in the policy.

My guess is that the special low cost traveler's insurance rates do not apply if you are no longer a tourist vacationing there?? Nomads who live in Baja might have a local agent they like to buy from... One in Rosarito Beach is often named...

Squash - 3-14-2022 at 02:32 PM

Thanks, you're probably right about contacting baja bound. I guess I'm hesitant bc what if they say -"now that you're a PR, your insurance is no longer valid" and cancel it? Because now that I'm no longer a tourist, apparently my van isn't legal here anymore, and therefore I can't buy any insurance bc of that anyway? (sorry if I'm contradicting myself from my above post, all this info I'm learning about the vehicle stuff is just starting to sink in...)


John Harper - 3-14-2022 at 03:57 PM

Why can't you register the van in the US (South Dakota???), get a yearly insurance policy from BajaBound, and just have it in Mexico. Why can't a registered 27 year old vehicle enter Mexico?

My roommate has a PR, she has her Subaru registered here at my place in CA, and has an annual insurance policy thru BajaBound. Seems to work for her. Just having a PR does not mean you have to live in Mexico 24/7/365 forever. You're still a US citizen.

John

PaulW - 3-14-2022 at 04:24 PM

What you read about vehicles for use in Baja are different that what you read about for Mexico in general. Border states including Baja have special provisions. In Baja residence status is not a factor.
There is a thread about Cabo requiring municipal registration, but I do not think it applies anywhere else.
Foreign tags are allowed in Baja for folks with PR & TR, but not in the mainland as a whole.
Anyway
We drive 3 vehicles with US tags and have them fully insured with HDI Seguros. For sure they will honor the insurance as written. We both have PR status, but HDI did not ask us about that. We both had to show our US drivers license. No discussion came up about a Mexican drivers license. Read your insurance policy or have the agent read it for you.

For sure National Guard and municipal cops do not care and the state law enforcement agency is limited to investigations - not enforcement.

PaulW - 3-14-2022 at 08:14 PM

Of course, just replying to a person that just is moving to Baja.
The question was about living in Baja.

Squash should know that the place to get insurance is where he lives, not some remote place like the USA. And for sure not a mail or Internet broker.

John Harper - 3-15-2022 at 04:43 AM

Aren't the policies written by BajaBound for Mexican insurance actually done through a Mexican insurance company? They are just a broker for the Mexican companies? My Lewis and Lewis policies are always through Mexican insurance companies (HDI, Qualitas, etc.).

And, what's the use of a full year policy if it's not meant to be full time coverage? All policies have a starting time/date and ending time/date.

Once again, many opinions, few facts.

John

[Edited on 3-15-2022 by John Harper]

PaulW - 3-15-2022 at 08:08 AM

Baja Bound deals with and writes insurance with regular Mexican insurance companies. That is not an issue. All insurance policies written for Mexico have to be from a Mexican insurance company. Non Mexican insurance companies are not recognized in Mexico.

None of my comments apply to a tourist needing insurance for Mexico.

For a resident it sure is nice to have a local broker to communicate with in case of a claim. Dealing with a broker in the USA is very cumbersome.
Examples:
- when the phone number the claims adjuster gives you results in a Spanish only person. Same is true for the phone number on the written policy. Even when a English speaker arrives on the phone it is nearly impossible to communicate due to speakers broke English.
- when the claim adjuster arrives to examine your claim does not speak English.

Coverage dates are always written on the policy and can vary based on the customer need.

JZ - 3-15-2022 at 11:22 AM

Baja Bound writes policies for HDI and Chubb.

Your first step should be to call them and ask the details to your questions about PR and living in Baja part time.

I have found them to be very responsive and knowledgeable. If they can cover your specific circumstances I wouldn't hesitate to stick with them.

Hook - 3-16-2022 at 02:48 PM

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW  
What you read about vehicles for use in Baja are different that what you read about for Mexico in general. Border states including Baja have special provisions. In Baja residence status is not a factor.
There is a thread about Cabo requiring municipal registration, but I do not think it applies anywhere else.
Foreign tags are allowed in Baja for folks with PR & TR, but not in the mainland as a whole.
.


There are exceptions on the mainland, too. Northern Sonora and an area down by Guatamela.

Has anyone looked into this supposed limited time importation of vehicles that are in Mexico illegally? Some cars can be "imported" for a much smaller amount that traditional importation.

I have just never found clear documentation on what types of vehicles are eligible for this.

DIWR17 - 3-21-2022 at 11:19 AM

Just throwing this out there. Have heard over the next few weeks there may be an amnesty coming to register a US vehicle here in Baja with Mx tags. They want the money obviously.

This may mitigate the need for people to do the SD tag thing. If the vehicle is staying here better to have local auto insurance.

Just bought a new Nissan here in SJD, titled, tagged and insured in Mexico. We have our PR cards but didn't seem to matter to the dealer as we own property here.

RnR - 3-21-2022 at 01:22 PM

Quote: Originally posted by DIWR17  

Just bought a new Nissan here in SJD, titled, tagged and insured in Mexico. We have our PR cards but didn't seem to matter to the dealer as we own property here.


Quick question about your new Nissan -

Was the price negotiable or did it sell for just about the MSRP?

We are looking at either a new Nissan or a new Ranger in La Paz. Both dealers just quote the MSRP with no attempt at talking about a lower price. They do say that there is usually a small factory discount at the end of the model year.

DIWR17 - 3-22-2022 at 07:27 AM

Paid the MSRP. No negotiation. Bought the Nissan March for the wife. Was US$14,900 out the door. Had to buy the side skirts to cover the weld seams as that was an option? Only in Mx right.

Maybe there is a discount if you finance it? I have been to local dealers here with Mx friends and they have all told me the same thing, there is no negotiating at all.

RnR - 3-22-2022 at 08:11 AM

Quote: Originally posted by DIWR17  
Paid the MSRP. No negotiation.


Thanks for the info. Saves me a trip to SJD/Cabo just to see if a different dealer would offer a lower price.

I have also heard from a few friends that vehicles only sell for the MSRP. You just confirmed it.

Does make it easier than playing the dealer price games in the US.

JZ - 3-22-2022 at 08:21 AM

Quote: Originally posted by RnR  
Quote: Originally posted by DIWR17  
Paid the MSRP. No negotiation.


Thanks for the info. Saves me a trip to SJD/Cabo just to see if a different dealer would offer a lower price.

I have also heard from a few friends that vehicles only sell for the MSRP. You just confirmed it.

Does make it easier than playing the dealer price games in the US.


There isn't much haggling or even availability in the US. New vehicle inventory is unbelievably low.

And used car prices are incredibly high. Used 2500 Silverados from 2015 are going for $45K to $60K.

It does depend on the model. I got my daughter a Jetta with 15K miles last year and there was a bunch of them available.




[Edited on 3-22-2022 by JZ]

4x4abc - 3-22-2022 at 08:37 AM

some dealers in La Paz force you to finance your new car for a minimum of 3 months. No financing - no car.