BajaNomad - Leaving CA registered car in Cabo San Lucas

Leaving CA registered car in Cabo San Lucas

Bwk94510 - 2-11-2023 at 07:43 PM

Hello all. I know I read somewhere that I can leave my California registered car in Cabo indefinitely so long as my CA plates are kept current. I also understand that I dont have to smog my CA car in Mexico if it’s kept more than 100 miles from the international boarder. Does anyone have different information or is that what you understand as well?

Thanks.

rccali - 2-11-2023 at 09:21 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Bwk94510

Hello all. I know I read somewhere that I can leave my California registered car in Cabo indefinitely so long as my CA plates are kept current. I also understand that I dont have to smog my CA car in Mexico if it’s kept more than 100 miles from the international boarder. Does anyone have different information or is that what you understand as well?

Thanks.

The website below gives instruction on applying for an out-of-state smog check exemption:

https://www.smogtips.com/out_of_state.cfm

From the 2 forms cited on the website I don't see a specific distance into Mexico where a vehicle would not require a smog check. The two forms are contradictory in regards to Mexico.

Registration form 256 entitled "Statement of Facts" the smog check exemption section states that if the vehicle is located in either the state of Nevada or in Mexico the form cannot be used for an exemption.

At the bottom of Registration form 5103 Application for temporary smog exemption for a vehicle located out of state, it states that only the following cities in Mexico are excluded Tijuana and Tecate.

Bwk94510 - 2-11-2023 at 11:57 PM

Thank you.

Am I limited in the length of time I can leave my CA plated car in Cabo?

gnukid - 2-12-2023 at 12:36 AM

You can have a us registered car, registered to your second home in Baja for as long as you want. Enter the garage address as your Baja address and either keep your usa address as a mailing address or if you get usa mail at the Baja address use that.

Once you enter a smog exempt zip code you will never require a smog certificate again. Most of CA zip codes are smog exempt and so are the rest of the world zip codes. Smog is only required in metropolitan areas in CA, LA/SD/SF

If you maintain a smog cert required zip, you will need to file the DMV form 256 or equivalent every year.

You will note, you may not register the car to an address at the border, for example, TJ, Laredo, it must be about 100km below. There is a list of border cities you can not register a use vehicle.

You will require use ins to continue registration of car, or submit the mexico insurance manually as proof of insurance and declare car won't return to use without updated policy, or in some cases ins policies are supported by both countries. USA Dmv uses electronic ins verification, manual verification with proof is supported but it is not reliable in the system.

[Edited on 2-12-2023 by gnukid]

mtgoat666 - 2-12-2023 at 07:46 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Bwk94510

Hello all. I know I read somewhere that I can leave my California registered car in Cabo indefinitely so long as my CA plates are kept current.

You probably read that on some expat internet post. You did not read that in Mexican law.

TLBaja79 - 2-12-2023 at 08:27 AM

What gnukid said!!

We keep one in Baja, every year registration renewal you have to fill out that form telling them the address (DMV form: Application for Smog Exemption for a Vehicle Out of State).

Maintain USA insurance. We have minimal US Insurance and maintain Mex insurance too.

Supposed to get SMOG immediately if you return the car to US

You get full registration, tags, etc.... easy but still paying CA reg fees...

David K - 2-12-2023 at 09:00 AM

There was also a Mexican law that tourists (FMM) cannot leave any property in Mexico at the end of their vacation, i.e. when they go back home.
Only those with a residence (part time) visa can.

If you buy a home in Baja, that is when you begin the process of converting your status of tourist (with an FMM) to Part-Time Immigrant/ Resident. This may be so you have legal status should there be any disputes over you property in Mexico.

Any updates to this, other than "they never check" or "that's the way it has always been done"?

Bwk94510 - 2-12-2023 at 09:03 AM

Thank you everyone. Just finishing all my planning before we leave later this week for our drive down to Cabo. Appreciate all the help.

mtgoat666 - 2-12-2023 at 09:32 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K

There was also a Mexican law that tourists (FMM) cannot leave any property in Mexico at the end of their vacation, i.e. when they go back home.
Only those with a residence (part time) visa can.

If you buy a home in Baja, that is when you begin the process of converting your status of tourist (with an FMM) to Part-Time Immigrant/ Resident. This may be so you have legal status should there be any disputes over you property in Mexico.

Any updates to this, other than "they never check" or "that's the way it has always been done"?

The allure of retirement in Mexico: obeying laws is optional for expats.

Of course, it seems that criminals and police also think obeying laws is optional requirement :lol:

surabi - 2-12-2023 at 10:19 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K

surabi - 2-12-2023 at 10:30 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Foreigners in Mexico on a tourist visa are not legally allowed to leave their foreign-plated vehicle in Mexico. Maybe because Baja is a free-zone for cars, it isn't enforced there. Or maybe Baja nomads think laws don't apply to them.

Applying for residency has nothing to do with purchasing land or a home in Mexico. It has to do with spending more than 6 months at a stretch in Mexico. There are plenty of foreigners who have temporary or permanent residency who rent, rather than own.

David K - 2-12-2023 at 01:13 PM

Yes, I realize there are... Sounds like my assumption was correct per your reply. I also know people who have homes in Mexico who only get an FMM.

Are people who go back to their rented or purchased property, year after year, tourists or part-time residents? In other words, are they supposed to get the residential visa (technically)?

Thanks!

[Edited on 2-12-2023 by David K]

surabi - 2-12-2023 at 02:11 PM

Legally if you don't stay in Mexico for more than 180 days, like if you spend 6 months in Mexico and six months up north, or come down to your Mexican home for a month or two once or several times a year, regardless of whether you own property, I don't think it matters to INM whether you only have tourist status. And you can own property in Mexico without having residency.

What Mexico doesn't want, and which they have been trying to crack down on in some areas, is foreigners who actually live in Mexico, but only have a tourist visa, and make a trip out of the country every six months, then turn around the same day or a few days later and re-enter on a new tourist visa.

If Mexico is your full time home, you are supposed to have residency status. It's really no different from how most other countries operate.

As far as vehicles go, I found that Mexican customs agents in Baja aren't even aware of vehicle laws that are enforced in other parts of Mexico. Years ago, when I had to segue from temporary to permanent residency, I had to get my Canadian-plated car out of Mexico, as permanent residents can't legally drive foreign-plated vehicles. So I stopped at the border in Tecate to get my TIP sticker removed, and a receipt showing the vehicle had been removed from Mexico. The customs agent told me I didn't need to do that, I could just drive out. I told him I had to have proof, as I couldn't have a foreign-plated car here due to my permanente status. He asked me where I had heard such a thing, he knew nothing about it.
I tapped the badge on his chest and said "From your jefe in Mexico City".

[Edited on 2-12-2023 by surabi]