BajaNomad
Not logged in [Login - Register]
Search the forums Search   Frequently Asked Questions FAQ   View member list Member List   Today's Posts Today's Posts   Forum Stats Stats   Board Rules Board Rules Back to: BajaNomad.com Home

BajaNomad » Baja Questions & Answers » Owning a Mexican car in San Felipe Go To Bottom
Printable Version  
Author: Subject: Owning a Mexican car in San Felipe
Riom
Nomad
**



Posts: 492
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 5-24-2009 at 05:57 PM
Owning a Mexican car in San Felipe

I'm looking into owning a Mexico-registered car (either import or brought locally), in the San Felipe area. A US car no longer works for me (I'm not a North American).

I do realise there will be various high annual costs and fees, and the insurance gets more complex. This isn't about costs (yet), but whether it is even practical.

Does anybody have some current real-world experience of running a BC car - are there annual inspections, does the car need to be at a particular place on a given date each year, can renewals be done by post/internet etc? Can it all be done in San Felipe or does it involve Mexicali?

This is for a car that would mostly be in BC, but it might be parked up in the US for lengthy periods if I've flown off somewhere else, so I need to know if there's anything specific I need to do on an anniversary date each year?

The same would apply for the Mexican driver's license (I've been told I need it, and told I don't need it), how long is it valid for, is there anything I need to do annually? Is it essential?

Finally, is reasonably comprehensive insurance available for an FM-3 holder (with Mexican license, if I need it)? Is there any insurance that allows multiple trips up to the US, and if so how long for on each trip? Or, if it has to be brought in advance for each trip, what is the maximum trip length?

Thanks! I'm basically trying to find out if owning a car in Baja is practical if I'm not there all year, and whether that car can easily visit the US (insurance-wise).
View user's profile
flyfishinPam
Super Nomad
****

Avatar


Posts: 1727
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Loreto, BCS
Member Is Offline

Mood: gone fishin'

[*] posted on 5-25-2009 at 09:46 AM


a lot of questions there but I can respond to having a car in BCS. everything aside from importation of the vehicles can be done in your city. if its a newer vehicle chances are that you'll have to pay tenencia (tax) each year to the state. once that is done go to your seguridad publica and register the vehicle. you'll need to pay a fee to do this and here we pay it each year. i can't remember what the tenencia or the fee to the municipio is because it is low. then you will need a bc drivers license which can be procured in the same seguridad publica. ours here are good for three years. if you drive a Mexican plated vehicle then you need a Mex drivers license. yes you can get insurance here on the vehicle. also that insurance can extend to the us but if your trips are fairly short then its probably cheaper to get it at the border on a temporary basis. if the vehicle will spend most of its time out of Mexico then I wouldn't recommend plating it in Mexico. there are no annual inspections and they only ask make, year, model and color of the vehicle to determine the tax rate. sometimes at the state officer they actually look out the window at your vehicle but that's as detailed as it gets here. go to your state finanzas office and they will have a checklist of paperwork you will need to do this.

[Edited on 5-25-2009 by flyfishinPam]



View user's profile Visit user's homepage
Riom
Nomad
**



Posts: 492
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 5-25-2009 at 01:46 PM


Thanks Pam, very helpful.

I've found a BCN "Placas y Tenencia" page https://www2.ebajacalifornia.gob.mx/Placas/ where I can type in a few random BCN number plates (example: BAH1235) and get a fairly good idea that a typical up-to-date (most aren't!) tenencia is around 700 pesos a year, and it could be done online for renewals. (but as that involves them mailing it I'd be better off going into the San Felipe. Same for drivers licenses, can be renewed online.

I'm going to be researching this more and probably leaving a decision until the autumn as the insurance isn't straightforward. The only policies I've found so far for "seguros para USA" (MX car in US) are cheap, but liability only and require me to be a PERMANENT Mexican resident - so FM-2 rather than FM-3.
View user's profile

 BajaNomad » Baja Questions & Answers » Owning a Mexican car in San Felipe   Go To Top

 






All Content Copyright 1997- Q87 International; All Rights Reserved.
Powered by XMB; XMB Forum Software © 2001-2014 The XMB Group






"If it were lush and rich, one could understand the pull, but it is fierce and hostile and sullen. The stone mountains pile up to the sky and there is little fresh water. But we know we must go back if we live, and we don't know why." - Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez

 

"People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." - Theodore Roosevelt

 

"You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them or to them." - Malcolm Forbes

 

"Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you." - Jim Rohn

 

"The best way to get the right answer on the internet is not to ask a question; it's to post the wrong answer." - Cunningham's Law






Thank you to Baja Bound Mexico Insurance Services for your long-term support of the BajaNomad.com Forums site.







Emergency Baja Contacts Include:

Desert Hawks; El Rosario-based ambulance transport; Emergency #: (616) 103-0262