Papadapa
Newbie
Posts: 2
Registered: 10-25-2008
Member Is Offline
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Owning a car in Baja...
Hello
Im trying to figure out transport options for a long stay down here and any help you guys can give me would be really appreciated.
I'm from Europe and am based in the south near Todos Santos.
I need a car and am reckoning my options are:
1) To buy one in the US and drive it down.
2) To buy a US plated car thats already here.
3) To buy a Baja plated car.
My questions are :
1) How stringent are the Mexican authorities on their temporary import laws for US cars down south, or anywhere in Baja for that matter? I don't want
to have to keep driving it back to the US as that raises US visa issues for me as a European.
2) And how are they on expired US registration tags? I read somewhere that they'd been known to take an interest in those as well.
3) Am i actually even allowed to own a Baja plated car as a tourist here?
Any help / advice anyone can give me would be REALLY appreciated !
Thanks a lot
Papadapa
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Baja-Brit
Nomad
Posts: 138
Registered: 8-28-2008
Location: London, England & La Paz
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Mood: Happy in Baja!
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Where you from Papadapa?
As you were.
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comitan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4177
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: La Paz
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Mood: mellow
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You will save yourself a lot of problems if you just buy a car here in La Paz, that is already imported. Then all you have to do is maintain the
registration. You will have to get a Mexican drivers license.
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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Howard
Super Nomad
Posts: 2353
Registered: 11-13-2007
Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
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Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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One problem to consider. If your car is registered in California and is kept in Baja and you do not have USA car insurance, only Mexican Insurance,
when the California registration comes up, DMV will want to see your USA insurance and probalby have to get it smogged. I have been told, 2nd handed,
not 1st handed, that if your California tags are expired your Mexican insurance is void.
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Katiejay99
Nomad
Posts: 429
Registered: 9-3-2008
Location: Todos Santos
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Mood: it is what it is
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In order to register a car plated in Mexico, you must have an FM3 or FM2 in order to get a drivers license and you cannot have it put in your name if
you do not have a drivers license. I just went through this with my Trooper.
I have a 1990 Cadillac for sale for $3,000 - you can u2u me if interested. It is plated in Colorado but we can discuss that. I am in Todos Santos or
you can email me at katiejay99@yahoo.com.
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Mango
Senior Nomad
Posts: 685
Registered: 4-11-2006
Location: Alta California &/or Mexicali
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Mood: Bajatastic
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| Quote: | Originally posted by comitan
You will save yourself a lot of problems if you just buy a car here in La Paz, that is already imported. Then all you have to do is maintain the
registration. You will have to get a Mexican drivers license. |
Yep, as Katiejay99 pointed out.. this only works if you have an FM-3. Otherwise its a big no-no. From the original post it sounds like Papadapa is a
"tourist".
If its a US plated car with current tags.. no problem. With expired tags; I'd expect to be hassled from time to time at the very least..if not run
into other trouble. How good are your negotiation $kill$?
.
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bajajudy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6886
Registered: 10-4-2004
Location: San Jose del Cabo,BCS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by comitan
You will save yourself a lot of problems if you just buy a car here in La Paz, that is already imported. Then all you have to do is maintain the
registration. You will have to get a Mexican drivers license. |
DITTO
edited because it came out weird twice
[Edited on 10-26-2008 by bajajudy]
[Edited on 10-26-2008 by bajajudy]
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Papadapa
Newbie
Posts: 2
Registered: 10-25-2008
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Thats v helpful thx a lot to everyone - sounds like a buy it here then doesnt it and hopefully i can pass my driving test...
thx a lot katiejay but im looking for a japanese jeep/pickup
and to baja brit...lets just say that username cld have worked for me too..
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LB
Junior Nomad
Posts: 74
Registered: 10-1-2008
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YOU NEED AN FM2 or 3 to register a car in Mexico and to get a drivers license!!
You need an FM 2 or 3 to LEAVE A US Plated car in Mexico!!
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