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ckiefer
Nomad
Posts: 258
Registered: 12-12-2007
Location: LaJolla
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MX Plates vs US Plates
I have two cars down here in Baja that I expect will stay here. One is plated in CA the other in NV. The CA plated vehicle has expired tags with MX
insurance. The NV plated vehicle has current tags, US insurance and MX insurance. NV law states that any vehicle registered in the state must carry
insurance, no exceptions. So I carry the insurance. Sigh... So while the NV plated vehicle has no issues, it's just a pain in the wallet having to
carry the insurance to the tune of $1400/yr for something that's not being driven in the U.S. anyway!
I have read the posts on plating a vehicle in SD already and feel that it won't be long before the cops get hip to having a SD plated vehicle with a
CA or NV drivers license. So, I don't think that would be an option.
Does anyone have any suggestions for me? How does one go about legally importing their vehicle?
Please, no smog posts!
Thanks!
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Woooosh
Banned
Posts: 5240
Registered: 1-28-2007
Location: Rosarito Beach
Member Is Offline
Mood: Luminescent Waves at Rosarito Beach
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| Quote: | Originally posted by ckiefer
I have read the posts on plating a vehicle in SD already and feel that it won't be long before the cops get hip to having a SD plated vehicle with a
CA or NV drivers license. So, I don't think that would be an option.
Does anyone have any suggestions for me? How does one go about legally importing their vehicle?
Please, no smog posts!
Thanks! |
Many people have homes on both side of the TJ/San Diego border and go back and forth weekly- if not more. It's very normal to have your car
registered and insured in CA with a CA driver's license down here. I don't think that part is a big deal. I'd keep your plate stickers current
though. IMHO
[Edited on 1-30-2009 by Woooosh]
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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ckiefer
Nomad
Posts: 258
Registered: 12-12-2007
Location: LaJolla
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Registered in CA, driving with NV license and it has never seen north of Todos Santos in a few years. I purchased the vehicle in California with the
intention of driving it across the border and leaving it here. I may need to get the sticker renewed, but probably won't if I have to carry US
insurance too. Doesn't make sense.
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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3922
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: La Chorera
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Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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I think a lot of that depends on how much time you spend on each side of the border, how often you cross, etc. What works for me now was to just get a
Mexican driver's license, buy a vehicle here in Baja with Baja plates and for the once a month or so trip across the border I just buy the daily
insurance available in any OXXO. It is $9 USD for one day, $15 for 3 days and gets cheaper the more days you buy. It works for me - may or may not for
you based on your patterns...
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ckiefer
Nomad
Posts: 258
Registered: 12-12-2007
Location: LaJolla
Member Is Offline
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Happy to see you found a solution to fit your situation. I fly across the border, not drive. For me, six months here, six months there. In the
future I plan to spend more time down here or maybe even move mainland.
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BajaDove
Nomad
Posts: 194
Registered: 11-23-2008
Location: La Paz
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If you are stopped for any reason your drivers license and registration are supposed to be the same country
If its not where it is, its where it isn\'t.
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longlegsinlapaz
Super Nomad
Posts: 1685
Registered: 11-18-2005
Location: La Paz
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On another thread, Comitan posted that there's a temporary freeze on importing any year model car. But if I were you, I'd be driving the car with
valid NV plates & your NV license for the immediate future.
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vandenberg
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5118
Registered: 6-21-2005
Location: Nopolo
Member Is Offline
Mood: mellow
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ckiefer,
We have 3 vehicles here and decided the best way to keep them here without too much trouble is to register them in South Dakota,Clay County. Had
trouble with the final one, registered in Ca., so got our registration money refunded and transfered it ( 84 Suburban ) to S.D. Have the inf. on a
different computer, but if you want more inf, U2U me.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Just carry the minimum basic insurance as required by Nevada. Can't be as expensive as $1400.
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ckiefer
Nomad
Posts: 258
Registered: 12-12-2007
Location: LaJolla
Member Is Offline
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If there is indeed a freeze then I'll have to go the SD route. Driving the NV plated vehicle for now.
| Quote: | Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz
On another thread, Comitan posted that there's a temporary freeze on importing any year model car. But if I were you, I'd be driving the car with
valid NV plates & your NV license for the immediate future.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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From Nevada DMV
Nevada requires that automobile liability insurance policies carry minimum coverage of $15,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in any one
accident; $30,000 for bodily injury or death or two or more persons on any one accident; and $10,000 for injury to or destruction of property of
others in any one accident. Coverage must be reported by an insurance company authorized to do business in the State of Nevada.
The Insurance Verification Program applies only to liability insurance. Comprehensive and collision coverage is not reported to DMV.
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ckiefer
Nomad
Posts: 258
Registered: 12-12-2007
Location: LaJolla
Member Is Offline
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I contacted an import company today. Here's what he said:
"Right now there are some issues with the importation of vehicles. The government change the fees starting this year and right now costs around $3,000
USD to import a car."
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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3922
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: La Chorera
Member Is Offline
Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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That's why I didn't import mine - it's easier right now (and cheaper) to just buy a car down here...
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Woooosh
Banned
Posts: 5240
Registered: 1-28-2007
Location: Rosarito Beach
Member Is Offline
Mood: Luminescent Waves at Rosarito Beach
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaGringo
That's why I didn't import mine - it's easier right now (and cheaper) to just buy a car down here... |
but don't buy a used big black SUV with tinted windows, right?
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3922
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: La Chorera
Member Is Offline
Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Woooosh
| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaGringo
That's why I didn't import mine - it's easier right now (and cheaper) to just buy a car down here... |
but don't buy a used big black SUV with tinted windows, right?
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Well....
Mine is actually a gold color and yeah, I do get stopped from time to time but never even been asked for a mordida. They look at my Baja license, my
tarjeta de circulacion, ask a couple of questions and wish me a nice day. The upside to that is now I have gotten to know most of the Policia Federal
in Rosarito and San Quintin...
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MitchMan
Super Nomad
Posts: 1856
Registered: 3-9-2009
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I understand that if you have an FM3, that you can keep a California registered car in baja indefinitely so long as you keep the California
registration and tags current and maintain tourist type Mexican insurance current. I have my car in La Paz, never got any kind of Mexican sticker or
permit when I drove it across the border early last year and it has been in La Paz ever since.
California doesn't require US insurance on a California registered car that is out of the country so long as you show the DMV your current Mexican
Insurance coverage when renewing annual California tags. Am I in violation with Mexican requirements somehow?
Oops, just found a post that said as of 1-1-09 California DMV requires US auto ins coverage even if you have the car in baja and covered by Mexican
tourist Ins. policy. Responding posts put that is some doubt, however. A post reported (GenuKId) that the DMV uses a third party to verify ins
coverage, but the post was ambiguous as to whether the verification was of the US coverage or of the Mexican Ins coverage. So, ultimately, as usual,
not clear.
[Edited on 8-20-2009 by MitchMan]
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
Member Is Offline
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I have been told by DMV in Calif that I must have insurance coverage by a approved company that electronically reports coverage to Calif. DMV. No
other coverage conforms to Calif. law.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3922
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: La Chorera
Member Is Offline
Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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I recently got an annual policy from a Qualitas agent in San Ysidro. They accepted it at SENTRI...
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LaTijereta
Super Nomad
Posts: 1192
Registered: 8-27-2003
Location: Loreto
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CA DMV finnaly got wise to the Mexican isurance "senario", after 8 years providing new tags they have come back to require CA insurance on our cars
that are kept in BCS.
We used to provide proof of Mexican insurance every year with no questions
Looking at some other options over the next few months..
Democracy is like two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin (1759)
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Bajajorge
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2604
Registered: 10-13-2005
Location: Topaz Lake, NV/San Felipe
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaguy
Just carry the minimum basic insurance as required by Nevada. Can't be as expensive as $1400. |
Maybe he has to pay $1400 cuz he had alot of wrecks.
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