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baja-chris
Junior Nomad
Posts: 91
Registered: 5-23-2008
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expired CA plates in Baja?
For a car that you want to leave at your place in Baja, what if you just non-op it in Calif, drop the Calif insurance, and drive it around in Baja
with expired tags? I don't see any reason I can't continue to insure for liability in Mex (they never check to see if the plates are current) but if
I was in an accident would the expired plates nullify the insurance?
I'm sure this is technically a no-no but is it enforced much and is it a big deal when you get pulled over? I've seen (and driven) buggys around LOTS
with no plates at all and never been hassled. Is this lucky and stupid or don't they care?
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rpleger
Super Nomad
Posts: 1087
Registered: 3-12-2005
Location: H. Mulegé, BCS
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Mood: Was good.
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Just have a wreak and find out about insurance without current tags.
Richard on the Hill
*ABROAD*, adj. At war with savages and idiots. To be a Frenchman abroad is to
be miserable; to be an American abroad is to make others miserable.
-- Ambrose Bierce, _The Enlarged Devil\'s Dictionary_
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4411
Registered: 7-2-2006
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You'll get pulled over in any large town without a current sticker and the cops will attempt to extract your cash, but there are many reasonable
explanations if you don't mind being pulled over and giving them cash. Or if you live in a pueblo and never leave its not a problem. In most towns
like La Paz or Cabo you wouldn't get one block without being harassed.
You'll also find that you can register in the USA the car quite easily if you follow the steps.
For clarification
Here are the suggested steps you would complete.
1) Vehicle address
You do not need to do a vehicle address change but it might help-I recommend this step first, there are two addresses associated with each vehicle
mailing address (remains as your mailing address) and vehicle address (to be changed to below). You may register your vehicle as being in Baja
California registered to your home address
Johnny Baja
1000 Callejon Baja
La Pueblititita, BCS 20360
Your DL and your vehicle mailing address should remain the same as they are I assume. Be sure this is correct and consistent. You want to be
straightforward and direct, this is about this vehicle registration.
Write it exactly you may find that BC fits and not BCS in the form which has room for two letters for states. Write it out correctly but if the form
allows only two spaces enter two letters BC. Do not enter MX.
Here is the form you must complete and provide to the CA DMV as the first step noting only this vehicle is and will continue to be stored and used at
your place in Baja California with occasional return visits here. The vehicle is currently in Baja California.
http://dmv.ca.gov/forms/dmv/dmv14.pdf
2) Statement of Facts
http://dmv.ca.gov/forms/reg/reg256.pdf
Complete the Statement of Facts noting the vehicle is currently in Baja California at the above stated address. Check the box to note that it is
exempt from smog because the vehicle is at the stated address. Yes I know it says except for Nevada and Mexico, the vehicle is in Baja California
which is exempt. Mexico refers to mainland Mexico which is not where you live. It is best that you do not say the words Mexico ever. Just repeat "I
visit Baja California Sur at my ranch, we vacation there. I like to fish." Complete both sides of the form completely in simple, legible English. Sign
the form.
3) Complete the registration for this vehicle.
You may be required to demonstrate proof of ins, you will be required to pay in cash, check or possibly visa. You may demonstrate liability ins in mex
if thats where the vehicle is. I find they do not check for ins for my Baja California vehicles.
http://dmv.ca.gov/forms/reg/reg343.pdf
The DMV law clearly state that vehicles used semi-permanently and stored in BCS are exempt from smog. The exact wording is vehicles south of Tecate.
Note do not write Mexico on the Statement of facts. Write Baja California or Baja California Sur.
If pressed you may state, politely, the vehicle is at my ranch, I use it at my ranch in Baja California. I am aware that this vehicle is exempt due to
the burden to drive it 2000km here and due to the fact that gas qualities vary over the region. To be required to return here with the vehicle is
considered a burden to me and my family therefore we are exempt, always have been. I live here part time and there part time. I use one vehicle here
and another there.
If you are willing to complete these steps, this is straightforward and upon completion you may file to request return of some fees since the vehicle
should also be exempt from certain taxes.
Each step must be completed in order, do one step at a time. Do not mention the next step until you complete the prior step.
1 2 3 done.
Hope this helps.
If you make a scene at the DMV you will make it much harder on yourself. You should be as non-descript as possible and say very little and it will be
processed. If you do not make a scene you can go back as many times as needed to complete it without a problem, since the law is on your side.
This can also be done via mail and some of it online as well.
[Edited on 5-27-2009 by gnukid]
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oldjack
Nomad
Posts: 350
Registered: 1-26-2006
Location: Los Barriles
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Mood: retired
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In Los Barriles.... over the past few weeks the mexican federales have had road blocks and have been checking on "all documents" the vehicle must be
in compliance and the driver must be also... coming to a community near you soon.... get legal!!!! the old days are gone.....
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Insurance adjusters will look for anything to uninsure you. They learned that in the United States.
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BMG
Super Nomad
Posts: 1776
Registered: 6-10-2007
Location: La Paz / Bahia Asunci�n / Away from home
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We do know that one of the Nomads was pulled over last year for expired plates in La Paz. Turned out that someone peeled the current stickers off
their plates, we assume to use on their plates.
Quite a few of us have gone to South Dakota plates and registration. Do a search on the forum and you'll find plenty of info.
I think the world is run by C- students.
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
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Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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Dittos
Mex Insurance is invalid if vehicle is not currently registered.
Mex Police in San Felipe are pulling people over on a regular basis for expired tags.
A Great revenue source.
I've found a good Inkjet Printer to be the answer. You'll need multiple copies since the UV fades them faster than the originals and you are SCREWED,
of course, if you're pulled over.
However, I've spent some time playing around with the registration and various photo programs and have come CLOSE to a reasonable facsimile with a
revised date field. A little work and I think it could be done. I did it once with a proof of Insurance in California and it was accepted. Now,
they're computer-linked to the insurance companies data base so that's out.
There's ALWAYS a (devious) answer.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by MrBillM
I've found a good Inkjet Printer to be the answer. You'll need multiple copies since the UV fades them faster than the originals and you are SCREWED,
of course, if you're pulled over.
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I knew a lady here who used to do much the same thing. She'd print them on glossy, peel'n stick material and spray them with a UV shield made for
photographs. They lasted quite a while.
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4411
Registered: 7-2-2006
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| Quote: | Originally posted by MrBillM
Now, they're computer-linked to the insurance companies data base so that's out.
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Some companies are linked, some are not as stated in the DMV docs and at the DMV (basically most big companies do it and some small one do not). So it
is reasonable that you can provide written proof or electronic proof.
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Lauriboats
Senior Nomad
Posts: 563
Registered: 9-6-2006
Location: Mulege/Bahia Asuncion
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Mood: Loving life in Baja
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We were told at DMV that effective January 1, 2009, Mexico insurance is no longer valid, you must have current California insurance to keep current
California Registration. Also on May 1st California doubled all registration fees, so we are driving to South Dakota this summer for new drivers
licenses and vehicle registrations.
What we see depends mainly on what we look for.
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4411
Registered: 7-2-2006
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Lauriboats
We were told at DMV that effective January 1, 2009, Mexico insurance is no longer valid, you must have current California insurance to keep current
California Registration. Also on May 1st California doubled all registration fees, so we are driving to South Dakota this summer for new drivers
licenses and vehicle registrations. |
The CA DMV quotes registration fee is $34
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/fees/reg_fees.htm
I'm heading over there now to register a car and I'll find out for sure. Are you sure you're winking with the left eye-three times at window #7 like I
told you? jaja
Other fees are taxes and use fees which can refunded to you (by request) if your vehicle is registered to be in Baja.
INS costs, you can ins all your vehicles for the lowest possible rate highest dedcutable, or declaee this vehicle is a second vehicle which is used
rarely, since, in fact if the vehicle is in Baja no claim would ever occur.
I have found these CA INS rates for my Baja vehicle to be practically negligible.
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4411
Registered: 7-2-2006
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Well I went to the DMV and while everything worked as I had noted above and we were able to register the vehicle in baja at the end the agent said
"here's your documents, now all you have to do is call this number and fax your proof of ins and pay another $14 to a third party agency then they
will send you a letter in 4-5 days and you can bring that back here for your sticker."
We pointed out that our ins was current, that we had documentation and that it was electronically reported as well. She agreed but said that the DMV
made a deal with a third party company to demonstrate proof of INS for a fee.
This is just on more step among many to create stricter transit controls and exact higher costs for transit in CA.
[Edited on 5-27-2009 by gnukid]
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Lauriboats
We were told at DMV that effective January 1, 2009, Mexico insurance is no longer valid, you must have current California insurance to keep current
California Registration. |
I wonder why that might be since insurance isn't mandatory in Mexico. Just a little bit more of that "special treatment?"
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oxxo
Banned
Posts: 2347
Registered: 5-17-2006
Location: Wherever I am, I'm there
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Mood: If I was feeling any better, I'd be twins!
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Three months ago, I was pulled over in San Jose del Cabo for expired CA registration. Actually, I had renewed my registration and smogged my car (it
passed), but the new stickers were waiting for me at my CA address. Cops DIDN'T ask me to pay the fine on the spot. He hopped in my car and we drove
directly to the Police Station where I paid a fine of about US$7.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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Ah yes. South Dakota. The new Baja. Remains to be seen if and when some bureaucrat starts sniffing around. But if giant corporations can domicile in
places like Bermuda and the Caymans just to avoid taxes, I guess the wee folks should have an option, too.
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baja-chris
Junior Nomad
Posts: 91
Registered: 5-23-2008
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Great info from all of you. Thanks a bunch!
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Bob H
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5867
Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: San Diego
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| Quote: | Originally posted by oldjack
In Los Barriles.... over the past few weeks the mexican federales have had road blocks and have been checking on "all documents" the vehicle must be
in compliance and the driver must be also... coming to a community near you soon.... get legal!!!! the old days are gone.....
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This exact same thing happend to us on our last trip to Mulege, last January. At one of the Military inspection areas they had federales checking
registration and drivers license checks of everyone passing by.
Bob H
[Edited on 5-28-2009 by Bob H]
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
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Mood: Peacefull
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While the CSL and La Paz police have been checking tags for some time now ..... Just before I left Todos Santos there was a three day road block at
the southern entrance to town to check registration (complete with AK-47s)
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BFS
Senior Nomad
Posts: 520
Registered: 9-28-2006
Location: Todos Santos
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1200 pesos
my neighbor just got hit in the Cabo corridor for 100 usd for expired CA tags
Aq
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
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Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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Ersatz Enforcement ?
Are you sure they were genuine ?
I haven't seen any carrying Commie AK-47s, but we do know that the Cartels are importing them.
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