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Shawndy
Newbie
Posts: 17
Registered: 11-4-2013
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Driving in Los Cabos
I'm sure that this has been hashed over before 
My wife and i are Canadians wintering at our condo in San Jose del Cabo.
Last week we were involved in a car accident on hwy 1 just outside of Cabo where we were nailed by a taxi/van running a red light at very high
speed.......we are lucky to be alive - lucky for no major injuries too. Our nice little Honda is likely a writeoff but won't really know for a while
as we all know the wheels turn slowly down here. We were insured thru Lewis and Lewis and hope we made the right choice.
We are now stuck without a vehicle for the moment (not the end of the world i know) but would like to be able to get around a little easier than
walking/using the bus if possible. Car rental seems very expensive and probably out of our budget longterm.We were looking for some insight,
suggestions, advice from the members here.
We are on 180 day tourist cards and under the assumption that we are unable to LEGALLY buy another car in Mexico. Is this true? If so, anyone got any
ideas? 
Appreciate any help from the Baja Nomads
cheers, Shawndy
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Mula
Super Nomad
Posts: 1663
Registered: 8-16-2011
Location: San Nicolas y Lopez Mateos
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I have 3 vehicles I bought here in BCS over the years that all have BCS plates in my name on them.
I insure them through the bank.
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Shawndy
Newbie
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Registered: 11-4-2013
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Really Mula? How does that work?
Thanks for your reply, by the way. This is our 1st year living down here and we are feeling quite lost with this whole situation.
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Mula
Super Nomad
Posts: 1663
Registered: 8-16-2011
Location: San Nicolas y Lopez Mateos
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Find a vehicle, buy it, get a bill of sale and the title. And make sure all the previous taxes fees are paid on that vehicle. That will usually
entail a trip to Finances Department with the previous owner to get that taken care of.
Take it to the Police Station DMV section.
They will issue you a new registration, sticker for the window.
Then you go to any bank and get insurance.
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Shawndy
Newbie
Posts: 17
Registered: 11-4-2013
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And i'm able to do this without an FM3 using just a 180 day tourist card?
Thanks for your advice, Mula!
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Mula
Super Nomad
Posts: 1663
Registered: 8-16-2011
Location: San Nicolas y Lopez Mateos
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I did and have bought with just a tourist card.
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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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It was my understanding that Finanzas would not give you plates or register it in your name unless you have a Mexican drivers license and you need
more than a tourist visa to get one of those (I think). I am talking about an imported Mexican registered vehicle.
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Shawndy
Newbie
Posts: 17
Registered: 11-4-2013
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That was my assumption KatieJ
Guess i'll have to do some more investigating 
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karenintx
Senior Nomad
Posts: 540
Registered: 3-16-2008
Location: CSL
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Mood: Living The Dream
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Sorry to read about your accident but glad no one was seriously injured.
Perhaps a call to the Canadian Consulate would help...especially if you are taking the new/used car back to Canada. Just trying to think outside of
the box!
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Islandbuilder
Senior Nomad
Posts: 555
Registered: 11-9-2011
Location: nob
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Mood: bewildered
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Glad you guys are OK! Wow.
I just rented a VW pointer through Budget, and pick it up in San Jose on Tuesday.
The price per day is $46.77US for 5 days! So less than $10/day.
I haven't picked it up yet, so can't speak to any hidden costs. I've rented cars in San Jose in the past, and found it one of the most expensive
rental markets in the world, and have no idea why this rate is so low. Maybe it's not? But it might be worth checking into it. I got the rental
through Orbitz when I bought the plane tickets.
If you find comparable rates then it might be a feasible short term solution until you can score a permanent vehicle. Better not to look for a
new/used car when you're desperate, like not grocery shopping when you're hungry!
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Shawndy
Newbie
Posts: 17
Registered: 11-4-2013
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Thanks Karen. We did call the consulate and they weren't much help, suggest renting a car from Budget 
We were intending on leaving the car here and flying back and forth anyways
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Shawndy
Newbie
Posts: 17
Registered: 11-4-2013
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Islandbuilder
Glad you guys are OK! Wow.
I just rented a VW pointer through Budget, and pick it up in San Jose on Tuesday.
The price per day is $46.77US for 5 days! So less than $10/day.
I haven't picked it up yet, so can't speak to any hidden costs. I've rented cars in San Jose in the past, and found it one of the most expensive
rental markets in the world, and have no idea why this rate is so low. Maybe it's not? But it might be worth checking into it. I got the rental
through Orbitz when I bought the plane tickets.
If you find comparable rates then it might be a feasible short term solution until you can score a permanent vehicle. Better not to look for a
new/used car when you're desperate, like not grocery shopping when you're hungry! |
Thanks for that. Yes, the rentals here are really expensive...watch out for the hidden insurance costs as they are around $25/day. If you use your CC
insurance and damage the vehicle they max out your card and you have to go after them to reverse it and settle the claim. This happened to some
friends of ours and it was a nightmare for them.
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Mula
Super Nomad
Posts: 1663
Registered: 8-16-2011
Location: San Nicolas y Lopez Mateos
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A Mexican Driver's License is easy to get as long as you know your blood type and have an address with a receipt for water, telephone, electric or
rent. Get it at the Police Department.
A tourist permit is fine for getting a Driver's license. And you don't have to turn in your Canadian License.
ActuallyI bought all 3 of my Mexico BCS plated vehicles before I had a residency card or a Mexico Driver's License - only had my tourist card.
And I did this in Loreto.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Mula
A Mexican Driver's License is easy to get as long as you know your blood type and have an address with a receipt for water, telephone, electric or
rent. Get it at the Police Department.
A tourist permit is fine for getting a Driver's license. And you don't have to turn in your Canadian License.
ActuallyI bought all 3 of my Mexico BCS plated vehicles before I had a residency card or a Mexico Driver's License - only had my tourist card.
And I did this in Loreto. |
Not so sure I would consider that easy....
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Shawndy
Newbie
Posts: 17
Registered: 11-4-2013
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
| Quote: | Originally posted by Mula
A Mexican Driver's License is easy to get as long as you know your blood type and have an address with a receipt for water, telephone, electric or
rent. Get it at the Police Department.
A tourist permit is fine for getting a Driver's license. And you don't have to turn in your Canadian License.
ActuallyI bought all 3 of my Mexico BCS plated vehicles before I had a residency card or a Mexico Driver's License - only had my tourist card.
And I did this in Loreto. |
Not so sure I would consider that easy.... |
That's what i was thinking. Nothing to do with dealing with any authority here seems easy.....to me
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Mula
Super Nomad
Posts: 1663
Registered: 8-16-2011
Location: San Nicolas y Lopez Mateos
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You only need to:
1. know your blood type
2. have some type of receipt (1) with your address on it.
3. Go to the Police Department and get the license.
It's around 500 pesos - give or take . . .
No tests, eye exams, driving test . . . nothing else.
What is so difficult about that?
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Wally
Nomad
Posts: 182
Registered: 3-15-2006
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Where in Canada do you reside?
.
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apple
Nomad
Posts: 284
Registered: 11-4-2013
Location: SD
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I would look for a Canadian (or maybe American) plated car for sale on CraigsList. There are usually a bunch of them.
http://bajasur.en.craigslist.com.mx/cto/4261182946.html
Aren't you supposed to have a Mexican driver's license to own/drive a Mexican plated car? Getting one of those requires resident status
[Edited on 1-6-2014 by apple]
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Mula
Super Nomad
Posts: 1663
Registered: 8-16-2011
Location: San Nicolas y Lopez Mateos
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Getting a Mexico Driver's license does not require resident status.
And if you have resident status, word is you are not supposed to have a US plated vehicle.
In Loreto and Constituction both, I have been stopped with my S. Dakota plated vehicles - checking to make sure the tags are current and registration
valid. Don't know why, but have.
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bc4me
Newbie
Posts: 15
Registered: 12-22-2013
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I see prices right around $50 with taxes included at the SJDC airport for most major car rental companies, Fox and National to name a few. They might
have monthly rates that are even cheaper if you ask.
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