| Pages:
1
2 |
beachbum1A
Nomad
Posts: 442
Registered: 6-17-2006
Location: Punta Banda, BC
Member Is Offline
|
|
Mexico drivers license
A friend's Calif. drivers license will expire soon and he (not a member of BN) has a couple of questions that I am posting for him.
As part of these questions, understand that his vehicle is currently registered in South Dakota.
OK...
1. If he allows his Calif. license to expire, can he legally drive his vehicle in the state of Calif. with a MX drivers license?
2. Can he drive the same (So. Dakota) registered vehicle legally here in Mexico with a MX driver license?
I should have added that he does have his permanente visa.
Thanks!
[Edited on 1-21-2014 by beachbum1A]
Just do it!
|
|
|
dtbushpilot
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3291
Registered: 1-11-2007
Location: Buena Vista BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Tranquilo
|
|
No, no.
"Life is tough".....It's even tougher if you're stupid.....
|
|
|
Kgryfon
Senior Nomad
Posts: 624
Registered: 1-27-2009
Location: East Bay, CA
Member Is Offline
|
|
From what you've said it looks like he has legal ties to SD and MX, but no longer to CA. He probably was supposed to get a SD DL and turn his CA DL
in once he became a SD "resident." Only SD residents are supposed to have their cars registered there.
Assuming this is the case:
1) if his car is registered in SD, that implies that he is a resident of SD and would therefore not need a CA driver's license.
2) He should get a SC DL
3) from the internet and not sure how accurate: a valid driver license from any Mexican state allows a resident of Mexico to drive in the US
Take it for what it's worth. I'd be calling the DMV in CA to ask them question 1) and I'd call an expert in MX DMV and ask them question 2).
|
|
|
Kgryfon
Senior Nomad
Posts: 624
Registered: 1-27-2009
Location: East Bay, CA
Member Is Offline
|
|
http://www.watchsonomacounty.com/2011/07/county/judge-califo...
Might want to read this. Not exactly the same situation, but close.
|
|
|
dtbushpilot
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3291
Registered: 1-11-2007
Location: Buena Vista BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Tranquilo
|
|
What I understand is that his friend is a former CA resident, now a MX resident who has registered his car in SD to avoid the CA registration hassles.
If he is pulled over in the US and presents a MX drivers license and has nothing to show SD residency he will likely be in for some trouble, just an
assumption on my part.
I am certain that driving a US plated car in Mexico and presenting a MX drivers license to a federal cop could result in your car being impounded. It
is definitely illegal and considerd a serious offense.
I think beachbums friend should do as Kgryfon suggests and seek professional advice.
[Edited on 1-22-2014 by dtbushpilot]
"Life is tough".....It's even tougher if you're stupid.....
|
|
|
beachbum1A
Nomad
Posts: 442
Registered: 6-17-2006
Location: Punta Banda, BC
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Kgryfon
From what you've said it looks like he has legal ties to SD and MX, but no longer to CA. He probably was supposed to get a SD DL and turn his CA DL
in once he became a SD "resident." Only SD residents are supposed to have their cars registered there.
Assuming this is the case:
1) if his car is registered in SD, that implies that he is a resident of SD and would therefore not need a CA driver's license.
2) He should get a SC DL
3) from the internet and not sure how accurate: a valid driver license from any Mexican state allows a resident of Mexico to drive in the US
Take it for what it's worth. I'd be calling the DMV in CA to ask them question 1) and I'd call an expert in MX DMV and ask them question 2).
|
Negative on the "legal ties" to Calif.. The only tie to Calif. is his DL and that will soon expire. He is a US citizen residing permanently in Mexico
and like a lot of other North Americans, have their vehicles registered in So Dakota.
But you're probably correct in that he need to contact the DMV in Calif. and inquire as to the legality of driving there with a MX drivers license
while he resides in Mexico as a permanent resident.
Just do it!
|
|
|
beachbum1A
Nomad
Posts: 442
Registered: 6-17-2006
Location: Punta Banda, BC
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | | I am certain that driving a US plated car in Mexico and presenting a MX drivers license to a federal cop could result in your car being impounded.
It is definitely illegal and considerd a serious offense. |
I think your correct on this point. At least that's what I've heard all along. Thanks.
Just do it!
|
|
|
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
|
|
Good luck on getting a correct answer!! 
| Quote: | Originally posted by beachbum1A
But you're probably correct in that he need to contact the DMV in Calif. and inquire as to the legality of driving there with a MX drivers license
while he resides in Mexico as a permanent resident. |
|
|
|
dasubergeek
Senior Nomad
Posts: 694
Registered: 8-17-2013
Member Is Offline
|
|
Make sure to call the CA DMV three times and then pick which of the four answers you like best.
|
|
|
J.P.
Super Nomad
Posts: 1673
Registered: 7-8-2010
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
Mood: Easy Does It
|
|
WHEREVER your friend decides tell him not to let his current license expire. at his age it may be difficult to get another one.
tell him to buy a Mexico car and get a mexico license
|
|
|
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
|
|
Vacation time
Your friend needs to take a trip to South Dakota......maybe do some prospecting along the way
|
|
|
rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6700
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by beachbum1A
| Quote: | | I am certain that driving a US plated car in Mexico and presenting a MX drivers license to a federal cop could result in your car being impounded.
It is definitely illegal and considerd a serious offense. |
I think your correct on this point. At least that's what I've heard all along. Thanks. |
wonder if this is because of the illegal importation and sale of cars that happens in Mexico.
|
|
|
bajadock
Super Nomad
Posts: 1219
Registered: 12-20-2006
Location: Punta sur de \'Nada
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Kgryfon
Only SD residents are supposed to have their cars registered there. |
Trying not to be in internet #rick on this, but, can you document a source? cheers
|
|
|
rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6700
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
|
|
And what if you have a US passport,FM-3 or Temporary resident card, Mexican drivers license, and US plated car (SD or otherwise). I go my first
Baja Sur, Municipality of Mulege drivers License (since I do not believe there is a federal government license) when I had a FM-3. no problem. just
showed my FM-3 and Passport.
|
|
|
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
|
|
Not correct
http://mydakotaaddress.com/Affidavit%20non-residence%20for%2...
| Quote: | Originally posted by Kgryfon
......Only SD residents are supposed to have their cars registered there. |
|
|
|
yellowklr
Senior Nomad
Posts: 507
Registered: 4-14-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
Its a big mess that I deal with every day in my job…….Its really a mess when your DL doesn't match your VEH REG
If you insist on driving a SD plated car get a SD DL…..And when in Califonia you have contact with any LE you LIVE in SD………..Don't give any other
address
hope thats clear
Derek
|
|
|
Bill Collector
Nomad
Posts: 374
Registered: 1-13-2004
Location: Buena Vista, BCS
Member Is Offline
|
|
We have been pulled over by a Federal police at the airport in San Jose. We have our car licensed in South Dakota. We presented our Mexican drivers
license, our IFFE Card, we are mexican citizens. There was never a problem. Our car wasnt impounded, they told us to Have a Good Day.
|
|
|
Wally
Nomad
Posts: 182
Registered: 3-15-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Bill Collector
We have been pulled over by a Federal police at the airport in San Jose. We have our car licensed in South Dakota. We presented our Mexican drivers
license, our IFFE Card, we are mexican citizens. There was never a problem. Our car wasnt impounded, they told us to Have a Good Day.
|
First off: How does a Mexican legally register a vehicle in the US?
Second: The law is the law, if you are driving in Mexico:
You drive a Mexican plated car you MUST have a Mexican DL.
You drive a U.S. plated car you MUST have a U.S. DL. And no they don't much care if they are from the same State.
Just because you were not cited or worse doesn't mean anything.
Who knows what a Cali cop would say if you drove your SD registered car into the States with a Mexican DL.
p.s. Technically, as the new laws apparently read, if you are a Permanent Resident of Mexico you are not allowed to drive a US plated vehicle. TBD if
that ever gets enforced.
Here's to knocking on wood that if and when that happens it aint any of us.
|
|
|
Kgryfon
Senior Nomad
Posts: 624
Registered: 1-27-2009
Location: East Bay, CA
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by dasubergeek
Make sure to call the CA DMV three times and then pick which of the four answers you like best. |
Well, got that right! Even if you show them in clear English, from their own website, they still don't get it sometimes...had to transfer a bunch of
stuff from my parent's estate recently. Of all the work I had to do as executor of their trust, CA DMV was the biggest pain in the rear. I finally
just started going straight to the headquarters in Sac because the local offices were just...stupid. Badly trained. Unable to think logically.
Whatever the source of the problem was, it was a total waste of time dealing with them!
|
|
|
Kgryfon
Senior Nomad
Posts: 624
Registered: 1-27-2009
Location: East Bay, CA
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | | Trying not to be in internet #rick on this, but, can you document a source? cheers |
I stand corrected! Here's the actual policy:
http://dor.sd.gov/Motor_Vehicles/Non_Resident_Information/PD...
and guidance:
http://dor.sd.gov/Motor_Vehicles/Non_Resident_Information/PD...
|
|
|
| Pages:
1
2 |
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
