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mjs
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Quote: Originally posted by eastmeetswest  | I am a newbie, so please be gentle. I would like to bring this back to the insurance issue. We have recently purchased a place in East Cape and will
need a car. We don't want to drive one down from Canada given the current travel restrictions. We will be flying down in the New Year. I want to
buy a used car. We don't have Temporary Residence yet. I have seen a broad range of suggestions and opinions. I am hoping someone with current
knowledge can illuminate me. The questions and issues are as follows. Can a Canadian buy a US or Mexican plated car? After buying the car, can a
person on a tourist visa buy Mexican insurance for that car? Does it matter if the plates on the car (US or CDN) are expired? My preference would be
to buy a Mexican registered car and purchase Mexican insurance. Some have suggested going the SD route. As a Canadian, I believe that we would need
an LLC in SD? How much does that cost?
I am sure that I have missed lots of issues. I hope that someone can steer me in the right direction. Hopefully, none of my questions will induce
dialogue about politics or CoVid. Cheers. |
You cannot register a vehicle in SD without an SD driver license or a US Social Security # so not an option for you. Either get a Canadian car and
transfer title per your local regulations or a MX vehicle with the MX lic as per BTR. Other option buy a US or Canadian car and just drive it. I see
lots of cars with expired registrations driven by Mx nationals or foreigners. Not technically legal but hey, it's Baja and whatever works for you.
 
ETA; Other States like California or Az will register a car to anybody with a local address (friend, business, PO Box, etc.) but that comes with other
potential issues like smog check, high fees, insurance, etc.
[Edited on 11-18-2020 by mjs]
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bajatrailrider
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little misleading True in SD you need SD driver license. By mail you don't need a SD driver lic.
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eastmeetswest
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Thanks to both of you. If I buy a car with expired registration, is it still possible to buy Mexican insurance?
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surabi
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As far as I'm aware, no car insurance is valid if the vehicle isn't registered somewhere, somehow.
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AKgringo
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You can insure yourself for liability only with an annual driver's license policy. If you got in an accident with an unregistered vehicle, there may
be other problems, but the biggest problem (liability) should be covered.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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DIWR17
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Buy a used car from a dealer in SJD. They will get you a local plate. Buy insurance though one of the local agencies down there. No need to get a
South Dakota plate if you go that route.
A US tagged vehicle does not need US insurance to get a Mexican policy if the vehicle is in Mexico longer than 180 days.
Hope this helps.
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BajaTed
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| Quote: Originally posted by DIWR17 | Buy a used car from a dealer in SJD. They will get you a local plate. Buy insurance though one of the local agencies down there. No need to get a
South Dakota plate if you go that route.
A US tagged vehicle does not need US insurance to get a Mexican policy if the vehicle is in Mexico longer than 180 days.
Hope this helps. |
"Buy a used car" hope its not stolen like every car I ride in from the Cancun Airport. Nicest fleet of Taxis around for a reason
Es Todo Bueno
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surabi
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| Quote: Originally posted by BajaTed |
"Buy a used car" hope its not stolen like every car I ride in from the Cancun Airport. Nicest fleet of Taxis around for a reason
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Don't be absurd. People buy used cars in Mexico all the time without a problem, just like they do everywhere else. There's a govt. website where you
can check if a vehicle has been reported stolen before you buy it.
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bajatrailrider
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Ahh buy a used car in Mexico 80 percent. repaired salvage from states and not repaired well.
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eastmeetswest
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Thank you to everyone for the tips. And than you for keeping politics (for the most part) out of the discussion. I think that I will avoid the SD
registration and by a car from a local used car dealer.
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RocketJSquirrel
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And that is pretty much true anywhere in the world. I don't have the skills to know a great car from a piece of whatever - so I would need to take a
mechanic with me.
Of course, odds are better if you give good attention to Consumer Reports reliability ratings (so you know what problems to look for if nothing else).
Certainly there are cars here that have lived many lifetimes. Mexico squeezes every last drop of value out of that old car (bus/micro/combi/truck).
Fair enough! Recycle, reuse! I just don't want to buy that car that's on its ninth life.
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surabi
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| Quote: Originally posted by RocketJSquirrel |
And that is pretty much true anywhere in the world. I don't have the skills to know a great car from a piece of whatever - so I would need to take a
mechanic with me.
Of course, odds are better if you give good attention to Consumer Reports reliability ratings (so you know what problems to look for if nothing else).
Certainly there are cars here that have lived many lifetimes. Mexico squeezes every last drop of value out of that old car (bus/micro/combi/truck).
Fair enough! Recycle, reuse! I just don't want to buy that car that's on its ninth life. |
That's exactly what I did when I bought a used car in Mexico- I paid my mechanic to come with me and check it out. Then we took it for a test drive
and he had his computer diagnostics (sorry, I don't know what those things are really called) that he plugged in so he could tell that the air bags
didn't work (something I don't care about) and a couple other minor things. Then we went online to check that it hadn't been reported stolen, then my
mechanic looked through all the paperwork to make sure it was all there and in order.
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Baja Vicki M
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I have SD plates and only carry Mexican Insurance.
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4x4abc
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please read your contract very carefully
usually your Mex insurance is void if you don't have US insurance.
you don't want to find out after an accident.
Harald Pietschmann
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motoged
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| Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc | please read your contract very carefully
usually your Mex insurance is void if you don't have US insurance.
you don't want to find out after an accident. |
Harald,
Does that only apply for Can/US registered vehicles "temporarily" in Mexico (ie vacationers)? If a vehicle is purchased in Baja, why would Can/US
registration be an issue?
Don't believe everything you think....
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Baja Vicki M
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I have South Dakota Plates. South Dakota DMV is a money maker for South Dakota. They pull in over 6 million a year in registrations for out of state
vehicles. All you need is a vehicle registration and a social security number and 169.00. They will do it over the phone. I have South Dakota Plates,
Mexican Insurance, and a New York State enhanced license that does not expire until 2027 that I can use in the Ready Lane. This is acceptable in
Mexico. And to the lender on my car loan. I no longer carry American auto insurance of any type.
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motoged
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Perhaps this is part of the reason your recent accident claim was denied, as you seem to be saying the US plated vehicle had no US insurance ... which
is required.... ?
Don't believe everything you think....
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del mar
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| Quote: Originally posted by motoged |
Perhaps this is part of the reason your recent accident claim was denied, as you seem to be saying the US plated vehicle had no US insurance ... which
is required.... ? |
Ged one of the perks of having SD plates is not having to carry insurance, along with no smog and lower rates. everyone I know just buys daily u.s.
insurance when they cross north. I have heard about this needing u.s. coverage for mexico insurance but never found it to be true at least the
company's i've dealt with.....unless maybe its a full coverage deal?
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RFClark
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Baja Bound requires Current US registration and DL it says nothing about US Insurance or Canadian Insurance for that matter! A current tourist visa is
always a good idea as well!
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AKgringo
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I don't pretend to know the details of how companies issue insurance coverage, but I have found that since I only carry liability on my US plated
vehicles (AK and CA) that is what I am limited to in Mexico.
That tends to indicate to me that it is necessary to have a US policy.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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