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Need Advice on move to Mexico

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doubleh
  6/4/2008 15:20 EST

Can someone give some advice on the following.
1. Do American expats have to have Mexican auto insurance? If so, where do you find such a thing.
2. What do you have to do in order to get your car across the border?
3. If you took your car from the US, did you have the plates changed when you got to Mexico to keep from drawing unwanted attention to yoruself.

RevImmigrant
  6/5/2008 11:42 EST

You have to have Mexican auto insurance to get your car into Mexico. You can get it at the border crossing point. You also have to have the paperwork on your car. It is my understanding that you have to make a deposit to bring your car in. You make this at the border crossing point also. You cannot change your car plates while the car is in Mexico. Many Americans drive here for years with US-plated cars. I hope this helps.

Vince
  6/5/2008 17:49 EST

Yes, you must have Mexican auto insurance. Texas regulates the Mexican insurance companies that are allowed to sell auto insurance in Texas, so they are all reliable. They also charge you far more than the same company will charge you in Texas.

I still have my South Carolina license plates from three years ago, and have had no problems

homesweetmexico
  6/6/2008 18:46 EST

Doubleh,

RevImmigrant is correct, including about the deposit, which is paid at the border.

It sounds like you are just beginning your search for information about having a car in Mexico. At this point in your decision-making process it might be helpful to know that sometimes bringing a car to Mexico is not the best option because of the rules and costs involved. While it is often worth it for people, there is a lot to consider. I cover car ownership, purchasing, licensing, and importing along with insurance in my book Mexico: The Trick is Living Here and it's a topic that actually takes up about 14 pages.

Here's an overview to get you started on your research:

1. You won't be surprised to know that bringing a car from the U.S. to Mexico is not like bring one from say, New York to Colorado. Mexico is an other country and to bring a car to Mexico you are either temporarily present in Mexico with permission to have your car with you (this "temporary" state can last for many years) or you have to IMPORT the car. There are strict laws governing how long your car stays, who can drive it, and preventing you from selling it. (Note: A permission to bring a car into Mexico does not allow you to get Mexican license plates, etc. There is additional paperwork for that.)

2. A second option is to buy a car in Mexico. Generally cars are more expensive in Mexico than the U.S., but you may save money on insurance by doing this. Obviously, it saves you the cost of gas and time involved in driving a car into Mexico.

As RevImmigrant stated, when you bring a car from the U.S. you get your insurance at the border. It's a streamlined process (for Mexico) and LOTS of people do it -- tourists and expats alike.

You had an interesting question about attracting attention. I assume you don't want to be hassled unnecessarily because you are a foreigner, which is an important consideration. The jury's out on whether or not police stop you more if you are a foreigner and it depends on lots of factors -- but don't worry, license plates aren't the deciding factor. Unless you're Chicano they'll be able to tell anyway (and maybe even if you are Chicano and haven't spent a lot of time in Mexico).

Enjoy your adventure in Mexico and remember the bus service in Mexico is EXCELLENT, so don't rule it out. There are 5 pages on that in my book. ;)

Julia Taylor
Author of Mexico: The Trick is Living Here and creator of www.home-sweet-mexico.com

elFaro
  6/10/2008 09:33 EST

Something else to bear in mind is that your US auto policy typically provides that it will not cover incidents outside the USA and the policies you buy to operate in Mexico state they will cover only if you have in effect your US policy. So it seems you have to maintain both for as long as your car is in Mexico.

Hildred
  6/19/2008 10:57 EST

I drove to Puebla, Mexico in March 2008. I purchased a 6 month auto policy from www.sanbornsonline.com. At the border, Matamoros, they did not ask to see the policy. They do need to see the original Title and bring copies with you. The vehicle permit is valid for one year. You are given a sticker to affix to the windshield. The fee was 321 pesos (about $32 US) payable via credit card.

rentturtle
  7/21/2008 09:42 EST

I am also bringing my car to mexico. One person mentioned having a South Carolina tag on his/her car for 3 years, do you worry about having expired tags when you go back to the states? What about drivers licenses?

spyder
  7/21/2008 19:59 EST

As long as you have a valid driver's license from the USA you do not need a Mexican license.
Your US plates on the car are not a problem (except that you may be more likely to be hassled by police in certain areas such as DF). Your car must have a Mexican insurance policy covering it while in Mexico. This can be purchased at the border or on the Internet.
These policies typically require that you maintain in effect your USA insurance even though the US policy will not cover you in Mexico.
You should check with your state vehicle department about your state registration. If it expires while you are in Mexico you may have to turn in your plates and/or you may have a limited time to re-register it when you return.

rentturtle
  7/22/2008 13:57 EST

So can you drive in Mexico without a license plate, as long as you have the windshield sticker?

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