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5 years ago

Leaving and Re-entering Mexico with Car

5 years ago
I entered Mexico as a tourist 4 months ago with my car which has Costa Rican title and plates. The car (and I) have a 180 day temporary permission to be in the country.

We have decided to relocate to Mexico and will be submitting the forms for temporary residency, but this can't happen until after the 180 day permission of my car expires (long story).

I know there are disadvantages to importing one's car into Mexico (tariffs, restrictions once one gains permanent residency, etc), but the alternative also is disadvantageous (drive back to Costa Rica which costs lots of time and also significant money, and now there's instability in Nicaragua).

My main question is this:
(1) Is it possible for me to drive back to the Mexico-Guatemala border before my 180 days run out and then re-enter Mexico with my car for another 180 days (after doing new tramite and paying deposit)? Or must I be outside of Mexico for a certain time before re-entering? This option would allow me to apply for residency and then import the car under my residency later in 2018.

Other question / issue:
(2) I have read that if the car is over 20 years old or if manufactured in Japan (VIN begins with "J") then one cannot import it as a permanent resident (and one must get rid of such a car when one becomes a permanent resident). In our case, it's not that likely that we'll be in Mexico for 4 years. So the question is: will I have the 20-year-old age restriction or manufactured-in-Japan restriction apply when I import the car as a temporary resident of Mexico?

Thanks very much for the help!

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