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tashby

Aug 8, 2011, 4:29 PM

Post #26 of 31 (3169 views)

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Re: [bound4ajijic] Buying Mexico Car or Driving

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You can also get a Jalisco license which is dead-easy, is good for four years, and costs about $450 MXP. Besides driving, the license is handy for other purposes as well.

Papirex

Aug 8, 2011, 5:20 PM

Post #27 of 31 (3150 views)

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Re: [bound4ajijic] Buying Mexico Car or Driving

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I should mention that I live in Cuernavaca in Morelos state. All driving laws and traffic regulations are composed by the states here, and not by the federal government, While with a few exceptions they are similar, like in The US, but they are not uniform, or identical.

I believe you can probably buy a car in Jalisco with a US drivers license. To verify that, if you are buying a car from a dealer, call and ask them, or, take a bi-lingual friend with you to the license bureau and ask them there.

The office that issues drivers licenses and vehicle registrations and license plates is called The Transito Office. Here, in Cuernavaca, there are no driving or written tests to get a Mexican drivers license. Just show them your US license, and a Mexican license will be issued after you pay all of the fees.

It is simple here to get a Mexican drivers license when your US license expires, no tests, the same when renewing a Mexican license. Some states make you pay an officer to go with you while you take a “test”, it is just another way to extract money from the public.

Do not be confused by the word “tenencia”. Tenencia means to hold in Spanish, it is the equivalent of the annual registration fees in English. Many Yankees have confused that word with the special annual tax of 10% of the value of any new car sold, to pay for the 1968 Olympics in México City. That 10% tax was to be paid over a 10 year period when the annual tenencia was paid. After 40 years that special tax was finally rescinded a couple of years ago.

Some people have posted complaining that they were still being charged a tenencia. Of course we all are. The tenencia is not what was rescinded.

Good luck, Rex
"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved" - Victor Hugo

jeffstevenson

Aug 25, 2011, 11:26 AM

Post #28 of 31 (2667 views)

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Re: [bound4ajijic] Buying Mexico Car or Driving

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Hey Frank,
As we have been talking about the same things in our family, I'll pass along our thoughts. We have a 2000 Toyota Sienna that is perfect for Mexico living. Lots a room, good on gas, very reliable and lots of life left in her. The Prices in Colima Toyota seemed to indicate that there would a vehicle there for us that we could afford but we became uncomfortable buying used and new was awash for us. Being that we think there is plenty of life left in this car, it seems like the right decision for us. I know a few folks who have bought new in the Manzanillo area and have been very pleased but one still needed the FM3 plus the licensing. We think taking a car will work out just great for us! Good Luck in your move, we waited for this time for a long time and are very excited! Jeff

expatsinmexico

Sep 14, 2011, 9:12 AM

Post #29 of 31 (2114 views)

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Re: [bound4ajijic] Buying Mexico Car or Driving

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We still have not made a decision rather to buy a Jeep or Explorer Sport Track here or in Mexico. We have been looking at the Jeeps listed on some of the Mexican "For Sale" sites suggested on this forum and the costs seems slightly higher which is not a problem but most vehicles listed are pretty old. Does anyone have experience buying Jeeps in Mexico? Are the Jeeps "used hard and put away wet"? A lot of the used Jeeps in the Pacific Northwest have nothing but highway miles used for ski trips etc. Any suggestions. Also are either of these vehicles considered to be "hot" vehicles for car hijacking or car theft?

(This post was edited by bound4ajijic on Sep 14, 2011, 9:18 AM)

chinagringo

Sep 14, 2011, 9:51 AM

Post #30 of 31 (2099 views)

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Re: [bound4ajijic] Buying Mexico Car or Driving

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I don't know if you have followed the previous advice about contacting Spencer at S & S but I was just down there two weeks ago and had a conversation with him. He charges a flat rate of $500USD to locate a vehicle, check it out, do the paperwork, etc. In my case, I was inquiring about a minivan but he has the resources to find most anything. Since I don't claim to be a "gear head", I personally think that the $500 would be money well spent. Having had dealings with he and Karen dating back to 2005, we have always had faith in their abilities.

Lists that I have read seem to indicate a preference for trucks, SUV's and fancy cars for theft or jacking but it would seem to be a crime of opportunity - wrong place at the wrong time!
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

expatsinmexico

Sep 14, 2011, 10:21 AM

Post #31 of 31 (2090 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] Buying Mexico Car or Driving

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I have not contacted S & S as of yet but we will be making a quick trip down in January and it is one of the things I want to do. That is unless I find a great deal on a Jeep or Sport Trac up here. I want an older vehicle but don't want it to have much over 40000 miles. But 40000 mile on a Jeep that has been driven most of the time over rocks and hill tops is not necessarily a good vehicle. We will definately look them up in January.

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