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barbaroja

Sep 25, 2011, 9:42 PM

Post #1 of 3 (1172 views)

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Buying US Registered Motorcycle in MX

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I am shopping for a motorcycle and found one for sale by another NorteAmericano. It is a US bike registered in New Mexico. The seller says that the bike is not attached to his FM2 in any way and I should have no trouble taking it back to the US as mine. Based on what I've read on this forum I'm suspicious. Does anyone one have advice on this?

Rick

Barba Roja
http://www.mapaverdesanmiguel.org/

robt65

Sep 26, 2011, 6:38 AM

Post #2 of 3 (1151 views)

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Re: [barbaroja] Buying US Registered Motorcycle in MX

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Hello barbaroja,

I travel fairly frequently back and forth NOB to Mexico and back. I pull a 16 foot travel trailer during many of these trips. I have myself taken a gas powered four wheeler registered in the USA and plated back NOB without any problem. I was never asked for any documentation. I never gave any information other than I was returning to get repairs done on it. I was directed to the secondary inspection as I was pulling an enclosed trailer and I have had that happen every time. After the inspection of the trailer I was sent on my way. I wouldn't worry about it too much. Just get a receipt and your "pink slip" and you should be OK, I would think, although I don’t think I would drive it across the border until I have it reregistered in my name NOB.

robt65

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YucaLandia

Sep 26, 2011, 6:48 AM

Post #3 of 3 (1146 views)

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Re: [barbaroja] Buying US Registered Motorcycle in MX

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Hey barbaroja,
Your proposed situation raises the classic "reality & real world" vs the theoretical & legal.

Theoretically and legally, the US owner is prohibited from selling their Temporarily Imported vehicle here (motor bike, car, pick-up truck, etc). And legally, you are not allowed to ride/drive the bike, unless you are a direct family member. In theory, the police could stop you at any point while driving in Mexico, and permanently confiscate your "new" bike.

In practice, you might be able to ride the bike around town, and then up to the border, and never get stopped. Or if stopped, the police might not call Aduana to have the bike confiscated.

There are reports around the internet from both sides of the fence: some people break Mexico's laws but are never stopped or caught, while other people get caught and pay the price.

You could also buy the bike, and then use the Safe Return program to ride it to the border to make it legit. See: Safely Returning Autos section at http://yucalandia.wordpress.com/...ing-a-car-in-mexico/.

The foreign vehicle illegal sale & illegal driving issue is common enough here that such vehicles even have a common name: "Chocolates"
steve
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Read-on MacDuff
E-visit at http://yucalandia.com

(This post was edited by YucaLandia on Sep 26, 2011, 6:57 AM)