Nationalizing/selling a US car in Mexico

Nationalizing/selling a US car in Mexico

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I'm about to buy a car here in the States before heading back down to Guadalajara, where I live, in a couple of weeks. I'm wondering if it makes sense to follow the advice of Mexican friends and invest in a vehicle I can resell there to make a little money. Has anyone done the research to know if (a) the potential to make money is enough to warrant the hassles and (b) if I'm correct in that I need to buy a car made in the US in 2003 or 2004 (8 to 9 years old under the new law, right?)
Any advice along these lines greatly appreciated.

careyeroslib

Dec 27, 2011, 5:38 PM

Post #2 of 22 (2707 views)

Re: [teresita7] Nationalizing/selling a US car in Mexico

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Hi Teresa: I´m by no means an expert in this area, but, since we have been thinking along the exact same lines, I thought I would contribute. (We have had a Japanese made Canadian plated car here for 10 years and, since it cannot be nationalized, we are faced with the prospect of importing a different vehicle or buying Mexican eventually).

Basically, we have chosen to buy Mexican for our next vehicle, even though we actually have a vehicle we could import. Why? Basically, I don´t have confidence it would be better for us either financially, or in terms of the hassles overall. They always seem to be changing the rules and, for all I know, if I showed up at the border, even with a Customs Agent´s help, it would end up not being financially to our advantage to import a foreign plated vehicle.

My answer differs from what it would have been in 2001. At that time there were virtually no reliable used vehicles in Mexico. Now there are. Also, if you just want to travel around town or on Highways, you can get a beautiful little brand new compact for $113,000 pesos in Mexico. Unfortunately, we really need 4WD so it´s harder. But, we´re still going to look, rather than try to import.

All the best.

Dec 27, 2011, 5:56 PM

Post #3 of 22 (2698 views)

Re: [teresita7] Nationalizing/selling a US car in Mexico

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At last report it cost about $2000 USD to nationalize a car. So, you'll need to take that into account.

playaboy

Dec 28, 2011, 2:07 AM

Post #4 of 22 (2662 views)

Re: [teresita7] Nationalizing/selling a US car in Mexico

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I have been told that only Mexican nationals can import a car, not FMM (2 or 3)

Dec 28, 2011, 5:44 AM

Post #5 of 22 (2646 views)

Re: [playaboy] Nationalizing/selling a US car in Mexico

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In Reply To

I have been told that only Mexican nationals can import a car, not FMM (2 or 3)

Inmigrante ("FM2") and No Inmigrante ("FM3") INM immigration status holders are allowed to permanently import 1 car ("nationalize" = importación definitiva de vehículos usado):
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( 28 kB) Decreto por el que se regula la importación definitiva de vehículos usados, publicado en el Diario Oficial de la Federación el 1ro. de julio de 2011.

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" FMM (2 or 3) " do not exist and have never existed.
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(This post was edited by YucaLandia on Dec 28, 2011, 6:33 AM)

teresita7

Dec 28, 2011, 8:11 AM

Post #6 of 22 (2613 views)

Re: [YucaLandia] Nationalizing/selling a US car in Mexico

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Thanks to all for your responses. I have my FM3 so I think that technically I could do it, the question is whether it makes good economic sense to do so. As I understand it, I can continue to drive my temporarily imported vehicle as long as my FM3 is in good standing, so really the only motivation to nationalize a vehicle would be to sell it, and the only reason to do that would be to make some money - and that is seeming like a pretty chancy proposition, based on what I'm hearing from you all.

Kimpatsu Hekigan

Dec 28, 2011, 11:33 AM

Post #7 of 22 (2578 views)

Re: [YucaLandia] Nationalizing/selling a US car in Mexico

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Inmigrante ("FM2") and No Inmigrante ("FM3") INM immigration status holders are allowed to permanently import 1 car ("nationalize" = importación definitiva de vehículos usado)...

Nothing in the document at the link you provided says anything about the citizenship or immigration status of the importer.

Are you saying that a non-Mexican citizen can legally nationalize a qualifying vehicle without an intermediate step of signing the original title over to a Mexican citizen as part of the import formalities at the border?

If so, how does that work?

Many thanks!

-- K.H.

Before enlightenment: Chop wood, haul water.
After enlightenment: Chop wood, haul water.

Dec 28, 2011, 12:45 PM

Post #8 of 22 (2563 views)

Re: [Kimpatsu Hekigan] Nationalizing/selling a US car in Mexico

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As residents of Mexico, expats with Inmigrado, Inmigrante ("FM2") resident status, or No Inmigrante ("FM3") resident status are allowed to permanently import one vehicle. I think you noticed that the reglamento I cited listed no restrictions on resident immigrants permanently importing vehicles.
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Read-on MacDuff
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Dec 28, 2011, 3:03 PM

Post #9 of 22 (2537 views)

Re: [YucaLandia] Nationalizing/selling a US car in Mexico

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If my prior answers were less than satisfying about Aduana allowing expats with "FM2", "FM3", and Inmigrado status to permanently import cars, then read http://www.aduanas.gob.mx/.../VU1_VU2_2203061.pdf 's section on acceptable forms of "identificación oficial vigente" which include: "6. Forma Migratoria con Fotografía" and "7. Credencial de Inmigrado" for applying to permanently import a car into Mexico.
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playaboy

Dec 28, 2011, 6:14 PM

Post #10 of 22 (2501 views)

Re: [YucaLandia] Nationalizing/selling a US car in Mexico

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In Reply To

I don't want to butt heads with you Steve, but Aduana at the Belize/Chetumal border will not let a non-mexican import a car, period. None of the brokers will even attempt it. The only way my neighbors have ever been able to do it there is to sign the vehicle over to a Mexican friend and then sign it back.

I was at the Brownsville/Matamoros border last week and Aduana would not allow my neighbor to import his 2001USA made Ford Excursion truck. He is FM2 resident.

I have found that even though the law is in black and white the interpretations of the official you are talking to are often very gray.

Dec 28, 2011, 7:49 PM

Post #11 of 22 (2483 views)

Re: [playaboy] Nationalizing/selling a US car in Mexico

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They can import a car temporarily, they cannot nationalize it.

Dec 28, 2011, 7:53 PM

Post #12 of 22 (2482 views)

Re: [YucaLandia] Nationalizing/selling a US car in Mexico

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Steve, those holding Inmigrante, No Inmigrante or FMM can TEMPORARILY import a vehicle, they cannot import a vehicle permanently. The lonly way to import a vehicle permanently is to nationalize it.

Poncho32

Dec 30, 2011, 5:56 AM

Post #13 of 22 (2395 views)

Re: [DavidHF] Nationalizing/selling a US car in Mexico

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So it apears by looking at Steves comments and then at David that there is a total disagreement of whether a FM3 status person can bring into Mexico an American made car of the right age and nationalize it,is that about right or who is right?

Dec 30, 2011, 7:06 AM

Post #14 of 22 (2385 views)

Re: [Poncho32] Nationalizing/selling a US car in Mexico

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The correct term is "nationalize." If you are a Mexican citizen or hold a valid visa you may nationalize a car that meets the requirements for nationalization. It's not a simple process and it's expensive. Foreigners holding FMM, Inmigrante or No Inmigrante Visa typically use the Importada Temporal to have their NOB car in Mexcio.

Poncho32

Dec 30, 2011, 8:04 AM

Post #15 of 22 (2371 views)

Re: [DavidHF] Nationalizing/selling a US car in Mexico

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So what your saying even if I have an FM3 we are unable to Nationaliz a American made car of witch has an eligible age here in Mexico?

Rolly

Dec 30, 2011, 8:49 AM

Post #16 of 22 (2365 views)

Re: [Poncho32] Nationalizing/selling a US car in Mexico

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You might want to read this: http://rollybrook.com/nationalizing.htm

Rolly Pirate

Dec 30, 2011, 9:04 AM

Post #17 of 22 (2358 views)

Re: [Poncho32] Nationalizing/selling a US car in Mexico

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Poncho, read my post again, I said you COULD nationalize it.

Rolly

Dec 30, 2011, 12:11 PM

Post #18 of 22 (2329 views)

Re: [DavidHF] Nationalizing/selling a US car in Mexico

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David wrote If you are a Mexican citizen or hold a valid visa you may nationalize a car...

This is what the law, referenced in an earlier post, seems to say. The procedure at the border, however, does not support this, as first-hand accounts in earlier posts attest. In the 12 years I have been reading about this matter, I have read several other first-hand reports of foreigners being denied. I have read only one story of a successful nationalization by a non-citizen. In that case, the fellow admitted to paying a bribe to get it done.

Despite what the law seems to say, the only way a non-citizen can nationalize a vehicle is to use a Mexican citizen straw man.

Rolly Pirate

Dec 30, 2011, 2:06 PM

Post #19 of 22 (2304 views)

Re: [Rolly] Nationalizing/selling a US car in Mexico

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Rolly's general comments on his website work for me.

We have local forum reports of an expat with a No Inmigrante (FM3) successfully nationalizing an 8 year old car at the Chetumal/Belize Aduana office in November, 2011, but he did it with the aid of an attorney. The permanent importation was managed by native Spanish speaker who knows the law: a Mexican lawyer, which can give very different results than Do It Yourself gringos who understand only nominal amounts of Spanish.

The specific examples listed above as proof that FM2 and FM3 holders cannot permanently import cars, unfortunately cited 10 year old vehicles, which are not part of the new law's 8 and 9 year old vehicle rules. We also have no evidence of the Spanish abilities of the people who attempted to import the cars that may be outside of the current laws accepted ages. In spending time at INM and Aduana offices both at the borders and offices inside Mexico, it's really common to see expats with mediocre Spanish ask near non-sensical questions and requests, and then watch them misunderstand what they are told by the INM or Aduana personnel.

For example, except for a few old-timers, how many people would realize that a car manufactured in November or December of 2002 is actually 2003 model year, which means it is 9 years old now. Another twist falls out in whether the car qualifies as a NAFTA made car. e.g. Not all Ford Rangers are NAFTA made, as some have Argentine motors and Japanese drive trains.

Did the attorney who successfully permanently imported a car (for an expat with an FM3) also have a Mexican intermediate straw buyer-importer ? Nothing was said about having to use a Mexican intermediate.

I'm tempted to make a drive out to our Aduana office to find out how they handle expats permanently importing cars, including what current years are accepted. Still, I stick by Rolly's observations that individual offices have a lot of discretion in how they apply the rules, and there will likely be variations in what works between different Aduana offices.
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(This post was edited by YucaLandia on Dec 30, 2011, 2:31 PM)

sioux4noff

Jan 1, 2012, 7:24 AM

Post #20 of 22 (2239 views)

Re: [YucaLandia] Nationalizing/selling a US car in Mexico

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Quote

Did the attorney who successfully permanently imported a car (for an expat with an FM3) also have a Mexican intermediate straw buyer-importer ? Nothing was said about having to use a Mexican intermediate.

Maybe the attorney himself WAS the Mexican intermediate.
I am not saying this about the person you mentioned in particular, as I don't know him, but often I have found people leave out key things when repeating a story. Sometimes, especally when they pay someone else to do something for them, they may not even know all the details themselves.

Jan 1, 2012, 8:18 AM

Post #21 of 22 (2225 views)

Re: [sioux4noff] Nationalizing/selling a US car in Mexico

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In Reply To

Quote

AMEN !
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sfmacaws

Jan 3, 2012, 5:07 PM

Post #22 of 22 (2126 views)