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surebought

Jan 27, 2012, 2:12 PM

Post #1 of 23 (5510 views)

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I was sweating a little bit my Drivers License Renewal.

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I looked at my Mexican Drivers License the other day and it was expired six months. To anybody else, it would be no big deal, but to me, it was my eyesight that had me worried. Would I have to read the chart? Would it take a long time? I got there at the Baja Norte State building about 11AM. There were only two other people ahead of me. I had to pay $300 extra pesos because it was expired. But the good news was that the new License would be good for another five years. They gave me a number. I tried not to think about it.
When they called me I was ready. My wife dictated some changes like phone number and to correct the Blood type. She didn't say anything about the license saying my Nationalidad was Mexican at my request. It got typed up and now it was time to see the Doctora. They were tricky about where the eye chart was. I was going to quickly memorize it, but not. It was behind where I was standing. I read down the chart and only missed one letter (a j looked like a p). Was the Doctora having a busy day? "Not really", she said as she glanced at the Nationalidad. I am going to ignore the Nationality this time because you would have to go home and bring a utility receipt and some other document that I didn't have, if we make the change at this point, so remember next time. I paid the cashier and waited and a few minutes later, he gave me my new License for another five years and that made it a good day.

chicois8

Jan 27, 2012, 4:39 PM

Post #2 of 23 (5473 views)

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Re: [surebought] I was sweating a little bit my Drivers License Renewal.

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So now your license is good till your 96, I've seen some of you BC drivers.LOL

jajaja, just kidding, small joke, do not get mad,chiste.......

surebought

Jan 28, 2012, 7:38 AM

Post #3 of 23 (5374 views)

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Re: [chicois8] I was sweating a little bit my Drivers License Renewal.

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That's a good one chicoisB. LOL. You learn all about defensive driving in Baja. But I thought Guadalajara was much worse because of all the traffic. You know where you want to go, but how do you get there? There is an old saying here; "Everybody is so nice except when they get behind the wheel."

morgaine7

Jan 28, 2012, 8:04 AM

Post #4 of 23 (5365 views)

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Re: [surebought] I was sweating a little bit my Drivers License Renewal.

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I guess drivers here age faster. In La Paz (Baja California Sur) there's now a regulation that for license renewal, folks over 60 have to provide a medical certificate showing that they're fit to drive. My DL expires in September, so I'll get to experience this process first hand. Can't recall what all they look for … vision, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.

Kate

Rolly

Jan 28, 2012, 8:32 AM

Post #5 of 23 (5354 views)

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Re: [morgaine7] I was sweating a little bit my Drivers License Renewal.

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Here in Durango, a medical check is required of everyone. But it is a joke.
Here in Lerdo, it is done by their designated doctor. The test is simple.
If you can walk into the doctor's office and see well enough to find a chair, you pass.

Rolly Pirate

surebought

Jan 28, 2012, 8:36 AM

Post #6 of 23 (5351 views)

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Re: [Rolly] I was sweating a little bit my Drivers License Renewal.

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I guess I will have to go to Lerdo next time. I hear there is lots of money in Torreon. You must be the only American living there. And I bet its cold right now.

Rolly

Jan 28, 2012, 8:49 AM

Post #7 of 23 (5346 views)

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Re: [surebought] I was sweating a little bit my Drivers License Renewal.

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Except for the Mormon missionaries, I'm the only gringo in Lerdo.
Not very cold. Temps in the 80s for the last two weeks. 70s today.

Durango and Coahuila have a hateful rule on driver's licenses.
You must have an FM2 or better, no license for FM3 folks.

Rolly Pirate

tashby

Jan 28, 2012, 1:29 PM

Post #8 of 23 (5302 views)

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Re: [surebought] I was sweating a little bit my Drivers License Renewal.

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The vision test in Jalisco is an absolute joke. Basically if you can open your eyes, you pass. Scary.

chicois8

Jan 28, 2012, 5:03 PM

Post #9 of 23 (5270 views)

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Re: [surebought] I was sweating a little bit my Drivers License Renewal.

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Years ago Disney did a cartoon staring Goofy, calm,cool and collected until he got behind the wheel...180 degree turnaround

morgaine7

Jan 28, 2012, 7:12 PM

Post #10 of 23 (5256 views)

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Re: [Rolly] I was sweating a little bit my Drivers License Renewal.

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Quote

The test is simple.
If you can walk into the doctor's office and see well enough to find a chair, you pass.

No doubt a Dr. Simi or somebody is installed across the street from el tránsito now that the regulation is in effect, next to all the labs for the required blood typing.

Today I almost got the opportunity to research this first hand when I got pulled over for rolling through a 4-way stop. Guilty as charged, so I didn't try to argue, but the nice officer let me off with a warning. She said it was a 590-peso infraction, sheesh! And no, no money changed hands. We're civilized here. Smile

Kate

Ustlach

Jan 31, 2012, 1:56 PM

Post #11 of 23 (5089 views)

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Re: [surebought] I was sweating a little bit my Drivers License Renewal.

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Here in Sonora they make getting a Mexican DL an absolute nightmare, and if you actually jump through all the hoops (including a driving test), the license is valid for the same period of time as your visa. So one year max, and closer to ten months or so, depending on how soon you can get down there to get the DL after you renew your visa.

And then I asked myself WHY? It was a pain, it cost me 700 pesos, and my US DL is considered as valid as the one issued by the state of Sonora.

Why go through that irritation when it is completely unnecessary...at least here in Sonora?

Phil in SLP

Feb 1, 2012, 4:50 PM

Post #12 of 23 (5000 views)

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Re: [Ustlach] I was sweating a little bit my Drivers License Renewal.

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I just got my drivers' license in SMA, Guanajuato. First I went for my certificado medico at a tiny office, where a nice doctora measured my blood pressure, height, weight, blood pressure, etc. It cost 35 pesos. Then I needed a bill for my proof of residence, but it can be in somebody else's name as long as the address matches that of your application, so that was no problem. At Transito I didn't have to take a written test because I had an expired license from SLP that I allowed them to keep. A Mexican friend told me that one can obtain a license in any state in Mexico--it doesn't have to be where you live. The important thing to authorities is that it is Mexican. My five-year license cost 648 pesos, though in SLP it would be 3,000 for five years. My nephew will be coming down to GTO from SLP to save money. So, if they are giving expats a big hassle in Sonora, find a state that doesn't. Be sure to check out the prices. Hey, this is legal.

surebought

Feb 2, 2012, 8:08 AM

Post #13 of 23 (4954 views)

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Re: [Ustlach] I was sweating a little bit my Drivers License Renewal.

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I drive Mexican Plated cars for Insurance and other reasons, so I need a Mexican Drivers License. Mexican Plated cars hold their value better than US Plated cars I have found.

mazbook1

Feb 2, 2012, 4:24 PM

Post #14 of 23 (4902 views)

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Re: [surebought] I was sweating a little bit my Drivers License Renewal.

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surebought, Where in México did you get the idea that you need a Mexican Drivers License to drive a Mexican plated car? That never has been true and still is not true.

morgaine7

Feb 2, 2012, 5:10 PM

Post #15 of 23 (4891 views)

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Re: [mazbook1] I was sweating a little bit my Drivers License Renewal.

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It may not be true everywhere, but it's true here in La Paz, Baja California Sur and is written into the traffic regulations. Here's the relevant provision from the Reglamento de Tránsito del Municipio de La Paz:

ARTÍCULO 52.- Las licencias para conducir expedidas por otros Municipios del Estado, así como las de otras entidades federativas tendrán validez siempre y cuando se encuentren vigentes; de igual forma las expedidas por las autoridades en otros países donde exista reciprocidad y en este último caso, siempre que vehículo porte placas y registro vigentes del país donde la licencia fue expedida.

Roughly: "Driver's licenses issued by other Municipios of the State, as well as those of other states, are valid provided that they are current; likewise those issued by the authorities in other countries where reciprocity exists, and in this last case, provided that the vehicle carries current plates and registration from the country where the license was issued."

No, I'm not some kind of traffic law nerd. Wink

I learned this while trying to help a friend register her car. She tried to use her US driver's license, and they wouldn't let her. We ended up in the office of the director for licenses, who showed us the regulation.

Kate

(This post was edited by morgaine7 on Feb 2, 2012, 5:16 PM)

bournemouth

Feb 2, 2012, 5:57 PM

Post #16 of 23 (4879 views)

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Re: [mazbook1] I was sweating a little bit my Drivers License Renewal.

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Drivers License requirements vary from state to state.

surebought

Feb 3, 2012, 12:05 PM

Post #17 of 23 (4810 views)

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Re: [mazbook1] I was sweating a little bit my Drivers License Renewal.

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I have the Mexican Drivers License because it is one more proof that I am a resident of Baja California. And it gets you the Mexican Discount for US insurance. With a California License they could argue that it was proof you were not a resident of Baja and not honor the claim in case of an accident.

mazbook1

Feb 3, 2012, 3:54 PM

Post #18 of 23 (4774 views)

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Re: [bournemouth] I was sweating a little bit my Drivers License Renewal.

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Yes, drivers license requirements vary from state to state in México. I apologize folks, in the heat of the moment, I was posting about MY experience in Sinaloa. ¡Discúlpeme, por favor!

However, bear with me here. IF in some states it is not legal to drive a Mexican plated car with a U.S. or Canadian drivers license, why do the car rental companies in ALL of México rent cars to any tourist who has a valid drivers license from ANY country? Just askin'.

(This post was edited by mazbook1 on Feb 3, 2012, 4:00 PM)

surebought

Feb 3, 2012, 5:45 PM

Post #19 of 23 (4752 views)

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Re: [mazbook1] I was sweating a little bit my Drivers License Renewal.

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Ah Ha, This is what I have been looking for to explain what I mean about linear thinking. The Rental car Companies are not going to rent to too many foreigners if the requirement is that they have a valid Mexican Drivers License. They have it worked out insurance wise so who else is going to care? If a Cop stops them and questions the foreign license with Mexican Plated car, "Its is a rental and here is a copy of the contract," Officer. Case closed. This is probably all against Mexican Law somewhere, and I am sure that maybe one person on this board has uttered something that might have tangled them up in a big mess, but its not going to happen to me.

morgaine7

Feb 3, 2012, 6:17 PM

Post #20 of 23 (4744 views)

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Re: [mazbook1] I was sweating a little bit my Drivers License Renewal.

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My guess would be that rental cars, being registered to a company rather than to an individual, fall under a different classification and get some sort of commercial exception. Visitors rent cars and drive them here, of course, just as they do anywhere else. But I'm not at all sure that a tourist or visitor could legally drive my car, for example. Given the way the regulation reads, I'd assume not.

Kate

mazbook1

Feb 4, 2012, 10:24 AM

Post #21 of 23 (4689 views)

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Re: [morgaine7] I was sweating a little bit my Drivers License Renewal.

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morgaine7, In your friend's case, she was trying to BUY a Mexican plated car. The regulations for this vary widely from state to state in México…and always have; all the way from "anyone with an FMM or better visa and any valid drivers license" to "no one with a foreign drivers license".

I have a hunch that this regulation you quote has to do with the car more than the person, as then it would be more or less in line with the federal law that says that only foreigners with the same visa status as the person holding the temp. importation permit are allowed to drive someone else's foreign plated car. (There are other exemptions, also, but they don't apply to this forum topic).

Looking at that particular article of the law out of context it's impossible to tell just what it is referring to, but I can't believe that it would be as easy as you and surebought think for car rental companies to just be able to ignore the law, IF it means exactly what you think it means. It certainly doesn't mean that a person with a foreign drivers license cannot buy and register a Mexican plated vehicle, although that is something probably covered in the BCS state laws and/or regulations, rather than the laws and regulations of a single municipio, as it would be pretty unlikely that the laws/regulations of a single municipio could so easily override state laws/regulations.

morgaine7

Feb 4, 2012, 1:35 PM

Post #22 of 23 (4662 views)

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Re: [mazbook1] I was sweating a little bit my Drivers License Renewal.

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No, she'd already bought the car. As I recall, the initial registration had been handled by the dealer or her attorney, and this was her first renewal. The regulation I quoted is the second in a section entitled "De las Licensias y Permisos". I'd be happy to send you the whole document if you're interested. I'm sure you're correct that it follows state law, especially since La Paz is the state capital.

Temporary import permits aren't used in Baja California or Baja California Sur. Someone with (say) a Utah-plated car would simply drive it on a Utah DL, although both license and registration need to be current.

I wasn't implying that rental car companies could "ignore the law", but that different regulations might apply to them.

In any case, there's no reason for an expat resident not to get a BCS license. It's easy, relatively inexpensive, and valid for three years. Another benefit is that it's widely accepted as ID and more familiar to most people than INM cards.

Kate

Rolly

Feb 4, 2012, 2:55 PM

Post #23 of 23 (4648 views)

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Re: [mazbook1] I was sweating a little bit my Drivers License Renewal.

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the federal law that says that only foreigners with the same visa status as the person holding the temp. importation permit are allowed to drive someone else's foreign plated car.
Actually, that is not what law says.

Los vehículos podrán ser conducidos en territorio nacional por el importador, su cónyuge, sus ascendientes, descendientes o hermanos, aun cuando éstos no sean extranjeros, por un extranjero que tenga alguna de las calidades migratorias a que se refiere este inciso, o por un nacional, siempre que en este último caso, viaje a bordo del mismo cualquiera de las personas autorizadas para conducir el vehículo y podrán efectuar entradas y salidas múltiples.

The vehicles can be driven in Mexico by the importer, his or her spouse, their parents and grandparents, their decedents, their brothers or sisters, even when those relatives are not foreigners or by a foreigner who has the same immigration category as one of those herein referenced [inmigrantes rentistas or inmigrantes], or by a Mexican citizen, provided in this latter case, that a person authorized to drive the vehicle is within the vehicle. Such vehicle is authorized to make multiple exits and returns from and to Mexico.

Rolly Pirate