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kuralowicz

Dec 1, 2003, 9:46 AM

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Potential problem with imported vehicle

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My wife and I are retired and brought our vehicle over last year on the ferry from Tampa. We have a small home in the area that we spend the winter months in but only keep an FMT visas while we are in Mexico. Our vehicle with U.S. plates is still in Mexico, but our temporary permit on it is going to expire soon and I keep getting mixed answers when ever I ask someone what we have to do to keep the vehicle legally current.

The following are the answers we have heard:

1. We need to travel to Belize with the vehicle to renew the temporary permit. When doing this we must remain in Belize for over 24hrs before returning to Mexico.

2. Because Q. Roo is a "Free Trade State" as long as our visa's are valid even being FMTs are vehicle is still valid regardless if the temporary permit has expired and this is given only if the vehicle remains only in Q. Roo.

If someone has been through this or knows the correct procedure to keep the car valid it would much be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Seth

Jim in Cancun / Moderator

Dec 1, 2003, 2:04 PM

Post #2 of 2 (590 views)

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Re: [kuralowicz] Potential problem with imported vehicle

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My first suggestion would be to get an FM-3 "rentista" and it will make your life a whole lot easier AFTER you fix the problem that you have now. Once you have one, your car that enters with you and the FM-3 will be legal as long as your FM-3 is current.

Your temporary permit on the car when your first brought it expired when your permit did and your car is illegal and could be impounded. Chances are it won't be but it could be.

Contact swilson@cancunassist.com and maybe post on his message board and ask him to help and/or for his suggestions. You can, of course, take it out of the country (hoping that they don't notice something is wrong when you leave with it) and then re-enter on another tourist visa but will end up with the same problem unless you process your FM-3 while you are here--which is the only way I can see that you can legalize it. This is AFTER leaving and coming back with a new FMT.

What I had read and understood before was that you did not even need a permit if you arrived on the ferry with a tourist visa AS LONG AS YOU DIDN'T LEAVE THE STATE OF QUINTANA ROO.

And as far as I know, you have to leave and come back in the next day--I don't think you have to wait 24 hours. I didn't 15 years ago anyway--went down, spent the day and the night in Corazal and came back the next day.

good luck.