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mistermagoo

Jun 11, 2004, 1:46 AM

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Donating a car

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I am wanting to give or if I must sell a car to a Mexican friend. It is a 1978 Impala that runs well, but that is about all you can say positive about it. Is this at all possible? I have been given lots of conflicting information. What are the ramifications of just leaving the vehicle in MX after getting the vehicle permit. The person it is title to will not be taking a vehicle a into MX again. Would my friend be able to insure it and drive it legally? I hope to get this done the last part of July.

rjkveton

Jun 12, 2004, 7:27 AM

Post #2 of 2 (202 views)

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Re: [mistermagoo] Donating a car

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First, to clear up the conflicting information you have received, you CANNOT legally transfer ownership of this vehicle to a Mexican, whether by sale or as a gift. This ground has been plowed over and over again on this website, and the reason is essentially because it is a temporary importation and includes a promise to take the car back out of Mexico someday. There is just simply no way around this. The time period you can keep the car in the country can be extended by obtaining an FM-3, and for its subsequent renewal periods, but only the importer, and certain other individuals as defined by law, but no non-related Mexican citizens, can legally drive the car. Your friend would not qualify.

So as a result of the above, if you decide to give it to your friend it will be subject to confiscation. Now maybe your friend thinks he or she has a way around this, so I guess chances can be taken. If you are dead sure the owner of the vehicle will never be bringing another car into Mexico, I guess you have nothing to lose. Obtaining insurance in Mexico may be difficult if not impossible for your friend.

The only other thing is that the owner will have to be at the border to do the import. Who is then going to drive it to your friend. The owner will need to be in the car at the interior checkpoint because aduana may check the car papers there. If the owner leaves the vehicle at this point, the car may be subject to confiscation between there and its destination, if stopped for inspection by aduana or the policia fiscal federal. A small risk perhaps, but a risk nevertheless.

If you really want to help your friend and do it legally, consider selling the Impala and buying a pickup which qualifies for import according to the rules laid out at this url:

http://www.aduanas.sat.gob.mx/...pTempVehiculos_Tema3

Buena suerte