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Moisheh

Oct 4, 2003, 12:14 PM

Post #1 of 14 (1199 views)

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autos and FM3

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Until 2000 0r 2001 keeping a foreign plated car in Mexico was not very difficult. Even though the car permits were only issued for 6 months, it was generally accepted that the term of you car papers were valid as long as your FM3 was valid. That has changed. The Hacienda now issues car papers that expire the same date as your FM3 (up to 365 days). Por ejemplo: if the annual renewal on your FM3 is August 15 and you entered Mexico today , they would issue a sticker that expires on August 15 2004. After that you are required to get a new sticker. My question is: How do people who live far South in Mexico handle this? Do you have to return to the border for a new sticker? Do you drive with an expired sticker? Can you get new car papers without going to the border? Thanks

Rolly

Oct 4, 2003, 12:50 PM

Post #2 of 14 (1189 views)

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Re: [Moisheh] autos and FM3

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"it was generally accepted that the term of you car papers were valid as long as your FM3 was valid. That has changed."

What is the basis for this statement? I am not aware of any changes. Please give us a reference.

Thanks

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

johanson

Oct 4, 2003, 1:40 PM

Post #3 of 14 (1183 views)

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Re: [Rolly] autos and FM3

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There are thousands of folks lakeside, myself included who would be very surprised if there has been such a change. I sure hope you are wrong. I talked with my attorney's husband yesterday. There was no mention of such a change as we discussed CURPS, FM-2 renewals, etc. He is the office manager, and I believe I would have heard of such a change.

esperanza

Oct 4, 2003, 1:41 PM

Post #4 of 14 (1183 views)

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Re: [Rolly] autos and FM3

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It hasn't changed that I'm aware of, Rolly. FM3 in force, car permit in force as well. I was just at the border helping a friend get her car permit (less than a month ago) and they assured us that such is the case.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Brian

Oct 4, 2003, 3:56 PM

Post #5 of 14 (1168 views)

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Re: [esperanza] autos and FM3

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We got our permits in June and the expiration date is November 11. This is the same date as our FM3 renewal date.

Moisheh

Oct 5, 2003, 12:45 PM

Post #6 of 14 (1120 views)

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Re: [johanson] autos and FM3

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Perhaps i did not make myself clear. Yes your car papers are valid as long as your FM3 is valid, BUT only from one renewal to another. This was related to me by: the aduaneros at Nogales ( who never interpret the rules correctly) and by the Hacienda when they had acheck point set up to examine car papers. I will try and get the info from their web site. I hope I am wrong.

Moisheh

Oct 5, 2003, 1:27 PM

Post #7 of 14 (1117 views)

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Re: [johanson] autos and FM3

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I checked the 1999 aduana web info on temporary car importation as well as the 2002 and 2003. Although there are some changes ,the wording is the same. Your car papers are valid as long as your tourist papers are valid. I think the problem is that at Nogales they are interpereting this to mean that because you must renew your FM3 every year, the term is only one year. I carry the Ley Aduana on this subject with me. If they question my dates I show them the papers and usually I get through. I have had friends who had to turn aound and get new papers. Thanks for all the replies. If I hear different @ Nogales i will try to get the "rea" interpretation of this law.l

Marlene

Oct 5, 2003, 4:52 PM

Post #8 of 14 (1090 views)

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Expired Car Permits

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The officials here in Mazatlan don't seem too hung up on checking foreign car papers. I know of several foreigners who have bought beater cars from other foreigners here for a few bucks and just keep on driving them with never a hassle, and with no window sticker visible from the original permit holder. We all realize this defies the law, and that the Aduana impound yard is full to the rafters but these foreigners say they are prepared to lose the cars if and when the time comes. So far so good. Mazatlan really is a great laid back kind of place!

jerezano

Oct 6, 2003, 5:45 PM

Post #9 of 14 (1036 views)

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Re: [Moisheh] autos and FM3

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Hello,

La Ley Aduanera is quite clear. Your permit to import a car into Mexico is vigente (good) as long as your immigration papers are good. When they expire, then your import permit expires.

For five years I had no problems at all. When my FM3 was ready to expire I went to Imigración and got a próroga (extension for a year). I had only occasional trouble at the border with an aduanero not knowledgeable about the law. Showing a copy of the law was the only thing necessary. I was always waved on through.

Last year my five years on the FM3 ran out. I opted to get a new FM3 instead of the FM2.

Imigración issued me a new FM3 as of midnight on the day my old one ran out. They assured me that my car import sticker was still good and I did not need to replace it. In fact they gave me a letter saying so. (Spanish of course)

I have now crossed the border at Reynosa three times and returned to Mexico. Each time I have been stopped, told that my import sticker was no longer good, but have always been let back in. On the second trip I got a lecture from the Aduanero for about 10 minutes. He pointed out that he was familiar with the law, but that during the time my new FM3 was being processed there had been a time lapse and therefore I needed to get a new import permit. I pointed out that my old FM3 had terminated at midnight on such a date and the new FM3 had begun at midnight of that same day. Where was the lapse? I also pointed out that the new FM3 showed that I had entered Mexico five years back and I was still a resident. He let me in.

The last trip I got a different official. He also stopped me and told me I had to get a new permit. I showed him the letter from Imigración quoting the statute. He let me in.

The only problem with the last three trips, other than the hassle, has been that the red light calling for inspection triggered all three times. It is beginning to look as if that is not coincidence. I had no problems with the inspection in any case, although on the second trip I was bringing in a new computer which cost $400. They did not assess me anything, although they could have. Jerezano

Carron

Oct 7, 2003, 10:24 AM

Post #10 of 14 (1002 views)

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Re: [jerezano] autos and FM3

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One of the true-ist true-isms about spending time in Mexico is this: Mexico does not have a play book with everyone on the team turned to the same page. This is even true of Mexican agencies (tourism, for example) and official embassies or consulates in the US. Interagency cooperation is almost unheard of. Computers have yet to make significant inroads into daily activities of officials.

Everything in Mexico is based on personal relationships. The only "truth" is what happens between you and the official with whom you are dealing at the time. If you are polite and respectful and defer to their individual opinions and/or explanations and ask for their guidance, you will probably be treated not only courteously but generously. I have found it is much more effective to ask for help rather than challenge an official's opinion. He saves face if he can give you a lecture or his official version (which may or may not be legally up to date), then smile and offer to help you by personally solving your problem.

Mexico does not have a "by the book" mentality when it comes to dealing with official matters. Which, to my way of thinking, just makes it that much easier for me to live here.

normajean

Oct 7, 2003, 11:00 AM

Post #11 of 14 (995 views)

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Re: [Brian] autos and FM3

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I apoligize for the intrusion. My wife and i are thinking about moving to mex. i have been scanning the posts and run into FM3 frequently...what is it? Appreciate your time.

Jim & Norma McGuire

Don

Oct 7, 2003, 11:08 AM

Post #12 of 14 (991 views)

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Re: [normajean] autos and FM3

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Here is a site that can explain FMT, FM-2 and FM-3.

http://www.mexconnected.com/mex_/visa.html

TomG

Oct 7, 2003, 7:07 PM

Post #13 of 14 (943 views)

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Re: [Carron] autos and FM3

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Great post!

Tom

believer111

Oct 14, 2003, 2:28 PM

Post #14 of 14 (870 views)

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Re: [Carron] autos and FM3

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This info is so true. Mexico is an arbitrary country....things are interpreted and handled in an arbitrary fashion...things differ from place to place and from encounter to encounter. Even with copies of the current written law/regs in Spanish in your hand to prove your point, you will be treated as seen fit by, or by the mood of the person questioning you.
It's their country, and they know it.
Relax! Ask them for help and advice. (Be courteous and inquisitive. Learn Spanish. Tell them you are learning more Spanish.) Thank them for their assistance.
They are in charge.

Dios le bendiga,
hermana greta