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beerme

Jun 24, 2003, 6:26 PM

Post #1 of 11 (1450 views)

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Better to buy or bring a car?

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I want to be able to bring some things with me during the months I will travel in Mexico. Is there an advantage into taking a bus into Mexico and buying a car there? (Price, registration, less risk of confiscation, ability to sell it, etc.) The obvious advantage to buying a car here is better knowledge of the market, mechanics who can inspect it's roadworthiness, and not having to lug my things around until I find one.

Varios Gracias

Rolly

Jun 24, 2003, 7:43 PM

Post #2 of 11 (1438 views)

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Re: [beerme] Better to buy or bring a car?

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Buying a car in Mexico is not a good idea. Cars cost much more here than in the USA. You'll have some paperwork problems that might make it impossible for you. If you own/drive a Mexican plated car, you must have a Mexican drivers license. Licenses are issued by the states (just like in the US), so the rules vary a little from one state to another, but you will surely have to prove that you live in the state. Proof of residency is required for many things in Mexico, so a tourist would most likely have a problem getting a drivers license.

Bring your own car.

Rolly Pirate

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

beerme

Jun 24, 2003, 8:33 PM

Post #3 of 11 (1431 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Better to buy or bring a car?

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I appreciate all your help, Rolly. To conocimiento practico tiene mucho valor. I'll start shopping for a cheap car tomorrow. If it breaks down, and I can't afford to fix it and get in back across the border, will there be any legal penalties that cause me problems in the future? Will they try to charge more to my credit card?

PeggyS

Jun 25, 2003, 1:19 AM

Post #4 of 11 (1419 views)

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Re: [beerme] Better to buy or bring a car?

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Six years ago, my husband arrived as a tourist from Ontario. He decided that he wanted a car to drive around in while he rented a place, and took a taxi into Guadalajara where the taxi driver helped him to choose a used car, Mexican made and registered of course. It's a four door Chrysler that cost US $5,000, has been a real gem and we love it. This year his Toronto drivers license expired and coincidently he had his 80th birthday, meaning that to renew his Canadian drivers license, he had to go up there and take a test each year. Much easier to get a Mexican license. So he went in and took the written (hehehe) and of course there is no drivers test nor do they ask to see a license from any other country. He came out within a few hours with a beautiful plastic license, picture included but no embarrassing numbers such as birth date etc. So far we have had no trouble renting a car in France or in New York state. They briefly look at the name, picture and date of expiration on his drivers license and that's it. I continue to drive the Jag roadster with 3 year old Florida plates, with my Florida drivers license and FM-3. Coming into Mexico with my stuff in the Jag, I got a green light and had no problems 3 years ago.

Rolly

Jun 25, 2003, 4:43 AM

Post #5 of 11 (1418 views)

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Re: [beerme] Better to buy or bring a car?

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Beerme, here is some information from my website that will answer your What if? questions.

What if my car is stolen? If it is recovered, you only need to deal with the local police and your insurance company. If it is not recovered, you will also need to deal with the Aduana/Banjercito. The basic view of the government is that an unrecovered stolen car could also be a car that you sold and then reported stolen. Unless they have a real reason to suspect you of the crime, they won't make a point of it, but you will have to pay a "tax" on the car that you cannot account for. You will have to pay this tax before you can clear the stolen car from the computer and thus be allowed to bring another car. If bringing in another is not an issue, then I guess you could just let the car ride on the records. I hope I don't ever have any first-hand experience with this.

What if my car is destroyed in a wreck? There is a procedure for removing it from the records. Go to you local Aduana office for the forms and instructions.

What if my car is broken down and not worth repairing? There is a procedure where by you can give the car to the Mexican government, and that gets it off the records.. Go see the Aduana.

Bottom line -- you cannot just walk away from your car in Mexico. If you do, your credit card will take a hit, and you will never be allowed to bring another car into Mexico.

Be sure to buy Mexican insurance. Your USA insurance is not valid in Mexico.

Tanks a look at my website for a lot more information about cars, etc.

Rolly Pirate

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

jrice

Jun 25, 2003, 8:29 PM

Post #6 of 11 (1365 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Better to buy or bring a car?

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Ah, the stolen foreign plated car. Happened to me. I spent a good part of a week figuring out which government offices to visit. On the other hand, people were very helpful once I found out. A lovely person at hacienda even sent me the documents that I didn't know I needed. However, I still need to go to the municipal tesoreria and stand in line for a few hours to pay a few pesos to buy a permission to stand in line to find out when the agente will return to certify the acta from the ministerio publico so that I can turn it over to the insurance company. There are always other complicating steps with any government (or any government's) bureaucracy.

Guapo Gabacho

Jun 26, 2003, 7:08 PM

Post #7 of 11 (1325 views)

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Re: [jrice] Better to buy or bring a car?

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Hey you all,

I have entered Mexico, got a temporary importation permit with a credit card, and sold the car many times. All I had to do the next time I returned was to not have the same form of ID. When I wish to sell a car I enter with a passport. They use the passport number to identify me. If I need to return with a car I don't wish to sell I enter with my birth certificate and drivers license. I am the number on the license. If I wish to "import" another chocolate, I only need to get a new passport (it always has a different number). I have never had a credit card charge for the cars and I sell the cars or trucks without title. My only problem is telling the passport agent (US) why I was renewing it with eight more years left before expireation. They take the money and it comes in the mail. How the Mexicans get the tag and papers me vale.

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We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children.

David Eidell

Jun 27, 2003, 3:29 PM

Post #8 of 11 (1297 views)

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Hacienda Cannot Touch One Cent Of Your US Credit Card

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This was explained to me very patiently by officers of VISA, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover Card. You didn't sign a specific CONTRACT that bound you to an agreement stipulating a cash penalty.

OF course if they (SHCP) can get their hands on you after they found out that you violated the terms of the agreement by selling your car in Mxxico, they can arrest you at which time you may gladly use the card to extract money to stay out of prison...

But otherwise, Not One Red Cent. Same with the accepted ATM payment for temporary vehicle importation -- no PIN number, no dinero.

This perhaps is one of the most pervasive myths circulating today about Mexico and permits.

Jean

Jun 27, 2003, 3:35 PM

Post #9 of 11 (1292 views)

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Re: [David Eidell] Hacienda Cannot Touch One Cent Of Your US Credit Card

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Thank god someone finally knows the truth about this.

I have often wondered how they would charge my expired credit card.

Sometimes the mis-information that some people give out here is very dangerous and thankfully someone who knows can correct them.
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(This post was edited by Tuatha_de_Danann on Jun 27, 2003, 3:36 PM)

jennifer rose

Jun 27, 2003, 8:48 PM

Post #10 of 11 (1267 views)

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Re: [David Eidell] Hacienda Cannot Touch One Cent Of Your US Credit Card

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Thanks, David. I've explained the same concept to folks over the years, but they never want to believe that the credit card transaction has been closed out when they leave the aduana and that they haven't signed for ongoing charges. Maybe they'll believe you.

pathall

Jun 28, 2003, 8:22 AM

Post #11 of 11 (1245 views)

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Re: [jennifer rose] Hacienda Cannot Touch One Cent Of Your US Credit Card

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Thanks for clearing that up. That was a myth I always believed.