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Nov 6, 2010, 11:29 AM

Post #1 of 10 (4856 views)

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Buying a Used Car

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Hi,
We're in Nayarit State. Does anyone have experience buying a used (1997) foreign plated (Canada) vehicle? The owner brought the vehicle into Mexico a number of years ago, but it still has the provincial plates on it. We have FM3s. We want everything to be "legal" if stopped, so we're wondering about the regulations and paperwork involved. Thanks for your assistance.

DavidHF

Nov 6, 2010, 12:08 PM

Post #2 of 10 (4845 views)

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Re: [jj] Buying a Used Car

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I don't know what the procedure is with Canada, but you'll need to go to the border and have the original owner turn in the Import Permit, then you can import it under your name.

dongringo_catemaco

Nov 6, 2010, 12:59 PM

Post #3 of 10 (4830 views)

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Re: [jj] Buying a Used Car

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A foreign plated car is only legal in Mexico as long as the the owner's immigration documents such as an FMT, FM2 or 3 are valid. It is illegal for anyone, including a wife, best friend or mechanic, unless listed on the importation documents, to drive that vehicle.

Theory: Anyone in Mexico, foreign or otherwise, can sell a vehicle to anyone.
If the car is foreign plated and within the permitted import years (up to the year 2000 at present), you can nationalize the vehicle (that means getting the equivalent of a Mexican title.)

Practically, if the ownership documents are in order, (not necessarily the immigration documents), you will almost never have a problem when stopped by a regulatory agency in Mexico, unless you meet a VERY experienced "federale".

Technically, if you buy the car, the car will be illegal, and unless the original importation document was turned in at the border, (not necessarily by the owner), the status of the car, (not you!) will be in limbo.

Moral: Only buy a foreign plated car delivered at the border.

Excemptions: I've sold two US plated cars to Mexicans, had my importation decals turned in by friends several months later, and apparently never caused anyone, including myself, a problem.

Advise: To be safe: Buy a Mexican plated vehicle, or do not pay a seller unless you were successful in nationalizing his vehicle.
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Rolly

Nov 6, 2010, 1:15 PM

Post #4 of 10 (4819 views)

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Re: [dongringo_catemaco] Buying a Used Car

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It is illegal for anyone, including a wife, best friend or mechanic, unless listed on the importation documents, to drive that vehicle.

That is not a correct statement.

Read the facts here.

Rolly Pirate

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

dongringo_catemaco

Nov 6, 2010, 1:39 PM

Post #5 of 10 (4803 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Buying a Used Car

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Rolly, I stand corrected.
The new law as of July 2010 still states that not neither my mechanic, my Mexican best friend or anyone else, can drive my foreign plated car unless I am within the car, unless the foreign national? or the Mexican national accompanying me has a valid "leave or enter Mexico" visa. Or maybe I read that wrong, or the law makes no sense. I've translated it with two literate Mexicans so far, who are as befuddled as I am.

LOS VEHICULOS PODRAN SER CONDUCIDOS EN TERRITORIO NACIONAL POR EL IMPORTADOR, SU CONYUGE, SUS ASCENDIENTES, DESCENDIENTES O HERMANOS, AUN CUANDO ESTOS 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 ULTIMO CASO, VIAJE A BORDO DEL MISMO CUALQUIERA DE LAS PERSONAS AUTORIZADAS PARA CONDUCIR EL VEHICULO Y PODRAN EFECTUAR ENTRADAS Y SALIDAS MULTIPLES.

The new law:
http://info4.juridicas.unam.mx/ijure/fed/11/122.htm?s=
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Rolly

Nov 6, 2010, 2:02 PM

Post #6 of 10 (4798 views)

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Re: [dongringo_catemaco] Buying a Used Car

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Article IV A) says the importer and his family can drive the car alone, even if some of the family are Mexican nationals.
Other foreigners can drive the car alone. Any foreigner who drives the car must be in the country legally.
Mexican nationals cannot drive the car alone; they must be accompanied by someone who can legally drive the car.

None of this has anything to do with extra drivers being listed on the vehicle permit. That doesn't happen.

Rolly Pirate

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

Reefhound

Nov 6, 2010, 2:04 PM

Post #7 of 10 (4796 views)

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Re: [dongringo_catemaco] Buying a Used Car

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The law you quoted says if you are a foreigner importing the car it can be driven by your spouse, in your previous post you said it could not be driven by your wife. That is where you were wrong.

dongringo_catemaco

Nov 6, 2010, 2:41 PM

Post #8 of 10 (4779 views)

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Re: [Reefhound] Buying a Used Car

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I guess I should thank Rolly for correcting me.
Until two years ago, when I switched to Veracruz plates, I still had the federales on my payroll to let my wife and her son drive my car. But I plan to buy a US plated modified Explorer Sporttrac Cologne 4x4 and have now made copies of Article 106 of the new Mexican law for them to wave in their faces. But first I have to marry my 8 year long common law wife.
Thanks.
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mazbook1

Nov 6, 2010, 3:30 PM

Post #9 of 10 (4763 views)

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Re: [dongringo_catemaco] Buying a Used Car

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No, you don't even need to marry your "common law" wife (no such thing in México, that's a concept from the old English "common law"). All you have to do is register her at your local Registro Civil office as your "concubina". IF (and no, I don't know this for certain) they accept than you two have been in a Union Libre the requisite number of years, she will automatically have all the rights of a legally married spouse. Otherwise, you will have to be in the relationship for 3 (I think that is the number) more years before this happens.

Union libre marriages are VERY common in México (my guess is more than 50% of the "married" couples are actually in an Union Libre), and concubine doesn't have the same connotation in Spanish as it does in English…NOT AT ALL!

dongringo_catemaco

Nov 6, 2010, 3:41 PM

Post #10 of 10 (4753 views)

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Re: [mazbook1] Buying a Used Car

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I guess used cars also refers to old wives, otherwise I guess you could call this thread hijacking.

Without researching further, apparently a few years ago, spouses in "union libre" automatically became entitled to their spousal estates after six years of evidence of communal living. Ever since, I have been accusing my Popoluca of trying to push me off cliffs of sea shores we visit.

But I will keep the thought in mind, and I may make sure that my glove compartment is filled with all the necessary documents (which I plan to lack). But thanks, any way.

(This post was edited by dongringo_catemaco on Nov 6, 2010, 7:21 PM)