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myaixchel

Jul 14, 2011, 11:55 AM

Post #1 of 27 (1214 views)

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Selling a car to a mexican friend at the border? Urban myth?

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Hi, I am planning a permanent move to Mexico in September and my Mexican fiance will be meeting me on the Mexican side of the border. He swears that friends of his have purchased cars and legalized them right at the border and when I try to work out the particulars of how this would actually happen, he gets that laid back mexican attitude, of "don't worry, it will be easy". I am more than doubtful. Since my destination is Cozumel, I do not want to drive the car in with my visa only to have to make the loooong trip back to the border to renew. So, is there any truth at all to what my boyfriend is saying, that I can somehow sell my car to him at the border and presto magico all is good in my world? Any ideas or suggestions? Thank you!

Axixic

Jul 14, 2011, 12:26 PM

Post #2 of 27 (1192 views)

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Re: [myaixchel] Selling a car to a mexican friend at the border? Urban myth?

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If you are moving here permanently, you will be getting an FM3 or whatever it is called now. When you do that your car is legal here as long as your FM3 is current. You do not need to drive back to the border. Nationalizing your car is expensive and not necessary just to drive it legally here.

Axixic

Jul 14, 2011, 12:29 PM

Post #3 of 27 (1188 views)

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Re: [Axixic] Selling a car to a mexican friend at the border? Urban myth?

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I forgot to add make sure you buy insurance before you cross the border.

http://www.lakechapalainsurance.com/lake-chapala/index.html

(This post was edited by Axixic on Jul 14, 2011, 12:30 PM)

esperanza

Jul 14, 2011, 12:32 PM

Post #4 of 27 (1181 views)

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Re: [myaixchel] Selling a car to a mexican friend at the border? Urban myth?

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In addition to what the other posters have mentioned, remember that in Cozumel you will be much closer to the OTHER Mexican border, the southern border with Guatemala. If you needed to, you could re-up your temporary import sticker by going across into Guatemala and doing the paperwork as you come back into Mexico.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

myaixchel

Jul 14, 2011, 12:35 PM

Post #5 of 27 (1180 views)

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Re: [Axixic] Selling a car to a mexican friend at the border? Urban myth?

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Thanks for the quick answer. At this point I am not sure if I will have an FM3 when I enter and may just enter with a tourist visa, will this still work for me?

Maesonna

Jul 14, 2011, 1:10 PM

Post #6 of 27 (1171 views)

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Re: [myaixchel] Selling a car to a mexican friend at the border? Urban myth?

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Yes, that is by far the most common thing to do; enter with a tourist visa and convert it within 180 days.

playaboy

Jul 14, 2011, 1:15 PM

Post #7 of 27 (1165 views)

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Re: [myaixchel] Selling a car to a mexican friend at the border? Urban myth?

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Only Mexican nationals can import cars. So your boyfriend is correct that with him as the owner, a broker and money, it can be legalized. If you decide to go the TIP route and have to re-up your sticker, the closest border, Belize, is 4 hours away from Playa del Carmen.

With a TIP your boyfriend can only drive the car when you are with him.

mexliving

Jul 14, 2011, 6:08 PM

Post #8 of 27 (1129 views)

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Re: [playaboy] Selling a car to a mexican friend at the border? Urban myth?

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what year is the car???? there are rules as far as what a mexican citizen can import to mexico....... and it cost money based on what tax they place on the vehicle

salto_jorge

Jul 15, 2011, 5:51 AM

Post #9 of 27 (1078 views)

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Re: [mexliving] Selling a car to a mexican friend at the border? Urban myth?

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No matter what happens signing over a car title to a friend is very trusting event.

A new question is: Can you legally drive the vehicle if it has mexican plates ?

(This post was edited by salto_jorge on Jul 15, 2011, 5:54 AM)

esperanza

Jul 15, 2011, 7:56 AM

Post #10 of 27 (1049 views)

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Re: [salto_jorge] Selling a car to a mexican friend at the border? Urban myth?

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Yes. There's no restriction as to who can drive a vehicle with Mexican license plates.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Axixic

Jul 15, 2011, 10:42 AM

Post #11 of 27 (1020 views)

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Re: [salto_jorge] Selling a car to a mexican friend at the border? Urban myth?

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He's a boyfriend. She is already skittish about his proposal to buy her car and that is why she is asking.

Here's the answer,. DON"T SELL YOUR CAR TO HIM.

Bring it in yourself with a temporary permit and in 180 days get your FM3 like the rest of us do and your car will stay legal as long as your FM3 is current.

MazDee

Jul 15, 2011, 2:29 PM

Post #12 of 27 (986 views)

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Re: [Axixic] Selling a car to a mexican friend at the border? Urban myth?

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But if she does that, Axixic (gets a temp permit and keeps the car in her name) the boyfriend can't even drive the car unless she is with him.

Axixic

Jul 15, 2011, 3:29 PM

Post #13 of 27 (971 views)

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Re: [MazDee] Selling a car to a mexican friend at the border? Urban myth?

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I didn't read that she wanted her boyfriend to drive her car. She asked if he was pulling her leg by telling her that she needed to sell it to him so it could cross the border. Maybe he is just mistaken or maybe he was trying to take her car but her inquiry was if he was screwing with her or telling the truth. I don't think this will be a long term relationship anyway. Not driving it without her in the car might be an upside to her. I know I wouldn't want some boyfriend driving my car.

sioux4noff

Jul 15, 2011, 4:05 PM

Post #14 of 27 (962 views)

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Re: [Axixic] Selling a car to a mexican friend at the border? Urban myth?

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Not knowing the situation at all, I'd stick with keeping it in your own name and getting the temporary import permit.

joaquinx

Jul 15, 2011, 5:55 PM

Post #15 of 27 (931 views)

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Re: [Axixic] Selling a car to a mexican friend at the border? Urban myth?

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It depends on how much she gets for the car. Perhaps her boyfriend will be generous.

Vichil

Jul 15, 2011, 6:01 PM

Post #16 of 27 (925 views)

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Re: [myaixchel] Selling a car to a mexican friend at the border? Urban myth?

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A Mexican frien of ours bought our 10 year old pick up right at the border and nationalized it within a few hours. Is it possible : yes for sure for pick-up. Cars have more restrictions but if they are on the OK list it can all be done at the border pretty easily if he has the money.
We went to the aduana , had the import sticker removed and sold it to our friend in the same parking lot.

myaixchel

Jul 15, 2011, 6:13 PM

Post #17 of 27 (919 views)

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Re: [mexliving] Selling a car to a mexican friend at the border? Urban myth?

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Mexliving, to answer your question the car is a 2001 toyota... do you have a source for me to look up how much it would be for the import?

myaixchel

Jul 15, 2011, 6:18 PM

Post #18 of 27 (917 views)

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Re: [Axixic] Selling a car to a mexican friend at the border? Urban myth?

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Wooaaa! Forum conversations take on a life of their own! I was just asking if it was really as simple as my boyfriend was telling me, and suddenly I'm skittish, he's trying to steal my car from me and our relationship won't work! Of course there are no guarantees in life, but we have been together for 12 years and I sure don't think he is lying to me about anything. I was just nervous that he was saying the process was so easy, and I wanted to get some first hand knowledge from some people who have actually been able to do it. I appreciate all the advice!

myaixchel

Jul 15, 2011, 6:24 PM

Post #19 of 27 (915 views)

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Re: [Vichil] Selling a car to a mexican friend at the border? Urban myth?

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Vichil! You are exactly who I need to talk to! So, do I understand correctly that you drove across to the mexican side of the border and did the transaction there? Can you give me more specific detail? Besides the transaction details, I have the concern that I will be moving there with my dog and thus will have a fair amount of belongings with me.... how would that work? I've never driven into mexio, period, so driving in with plans of selling my car is making me nervous. But I think since I will be there permanently it would make more sense to go ahead and put the car in my TRUSTWORTHY mexican boyfriends' name. Any specific hand-holding advice you can give me will be very very greatly appreciated.

Kimpatsu Hekigan

Jul 15, 2011, 6:39 PM

Post #20 of 27 (908 views)

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Re: [myaixchel] Selling a car to a mexican friend at the border? Urban myth?

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myaixchel sez:

the car is a 2001 toyota...

I thought Japanese cars could not be imported and nationalized by private individuals.
Check the VIN number on your title. If it begins with a "J", it's a Japanese car.

If you do succeed in getting Mexican plates, good on you. Please don't by shy about sharing all the details with us (like name of broker at the border, cost, paper chase, etc.). We would all appreciate it.

Good luck,

-- K.H.

Before enlightenment: Chop wood, haul water.
After enlightenment: Chop wood, haul water.

myaixchel

Jul 15, 2011, 6:50 PM

Post #21 of 27 (904 views)

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Re: [Kimpatsu Hekigan] Selling a car to a mexican friend at the border? Urban myth?

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Aww, #@%&*! The VIN starts with a J. Never thought about that. Back to square one. Thank you for thinking of that Kimpatsu.

chinagringo

Jul 15, 2011, 7:13 PM

Post #22 of 27 (899 views)

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Re: [myaixchel] Selling a car to a mexican friend at the border? Urban myth?

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Rather than waiting to get to the border to deal with this, why not either obtain your vehicle permit at one of the Mexican Consulates (assuming one is fairly close):

http://www.mexonline.com/consulate.htm

Your other option is to order the vehicle permit online:

http://www.banjercito.com.mx/...ccionesIITV_ing.html

Assuming that you cross on a FMM, you have 180 days to switch to a FM3 and your vehicle permit will remain valid as long as you are current with your FM3 or whatever FM.
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

joaquinx

Jul 16, 2011, 4:41 AM

Post #23 of 27 (868 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] Selling a car to a mexican friend at the border? Urban myth?

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In Reply To

Assuming that you cross on a FMM, you have 180 days to switch to a FM3 and your vehicle permit will remain valid as long as you are current with your FM3 or whatever FM.

Do we know for sure that she will qualify for an FM3/No Inmigrante visa?

La Isla

Jul 16, 2011, 7:05 AM

Post #24 of 27 (844 views)

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Re: [joaquinx] Selling a car to a mexican friend at the border? Urban myth?

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In Reply To

Assuming that you cross on a FMM, you have 180 days to switch to a FM3 and your vehicle permit will remain valid as long as you are current with your FM3 or whatever FM.

Do we know for sure that she will qualify for an FM3/No Inmigrante visa?

Let's hope so since in her original post the OP wrote of a permanent move to Mexico.

Axixic

Jul 16, 2011, 11:08 AM

Post #25 of 27 (801 views)

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Re: [La Isla] Selling a car to a mexican friend at the border? Urban myth?

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If not, she'll be closer to the Southern border to renew her permit.

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