Forums > General > Living, Working, Retiring

wjscham

Oct 24, 2011, 9:39 PM

Post #1 of 13 (878 views)

Shortcut

Vehicle Permit & Insurance Policy location...?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Rolly, from your website

IMPORTANT: Most companies require that you provide the ORIGINAL title, import permit and insurance policy in the case of a theft. Do not keep these important papers in your car.

Wondering if anyone has shown duplicate copies instead of the original documents and how that went...? I would like to keep the originals in our house but concerned that copies may not be accepted in case of an accident or check stop by authorities.

fordmexico

Oct 25, 2011, 2:43 PM

Post #2 of 13 (830 views)

Shortcut

Re: [wjscham] Vehicle Permit & Insurance Policy location...?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Original Title - I keep a copy in the car. The original is kept in a VERY safe place in my home. I have NEVER been asked for the original (or a copy) other than when I received my temporary vehicle permit. Unless you have a insurance issue or for some reason you need a new vehicle permit or wish to nationalize your vehicle, you would probably never need the original title here in Mexico.

Insurance Policy - I keep a copy in the car. Since I use the Internet to purchase my insurance, there is no true original except the one on my computer hard drive. Its the same for my USA insurance policy. I have never been asked for the policy other than when I received my temporary vehicle permit.

I keep the ORIGINAL of my vehicle import permit (Permiso de Importacio Temporal de Vehiculos) in the car along with my current extension (Aviso de Prorroga Ampliacion o Refrendo). I am always asked to produce these documents when stopped by State and Federal Police and sometimes by the transitos..

I also keep the original of my Certificate of Vehicle Verification (Certificado de Aprobacion de Verificacion) that is required to drive my car every day in Edomex and the DF. Like my vehicle permit the transitos in the DF and especially Edomex always ask for the Original and also inspect the Hologram displayed on my window.

I also keep a copy of my Michigan vehicle registration in the car. It is needed for my vehicle verification every 6 months.

I have the occasion to speak with the transitos here in Edomex fairly often since my Michigan plated vehicle has only a rear plate. Depending on their need for the satisfaction of that day's level of greed they ask for (in order); my drivers license, vehicle verification and vehicle permit.

The DF and Edomex also have instituted an inspection program called CONAGRO whose purpose is to cut down on stolen vehicles and other illegal activities. Road blocks are randomly setup by Federal and State Police (ASE) and vehicles stopped if they are missing plates or look suspicious. In these situations a more rigorous and professional inspection of your documents is performed.

In most instances the check of my documents is performed in 5 minutes or less. The exception was an AFI check on the cuota outside of Monterrey. A repair of some damage to the passenger side door was noticed which caused them to basically tear apart my vehicle since I did not have a copy of my repair order. I now keep a copy of that in my car!

chinagringo

Oct 25, 2011, 6:15 PM

Post #3 of 13 (807 views)

Shortcut

Re: [wjscham] Vehicle Permit & Insurance Policy location...?

Can't Post | Private Reply

There is a Gringo "legal beagle" in the Lake Chapala area that has figured out a way to generate income - notarized copies of all the documents so that people can leave the originals in a safe place at home. Cannot remember if he charges $200MXN or $300MXN to get all of the documents notarized but apparently they stand up to scrutiny and satisfy the authorities!
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

bournemouth

Oct 25, 2011, 6:40 PM

Post #4 of 13 (802 views)

Shortcut

Re: [chinagringo] Vehicle Permit & Insurance Policy location...?

Can't Post | Private Reply

The person you mention is not a notario so cannot provide that service. What he does do for 200 pesos is send notification of visa renewal to the customs authorities so that car permits have an extension in writing, which seems to satisfy those law officials who do not understand Article 106 of the customs laws.

chinagringo

Oct 25, 2011, 6:50 PM

Post #5 of 13 (797 views)

Shortcut

Re: [bournemouth] Vehicle Permit & Insurance Policy location...?

Can't Post | Private Reply

I beg to differ! He appears to be providing another service whereby he get copies of all other documents notarized to carry in the vehicle - title, vehicle permit, drivers license, etc. I think for that service, he may charge $300MXN?
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

wjscham

Oct 25, 2011, 8:42 PM

Post #6 of 13 (777 views)

Shortcut

Re: [fordmexico] Vehicle Permit & Insurance Policy location...?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Thanks Ford,

I called my insurance company (Mapfre) today who advised I keep copies in the vehicle and keep originals safely stored in the house.

My single plated Alberta registered vehicle also seems to get a fair bit of attention when ever we go to PV so I am going to use copies to negotiate the "settlements" but carry my original drivers license, FM3 and vehicle permit.

A couple of weeks ago while driving from Nogales to Chacala, Nayarit we were stopped a number of times with the focus always being; is this vehicle legally in Mexico. Not sure copies would have made the grade...?

chinagringo

Oct 26, 2011, 5:49 AM

Post #7 of 13 (755 views)

Shortcut

Re: [wjscham] Vehicle Permit & Insurance Policy location...?

Can't Post | Private Reply

NM is a single plate State and at the suggestion of a former resident about four years ago, I picked up a "souvenir plate" for the front. I chose a plate with similar coloration to the official plate and it says ROUTE 66. Never had a plate issue since installation. In fact, at a couple of Federale checkpoints, that was the only plate they ever looked at.
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

YucaLandia

Oct 26, 2011, 6:06 AM

Post #8 of 13 (752 views)

Shortcut

Re: [wjscham] Vehicle Permit & Insurance Policy location...?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Want to end the "no front license plate" hassles?
Friends of ours simply took their license plate into a print shop (the kind that makes small signs) and had them create a plastic front plate for about $8. You could also scan your rear plate, print a high quality color copy, and laminate the color copy.
They install the mock plate while in Mexico, and fly through the retens.
-
-
Read-on MacDuff
E-visit at http://yucalandia.wordpress.com/

robt65

Oct 26, 2011, 6:08 AM

Post #9 of 13 (750 views)

Shortcut

Re: [wjscham] Vehicle Permit & Insurance Policy location...?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Good Morning wjscham,

I concur with chinagringo. I was always being stopped for a one plated car, especially driving a Tahoe. Someone else suggested a "souvenir plate" and I did just that, I got a plate that reads "U.S. Navy Veteran" and that seemed to do the trick. We also are in an area (San Juan del Rio, Queretaro) Where the state police and the federal police are always setting up check points looking for what seems to be stolen cars. Most all cars one or two plated with either Canadian or American states plates are being stopped. I once or twice a year, live in my RV in TExas for a few months each time. It is a daily occurrence that cars are stolen and driven across the border, into Mexico. Mexico really doing their part trying to stop and find stolen cars frmo NOB. I for one am happy to see this and even though my permit also as my enclosed cargo trailer listed o the permit, obviously I do not drive around town with an unloaded trailer. A simple answer to that effect has always satisfied the officers. I simply tell them it is at home in San Juan del Rio. All in all about a five minute stop and without question always a polite stop and ending with "Welcome to Mexico".

Robt65

DavidHF

Oct 26, 2011, 6:51 AM

Post #10 of 13 (743 views)

Shortcut

Re: [robt65] Vehicle Permit & Insurance Policy location...?

Can't Post | Private Reply

ChinaGringo, Intercasa take the docs across the street to a Notario to get certified copies.

bournemouth

Oct 26, 2011, 6:56 AM

Post #11 of 13 (741 views)

Shortcut

Re: [YucaLandia] Vehicle Permit & Insurance Policy location...?

Can't Post | Private Reply

I recall reading an article a couple of years ago, in The News I think, about a gringo couple who did exactly what you mention and were arrested for having a fraudulent plate.

We've gone with a vanity plate naming us as great Az. Diamondback fans - it seems to work.

wjscham

Oct 26, 2011, 8:23 PM

Post #12 of 13 (665 views)

Shortcut

Re: [bournemouth] Vehicle Permit & Insurance Policy location...?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Thank you for a great and simple solution. Nothing more to be said.

robt65

Oct 31, 2011, 2:03 AM

Post #13 of 13 (525 views)

Shortcut

Re: [fordmexico] Vehicle Permit & Insurance Policy location...?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Hi fordmexico,

This was a very good and timely reminder. Thanks for the "gentle push" for me to go out and review the documents I do have in the car and make sure all is current and copies only. I try to be prepared and have every paper needed when I go to one of these important places, so I can have any information at hand that I may need for one document or another.

Your posting just reminded me that I had left both the original titles for my Tahoe and the enclosed cargo trailer on that clipboard under my permit information. I got there just in time also as my permit receipt had just started turning the dark black color from being in the sun on the dashboard. It seems I would have had the paper receipt with nothing on it except a black color, if I had kept it there much longer.

robt65