18 Mar
18Mar
Yes, you can bring your US plated-vehicle into Mexico but there are some important rules to know ...
For importation you will need:
- Title for the vehicle or a letter from your creditor indicating you have permission to bring it into Mexico
- Temporary Vehicle Import Permit (TIP) - apply online here. You can apply up to 6 months in advance but no shorter than 10 days in advance.
- Obtain Mexican Car Insurance
- License/registration of the vehicle
- Copy of your Drivers License
- VIN (Vehicle Id number)
- 16% IVA (Sales tax) will be charged at customs
Registration & Nationalization
Tourists & Temporary Residents. As a tourist or temporary resident you can bring your US plated car into Mexico without obtaining Mexican license plates. In this case, with a TIP (Temporary Import Permit) the car will have permission in the country for as long as your visa.
- Tourist Visas - Vehicle must be removed from the country after 6 months
- Temporary Residents - Vehicle can remain in Mexico after expiration if Visa is renewed.
- Tourist visa converted to temporary resident - The car doesn’t have to be removed from Mexico, you only need to notify customs within 15 days of your change of immigration status.
- Trailers & Motorhomes - Permits for trailers & motorhomes are good for 10 years regardless of your Visa length.
- Off-road Vehicles, Motorcycles & Watercrafts- You can bring up to three vehicles in this category under the same TIP as your trailer.
Registration Payment - Pay for TIP registration at Banjercito online or in person using an international credit card. You will be provided with a special sticker which allows the car to be legally driven in Mexico.
Be sure to have the following documents in original and copy:- Passport
- Birth Certificate
- Vehicle Title
- Vehicle Registration
- Driver’s License
- Proof of Return of any Previous Vehicle (If applicable)
- If you are not the vehicle owner, provide proof of your relationship to the owner (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.)
- The maximum weight for all vehicles, including motor homes, is 7,716 pounds (3.8 tons)
- If you do not remove your vehicle from Mexico before your permit expires, you will be subject to penalties and your car can be confiscated!
Nationalizing Your Vehicle. If you are entering Mexico as a Permanent Resident, you may not bring a foreign plated car into Mexico on a TIP. Instead, you must nationalize the car. Nationalizing the vehicle gives you permission to keep it in the country indefinitely.
- Permit required from the Secretary of Economy
Only vehicles manufactured in North America (Mexico, US or Canada) can be nationalized in Mexico
- Vehicles manufactured in North America which are exactly 10 years old (from date of import) do not need a permit
- Temporary residents converted to permanent residents - If you change your residency status to Permanent resident while your vehicle is permitted by a TIP, you must take the vehicle out of the country. At that point you can choose to sell it or nationalize it for re-entry.
- Nationalization rules are complex, reach out to a customs broker to let them handle the process for you!
Mexico's Free Zone
If your vehicle will stay in the Baja Peninsula then you won't need a permit. Learn more about the "Free Zone" in this great article by www.mexpro.com to see if this applies to you.
Comments