Cars in Mexico

Bringing Your Car to Mexico

Coming to Mexico by car can be quite a hassle with the procedures being somewhat complicated. There are no procedures to comply with if you are traveling within the 16-mile, 25-kilometer deep Border Zone or Free Trade Zone (including the Baja California Peninsula and the Sonora Free Trade Zone) between the U.S. and Mexico. If you wish to travel past these zones, you will need to adhere to certain procedures and to acquire a vehicle-importation permit.

Upon arriving at the Mexican border, you will need certain documents handy, and you will also need to acquire Mexican car insurance. Here are the documents you will need upon arriving at the border:

• A valid driver’s license and an international credit card (American Express, Diners Club, Mastercard, Visa) are needed in the name of the owner of the vehicle.
• Your passport or birth certificate
• The original and two photocopies of the appropriate immigration form (work, student or tourist visa which should be obtained from a Mexican consulate beforehand)
• The original and two photocopies of the vehicle state registration certificate or document certifying legal ownership in the driver’s name
• The original and two photocopies of the leasing or rental contract
• Mexican car insurance, obtainable at the border

Once you have these documents ready you present the documents to the Vehicular Control Module located in Mexican Customs to process the importation permit (drive through the declarations lane). To ensure that you don’t sell your car once inside the country, you will then be required to leave a cash deposit the amount of which will be based on the type, make and model of your car. You will then be required to leave a non-refundable cash deposit under the driver’s name, the fee being the equivalent of between US$15 and US$20. Upon paying this sum you will receive your permit.

The above payments will be made by credit card. In the unfortunate case that you do not have a credit card, the Banco del Ejercito will accept cash in an amount equal to the value of your vehicle. Your deposit will be returned upon departure. If you wish to do it another way, you could instead obtain a bond through a Mexican bonding company at the border crossing. The bonding companies require a refundable deposit equal to a large percentage of the value of the vehicle.

The importation permit is valid for up to six months, during which time you can go in and out of the country as many times as you like. The permit is very important and should be on you all the time. If other people are going to drive the car, they too either need a tourist visa, or the owner should be present in the car. If you wish, upon entering the country, you can authorize other people to drive the car.

You should know that U.S. auto insurance is not recognized in México, and although there are many who drive without any auto insurance, this is very dangerous. If you're crossing the border with your car you should acquire auto insurance at the border.

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