Many people want to import cars to Mexico but don`t know how. The laws governing importing a vehicle into Mexico can be complicated and confusing if you`re not familiar with them. If you have any questions about the process of legalizing cars in Mexico or exporting vehicles to Mexico and keeping them there, this article is for you! And Mexico`s current president, AMLO, knows it. Thus, in January 2022, he made an addition to the decree on the importation of cars that are “carros chocolate” (Schokoladenautos – the name of foreign cars circulating illegally in Mexico. Comes from the word “chueco” which does not mean legal) Well, to legally import your car into Mexico from the United States or Canada, the cost is about $2 to $8,000 USD. And this amount is completely out of reach for many people who don`t have the extra money or are on a very tight budget. So, of course, many expats who move to Mexico drive their foreign cars illegally to Mexico because they can`t afford to buy a new one and import them. If you want to import your car into Mexico permanently – and by that we mean registering your car with the Mexican government – it varies across the country. But first, a few tips. If you`re planning to import a car into Mexico, you may just want to sell your car and buy a new one once you`re a resident. It can be quite difficult to legalize your car in Mexico. Bringing a car permanently to Mexico is not easy, and there is a strict criterion for nationalization. There`s a good chance your beloved vehicle won`t meet these meticulous standards.
I want to reiterate how important it is to use a broker if you are considering legalizing cars in Mexico. You will need to hire a customs broker to import a vehicle for you. If someone says they can make it cheaper for you or save you time and they are not a licensed customs broker, they are breaking the law. If you plan not to stay in Mexico indefinitely, you should go this route. The first step is to obtain an import permit before your vehicle arrives on Mexican soil. This document tells agents that they must let your car pass and that you have followed all relevant regulations. This import document is called a TIP or temporary import permit and informs customs officials that your vehicle is legalized for the duration of your stay in Mexico. Your temporary residence permit must remain valid for the duration of your TIP.
Before you begin, be aware that not all cars of American origin can be regulated. Guidelines have been created that require the Register of Public Vehicles (REPUVE) and the state (where it is to be regulated) to register the car. Several people here in La Paz have tried to investigate the problem of car imports, and INM and Aduana agree that NOTHING has changed in Baja in terms of foreign cases. We are not (yet) required to obtain permits etc. when the vehicle enters Baja from the USA and our foreign veneers are legal here as long as we are legal (valid visa of any kind) and as long as the license plates on the car are up to date. Obviously, this could (and probably will) change if the current regime allows the expiration of the “fronteria” status currently enjoyed by the entire Baja Peninsula. Which states will be able to regulate chocolate cars? This can be done in the following states: Chihuahua, Baja California Sur, Baja California Norte, Coahuila, Zacatecas, Sinaloa, Sonora, Durango, Nayarit, Michoacán and Nuevo León. The process of importing cars into Mexico can depend on many factors: Hello Kent, The rules for car imports have changed and been strengthened in recent years, hence the information in this article.
Our article on “Living in Mexico without a car” (www.mexperience.com/living-in-mexico-without-a-car/) is more about considering lifestyle choices than avoiding car imports. Long-term residents who want/need a car tend to buy one locally and completely avoid the paperwork for importing a car. One of the biggest questions you probably have is the cost of legalizing cars in Mexico. The first cost you need to worry about when legalizing a vehicle as a permanent resident is the cost of hiring a customs broker. Different brokers cost different amounts, so it`s probably a good idea to look around and find one that fits your budget while doing everything you need to do. The first step in the process of legalizing cars in Mexico is to decide what kind of residency status you will have during your stay in Mexico. A few months ago, the Mexican government focused on regulating illegal cars circulating in the country. One of their main actions is the regularization of chocolate nausea. That`s why we explain step by step how to perform this process digitally.
The current decree stipulates that cars lined with foreigners in Mexico that are not registered in Mexico will receive their Mexican license plates and can be legally registered. The cost of this operation is only MXN$2500 (about US$125) – which is significantly lower than the US$3 to US$4,000 that would traditionally be required to import your car. I thought about taking my car to Mexico, it`s a 2001 jeep. I want to have him there all the time when I`m on vacation. How is that possible? Is it better to pay only for the 6-month permit? The car will drive in a small town where no license is required, or what is recommended? If you have a question about how much a car should be legalized in Mexico, it depends on the vehicle. Right now, you can only legalize vehicles that are 10 years old and are manufactured in NAFTA countries. To determine if you meet this criterion, you need to check the VIN number and find out if it starts with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 – you qualify. There is talk of expanding that particular option later. There are limitations and various options for vans and other types of vehicles. This generally applies to normal vehicles. The process usually takes between two and three weeks. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador recently signed a decree legalizing used cars illegally imported into Mexico, also known as “chocolate nautos.” Do you want to regularize your foreign car that does not have proper papers? Thus, you can make the regularization of chocolate caros “illegal cars in Mexico” step by step online.
Bringing your car to Mexico can be one of the most pressing questions you can ask yourself when researching after your move. Every year, thousands of cars cross the border between Canada and the United States and Mexico to get to Mexico. Many of them have temporary import permits. But many of them stay beyond the expiration of this permit, making them illegal in Mexico. Hi I don`t know if anyone has the same problem as me. When I drove my car in Mexico two years ago, I didn`t have any papers at the border! Is there a way to legalize it without taking out the car and bringing it back? I issued my permanent visa last year. Through López, Obrador explained that legalizing “chocolate cars” would help poor families who need them get to work, saying that “they use them because they can`t afford to buy a car from an agency… “With these cars, they can take their children to school,” he said. Not all auto insurance or policies are created equal.
This is especially true if you export your car from one country to another. If you`re shipping your vehicle to Mexico, you`ll need to check with your current auto insurance company to see if they cover your car in Mexico. While they may cover it while your vehicle is temporarily in Mexico, it`s unlikely that the insurance company will cover damage to your car once you`ve officially legalized your vehicle in Mexico and obtained Mexican license plates.