Cars and Licenses

[RayS]

Does someone have the link for South Dakota plates, I had it at one time but lost it?

[RVGRINGO]

There is no 'link for South Dakota plates'. So, please don't try to register your vehicle via the South Dakota DMV website; it won't work and you could create a problem for others. There is only one county which accommodates us and only one very specific way to get it done. It will require that you have a Social Security number and a mailing address in the USA. If you are ready to change your title to SD, send me a PM and I will give you the details.

[G.Bledsoe]

Maya wrote: "I want to buy a new car, but apparently buying a MX car is not recommended. My questions are: (1) Can I buy a car in the U.S. (cash) and bring it back to MX using my MX driver's license but no American license or (2) if I buy in MX (cash), can I enter the US with appropriate documents and just a MX driver's license or, as a U.S. citizen, do I HAVE TO have a American license (I don't have a home in the U.S.; I visit my sons who live in two different states). Thanks for any advice! Maya"

Maya: I think you have received some good answers to your basic questions. In summary, they were: #1 -- is yes, you may buy a car in the US with a Mexican driver's license, and #2 -- is yes, you may drive a Mexican registered car--with current registration--in the USA with a Mexican driver's license, proof of U.S. insurance, and proof of residency.

About the suggestion of buying an old US car or truck to bring into Mexico and have it registered, this option is only open to Mexican citizens, who may bring a 10+ year old pickup into the interior of the country after paying taxes on it based on the NADA value and import fees on both sides of the border. Mexican citizens who live in the border zone, however, may bring in cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks more than four years old and less than $12,000 in value via the same process.

My question is: if an American expat (living in Mexico on a FM2 or 3 and a U.S. driver's license) may buy a used or new car in Mexico, does ownership of this Mexican vehicle reduce their ability to bring in one (additional) vehicle registered in the US?

[RVGRINGO]

"My question is: if an American expat (living in Mexico on a FM2 or 3 and a U.S. driver's license) may buy a used or new car in Mexico, does ownership of this Mexican vehicle reduce their ability to bring in one (additional) vehicle registered in the US?"

You may own as many Mexican vehicles as you wish, but only one from the USA, Canada, etc. No matter if you own a mexican vehicle or not, you are restricted to ONLY ONE, foreign plated vehicle per person as long as your immigration status (FM3/2) remains valid. You must eventually remove that vehicle from Mexico, even if it doesn't run, when your immigration status is about to lapse. When you get your 'importada temporal', you sign a bond to that effect. There are fines and penalties if you violate that bond. Selling a foreign plated car in Mexico is prohibited.

[G.Bledsoe]

Originally Posted by RVGRINGO

"My question is: if an American expat (living in Mexico on a FM2 or 3 and a U.S. driver's license) may buy a used or new car in Mexico, does ownership of this Mexican vehicle reduce their ability to bring in one (additional) vehicle registered in the US?"

You may own as many Mexican vehicles as you wish, but only one from the USA, Canada, etc. No matter if you own a mexican vehicle or not, you are restricted to ONLY ONE, foreign plated vehicle per person as long as your immigration status (FM3/2) remains valid. You must eventually remove that vehicle from Mexico, even if it doesn't run, when your immigration status is about to lapse. When you get your 'importada temporal', you sign a bond to that effect. There are fines and penalties if you violate that bond. Selling a foreign plated car in Mexico is prohibited.

A follow up: from what is said above in this string, may I assume that you need a Mexican driver's license, not a US license, to drive a car with Mexican registration and plates?

[RVGRINGO]

That will depend upon the Mexican state in which you reside and/or the US state in which you might drive your Mexican car. See previous posts in this thread. We have licenses from Texas and Jalisco and drive vehicles registered in SD and Jalisco. Never have had a problem with either car in either country.

[G.Bledsoe]

We're building a house in San Miguel de Allende, so will check with people down there about what Guanajuato requires. I have also advised gringos to bring a duplicate of their US driver's license to surrender to the policia.

I just assumed that, if I am driving a car with Mexican plates that is registered in my name, the local cops or Federales would expect me to have a Mexican driver's license, but maybe not with a FM 2/3.

We need a sticky dedicated to car importation and ownership questions.

[RVGRINGO]

Good idea. It is now 'stuck'.

Remember that local 'traficos' do not have the authority to ask for your immigration documents or the importation documents for your vehicle. Their only authority is with traffic matters.
Federales may as to see either of those documents.
Aduana may ask to see the importation documents.
Immigration may ask to see your immigration documents.
There is little 'cross-over' and less cooperation between agencies.

[bigmutt]

no one seems to have fully answered question #1 in the original post:
(1) Can I buy a car in the U.S. (cash) and bring it back to MX using my MX driver's license but no American license?
The answer as I understand the requirements of temporary importation is: No

(not unless you permanently import it, that is)

[RVGRINGO]

I don't know the answer to that question. Perhaps you could ask Mexican Customs/Bancercito at the border or at your nearest Mexican international airport, etc.