Taking my car to and from Mexico

[G.Bledsoe]

Another question:

Can an American living in Mexico on a FM2/3 import a U.S titled car into Mexico by paying duty and taxes on it at the border, and then registering it in Mexico?

I have a couple of cars from the 1960's that I would like to bring into Mexico, in addition to the two cars that I will get tramites for, from the Banjercito.

There must be a way to import vintage cars into Mexico, even for gringos.

[Rodrigo84]

Originally Posted by G.Bledsoe

Another question:

Can an American living in Mexico on a FM2/3 import a U.S titled car into Mexico by paying duty and taxes on it at the border, and then registering it in Mexico?

I have a couple of cars from the 1960's that I would like to bring into Mexico, in addition to the two cars that I will get tramites for, from the Banjercito.

There must be a way to import vintage cars into Mexico, even for gringos.

For the 1960s vehicles, I don't think that's possible anymore, but I could be wrong, as relatives have told me it's impossible now.

As for nationalizing the other vehicles, you might want to try a keyword search in google with nacionalizacion autos mexico and that should bring up some companies that deal in nationalizing vehicles, but I saw this one one of the sites, atlantis nacionalizacion autos importacion regularizacion vehiculos nacionalizacion vans

It appears to depend strongly on where the car was built (U.S., Mexico or Canada is a requisite) and only certain year(s), I think this year it is 1999 models only.

You're going to get a better answer from one of those companies than you will here.

[RVGRINGO]

Rodrigo has your answer: Only 1999 cars this year, 2000 cars next year, etc., even though you might see otherwise in the previous laws. In any case, you may import only one vehicle on an 'importada temporal' and the importation of others is just too complex and too expensive to consider; even if they are antiques. It is exactly those older cars that Mexico is trying to get rid of because of pollution and high fuel consumption, oil leaks, etc. Even if you could do it, and there is always 'a way', you would probably be better off starting a new collection here in Mexico after selling off what you have in the USA. Check Mercadolibre.com.mx under the automobile section and you might make contact with some antique car people.

[G.Bledsoe]

Originally Posted by Rodrigo84

For the 1960s vehicles, I don't think that's possible anymore, but I could be wrong, as relatives have told me it's impossible now.

As for nationalizing the other vehicles, you might want to try a keyword search in google with nacionalizacion autos mexico and that should bring up some companies that deal in nationalizing vehicles, but I saw this one one of the sites, atlantis nacionalizacion autos importacion regularizacion vehiculos nacionalizacion vans

It appears to depend strongly on where the car was built (U.S., Mexico or Canada is a requisite) and only certain year(s), I think this year it is 1999 models only.

You're going to get a better answer from one of those companies than you will here.

Thanks for the info.

This is what I know:

A Mexican who lives along the border can import a car or truck purchased in the U.S. that is more than four years old and less than $12,000 in value. There are other limitations, fees, taxes, etc.

However, a Mexican who lives in the interior can import only a pickup truck purchased in the U.S. that is at least ten years old. It must be exported from the U.S.--a three-day process-- and then imported into Mexico. The truck cannot be too big, used for commercial purposes, gasoline engine, etc. Taxes and fees and brokers are involved.

So I will continue to find a way to import my old cars -- permanently. A couple of my Mexican friends say it is possible for cars that are 40 years old or older. We'll see.

Thanks!

[G.Bledsoe]

Originally Posted by G.Bledsoe

Thanks for the info.

This is what I know:

A Mexican who lives along the border can import a car or truck purchased in the U.S. that is more than four years old and less than $12,000 in value. There are other limitations, fees, taxes, etc.

However, a Mexican who lives in the interior can import only a pickup truck purchased in the U.S. that is at least ten years old. It must be exported from the U.S.--a three-day process-- and then imported into Mexico. The truck cannot be too big, used for commercial purposes, gasoline engine, etc. Taxes and fees and brokers are involved.

So I will continue to find a way to import my old cars -- permanently. A couple of my Mexican friends say it is possible for cars that are 40 years old or older. We'll see.

Thanks!

Apparently, it may possible to import and naturalize cars 1977 and older, according to one web site listed above in this thread. I will follow up on this possibility. One of my cars races in La Carrera Panamericana and the other is a back-up car. Not expensive, but cute. Here's a photo.

[RVGRINGO]

Mexican websites are notoriously out of date and what applies to a Mexican national may not apply to you. The rules are also different in 'la zona frontera' than in the interior of Mexico. As above, anything is possible but it will be very complicated and very expensive. It is also not without risk, since, as I understand it, you may have to transfer title to a Mexican national for the 'importation' and trust that it will be transfered back to you. That said, the entire situation remains in flux as Mexico tries to eliminate older vehicles.

[mexijo]

There are special rules for vintage cars. A starting point to investigate might be the "Museo del Automovil" en Mexico City. Museo del Automovil

Edit: when the Panamericana comes through Oaxaca you owe me a ride

[G.Bledsoe]

Originally Posted by mexijo

There are special rules for vintage cars. A starting point to investigate might be the "Museo del Automovil" en Mexico City. Museo del Automovil

Edit: when the Panamericana comes through Oaxaca you owe me a ride

La Carrera Panamericana will arrive in the city of Oaxaca on Friday, October 23, around 4-5 PM. We start that morning in Huatulco.

We visit Mexico City, Queretaro, SLP, Guadalajara, Zacatecas, and end up in Nuevo Laredo.

Look for car #395.

I have a call into the head of the Mexico Classic and Vintage Car Association, so I am hoping he has a set of the regulations.

Thanks.

Gerie

[bigmutt]

Gerie, a suggestion: go to a local mexican who imports cars into Mexico regularly (all kinds, not only pickups) and pay him/her either a fee to do it for you completely, or a smaller fee to guide you through the process up there at the border. Also, the brokers up there make it pretty easy and safe for you to do: they're hooked up to the aduana's computers, etc. in the capital, and they're issued an importation number & the related paperwork for every car they import, right at the time it's being done; with you standing there. So it's relatively safe. (as safe as things can be in this crazy bureaucratic country).

There's lots of mexicans importing cars, trucks, vans, from the U.S. these days, to make a few bucks on them down here. I've befriended two different ones here in my neighborhood and when you know what you're doing (like they do) it's a breeze to import anything from the U.S.
Well, when I say "anything", I mean cars & trucks & minivans from the 80s and 90s and 2000s. I actually don't know if there's some special restrictions on vehicles from the 60s. I will ask one of my friends. But I've been watching them for years, bringing lots & lots of vehicles down here from the U.S. Of course they're given Mexico City tags before being sold to the next owner here.
I personally have only done it twice: once with a seven year old car, and once with a six-year-old Harley. Both went fairly smoothly, especially at the border where of course I used a broker. Within 40 minutes the broker handed me the temporary title showing duty & taxes paid directly to the government agency in mexico city, and said "your vehicle is now Mexican." The local mexico city "DMV" of course issued a totally different, permanent title. Neither procedure took the original, California title from me: I still have that.

[G.Bledsoe]

Originally Posted by bigmutt

Gerie, a suggestion: go to a local mexican who imports cars into Mexico regularly (all kinds, not only pickups) and pay him/her either a fee to do it for you completely, or a smaller fee to guide you through the process up there at the border. Also, the brokers up there make it pretty easy and safe for you to do: they're hooked up to the aduana's computers, etc. in the capital, and they're issued an importation number & the related paperwork for every car they import, right at the time it's being done; with you standing there. So it's relatively safe. (as safe as things can be in this crazy bureaucratic country).

There's lots of mexicans importing cars, trucks, vans, from the U.S. these days, to make a few bucks on them down here. I've befriended two different ones here in my neighborhood and when you know what you're doing (like they do) it's a breeze to import anything from the U.S.
Well, when I say "anything", I mean cars & trucks & minivans from the 80s and 90s and 2000s. I actually don't know if there's some special restrictions on vehicles from the 60s. I will ask one of my friends. But I've been watching them for years, bringing lots & lots of vehicles down here from the U.S. Of course they're given Mexico City tags before being sold to the next owner here.
I personally have only done it twice: once with a seven year old car, and once with a six-year-old Harley. Both went fairly smoothly, especially at the border where of course I used a broker. Within 40 minutes the broker handed me the temporary title showing duty & taxes paid directly to the government agency in mexico city, and said "your vehicle is now Mexican." The local mexico city "DMV" of course issued a totally different, permanent title. Neither procedure took the original, California title from me: I still have that.

I have a young Mexican friend in Chihuahua--who was raised in Juarez--who says he can get it done for me. We'll see. I have yet to hear from the president of the Mexican national organization for classic and vintage cars.