Your car and other drivers.

[RVGRINGO]

This is a serious precaution:

When you drive into the interior Mexico, you will have obtained an 'Importada Temporal' sticker and documents for your car. These documents remain valid so long as your immigration status is maintained. However, there are restrictions.

Your car may only be driven by you or your family members. If another expat, with the same immigration status, is to drive the car, be sure they are named on your insurance and that they have a copy of your FM document and a letter of permission.

If you are present in the car, a Mexican may drive you. However, you MUST be in the car.

This brings up a couple of situations where a violation of this rule could land you in jail and result in the permanent confiscation of your vehicle; situations which wouldn't normally be given a second thought: Valet parking and a mechanic's test drive. You will have to forgo those services if you can't be in the car. It is a good idea to tell the mechanic of this restriction (he won't know about it, or care) and let him see you make a written note of the odometer reading. It is not unusual for mechanics to enjoy taking a 'nice car' home for the night or for a family outing. Should there be an accident, you are on the hook.

[Rodrigo84]

Originally Posted by RVGRINGO

This is a serious precaution:

When you drive into the interior Mexico, you will have obtained an 'Importada Temporal' sticker and documents for your car. These documents remain valid so long as your immigration status is maintained. However, there are restrictions.

Your car may only be driven by you or your family members. If another expat, with the same immigration status, is to drive the car, be sure they are named on your insurance and that they have a copy of your FM document and a letter of permission.

If you are present in the car, a Mexican may drive you. However, you MUST be in the car.

This brings up a couple of situations where a violation of this rule could land you in jail and result in the permanent confiscation of your vehicle; situations which wouldn't normally be given a second thought: Valet parking and a mechanic's test drive. You will have to forgo those services if you can't be in the car. It is a good idea to tell the mechanic of this restriction (he won't know about it, or care) and let him see you make a written note of the odometer reading. It is not unusual for mechanics to enjoy taking a 'nice car' home for the night or for a family outing. Should there be an accident, you are on the hook.

I can tell you my cousin followed this to the letter, especially with valets. He would never EVER let them have the keys to take the car around the block or anywhere. He'd always park it himself as he had heard a rumor more than once that government officials were watching at areas frequented by foreign-plated vehicles in Mexico City (a.k.a. tax police in high end areas). He still would give them a fee for the valet even though he parked it, but they got used to it as they saw him often enough. Of course, he kept the keys at all times.

With mechanics, you really need to be right there, this even goes for agencias (or dealers), because they can and usually will test drive a car after they do mechanical service. I have known foreigners here who go to the agency say on a Saturday for an oil change/brakes, etc. and drop off the car at the entrance, service rep drives it in (on private property (but the law doesn't excuse this) and then person picks it up at the exit. However, the foreigner waits there while the service is done and goes with mechanic/service rep on any test drive, with that being allowable because the foreign owner is in the car.

[mexijo]

I think you are exagerating a bit here. Technically you are right but has anybody actually ever had any problems in real life with this?

[RVGRINGO]

I wouldn't want to be the one to test the waters of the anti-smuggling laws. Would you?

[Rodrigo84]

Originally Posted by mexijo

I think you are exagerating a bit here. Technically you are right but has anybody actually ever had any problems in real life with this?

The rule is really in place to keep obviously cheaper vehicles north of the border from flooding the Mexican market, where cars can be 2x the price, not too mention insurance is 2x that of the U.S. in many cases and you have the awful annual tenencia.

If you don't believe me on this rule, take a look at the back side of your vehicle import permit and I highly welcome you to loan your vehicle to your Mexican friends and see what happens.

[mexijo]

Of course you are right no to lend the car to drive it around. I with my comment I was referring to the Valet Parking and the mechanic's testdrive.
Do you know of anybody first hand who had problems for having the valet parking the car?

[RVGRINGO]

Mexijo,
Please refrain from encouraging violation a law which could result in jail for the owner of the car and permanent confiscation of the vehicle. The purpose of the forum is to provide information and assistance to keep folks out of trouble. Encouraging illegal activity is not permitted and is grounds for deletion of your posts if you persist.

[mexijo]

Well, I don't want to play the outlaw in this forum
Anyway, Mexico is a big country and living in Oaxaca your fears seem, well, miles away.
I am still curious though to hear a first hand acount of any gringo who had his car consfiscated for handing the keys to a valet.

[RVGRINGO]

Of course not for "handing their keys to a valet" but the confiscation would occur if the valet had an accident with your car. Same with a mechanic, and I've heard that has happened when mechanics have taken a car home for the weekend. The law also makes it illegal and I respect that.
End of story.

[thefieldisgreen]

RVGRINGO,

I am in bad need of help. I am taking a trip to Oaxaca at the end of Oct. While there am planning on setting up a taxi business. I lived in Mexico for over a year and have good friends down there. I want to know how hard it will be to do this.

I do not know the requirements for an American to buy and register a car in Mexico. It may be hard since I will not be living down there. I will also have to rent a concession, paint the car, buy insurance, pay taxi group fees and etc. But I have heard of others who have done this.

So what do I need to buy and register a car in my name in Oaxaca???