Temporarily Importing your car

[dstan]

thanks mucho

[monika992]

Originally Posted by RVGRINGO

We have a US plated, Japanese manufactured car that could never be imported permanently under any of the previous rules. Some day, we'll have to take it north.

Hi RVGringo,

With your US car, do you have to take it north every year anyway, to renew the registration where you are from? At least where I am from, a yearly inspection is required to renew the registration, which would mean driving back to my home state once a year. I believe in another post you said that, even if your car importation permit is valid for six months or whatever through your tourist visa, it is NOT considered valid, if your US registration has expired. Is that correct?

I wonder if other states do not have this requirement, and if, for example, I could register my car in Arizona or Texas and simply go there for the yearly re-register. However, I doubt I can without being able to prove residence in that state.

Were you able to confirm the news you were told about no longer being able to nationalize vehicles? This is still a valid link on the Gov't customs website, even though it is apparently from 2008.
http://www.aduanas.sat.gob.mx/aduana...141_10039.html
Nothing more updated is there. I would like to have the most updated information possible.

If I cannot feasibly drive back to my home state to re-register my car every year, or register in a border state, or legalize the car, what are my alternatives? Can I even buy a Mexican car on an FMT, or only on an FM3?

Thanks!!!

[monika992]

P.S. - ok after scouring the forum, it looks like you can only buy a Mexican car if you have an FM2 or 3. Plus, I would have to pay taxes yearly (is this so on a legalized car?). If the legalization process is still around, it would be ideal, because I can buy a ten year old car and bring it in (I don't mind paying one time taxes of several hundred or thousand dollars) - but are there yearly taxes beyond that? I really hope they did not do away with nationalization.

Otherwise, I just don't know how I would get around the re-registration. If other words, if a cop sees the sticker on your car says 2009 and it's 2010...they will confiscate the car? Even if your vehicle importation and visa are still currently valid?

[dstan]

Originally Posted by monika992

Hi RVGringo,

With your US car, do you have to take it north every year anyway, to renew the registration where you are from? At least where I am from, a yearly inspection is required to renew the registration, which would mean driving back to my home state once a year. I believe in another post you said that, even if your car importation permit is valid for six months or whatever through your tourist visa, it is NOT considered valid, if your US registration has expired. Is that correct?

I wonder if other states do not have this requirement, and if, for example, I could register my car in Arizona or Texas and simply go there for the yearly re-register. However, I doubt I can without being able to prove residence in that state.

Were you able to confirm the news you were told about no longer being able to nationalize vehicles? This is still a valid link on the Gov't customs website, even though it is apparently from 2008.
Vehículos - Vehículos usados año-modelo entre 10 y 15 años - SAT México
Nothing more updated is there. I would like to have the most updated information possible.

If I cannot feasibly drive back to my home state to re-register my car every year, or register in a border state, or legalize the car, what are my alternatives? Can I even buy a Mexican car on an FMT, or only on an FM3?

Thanks!!!

I talked to 2 different Dept. of Motor Vehicle offices in Arizona and they both confirmed that you DO NOT have to be a resident of, or have a license from, Arizona in order to register a car there. I think they did say that I had to have an address there, but do not have to reside at that address. My brother lives there so I will use his address. good luck

[RVGRINGO]

Where one registers their car in the US or Canada is another topic. Briefly; there are states which allow it, as mentioned above. Some have no inspection or heavy tax requirements, while others make it near impossible.
The last that I've heard on permanent importation is that even the usual brokers are confused and many aren't doing it any more because of the high costs, which just aren't worth it for a ten year old car. Remember, also, that the car must have been manufactured in a NAFTA country and be exactly the right age. It seems, for all practical purposes, that it isn't worth it. There are more makes and models of cars in Mexico than one can imagine, new or used.