car nationalization

dlnelsonroca · #1 (**permalink**) 26th November 2010, 07:33 PM

Hi! Does one have to go to the border to nationalize their car? I've heard that it can be done at other in-country Immigration offices, such as Acapulco, but I can't seem to find anything in Mexico's immigration webpages about it. I'm along way from the border, near Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca, and would love to not have to make the really long trip for this needed car nationalization. Thanks for your help!

RVGRINGO · #2 (**permalink**) 26th November 2010, 10:39 PM

Immigration has absolutely nothing to do with nationalization of vehicles. It is under Mexican Customs. However, unless you have a classic antique and very deep pockets, and your car is exactly ten years old, nationalization of a vehicle is not economically practical. As such, you will have a hard time finding the necessary broker to even handle the process any more. Mexico intends to eliminate so many old, polluting vehicles from its roads, particularly in the major cities. Your best bet is to take your temporarily imported car out of Mexico and buy its replacement in Mexico.

PS: You might investigate the possibility of selling your present car in Guatemala. I know that many Mexicans buy cars in the USA and transport them, with permits, through Mexico to Guatamala for re-sale.

dlnelsonroca · #3 (**permalink**) 26th November 2010, 10:58 PM

Thanks! I appreciate the advise. My car is exactly ten years old, and it's a good one that's well worth the money to nationalize. Do you know if there are any customs offices where I can do it that aren't on the US border?

RVGRINGO · #4 (**permalink**) 26th November 2010, 11:28 PM

Sadly, I don't. It may also be a long and complicated process, so pack a bag and plan to spend some time, as well as a significant amount of cash. I hear that it can cost up to 1/3 the value of the car. Then, you will probably only be able to get liability coverage after it is nationalized.
For more details, you will probably have to search, in Spanish, for permanent importation of a vehicle on the Aduana website.

kazslo · #5 (**permalink**) 28th November 2010, 10:41 PM

The CLAA has a page of agents that do vehicle imports:

Importación Definitiva de Vehículos
I got a swift response back from A.A. Héctor A. Gutiérrez Casillas when I emailed him.

As previously stated, the vehicle must be 10 years old (2001), and vin must start with 1-4. You will also need the original title, your curp, ID, and proof of residency in mexico.

I was under the assumption that you can import a vehicle from any point where the aduana is - but you cannot import anything that is already in the country. If I understand what I was reading correctly, you would have to bring the car outside of mexico first then import it.

I'm sure that someone from the link above would be able to clarify everything for you. Even though they are listed as border locations, many are part of major companies that work with the aduana all over the country.

joaquinx · #6 (**permalink**) 28th November 2010, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlnelsonroca

Hi! Does one have to go to the border to nationalize their car? I've heard that it can be done at other in-country Immigration offices, such as Acapulco, but I can't seem to find anything in Mexico's immigration webpages about it. I'm along way from the border, near Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca, and would love to not have to make the really long trip for this needed car nationalization. Thanks for your help!

Many of us want to do the same thing, but wondering what the benefit would be from nationalizing our car?

dlnelsonroca · #7 (**permalink**) 28th November 2010, 10:59 PM

a thousand thanks, kazslo! I'll get in touch with the aduana agents tomorrow!

My car is here, and has been legally for several years. Hopefully I'll be able to somehow do te transaction without a 28 hour drive first.

kazslo · #8 (**permalink**) 28th November 2010, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joaquinx

Many of us want to do the same thing, but wondering what the benefit would be from nationalizing our car?

You can sell the vehicle in mexico, anyone can drive it, and if you can't get a temporary permit its the only way to bring in a vehicle. Each of these perks has to be weighed against the cost of importing it - taxes and fees from the aduana, and costs to pay your aduana agent. Like RV said - it can be more than 30% of the cost of your vehicle.

dlnelsonroca · #9 (**permalink**) 29th November 2010, 02:33 AM

other advantages are that the federal police are not as attentive as they are to a foreign plate, and if you've got a good car that's worth the keeping then you can keep it. Other folks in the mission I work with have nationalized vehicles over the last few years, and they have paid an average of $1,500 to $2,000 total each time.

dlnelsonroca · #10 (**permalink**) 31st December 2010, 01:42 AM

Even though the Mexican aduana website says that a car can be nationalized in any port authorized to do that (without a list of said ports), the last word that I got from an aduana agent in Salina Cruz is that thay no longer do car nationalizations. They said that the car must be nationalized at the border town where it originally entered. Oh, well. It's a 28 hour trip for me soon...