How to Drive Your US or Canadian-Plated Car in Mexico

by

How to Drive Your US or Canadian-Plated Car in Mexico

  • For most areas in Mexico, if you plan on driving your foreign-plated car in Mexico, you must be a Temporal or married to a Temporal who owns the car.

In order to have your foreign-plated car legally in Mexico, you will need to have it be legal in every way in your country of origin (i.e., the US or Canada), and receive a permiso, or TIP.  You can get your permiso on-line; at some limited places in the US and Canada (usually across the hall from the Mexican consulate); or you can get one immediately upon crossing the border into Mexico.

The permiso will cost you several hundred dollars, which is used as a deposit against you selling your foreign-plated car in Mexico, which is not legal to do.  If you follow all the rules, you can get your deposit back upon driving your car out of Mexico, but this can sometimes be a bit problematic.

Your permiso is tied to your visa, so when your Temporal expires, so does your permiso.  If you drive your foreign-plated car in Mexico without a permiso, your car is in Mexico illegally, and can be confiscated.  In other words, don’t do it.

  • Make sure your car is completely legal in the US, including being up to date on paying your registration.
  • Run a CARFAX and see what comes up.  The reason you want to do this is because it is very likely that Banjercito will.  That’s how they will find out if you are paid up on your registration and if there is anything even remotely unusual about your title.
  • After getting your visa started in the US or Canada, if you can, get the TIP for your vehicle at a Banjercito in the US or online.
  • If you don’t get your TIP for your vehicle prior to crossing the border, that’s OK.  Just go to the proper Banjercito at the border.  (There is a list of them online.)

An Insider’s Tip on US Car Registration When Living in Mexico

by

An Insider’s Tip on US Car Registration When Living in Mexico

After you’ve been in Mexico for a while, you’ll notice that a lot of foreign-plated cars are from South Dakota.  For those not “in the know”, this can be a bit puzzling, because with a ranking of 47 out of 50 US states in population, it does seem a bit odd that so many people from South Dakota have moved to Mexico.

The answer, of course, is that they have not.  I would doubt that even a small percentage of those driving with South Dakota plates have ever even been to South Dakota.

Then what’s the reason for all those South Dakota license plates?  There are three of them:

  1. The cost of car registration in South Dakota is less expensive than most other states.
  1. South Dakota does not require emissions testing.  This would be important to you if your car’s existing license plates were from a state or area that required emissions testing on some time-based interval.  If this applies to you, then in order to comply with your state’s requirements to license your car, you would have to drive back every so often and get it tested.  Registering your car in South Dakota avoids that.
  1. The government of South Dakota is happy to do it, knowing full well your situation.  Just call the Clay Country Treasurer.

If, after checking with your insurance agent to see how or if your coverage would be impacted, you would rather have your car registration be from South Dakota, contact the South Dakota Clay County Treasurer in more than enough time to have them ship you your new plates while you’re NOB. (“North of the Border”; the US and Canada).  They won’t ship your plates or stickers to Mexico.

Car Insurance and Health Insurance When Living in Mexico

by

Car Insurance and Health Insurance When Living in Mexico

Your NOB (“North of the Border”; the US and Canada) car insurance will not cover you in Mexico, so if you drive in anything other than a rental car in Mexico, you will need to get Mexican car insurance.  (When you rent a car in Mexico, typically insurance is included, but make sure to ask.

Contact an agent for Mexican automobile insurance well in advance of your need, so you can feel comfortable with your agent and your policy.  Whether or not you will need US car insurance when driving in the US or Canadian car insurance when driving in Canada is a complicated question, so please make sure you understand all implications before you cancel any NOB car insurance.

I’m not aware how health insurance works in the different provinces in Canada, so I won’t comment on health insurance coverage for Canadians in Mexico.  However, if you’re a US citizen and come to live in Mexico, you should have Mexican health care coverage.  There are some very good policies at much lower rates than in the US (huge understatement) that will cover you in very good hospitals in Mexico and, if you travel to the US, will cover you in very good hospitals in the US until you are stable enough to be transferred to Mexico.

Whether or not you should cancel your US health insurance, especially if you have Medicare, is a very tricky and complicated question, so please make sure you understand all the implications of your actions well before you take them.

  • If you will drive a US- or Canadian-plated car in Mexico, get Mexican car insurance from a reputable agent.
  • Get some form of Mexican health insurance, whether full coverage, medical evacuation or something else you’re comfortable with.

Why You Need a Legal / Mailing Address in the US or Canada When Living in Mexico

by

Why You Need a Legal / Mailing Address in the US or Canada When Living in Mexico

There is a very good chance that you will need to maintain a “legal address” in the US or Canada for all sorts of things, including for credit cards, ATM cards, and banking institutions.  You could use your sister-in-law’s, or your good friend’s, or one of the mail forwarding companies.

Please be aware that there are many US financial and other institutions that will not accept a permanent address outside the US and if they find that you do live outside the US, may even cancel your account.  (Most people just give them another US address.)

  • Decide what will be your legal US or Canadian address.
  • If you need to, choose a service that will accept your mail NOB(“North of the Border”; the US and Canada), scan it, and hold or forward whatever you need.

Bringing Money to Mexico

by

If You’re Driving to Mexico, Prepare for the Toll Roads and a Cash Economy

You will be living in Mexico, so you should have at least some pesos in your wallet when you arrive.  If you let most NOB banks know well enough in advance, most will exchange your dollars for you so you can have those pesos in your wallet well before you enter Mexico.

  • Get more (I recommend three times) the amount of Mexican pesos than you think you’ll need for tolls and unexpected expenses (see below) from your bank and have your pesos ready to go.

If You’re Driving to Mexico, Prepare for the Toll Roads and a Cash Economy

by

If You’re Driving to Mexico, Prepare for the Toll Roads and a Cash Economy

If you’re driving to Mexico, you will almost certainly want to take the cuotas, or toll roads.  Toll roads charge tolls, which, by Mexican standards, can be substantial.  Please have lots of those pesos you got ahead of time ready.  You may also want to have pesos for emergencies such as paying the mechanic to fix the tire that just blew out or an unexpected stay at a hotel that doesn’t accept credit cards. It’s always good to have pesos with you in Mexico.

.

Taking Your Pets with You to Mexico

by

Taking Your Pets with You to Mexico

Just like there are rules for how people can legally enter Mexico, there are also rules for dogs and cats.  (The rules for animals other than dogs and cats can be different.)

In order for you to bring your dog or cat to Mexico, you will need to prove that Fido or Samantha is in good health and up to date on their rabies vaccines.  Here’s the link to the form many people use: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/library/forms/pdf/APHIS7001.pdf.  You’ll see that you will need a certified veterinarian to sign the form.  Getting this done NOB (“North of the Border”; the US and Canada) can be pretty pricey, but that’s the right way to go.  (You can save big time on vet bills later, after you live in Mexico.)

When getting Spot’s or Tiger’s shots, please make sure to have a calendar available.  Just like you can’t wait too long to get the shots, you can’t do them too far in advance, either.

Entering into Mexico with your dog or cat is easiest by car.  Most of the time, the Mexican authorities at the border don’t even check. Then, you just have to find pet friendly hotels and motels for along the way.  Fortunately, there are quite a few; just check ahead of time.

If you travel by air, the situation is much more complicated.  Some airlines won’t allow you to bring a pet at all; some will only allow certain breeds or certain sizes; and, if your pet is too large to go with you or is not allowed in the people section of the plane, there are regulations and common sense concerns you have to be aware of regarding how hot it will be in the cargo area of the plane.  When traveling by air, please be prepared to have the Mexican officials check your pet after you land, because they almost certainly will.

Several of our clients who travel by air won’t risk putting Mr. Barkley in the plane’s cargo area and instead, contract with someone to meet them at the border and drive their dog (and many times, our clients) to their new home in Mexico. If you’re in this situation, let me know and I can refer you.

  • Find a vet in your neighborhood NOB who is certified to give the shots and make the declarations for your pets.
  • Tell your vet when you plan to cross into Mexico so he or she can time the shots correctly.
  • If you are traveling by air, find out the regulations from your airline.  See if you can take your pet with you in the passenger area.  Tell them your pet’s breed, weight, etc., and if your pet cannot come with you in the passenger area, ask them if there are any restrictions regarding the time of year because of excess heat or other concerns.
  • If you are flying and you aren’t comfortable having your pet(s) in the cargo area of the plane, make arrangements well in advance to have someone drive your pets in Mexico.

As Soon as You Get to Mexico, Establish Your Healthcare Providers and Auto Mechanic

by

As Soon as You Get to Mexico, Establish Your Healthcare Providers and Auto Mechanic

Healthcare and auto emergencies can happen without warning (and seemingly more than randomly on a weekend or national holiday), so it’s a very good idea to establish your local providers as soon as possible.  That way, when you do have that acute pain where you believe your appendix is located or that throbbing pain in your back molar on the left side, you will know who to call and they will know you.

After you arrive in Mexico, come in as soon as you can to your new doctor and dentist and provide the healthcare and dental records to your new provider you obtained just before you left (assuming you followed this guide) and exchange phone numbers.

It is not at all unusual for Mexican doctors and dentists to give their patients their cell phone numbers, so you can ask. That way, when it’s Mexican Independence Day and you just don’t feel right, you will have a number to call and everything will turn out nice and easy.

While you’re at it, it may be a good idea to visit your new auto mechanic and perhaps have them do a minor service, just so you can know if you want to use them again, and if so, to get their cell number so that if you blow our your tire during the Festival of the Virgin of Guadalupe, you’ll know who to call.

  • Personally visit your new doctor, give him or her a copy of your medical records and list of medications, discuss ongoing care, and exchange cell phone numbers.
  • Personally visit your new dentist, give him or her a copy of your dental records, discuss ongoing care, and exchange cell phone numbers.
  • Personally visit your new auto mechanic and get their personal cell phone number, just in case.

Foreign Earned Income Exclusion

by

Foreign Earned Income Exclusion

If you are a US citizen, you must pay US federal income taxes forever, regardless of where you live or where your income originates or anything else I’m aware of.  That’s the bad news.

The good news is, if you qualify by living in Mexico, you may be able to exclude more than $100,000 of earned income (not unearned income such as pensions) if you file single and more than $200,000 if you file jointly from your US federal tax return.  The way you do this is through the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion.  Most (but not all) states also allow the exclusion.

Back to Tips and Tricks
Interested to see how we can help you?  Just give us a call now at our US or Canada phone number 1 (520) 940-0481, or send us an email using our contact form.

Deliveries to Mexico

by

Deliveries to Mexico

When you get to Mexico, if you have one of those addresses that companies can deliver to, great!  If you don’t, there are lots of companies here that will accept your packages for you at a commercial location known and knowable to the delivery companies and call you when your packages arrive.  Then, you can go to retrieve your much-anticipated presents, all for a reasonable amount.  And when you do this in Mexico, remember, you’ll be in Mexico, so the prices will be much lower.  Personally, I use iShop, but I know there are many others that provide the same service.

  • Determine if Amazon and / or Costco or any of the other online retailers you plan on using will deliver to your home.
  • If not, create an account at a local company that can receive your packages and call you for pickup at a reasonable price.

Download your indispensable “How To” guide!

“If you only read one guide about moving your household items to Mexico, this is it.”

Free Download

CLICK HERE
We won’t ask for your email address and we won’t ask for your credit card.
 
It’s just free.