Bringing Vehicles to Mexico

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If you plan to travel within 20 kilometers south of the US-Mexico border, also know as the Free Trade Zone there are no regulations you must comply with. If you wish to go deeper into Mexico, you are required to obtain a temporary Mexico vehicle registration permit which is valid for up to 180 days from issuance.

To receive the permit, you will be required to provide:

  • Valid passport
  • Valid FMT tourist card.
  • Valid vehicle registration certificate, or a document, such as the original vehicle title that certifies the legal ownership of the vehicle. The registration must be in the driver's name.
  • If the vehicle is leased or rented, you are required to bring a copy of the leasing contract and it must be in the name of the person who is requesting to bring the car into Mexico.
  • If the vehicle belongs to a company or legal corporation, it is necessary to show documentation which will certify the person is employed by the company and has company permission to take the vehicle into Mexico.
  • You must present a valid driver license, a credit card, (American Express, Visa or MasterCard), in the name of the person bringing the vehicle into Mexico.

To acquire your temporary vehicle permit drive through the lane marked Declarations Lane and look for the "Modulo de Control Vehicular" After providing the documents mentioned above to the proper authorities, you will be given a temporary permit. You are required by Mexico law to leave a guarantee deposit which ensures that before the permit expires (180 days from issue date) you will take the vehicle out of Mexico.

The temporary importation permit will be issued along with a sticker for your vehicle's windshield. Remember to turn this sticker into customs when leaving Mexico with your vehicle.

If you live near one of the following areas, you may be able to make an appointment at the local Mexican consulate for you to take care of your vehicle registration needs prior to leaving for Mexico. In California there are consulates offering this service located in Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Bernadino, San Francisco; in Texas there are consulates in Dallas, Houston and Austin and there also is a consulate in Chicago that can provide you with the required vehicle's permit.

Foreign plated vehicles cannot be bought, traded or sold in Mexico.

Below you will find the hours of operation of common US-Mexico border points.

Arizona Border Points
Agua Prieta......Daily, 24 hrs.
Naco......Daily, 8:00 am to midnight
Nogales......Daily, 24 hrs.
San Luis Rio Colorado......Daily, 24 hrs.
Sonoyta......Daily, 24 hrs.

California Border Points
Mexicali......Daily, 24 hrs.
Otay Mesa......Daily, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Tecate......Daily, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Tijuana......Mon-Fri, 8:00am to 10:00 pm, Sat, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, Sun, 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm

Texas Border Points
Ciudad Acuña......Daily, 24 hrs.
Ciudad Juarez......Daily, 24 hrs.
Ciudad Miguel Alemán......Daily, 24 hrs.
Columbia......Mon-Fri, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
General Rodrigo M. Quevedo......Daily, 24 hrs.
Matamoros......Daily, 24 hrs.
Nuevo Laredo......Daily, 24 hrs.
Ojinaga......Mon-Fri, 7:30 am to 9:00 pm, Sat, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, Sun, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Piedras Negras......Daily, 24 hrs.
Reynosa......Daily, 24 hrs.