Driving in Mexico
Foreigners with an FMM, FM2 rentista or FM3 status can import a vehicle into Mexico temporarily. The permit to do so remains valid as long as the person’s immigration status is valid. The permit automatically renews with the renewal of the Fm3 or Fm2 or the extension of the FMM.
When crossing at Nogales (it will be similar at other crossings) proceed to the immigration facility 20 km south of the border. There you will spend half an hour to an hour getting your temporary vehicle importation permit. Keep the receipt; you will need it when cancelling the permit. You can avoid the time spent here by ordering and paying for your permit on line.
It is VERY VERY important that you cancel the permit when leaving and keep the receipt. If you do not cancel the permit you will not be able to drive a vehicle into Mexico again. I keep my most recent cancellation receipts with my passport just in case their computer system should forget that I actually did cancel it.
DO NOT let your permit expire since the vehicle can actually be seized. The date on your permit which is on your vehicle will say it is expired but as long as your immigration status is renewed that is not a problem. i.e. Your permit expires on the date on the permit unless you maintain your status in Mexico current. ie: constantly renewing your FM3/2 or even renewing/extending your FMM permit..
You will need: driver’s license, vehicle registration, a credit card to pay (cash is accepted but makes things very complicated, see below)
Your status needs to remain “rentista” or the permit expires with your change of status.
Other resources:
Green Angels (Angeles Verdes) offer assistance to drivers: dial 078 or 088
Forum Discussions that may also be useful:
Mexconnect: New law for foreign plated vehicles. (Aug 2010)
New immigration rules in Spanish here.
Rolly Brook has a lot great detail about the process here.
The embassy of Mexico in Canada website says (Aug. 2010):
Foreigners travelling to Mexico by car beyond the border strip must pass through immigration and customs; they must obtain a tourist card or show their FM-3, according to the purpose of their trip, as well as obtain a temporary import permit for their car. These documents are issued at the port of entry.
Temporary Importation of Vehicles
www.aduanas.gob.mx/aduana_mexico/2008/vehiculos/141_10028.html
Vehicle’s pre-registration for temporary importation
NOTE: The driver has the obligation to attend the office of Banjercito and return the documents of the temporary importation of the vehicle at any port of entry before leaving Mexico crossing the northern border of the country. A representative of Banjercito will remove the sticker of the vehicle and will cancel the warranty-deposit.
Temporary import permit
To obtain a temporary vehicle import permit at Banejército (Bank of the Armed Forces), a tourist must present the following:
§ Valid driver’s licence.
§ Vehicle registration certificate or document certifying legal ownership of the vehicle.
a) If applicable, the lease contract for the vehicle. The contract must be in the name of the person bringing the car into Mexico, and a letter from the leasing company stating that they agree for the vehicle to be taken to Mexico.
b) If the vehicle belongs to a company, documents must be presented certifying that the company employs the importer.
§ A fee of US$ 29.70 plus 15% local tax that may be paid with an international credit card (American Express, Diner’s Club, Visa or MasterCard) that has been issued in the name of the vehicle’s owner.
§ If you do not have an international credit card, you must post a bond payable to the Federal Treasury by paying the appropriate fee.
§ As an alternative to posting a bond, you may leave a refundable security deposit in cash at Banjército in an amount equal to the vehicle’s value. This cash deposit will be recovered when the vehicle is removed from the country and the import permit is returned to the same port of entry through which the vehicle was brought into Mexico.
Model Import deposit
1999-2002 US$400.00
1994-1998 US$300.00
Previous models US$200.00
When travelling not as a tourist (businessperson, retiree, student, intern, working, etc.)
The holder of an FM-3 visitor visa, regardless of his or her migratory status, has the right to import a vehicle, in accordance with the provisions of the Mexican customs law.
Article 106, paragraph IV, section a) of the Mexican Customs Law reads that foreigners holding a Non-Immigrant migratory status (student, pensioner, business person, technician, etc.; except refugees and political refugees) will be allowed the temporary import of a single vehicle; in conformity with the precept cited, Article 42 of the General Population Act describes the migratory status of Non-Immigrant Visitor, which can be extended for up to four equal periods of time and allows multiple entries and exits. These extensions will in turn extend the legal stay of the temporarily imported vehicle on national territory, in accordance with Regulation 3.2.6 of the 2004 General Regulations on Foreign Trade Matters [Reglas de Carácter General en Materia de Comercio Exterior] stating that for those whose migratory status has been extended in accordance with the law, the validity of the temporary import permit issued for the corresponding vehicle is automatically prolonged for the same amount of time. The official document that extends the importer’s stay in the country also stands as proof of the legal stay of the vehicle.
The FM-2 holders have the right to temporarily import a vehicle:
In regard to the Migratory Status of Immigrant (FM-2 card holders), only foreigners with the status of Immigrant of Independent Means (pensioner) will be allowed to temporarily import a vehicle onto national territory, as stated in Article 106, paragraph IV, section a) of the Customs Law.
Who can drive a car in Mexico
Only the permit holder’s spouse, his/her parents, children or siblings may drive the vehicle if they are foreign residents or any other person if the permit holder is in the vehicle.
When leaving the country with your car
When a credit card has been used, the temporary import permit may be returned at any port of entry. Under Mexican law, a vehicle with an expired permit will be impounded subject to confiscation, and fines may be levied against the owner/driver.
Please return your temporary permit to Banjército to obtain a certificate stating that the vehicle has been removed from Mexico. Cancel the permit before it expires; sanctions will be imposed on persons who fail to do so. Permits may not be returned in Canada.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If the temporary importation of the vehicle was not cancelled before leaving the Mexico, you can not do it from Canada since customs authorities were not notified properly of the vehicles’ devolution to its place of origin.
hey i have FM3 visa could i drive car here locally i dont need to make driveing licence i have driving licence from india suggest me please
Yes Vinay you can drive with your Indian driver’s license. No problem.
Yes Raphael. You will need an FMM.
HI i will be driving my car from tijuana to la cabo san lucas do i need a FMM..
it will be only for one week..