How does a citizen of Mexico buy a car in the U.S. and bring it to Mexico?

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Antonio

If you are legal in the states you can drive it to the border, to get it acrose the border, now when you get there you can legalize the car there at the border they will give you the plates right away. And it has to be 10 years old(at least) a lot of friends has done it like that, but if someone with legal status drives the car it is easier to get it across and then she can drive it from there

Charlie

I totally disagree with the person who says the car needs to be only 5 yrs old...it definitely is 10 years. Beginning in Jan 2009..there will be a lowering of that requirement gradually over several years. See the site below and scroll down to the entry quotIng the new changes in the law. If she buys the car in a border town, the dealers will know how to handle those problems...and there are "car brokers "near all border crossings that, for a fee, do all the paperwork and explain everything.

Luis M

The car has to be at least 10 years old. It has never been five.
Why doesnÂ´t your mother in law buy the car in the frontier, in the Mexican side ! Same price than in the United States and already legalized. I think that is much easier.
Best to you.

prosti45

10 YRS? Depends where u wanna take it,i think i saw that u asked a question somewhere else and i think u wanna take it to mexicali,it needs to b 2004 and below for the border citys,for deeper south it has to be 1998 and below! U cant,u do it for her! She cant get tags,just get a permit to move it, from Dmv and then u cross it across to mexico and then u import it for a fee,depends on the model and year of the car! For a 2003-2004 ur looking at 800-1000 dlls! What people didnt tell u Jessy,is that Mexicali is a OVEN in the summer and im not exaggerating!!! Have anymore questions dont be afraid to write underboss112000@yahoo.com

Victory27

I don't remember the name of the importer I used, but I got their info from my step-dad and have since lost the number. I had no major problems with them, but they ended up charging me almost $200 more than they had told me originally and it was difficult to get a straight answer about the day and time which I would be able to import the car. As a result I stayed in a hotel in Tijuana for one night waiting for them and a second night without my car. A little frustrating, but it turned out fine.
The law did use to be that the vehicle you were importing had to be at least ten years old. I believe that it changed at some time to be that pick-ups and suvs have to be 10 years old and passenger cars could be newer. One year ago, I imported a 97 Honda Passport and was told specifically that if it had been a 98 it would not be allowed to be imported.
Using an importer is the easiest, fastest, but not the cheapest way to do it. As far as buying the car, I would not recommend what the other person did about buying near the frontier - the cars that I saw for sale in TJ were all CRAP! They'd been totalled or otherwise trashed and put back together enough to fool someone who doesn't know any better. If she has a US drivers lisence and insurance, she should have no problem getting a trip permit at the time of buying the car. If she does not have those documents, I recommend buying the car in an American citizen's name with their insurance and then signing a bill of sale and the title over to her at the time that she will be importing the car to Mexico.
In Mexico, the existing American title will stay with the car as the proof of ownership, with each title re-assignment being signed on any available inch of paper (so, a car that was brought by one guy, and sold three times might have four sets of signatures scribbled across the back of it).
I would ask around to anyone you know that has previously imported cars and see which importer they recommend for the location she will be crossing the border at. Then contact the importer ahead of time and find out what their fees are and how long they need to get things in order as well as what kind of documentation they require. That way you can be sure to get things right the first time and avoid delays, confusion, problems. If you don't know anyone that's imported cars, go to your local tienda mexicana or taqueria where you might find some guys hanging out shooting the breeze and ask if anyone has a recommendation.

Hope this was helpful and not long and confusing ;)

Suerte!

AnaLuv

Wow, how can they be so secure about the 10 years law? thats so not true! I live in Tj and I just bought a car (2003 model) and didnt have a problem, I hate it when people who doesnt know anything answers the questions with lies.

Your mother in law need to call an importadora de auto, they have parking lots where they pick up the cars and do all the tramits, then they call you when the process is done and you can drive it inside the country. it will cost her about $1000dlls

If she is going to cross from tijuana, i recomend you Importadora Ramos, they are very honest and i never had a problem with them.

Fernando

Mexican Consulate

tj_guy

OK, first, the car needs to be at least FIVE years old, not 10 (it has never been 10), but the law may change next year and the limit would disappear.

You need to contact an importer and don't drive the car across the border until you have the paperwork started. You tape the temporary permit inside the windshield and have 30 days to get mexican license plates.
Usually the importers have temporary permits and insurance and you don't need to buy it yourself. What city? Go to:
http://www.seccionamarilla.com.mx/
and type in IMPORTACION DE AUTOS

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