Job Discussion Forums

[ls650]

[MELEE]

It this case it still meant a much cheaper car. The car cost about 3,000 dollars in Texas. Very similar models were selling for 50,000 pesos here at that time.

But the car was only 10 years old at the time. The OPs car is nearly 20 years old, in that case imagine the import fees would be 50% or more of the value of the car.

[Samantha]

Today I had opportunity to quiz a friend of my husband's who legally imported a car from Arizona 3 days ago. He says he would never have gotten such a good deal here in Mexico. Here's what he says.

1. Year of car must be between 1993-1998. No younger than 10 years, no older than 15 year. His car is a 1998 so the newest that qualifies.

2. The cost was only $250.00 but with the fee to one of the several roadside "bandits" who handle this for a living it came to $400.00. He paid yet another $100.00 to have the vehicle inspected for road worthiness because it had a dent in the door. Normally if the body is in good condition, you don't pay the extra $100.00. He felt it was worth it to use the "agents" because it took only 3 hours total including the extra inspection. Next time he will do it himself because he now knows what to do.

3. He says that pick-up trucks (camionetas) can be as old as 1980�s but actually run at a higher cost because they don't want old junkers brought into Mexico. The theory is that if you are willing to pay, it means your truck is in good shape and worth it. A Jeep is in the truck category.

4. You must be Mexican. It doesn't matter the status in the USA of the Mexican citizen importing a vehicle to Mexico. He has a tourist visa, but they checked only for a drivers license and a Mexican credential.

5. He will take all his paperwork in and get Sinaloa license plates locally.

6. Mexicans are apparently permitted to import 2 cars a year each.

[Prof.Gringo]

I know some people (Mexican) that do this kind of thing for a living. They go to a border state, buy a cheaper used car or truck and drive it back down south and make a nice profit. I don't know anything about a two car limit per year, but I see people do it all the time.

I am going to start doing the same thing this year with laptops. Each time I come back, bring a new laptop and sell it here for a profit. I am pretty sure I can make $2-400 USD per laptop, or more.

[davechile]

Does anyone know how to over come the pet visa issue of a 30 day limit. I planned to drive to Costa Rica from San Francisco taking 2 months in Mexico and a month through Central America. I thought about getting my Vet to resend me an updated visa if possible to a location along the way.

Thanks for your thoughts.

IS650 - have you sold a car in Mexico? Is it hard?

[Samantha]

Pet visa issue of a 30 day limit?

[gypsygirl1475]

I just got here on Saturday the 9th.
We went through Matamoras at 3 am and the only thing I had to pay was $62 for my Jeep and my visa and there is NO bond, my husband asked in spanish.If you do not return the car it is confiscated or you are fined fornot returning it in time and have to pay a fine when coming back in.
My dog got through and they didn't even ask for the papers after I went through all the trouble and money of getting the papers.
There was no traffic, and we got a green light, and aduana was closed. We breezed through all check points without paying a penny. My husband was shocked.
So for those wanting to cross the border without problems go through Matamoras between 3am -4am. Don't go through the one that is straight off the high( where the highway ends) it is closed but drive five minutes to the other it is open 24/7.
I forgot they said you have to get a new permit for the car every 6 months even with a fmt3, I asked.

[Samantha]

Gypsygirl wrote:

[gypsygirl1475]

That's good to know. Thanks. Will post updates later.