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Mr. Kalgukshi
Mod Team
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Posts: 6613
Location: Need to know basis only.
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 Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 12:13 am Post subject: |
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Some of you are derailing the thread in pursuit of your personal agendas.
If you don't immediately stop doing this on your own, we will.
I kid you not. |
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Prof.Gringo
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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| Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 3:59 pm Post subject: Re: ~~~~> Driving In Mexico |
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| Silence820 wrote: |
| I have a valid U. S. driver�s license & FM-3, I have been living in M�xico for almost a year. I was told that M�xico will recognize my license, but I do not want to take the chance. Can someone tell me if this is true? Also what would it take to obtain a license here in Mexico City? Thanks |
The short legal answer is YES, you can drive in Mexico with a valid US license and Mexicans can also legally drive in the US with a valid Mexican license.
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Geneva_Convention_on_Road_Traffic#CHAPTER_V._DRIVERS_OF_MOTOR_VEHICLES_IN_INTERNATIONAL_TRAFFIC
"1. Each Contracting State shall allow any driver admitted to its territory who fulfils the conditions which are set out in Annex 8 and who holds a valid driving permit issued to him, after he has given proof of his competence, by the competent authority of another Contracting State or subdivision thereof, or by an Association duly empowered by such authority, to drive on its roads without further examination motor vehicles of the category or categories defined in Annexes 9 and 10 for which the permit has been issued."
This link also answers a similar situation involving a foreign national wanting to drive in the USA with a foreign license:
http://www.carinsurance.com/kb/content20732.aspx
"Tourists from countries who are party to the Geneva Convention and the Regulation of Inter-American Motor Vehicle Traffic can also legally drive their own private cars bearing valid license plates/registration tags issued in their native country for a period not to exceed one year from their date of arrival."
All of this leads me to conclude the following:
A US license is valid in Mexico for one year from the date of entry as long as said person is a tourist and driving a foreign plated/registered car.
In Mexico however those on a FM-3 are not considered immigrants and are allowed to keep a foreign plated/registered car (and I assume also a foreign license by extension).
If you plan to drive a Mexican plated/registered car I would think you would most likely need a Mexican license.
Same would go in the US if for example your DL is from New York and you bought a car in Califronia. You would need to either change your license to California or the car's plates to New York (or change both to another state, let's say Utah, for example ).
In order to be on the safe side it would behoove you to get a Mexican DL ASAP if you plan to drive a Mexican plated car.
NOTE: In Mexico a drivers license is NOT a valid form of ID like it is in the USA. It can't be used in banks or government offices to establish proof of identity. |
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notamiss
Joined: 20 Jun 2007
Posts: 908
Location: El 5o pino del la CDMX
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| Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 5:02 pm Post subject: Re: ~~~~> Driving In Mexico |
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| Silence820 wrote: |
| I have a valid U. S. driver�s license & FM-3, I have been living in M�xico for almost a year. I was told that M�xico will recognize my license, but I do not want to take the chance. Can someone tell me if this is true? Also what would it take to obtain a license here in Mexico City? Thanks |
| Prof.Gringo wrote: |
| The short legal answer is YES, you can drive in Mexico with a valid US license[�] |
Thanks for this. But as for Silence, the practical answer is that considering that all it takes to get a DF driver�s license is 438 pesos plus a few more pesos for photocopies, and an hour or two of your time, and your US license will not be affected, I would advise getting the DF license. |
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mejms
Joined: 04 Jan 2010
Posts: 390
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| Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 6:17 pm Post subject: |
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I just got off the phone with my car insurance, and was assured that not only do I not need to have a Mexican license in order for insurance to apply, but having a license at all is not required by them, just so long as the driver is not underage. The question of licenses is strictly for transito, not for insurance.
When I asked a couple times for something in writing, I got nothing. When I asked for an employee reference number to back myself up if this were to be contradicted, I just got a first name. Dang!
All the same, I'll get around to getting a Mexican license when I get around to it. |
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Enchilada Potosina
Joined: 03 Aug 2010
Posts: 344
Location: Mexico
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| Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 8:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Best place, apart from the DF to get a driving license from scratch is Zacatecas. You pay next to nothing for a 4 year one and they help you out with the test answers. SLP, on the other hand, is one of the worst places to try to get one. |
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Silence820
Joined: 17 Aug 2009
Posts: 35
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 1:06 am Post subject: |
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Well here is the update to me obtaining a license in D.F.
I went to the Comercial Mexicana on Eje Central, in Tlatelolco. Office hours are from 9am to 9pm Spoke with the woman at the information desk with my infantile Spanish. She gave me a form and told me to pay $483 upstairs in the Mega Mart. I returned with my receipt of payment. She then told me to stand in the line to the right. I was the only one in the line. My number was called. I gave the next woman my FM-3 my Telmex bill and the receipt. She asked a few questions like occupation and blood type. She then sent me for my photo and fingerprints. The total time elapsed at this point, 10 minutes. The other 45 minutes were spent waiting for my license because the stupid machine was malfunctioning. 
Now I can drive in the far left lane and make a right turn like the other Mexicans with license do.
Thank you to all that helped |
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Professor
Joined: 22 May 2009
Posts: 449
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 5:54 am Post subject: |
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| Glad to hear yu have your license now. Sorry for not getting back to you sooner with the info. |
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