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Entering Mexico driving


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Once you cross into Mexico, where do you have to clear customs and show all of your documents, passports, vet papers for both pets and finally obtain a tourist visa for your car, is it at the border or further up the road, is it well marked ?

Flown many times, but 1st time driving it

Thanks you

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From Laredo Tx. crossing into Nuevo Laredo MX. is what your keyword states:

1.Half way across International Bridge II, you are in Mexico. Stay in the left lane, the “Nothing to Declare” lane. You will be shunted off to the left and given a red or green light. . If you get the red light, you must stop or pull over for inspection. If you want to declare something, pets etc. get into the "Something to Declare" lane.

2.Once you clear customs (or get a green light), turn right just past the inspection area and then turn left on the first street, Calle Nicholas Bravo. It is one way.

3.Go approximately five blocks on Calle Bravo, following the signs for "car permits" and Banjercito. Do not turn until you reach the end of this street. (Toward the end of the street, there’s a money exchange office on the left, if you need pesos.)

4.Calle Bravo ends at a wide boulevard (Blvd. Colosio). Turn right and drive about ½ mile. At the traffic light turn left onto the lateral street , which is signed “Cesar L. de Lara” heading back in the direction of the bridge.

5.On the lateral street, drive down and under the bridge. Turn left into the second parking lot, in front of the entrance to the large Mexican ADUANA (Customs) building.

6.Enter the building’s main door, turn right, and stop at the Migración desk to obtain your FMM tourist card. (Take a pen.) Fill out the form and return it to the official, who will stamp it.

7.After you get your FMM stamped, if you need a car permit, have it copied along with your other documents at the next counter. (Passport, FMM card, driver’s license, vehicle’s title or registration.)

8.Walk further down the hall to the Banjercito office and hand the clerk your documents and a credit card or cash.

9.When you obtain your car permit, go outside and make sure that the VIN on the permit matches the vehicle’s VIN. Remove the sticker from the back of the permit and affix it to the inside of your windshield in front of the rear view mirror.

10. With your sticker in place exit the parking lot, and turn hard right, back the way you came. Keep the car permit with your passport and FMM tourist card, as all might be checked down the road if the 22 kilometer inspection station is still in operation, which some posters say is closed and some posters say is still open? I feel they closed it last year sometime. Someone with a recent experience can confirm this.

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Adding/responding to ALanMexicali:

Immediately inside the building there's a large dual-language YOU ARE HERE-style sign of the windows that indicates the steps of the process. At this point everyone (incoming/outbound, Mexican citizens and foreigners) throngs in one line. In our experience, the earlier you cross the better you are. We've spent anywhere between 20 minutes and 5 hours in that line. Early Sunday mornings are best; avoid US and Mexico holiday weekends like the plague.

You mention dogs. If you are traveling alone, you'll have to leave the dogs in the car: they are not permitted in the building. If you have a traveling companion, s/he can stay at the car with your pets and you can take both sets of docs inside at one time to get the FMMs. If you are queried by the officer, let him know s/he "se quedó afuera con las mascotas" (stayed outside with the pets). I've always been permitted to do so, but we have the same last name.

After getting your FMM you'll be directed to the next window to pay the FMM fee. These windows are also marked.

You can get your car permit online prior to your trip, also your car insurance. It the lines at the building are long (and sometimes they are), you'll appreciate having done these steps prior. If not, make a photocopy of the documents AlanMexicali mentions so you can skip the copy line (and, often, need for exact change.)

You must have Mexico car insurance. If you do not, there are 3 or 4 vendors to the left of the building. Bathrooms are immediately upstairs. If your car is gassed up and the pets are walked, you can make it till your next stop without discomfort.

Watch your speed all through Nuevo Laredo until you get onto the cuota. The speed limit for much of the way is 40KM, which is super-slow, but the NL police are mordida-happy buzzards.

Yes, there's a red light/green light toll-type booth where papers may be checked OR the arm may be open and you just go through (unless you have stuff to declare, then you'll see the area to the right.) We've only once been asked for the dogs' papers, and then they did ask look at them, only to see if we had the.

The later 26km checkpoint is closed but there is a military stop in roughly the same location plus a federal police stop (a tarp and several cars, sometimes checking/often not) at the Tamaulipas/Nuevo Leon state line.

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Your car is supposed to be legally registered in your home country in order for it to be legally driven in Mexico.

The Importada Temporal simply makes it legally in Mexico, not legal to operate on the roads. So, renew before you cross. If you were to have an accident, your insurance could be invalid and cause you to go to jail until restitution is settled. I would not take that chance.

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To answer your direct question, Yes, a title only will work. You'll have to be the judge as to whether or not you want to drive with expired plates/registration and all that may/may not amount to. In any respect, take the 'narrow receipt' you got at the border when you canceled you old TIP... you may need it to prove you followed the law based on your comments.

One can register and get the plates and registration card from a SD County within a week of talking to them.. the title, which comes out of the State office, is currently taking 3-4 weeks. You will have to have a valid NOB mailing address in order to get the plates/registration and later the title. If you need definitive info about using Clay County SD for this service let us know.

Your new TIP will cost either $200 or $300 for a deposit to your credit card. Visa (tourist card) is 'around' $35. TIP 'could' be ordered online now (with your current title) and would be delivered by your stated departure time.

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Plumeau1, where are you crossing the border? The directions above, most but not all of which apply at every crossing, seem to assume you're coming through Laredo. BTW, one way to avoid lines and hassles at the border is to apply for you auto import permit online. Check this out. https://www.banjercito.com.mx/registroVehiculos/

It costs around $10 extra to cover sending you the permit by DHL. Takes about 3-4 days. Quick and easy. Saves waiting in lines at the Banjercito office near the border. We now use the Online service exclusively.

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Plumeau1, where are you crossing the border? The directions above, most but not all of which apply at every crossing, seem to assume you're coming through Laredo. BTW, one way to avoid lines and hassles at the border is to apply for you auto import permit online. Check this out. https://www.banjercito.com.mx/registroVehiculos/

It costs around $10 extra to cover sending you the permit by DHL. Takes about 3-4 days. Quick and easy. Saves waiting in lines at the Banjercito office near the border. We now use the Online service exclusively.

If you look at the OP´s title under it in keywords he wrote "From Laredo"

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  • 3 weeks later...

Elizabeth since you did not get refund, check car permit status here:

https://portalsat.plataforma.sat.gob.mx/aduanas_cpitv_internet/index.aspx

Be sure you do not show up as having a car in Mexico.

saludos

Sonia

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