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Driving a car US into Mexico?

Original Post
mountainhick · · Black Hawk, CO · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 120

I read the El Potrero web page about this, it seems a hassle to buy insurance etc at the border, and I have read that it's more expensive that way.

Is it possible to have all these ducks in a row prior to travel?

Anyone bought Mexican insurance online? Good experience, bad?

Any other recommendations, warnings, pitfalls about car registration, documentation, insurance, what needs to be notarized, rubber stamped etc?

Paul-B · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2011 · Points: 115

I did this for the first time a couple of weeks ago.

1: you can definitely buy online insurance prior, there are several options. The one I used was BajaBound. They're the only ones I found that offer liability only. My US insurance covered my car while down there, so no reason to get more than that.

2. Have your original title and registration and at least one copy of each. They'll copy it at the permit place, but they'll charge you and you'll have to wait in another line

3. Crossing the border into Nuevo Laredo is confusing. Columbia gate is more out of the way, but much easier to navigate.

Paul-B · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2011 · Points: 115

Nothing that I know of needs notarized.

There are 4 stations at the permitting station, if you already have copies you only have to go to 1&4.

It definitely helps to speak Spanish. There are a few people there to help with the process, but it is nothing like the U.S. where it's set up to help foreigners navigate the process.

If you have Magic Ed's Portrero Selects guidebook, it has very good step by step instructions

mountainhick · · Black Hawk, CO · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 120

Thanks Paul, definitely helpful. I'll have to check with our US insurance to see what transfers internationally, whether I can go with purchasing only Mexican liability insurance.

Sketchy to me to have to carry the title and registration with the vehicle itself, but when in MX...

No hablo y entiendo espanol mui bien. Solo un poco. Pero esta bien. I'll get by.

Does Columbia Gate put you onto the Cuota directly?

Josh Janes · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2001 · Points: 9,930

I highly recommend purchasing your Temporary Import Permit online via Banjercito's website which eliminates all hassle. I've done it at the border and I've done it online and doing it online is about as easy as it gets.

You enter your passport and vehicle information. You enter your credit card info. You submit the form. Within a day or two Banjercito sends you a confirmation email (in the meantime you have to scan or take a photo of your documents and email them to Banjercito) and Banjercito will then DHL (they send you a tracking number) you your TIP hologram sticker. We received ours in less than 7 days. Then, all you have to do at the border is get your tourist visa.

You also have the option of getting insurance in the same step on Banjercito's website - which I've done for convenience - though my understanding is you can get (slightly) better rates and coverage elsewhere.

Interestingly, in my trips to Mexico I've never had my Visa, Import Permit, Insurance, or even my passport checked by Mexican authorities. YMMV.

Patrick Gillespie · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 15
potrerochico.org/arriving/d…

We followed the instructions here and were good to go. They are very detailed (ie: go to gate 1, then gate 2, then gate 4 while inside the building) and have photos to go along. This was our bible when we drove and we were extremely glad to have it.

Speaking any Spanish does help quite a bit, all the signs at the border are in Spanish. When you buy insurance at the "Control de Internacion Temporal de Vehiculos" make sure to only buy insurance for the duration of your stay. They initially tried to charge us a couple hundred for 6 months of insurance, I had to ask for a week's worth for about $35.

Definitely bring your registration. And have fun. Buy some dinner from Leo and share a Tecate with him for me!
Pnelson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2015 · Points: 635

It's been nearly ten years since I climbed in Mexico (I had no idea you could do all that stuff online, Josh!), so this may have changed, but when I would travel to Potrero in particular, I would just purchase insurance for the day I planned to drive down, and the day I planned to drive back to the US. Potrero is so walker-friendly that you can just park your car and leave it for most of your trip, so there's no point in having it insured for all those days that you're not going to be driving.

Only a few insurance agencies would let you buy it for non-consecutive days, though, so you may want to check on that.

mountainhick · · Black Hawk, CO · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 120

Thanks all!

I have read the Potrero website info about all the border stops and directions but would prefer to have more of the paperwork done in advance so I don't have to deal with all the stops when crossing.

boo · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 0

If you can do it all online now, I'd do that...less time at the border-the better.

I bought Mexipro insurance, online, prior to going. Wasn't too expensive. I know in the last year or so, the minimum coverage went up, substantially. They had an easy claims process with bilingual staff available anytime--there seemed pretty key.

If you time hitting the border early in the morning, there is essentially no line. I went to the one in Nuevo Laredo and had no problems. (Leaving Mexico was a different story.) While they looked at all my paperwork, my addresses all matching up seemed to be the most important piece for the desk agent: passport, license, car paperwork...

If you don't speak Spanish, be sure to have the directions ready and uptodate. Ed is super helpful and you can reach out to him ahead of time for any changes/updates regarding local stuff.

mountainhick · · Black Hawk, CO · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 120
boo wrote:Ed is super helpful and you can reach out to him ahead of time for any changes/updates regarding local stuff.
If you mean Magic Ed, I hate being the bearer of bad news, but he is no more. mountainproject.com/v/rip-m…
boo · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 0

Obviously don't spend a ton of time online....it is sad news. He could always direct you to the best local solution, whether getting a flat patched or a seamstress to get a tent fixed.

Others can help, too, though. Luis and Dane (he may be lurking).

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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