Bringing Foreign Plated Cars into Mexico: Advantages & Disadvantages of Permanent Imports vs. Temporary Import Permits (TIPs), and Retorno Seguro Permit procedure changes: (March 6, 2020)
The most current information on bringing a foreign plated car into Mexico in detail can be found at: i
Advantages & Disadvantages of Permanent Imports vs. Temporary Import Permits (TIPs)
Permanent Importation Permit:
When holding a permanent Importation Permit you can:
- sell the car here in Mexico.
- keep the car in Mexico if you want, regardless of INM status.
- only import 8 or 9 year old NAFTA vehicles for $2,000 to $3,000 in import duties and fees.
- pay no cash deposit when you bring the car into Mexico.
- import just one vehicle per person a year.
Also:
Mexican drivers can drive your car, without you (or some other expat) being in the car.
The car must be licensed here, and the registration renewed at your State every year ($$).
Possibly charged an annual State ownership tax (tenencias $$) depending on your state’s rules.
There is no longer a need to go to a (non-airport) Aduana’s office every year to register your new INM permit expiration date.
State taxes will be charged on the imported vehicle at the time of purchasing Mexican Plates.
You must formally export a US plated car through a 72 Hour CBP procedure, and have the US title cancelled at the border before Mexico Aduanas will import the vehicle.
Eligible Vehicles
Only NAFTA made foreign cars and pickups can be temporarily imported by expats with FMM’s (Visitor / Tourist Visas), and Resident Temporal INM permits (what used to be called FM3’s No Inmigrante Rentista & No Inmigrante Lucrativo) by getting a Temporary Import Permit (Permiso de Importación Temporal de Vehículos) from Aduana / Banjercito. Alternately, only NAFTA vehicles can be permanently imported, and 6 year old and older vehicles can be imported permanently at modest import duties at the US-Mexico border crossings.
Note that if you are only staying in the 25 km border area, or
ONLY going into specially designated free zones like Baja California, California Sur, Quintana Roo, or parts of Sonora, then you do not have to get a Temporary Import Permit (TIP). These cars must only stay in those areas. If you decide to go to other parts of Mexico, you must return to the border and get a TIP.
Temporary Importation Permit (TIP):
~ You cannot sell the car here in Mexico.
Current & select types of INM permits are required if you keep the car in Mexico.
If you change from ordinary Residente Temporal over to working Residente Temporal or to Residente Permanente, then you cannot keep the car here on a Temporary Import Permit, you have to take it out of Mexico or face having it permanently confiscated.
Mexican drivers cannot drive your car, without you (or some other expat with a Temporary Resident or Visitor visa) being in the car.
There is no need to license the car in Mexico, and many States do not require that you keep your foreign plates current.
No annual State ownership taxes (tenencias $$) is charged.
You can import an additional car or truck.
A cash deposit must be paid when you bring the car into Mexico the first time.
You must go to a (non-airport) Aduana’s office every year in person to register your new INM permit expiration date with Aduana well before your TIP permit expires.
If you bring in a trailer, then the trailer is attached to your towing vehicle’s TIP. This means when you go to cancel the vehicle TIP, you must also have the trailer with you.
Retorno Seguro Permit procedure changes: (March 6, 2020)
Since 2017, Retorno Seguro permits, for taking an illegal foreign vehicle out of Mexico, have been issued. The Merida SAT office now issues the Retorno Seguro permit while you wait. This might change your driving-moving plans out of Mexico. The Retorno Seguro permit is good for only 5 business days (7 calendar days), you may need to be ready to travel shortly after they issue the permit.(The 5 day clock starts ticking the day after they issue the permit.) … Our Merida SAT office is in north Merida, about a 2 blk. walk from Sam’s Club. SAT-Merida: Calle 1B No. 363 x 8 y 10 Fracc, Gonzalo Guerrero, 97118 Mérida, Yuc
If I do not get a TIP in Quintana Roo, will I be charged taxes on the vehicle?
Dear Lisa, I o do not believe so but you must check with immigration. Laws are constantly changing.