Cars in Mexico
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Here is a link to a very good website with lots of Cars in Mexico info. I have no financial interest in this company and don't usually do this but it seems a pretty informative site.  www.mexinsure.us.

September 19, 2005:  Today we did the unheard of. We went to the transito office in Riberas and in one stop got our Mexican driver's licenses!!! We had all the usual stuff. Original and a copy of every page of both our FM3's and our U.S. passports.  Original and  copy of our U.S. driver's licenses, a proof of our blood type from Maskaras clinic,  and an electric bill as proof of residence. We went at 10:00 Am expecting to just get the papers we had checked and pick up the paperwork to fill out and bring back. We even had Dart with us since he had a vet appointment. But... when the girl at the desk looked at our paperwork she told us OK but wait to take the examination!!! Now have not a cow gang.. at this website  which you will probably need to paste into the address bar http://svt.jalisco.gob.mx/pdf/bateria.pdf#search='gobierno%20del%20estado%20de%20jalisco%20secretaria%20de%20vialidad%20y%20transporte'

there is the entire test in Spanish with the answers!! What is weird is that Harry had found this the night before we went and while we watched the Emmy award show we read over the questions with him translating went over all the answers!! There are 103 questions on the official test.  On the local test we took they did twenty multiple choice questions from the 103.  Had we not done this we would have been toast!! The exam lady had about nine of us, we being the only two gringoes. She asked us if we read/spoke Spanish and Harry said he did a little. So she said we could work our exams together.  Guess what.. we aced the test with perfect scores of 20 for 20!! She grades your exam as you finish, then she helped us fill out the long transito form for our license. We handed this back in at the front desk.  Then we were asked to sign a small piece of paper and our thumb prints went above our name. Weird thing.. On our NJ licenses they do  not issue a new one when you move. They send you a sticker to paste on the license over the old address. Well mine must have dried out and fallen off but Harry's was still there. He had to go take a on road driver's test because his license was "altered."  While he did that I walked over to the vets for Dart's vet appointment. After taking his test in the Jeep( the test was he  drove two doors away from transito and parallel parked!) The office lady sent him to  575D Juarez in Chapala (one street behind the plaza, next to a fabric store) and he paid our license fees and got a receipt for the transito office. I t was 285  pesos for a new license.  Renewal is cheaper. Then Dart and I got back just as Harry drove up. He handed in his receipts and we each got our picture taken for the license. Then we waited and waited. Their printer must work at the speed of glaciers. That or the laminator. Anyway at 1:00Pm we both had our shiny new Mexican driver's licenses!!  Now as with all things Mexican this may have been some major anamoly.. who the heck knows. But they were very cordial there at transito and now it is done for 4 whole years!!

To bring a vehicle into Mexico under an FM3 visa or Tourist you will need the following items plus three photocopies of each item: Passports and FM3 you need copies of every page even blank ones! With FM3 your car is OK for as long as your visa is current. The tourist visa  car permit is only good for as long as the tourist permit is valid.

  1. Your original title certificate
  2. Your FM3 visa
  3. Proof of Mexican Insurance
  4. Valid Drivers License
  5. Your passport
  6. A credit card

From Adrianna Perez's website http://www.ajijiclaw.com

Most months we try to cover current trends and rumors in the foreign community. These past few weeks has generated the worst of these rumors. It all started when the authorities in Puerto Vallarta seized some foreign plated vehicles. From this seizure of 28 vehicles (4 from Customs, and 24 from Administracion Local de Auditoria Fiscal Federal), rumors started to spread about the 200 vehicles seized because foreigners with FM3's are no longer allowed to drive foreign plated vehicles.

Tuesday, May 11th, 2004, we personally met with the Administrative Lawyer for Customs Guadalajara to clarify these issues. Unfortunately we cannot mention his name without written permission to do so. This request will be submitted with customs on May 14, 2004, as well as the questions we are answering in this article. Written confirmation from Customs with the answers will be returned to us in 60-90 days, which we will supply to anyone coming to our offices once we receive it.

At this meeting we were not told why the 4 vehicles were seized by Customs, but the other 24 were because the drivers did not have I.D. or were not authorized to drive the vehicle. These 24 vehicles have since been returned.

At this same meeting we asked the following questions; does an individual that entered Mexico on an FMT (tourist visa) and then applied and received an FM3 have to go to the border to re-register the vehicle under the FM3? No. As long as your migratory status (other than an FMT) is current the vehicle remains legal even if the permit is expired. When an individual finishes one 5 year FM3, then receives a new book renewal, does this person need to return to the border to renew the permit? No, the same rules apply; just keep your migratory status current. These same rules apply to FM2 holders as well. This is all stated in Article 106 of the Customs Law. Can an individual that has been granted Inmigrado status in Mexico drive a foreign plated vehicle? No, they must take their foreign plated vehicle out of Mexico.

With these rumors came fear from the foreign community about road blocks being set up to impound and seize vehicles. The only authority allowed to do this is Aduana (Customs), and Administracion Local de Auditoria Fiscal Federal. No other authority other than these can do this, which means the Traffic Police, City Police, the Federal police, or the Military. The only way they can do anything with foreign plated vehicles is with permission from Aduana or Administracion Local de Auditoria Fiscal Federal. And this authorization would only be given to go after an individual.

With this said, know your rights, these other authorities cannot even ask for these importation papers as it is not within their responsibility. If you are threatened by these other authorities about the status of your vehicle, or even your migratory status, record as much information about this authority as possible. Name, badge number, date, officer's vehicle type, officer's vehicle license and unit number, etc. Aduana was very clear on this and wants everyone possible to report such issues to the proper authorities. Most of these authorities will back off once they know they you know your rights and start recording this information about them.

Another major concern with the foreign community is what papers are necessary to carry in the vehicle. Aduana said to carry only copies of all pertinent papers concerning your migratory status and the vehicle. For example, have a copy of your passport, your migratory status with the current renewal date, the car importation permit, your title, registration, and insurance papers. Never leave originals in the car in case the car is stolen. You will need those originals if the vehicle is ever stolen.

Adriana Perez Flores