How to Take a Car Into Mexico When the Title Has a Co-Signer
Driving into Mexico is considerably more complicated than crossing from one state to another in the U.S. This is especially true if your auto title has a co-signer who is not accompanying you to Mexico. Although a certain amount of preparation is required, it should be worth the trouble, because auto travel is one of the best ways to see Mexico.
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Things You'll Need
- Passport or proof of U.S. citizenship
- Auto title
- Vehicle registration
- Proof of Mexican insurance
- Driver's license
- Credit card
Instructions
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Obtain a passport or other proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate or voter registration card. You will need this both to enter Mexico and to re-enter the US.
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Have your title co-signer and your auto lien holder (if any) sign and notarize statements permitting you to take your car into Mexico. The statement should include the Vehicle Identification Number of the car and its make, model and color. It should read something like "I, Fred Jones, hereby authorize John Doe to take our Red 2003 Ford Taurus (VIN #12345678) into Mexico at any time during the months of September, October and November 2009." The statement need not give exact entry and exit dates.
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Purchase short-term Mexican auto insurance valid for your entire stay in Mexico. This can be purchased through the below-referenced website; however there are many well-advertised shops selling this on the U.S. side of just about any U.S.-Mexican border crossing. U.S. liability insurance will usually not cover physical injury caused by an auto accident in Mexico.
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Get a tourist card from the Mexican immigration office at the border checkpoint. You will need your driver's license, proof of citizenship, and $15 (as of 2009). It is valid for 180 days. Photocopy it before you cross the border, because you may be asked to provide it at a later checkpoint. Keep in mind that the Mexican immigration office may not have a photocopier available to you, so you may have to find a nearby shop on the U.S. side of the border.
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Obtain a temporary vehicle importation permit from the Mexican immigration office at the border. This costs about $25 and can only be purchased with a major credit card or a cash bond. It is valid for 180 days with multiple entries allowed. You'll need your signed, notarized permission to take the car into Mexico along with your ID, driver's license, and your vehicle registration. Obtain a federal permit rather than a local permit if you plan on driving extensively in Mexico. A local permit allows you to drive within only one state (Sonora, for example), while a federal permit allows you to drive anywhere in Mexico.
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Tips & Warnings
If the names on your passport and your driver's license are different because you recently married, bring your marriage certificate with you.
Although Mexican auto liability insurance is not always required, if you cross the border without it and get into an accident that is judged to be your fault, you might be prevented from leaving the country until you pay your liability.
