Big Change to Mexico Auto Import Rules
According to the AP story linked above, 98 models along the border are suddenly the must-have 2008 cars
It’s a tricky story because until this new law was passed, you still couldn’t ever permanently import a car built outside the NAFTA countries. And permanently importing any car seemed like it was probably a bit tendentious a proposition anyway for many of the readers we talk to here. Your author has done it, and standing around the customs department of the airport for 11 hours is not what we recommend. The rules vary widely from state to state, even from office to office, and they do change - frequently.
We’ve mentioned temporary and tourist car imports few times in past posts. And that seems still to be the way to go, whether yours is a 2008 Lexus, or a 1997 Chrysler, the Mexican Import Authorities are going to see the same thing.
That’s why our MexRetire page on permits for auto importation is still only concentrating on Temporary Imports. It might sound like a hassle to need a new permit every 6 months, (though with a residency permit, FM-2 or FM-3, you can renew the temporary permit with your visa.) But this new ruling seems to make permanent importation seem even more possible. Our advice, import temporary, or have some fun shopping the auto-lots in your new paradise destination.
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2 comments March 2nd, 2008