Hola! Buenas Noches!


I was doing research today about our drive down, where to stop, where to cross into Mexico, what paperwork is needed...my brain hurts! LOL

This is our tentative plan:

Steinbach, MB to Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma City, OK to Laredo, TX
Laredo, TX to Zacatexas, Mex
Zacatecas, Mex to Puerto Vallarta, Mex

It's 4100km's and total driving time is approx 44 hours. We plan to make it in 3 nights/4 days. I priced out hotels today and they totalled about $200. We figure gas will total about $550 and meals should be about $250.


Here is the short version of how to drive to Mexico and what paperwork is needed:

1 - you need Mexican Insurance - Canadian & US Insurance is not valid in Mexico (can be purchased online)
2 - you need a vehicle permit (can be purchased online)
3 - You shouldn't drive in Mexico at night - not that it's unsafe because of robberies, etc but more so because of road conditions
4 - You need 2 copies of your vehicle registration, passport and drivers license
5 - you need to purchase a Tourist visa (can be purchased usually 20km's past the border crossing)
6 - you need to leave a deposit (Credit card is preferred - getting the actual cash back can be difficult) - this deposit is forfeited if you don't leave when you say you will

Here's the longer version:

Car Documents -- To drive your car into Mexico, you'll need a temporary car-importation permit which is granted after you provide a required list of documents . The permit can be obtained through Banco del Ejército (Banjercito) officials (https://www.banjercito.com.mx/iitv/sitio/indexi.html), who have a desk, booth, or office at the aduana (Mexican Customs) building after you cross the border into Mexico. They will email you a copy and mail you an Engish version as well as a Spanish version...this can be done 7-60 days before you want to cross.

You now have to pay a USD deposit from a Visa/MasterCard that will be refunded once you leave Mexico (once they remove the sticker) - amount varies on the year of your vehicle.

A valid driver's license issued outside of Mexico.

Current, original car registration and a copy of the original car title. If the registration or title is in more than one name and not all the named
people are traveling with you, a notarized letter from the absent person(s) authorizing use of the vehicle for the trip is required; have it ready.
The registration and your credit card must be in the same name.

A valid international major credit card. With a credit card, you are required to pay only a $23 car-importation fee. The credit card must be in the
same name as the car registration. If you do not have a major credit card (American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, or Visa), you must post a bond
or make a deposit equal to the value of the vehicle. Check cards are not accepted.

Original immigration documentation. This is either your tourist permit (FMT) or the original immigration booklet, FM2 or FM3 if you hold more
permanent status.

A signed declaration promising to return to your country of origin with the vehicle. Obtain this form (Carta Promesa de Retorno) Sanborn's or Lewis & Lewis before you go or from Banjercito officials at the border. There's no charge. The form does not stipulate that you must return by the same border entry through which you entered.

Temporary Importation Application. By signing this form, you state that you are only temporarily importing the car for your personal use and will
not be selling it. This is to help regulate the entry and restrict the resale of unauthorized cars and trucks. Make sure the permit is canceled when
you return to the U.S.

If you receive your documentation at the border, Mexican officials will make two copies of everything and charge you for the copies.

Important reminder: Someone else may drive, but the person (or relative of the person) whose name appears on the car-importation permit must always
be in the car. (If stopped by police, a non-registered family member driving without the registered driver must be prepared to prove familial
relationship to the registered driver -- no joke.) Violation of this rule subjects the car to impoundment and the driver to imprisonment, a fine or both. You can drive a car with foreign license plates only if you have a foreign (non-Mexican) driver's license.

Mexican Auto Insurance -- Liability auto insurance is legally required in Mexico. U.S. insurance is invalid; to be insured in Mexico, you must
purchase Mexican insurance. Any party involved in an accident who has no insurance may be sent to jail and have his or her car impounded until all
claims are settled. This is true even if you just drive across the border to spend the day. U.S. companies that broker Mexican insurance are
commonly found at the border crossing, and several quote daily rates. (use either www.mexicanautoinsurance.com or www.sanbornsonline.com)
Sanborn's Mexico Insurance has offices at all U.S. border crossings. Its policies cost the same as the competition's do but you get legal coverage (attorney and bail bonds if needed) and a detailed mile-by-mile guide for your proposed route. Most of the Sanborn's border offices are open Monday through Friday, and a few are staffed on Saturday and Sunday.

Adios!