Hi J, yes, you can formally import your foreign-plated car to Mexico if you are on a Residente Temporal visa. Usually, these processes require that the car be legal in Mexico at the date of the application so you *might* have to have the tabs up-to-date; however, talk to your Import Customs Agent who will be able to advise you. If you have an insurance policy for your foreign-plated car, that *will* usually require you to keep the tabs updated for the insurance to remain valid, so you may need to do that in the interim before the formal nationalization of your car takes effect.

Hi Tito

The car import regime is now fully computerized and, even if your car will be in a small town, the presence of the vehicle in Mexico will be registered and the approach you describe could cause you some headaches in the future. If you want to have the car permanently in Mexico you’d need to formally import it – contact a customs broker for details about doing that.

Hi Woody,

With permanent resident visas/cards you cannot drive a car into Mexico beyond the free zones. Your only option is to import the car formally which entails paperwork, expense and duties to pay.

You can’t enter Mexico as tourists without losing your Residency Status (this point is moot in practice, but that’s the official line and if you risk it, you could risk losing your residency status).

An alternative option is to hire a removals company to ship your goods. Remember to contact your Mexican Consulate about arranging your “Menaje de Casa” so that the shipment will enter Mexico duty-free (the Menaje is one-time duty free entry for your personal items when you have a residency visa).
https://www.mexperience.com/menaje-de-casa-importing-personal-goods-to-mexico/

There may be a procedure to “nationalize” your car when it has been legally imported under the TIP program; however, the rules are complex and not all cars are eligible. We recommend you seek the advice of a Customs Agent before you import the car. NB: Also take care to ensure the agent is accredited by the Mexican Treasury (Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público).

Hi Kent,
The rules on car imports have changed and been tightened-up in recent years, thus the information provided in this article. Our article about “Living in Mexico without a car” (https://www.mexperience.com/living-in-mexico-without-a-car/) is more about consideration of lifestyle choices than avoiding car imports. Long-term residents who want/need a car tend to buy one locally and avoid the car import paperwork altogether.

Hi Vladeta,

We recommend you contact either Banjercito or (probably better) a Customs Broker who will be able to advise you whether it’s possible regularize the status of your car.

Hi Janet,

Please read the comment and reply given to Dmitry, below.