The ideal month to buy a Mexican flag

Ambulant vendors selling Mexican flags are everywhere during the first half of September.  If you’re looking for a Mexican flag, this is the easiest time of year to acquire one, as almost every major street corner has someone selling them, from the small plastic flags which attach to a car or window, to colossal flags of monumental proportions—and everything in between.

200 years of El Grito

September 16th is Mexico’s official Independence Day and a national holiday, marking the events that led to the creation of the Mexican Republic following three centuries of Spanish colonial rule.

On the night of September 15th, state officials in towns and cities across the country re-enact Miguel Hidalgo’s pre-dawn grito de independencia (cry of independence), which originally took place in the small town of Dolores Hidalgo, near San Miguel de Allende, in 1810.

Key provincial cities where independence is celebrated

The most popular provincial cities to attend for Independence Day celebrations are San Miguel de Allende and nearby Dolores Hidalgo—the ‘cradle towns’ of the independence movement.  Other popular provincial cities where lively celebrations take place include Guanajuato, Querétaro, Oaxaca, and Puebla, although celebrations are national and every town and city will mark the occasion in its town square.

The capital’s zócalo — focal point for the national festivities

In Mexico City, the capital’s zócalo (main square) traditionally swells with thousands of people who attend to hear the country’s President re-enact the grito from the balcony of the National Palace.

Traditionally, egg-shells filled with confetti are thrown and crushed on people during the celebrations, so we also recommend that leave your ‘Sunday best’ clothes in the wardrobe if you attend a local fiesta—at the town square, or elsewhere.

Summary of Mexico’s vehicle import rules

Here is a summary of the current rules.  Details about these rules are described below and on our related article about import permits.

• Foreign-plated vehicles can be brought to Mexico without an import permit, provided they remain within the 25km (15 mile) border zone and/or within one of the defined border area Free Zones.
• Foreign-plated vehicles can be driven beyond the 25km border zone and outside of the defined Free Zones by visitors and temporary residents for a defined period by using a Temporary Import Permit (TIP) that is associated with the vehicle.  The vehicle must be driven out of Mexico before this permit expires.
• Foreign-plated vehicles that stay within one of the defined ‘Free Zones’ near the northern and southern border areas do not need a TIP and can be brought to Mexico indefinitely—provided the vehicle remains legally registered in its home country.
• Permanent residents cannot apply for a TIP, and cannot bring a foreign-plated car to Mexico, except within the Free Zone, where a TIP is not required.

Obtaining a Temporary Import Permit (TIP)

If you intend to drive your vehicle beyond the 25km border zone (checkpoints exist), or anywhere outside of a defined Free Zone (see below), you must obtain a TIP before you cross into Mexico: they are not available anywhere inside Mexico, nor at Mexico’s interior checkpoints.

The defined Free Zones are:

• the entire Baja California peninsula; and
• a defined area in the state of Sonora; and
• the state of Quintana Roo.

If you drive your vehicle outside of one of the defined Free Zones without a TIP, the vehicle will become subject to confiscation.

Temporary Import Permits: Learn more about Temporary Import Permits for foreign-plated vehicles in Mexico.  They are acquired via the Banjercito website.

Visitors entering Mexico using FMM (Visitor Permit)

If you are visiting Mexico on a tourist/visitor permit, you can import your foreign-plated vehicle to Mexico using a Temporary Import Permit (TIP).

Your vehicle permit when you enter as a visitor will last for a maximum of 180 days and cannot be renewed or extended beyond this time period.

You must export the vehicle (drive it out of Mexico) before the vehicle’s temporary import permit expires. If you don’t, you’ll lose your deposit and your vehicle becomes liable to confiscation.

Entering Mexico with a Residente Temporal permit

Holders of Residente Temporal (with or without work privileges) and Residente Temporal Estudiante may import their car to Mexico using a Temporary Import Permit (TIP).

The vehicle’s permit expiry date will be aligned with your temporary residency card expiry date.  If you bring your vehicle to Mexico using a temporary residency sticker, your vehicle import permit will last for only 30 days and you’ll need to visit the local customs office when you get your residency card.  See the TIP FAQs for more details about this.

You must export the vehicle (drive it out of Mexico) before the vehicle’s temporary import permit expires. If you don’t, you’ll lose your deposit and your vehicle becomes liable to confiscation.

Learn more about routes to residency in Mexico.

Entering Mexico with a Residente Permanente permit

Residente Permanente visa or card holders are not allowed apply for a TIP, but can drive a foreign-plated car to Mexico without a TIP provided that the vehicle remains in one of the defined Free Zones.

If you are the holder of a Residente Permanente permit and want to bring your car to Mexico and drive it outside one of the defined Free Zones, you can go through a process to permanently import the car (get Mexican plates for it). If you want to formally import your car, we recommend you hire a Customs Broker to do this. (The import rules are complex and depend on the vehicle type, where it was manufactured, its age, etc.)

Foreign residents with Permanent Residency and foreign-plated cars in Mexico

Foreign residents with Residente Permante cannot keep a foreign plated car in Mexico outside of the defined Free Zones.  If you:

• have a foreign-plated car in Mexico now; and
• live and/or drive the car outside one of the defined Free Zones (see previous section); and
• change your immigration status from Residente Temporal to Residente Permanente; then
• you will need to make a choice about what do to with your foreign-plated vehicle, for example:

Export the car permanently – Take the car out of Mexico (crossing the border into the US or Belize) – see also “Safe Return” procedure, below.

Export and then re-import the car using a Customs Broker – If you exchange your temporary residency for permanent residency, and want to keep your current (foreign plated) vehicle for use in Mexico, you will need to drive the car out of Mexico (see “safe return” procedure, below), and then formally re-import it. There is a process to legally import a car by paying the relevant duties and import taxes and getting Mexican plates for the vehicle.  You’ll need a Customs Broker to assist you with this process.

Export the car and sell it to a person with a Residente Temporal permit – If you know a foreigner with a Residente Temporal permit who wants to buy your car, you can export it, sell it to them, and they can re-import it using their Residente Temporal permit.  Note that the car must be exported to make this transfer, it cannot be done within Mexico.

Export the car by sea – In some circumstances, export of your car on a sea vessel might be a viable option. You’ll need a customs broker to help you with the process. As a rule of thumb, shipping fees to the US range from $1,000-$1,500, which might be worth it if your vehicle is particularly valuable.

‘Safe Return’ Procedure: If your vehicle is currently “illegal” (or will become illegal when you switch from Residente Temporal to Residente Permanente), and you want to take the car out of the country, you can apply for a “Retorno Seguro” permit from SAT, which gives you five days to drive the car out of the country (to the USA or to Belize).

Defined ‘Free Zone’ rules for Sonora, the Baja California peninsula, and the state of Quintana Roo

Sonora: There is no need to apply for a Temporary Import Permit (TIP) if you plan to use your vehicle within the State of Sonora’s “Free Zone” which includes the popular cities of Agua Prieta, Bahia de Kino, Caborca, Guaymas, Hermosillo, Magdalena, Nogales, Puerto Peñasco, San Carlos, and Santa Ana (green area on map, click/tap here for full size version). If you plan to travel outside of the Free Zone and remain within the state you can get a “Sonora Only” permit.  If you intend to drive the vehicle beyond the free zone / Sonora state you will need to apply for a TIP.

Baja Peninsula: Foreign-plated vehicles driven into the states of Baja California and Baja California Sur do not require a Temporary Import Permit (TIP).  However, your US or Canadian car plates must be valid and any stickers must be kept current while the vehicle is on the Baja peninsula. If you take your car from La Paz to the Mexican mainland (by ferry) you will become subject to the car import rules described above.

Qunitana Roo: If you’re driving from Belize into Mexico and remain within the state boundary of Quintana Roo, you do not need to obtain Temporary Import Permit (TIP). However, if you plan to drive anywhere outside of the state, it’s important to have a valid TIP to avoid problems and possible confiscation of your vehicle.

Entry and exit ports

When your foreign-plated vehicle has a TIP, you don’t necessarily have to exit Mexico through the same port that you entered.  For example, you can import the car at the US border and export it through Belize, or you could enter through Nogales and exit through Laredo, etc.

Lost, stolen, or abandoned foreign-plated vehicles

If you abandon your foreign-plated car in Mexico, you’ll have to pay Aduana (Mexican Customs) 40% tax on the car’s value. This rule was brought-in some while ago to discourage foreigners from abandoning or selling their foreign-plated cars and telling Mexican Customs they were lost or stolen.

There is an established process in place that prevents someone who has legitimately had their vehicle stolen (or suffered total loss of the vehicle in an accident) from having to pay the fee. Proper documentation will be required to get the TIP cancelled, so a police report has to be filed, plus special forms have to be filed with the Mexican Customs office, and the hired services of a Mexican Notary Public will be needed to formalize all the paperwork to cancel the TIP of a stolen car.  While the authorities cannot prevent you from leaving if you don’t pay the tax, failure to do so will forfeit your rights to import any other foreign-plated vehicle to Mexico in future.

Donating your vehicle to Mexican Customs

If you want to dispose of your car, there is a procedure whereby you can “donate” it to Mexican Customs; you can find more information about that here on the Mexican SAT web site.

Learn more about driving in Mexico

Mexperience offers articles with insights to help you prepare for your road trip and drive confidently in Mexico.

• Getting a Temporary Import Permit (TIP) for your vehicle
• Insuring your vehicle for driving in Mexico
• Your Mexico road trip checklist
• Dealing with minor and major road accidents
• Latest articles about driving in Mexico
• Guide to auto insurance in Mexico

Who is allowed to drive a foreign-plated vehicle in Mexico?

All drivers must have a current driving license* and must have permission from the owner to drive the vehicle if it does not belong to them.

The rules for driving a foreign-plated vehicle in Mexico are based on:

• whether you are a visitor to Mexico, a temporary or permanent resident in Mexico, or a Mexican national; and/or
• whether you are the owner, or closely related to the owner, of the vehicle you intend to drive; and/or
• whether you are driving the vehicle inside a defined Free Zone or outside a Free Zone.

* If your driving license is from abroad and is not issued in English, we recommend you bring an International Driving License (IDL) to accompany it.  Some people with driving licenses issued in English also bring an IDL.

Summary of the rules

Other than a restriction on foreign permanent residents driving vehicles outside of a Free Zone, foreign residents are allowed drive foreign-plated vehicles in Mexico.  The table below summarizes the rules.

Mexican nationals driving foreign-plated cars in Mexico

Special rules apply for Mexican nationals driving foreign-plated vehicles in Mexico and these special rules apply even inside the Free Zones.

If the Mexican national is not the owner of the foreign-plated vehicle, the vehicle’s owner must be aboard the vehicle the Mexican national is driving, whether the vehicle is inside or outside of a Free Zone.

Keep this rule in mind if you are a visitor, temporary or permanent resident with a foreign-plated vehicle in Mexico.

Mexican nationals who want to temporarily import (TIP) their foreign-plated cars to Mexico can find details about how to do that on this site.

Learn more about driving in Mexico

Mexperience offers articles with insights to help you prepare for your road trip and drive confidently in Mexico.

• Importing a foreign car or other vehicle to Mexico
• Getting a Temporary Import Permit (TIP) for your vehicle
• Insuring your vehicle for driving in Mexico
• Your Mexico road trip checklist
• Latest articles about driving in Mexico
• Guide to auto insurance in Mexico

As you make plans for your road trip in Mexico, this article provides you with a checklist of insights, local knowledge and practical tips to help you properly plan and enjoy your journey across Mexico.

Insights about driving in Mexico

Our guides to Driving in Mexico and Auto Insurance for your journeys provide you with a raft of local knowledge and tips to help you get acquainted with the driving scene here including driving techniques, toll roads, breakdowns, military checkpoints, as well as dealing with accidents and insurance claims.

Bringing your car to Mexico

You need to organize some paperwork when you plan to drive your US or Canadian-plated car to Mexico:

• How to bring a foreign-plated car to Mexico
• Acquiring a Temporary Import Permit for your foreign-plated car

Auto insurance for your road trip in Mexico

Your US or Canadian auto insurance policy won’t cover you for third party liability in Mexico.  You need to purchase a special policy to ensure your journey is properly covered and that you, your car and belongings are protected in case of an accident or other mishap:

• Learn about auto insurance for road trips across Mexico
• Get an online quote for Mexico auto insurance with MexPro

Helpful articles

For additional insights about driving in Mexico, connect to these additional articles and resources here in Mexperience

• Guide to Mexican Street Speak
• Military checkpoints in Mexico
• Dealing with car accidents in Mexico
• Toll road or freeway?

Can I cancel my US or Canadian auto insurance while I’m in Mexico?

Some people who drive their foreign-plated cars to Mexico and intend to stay for extended periods —or  live here for part of the year— ask us if they are able to cancel their US or Canadian insurance policy while their Mexican auto insurance policy is in force.

The answer is that you need to keep enough insurance coverage in place to maintain the vehicle’s legal registration in your home country.

For example, most US states require that you keep a policy in force that provides at least third-party liability coverage for the vehicle.  If you completely cancel your US insurance policy, most US states’ motor vehicle departments will automatically cancel the car registration, making the vehicle unregistered, and therefore illegal to drive in any country.

When you purchase Mexico auto insurance through our partner MexPro, the insurance remains valid for so long as the vehicle remains legal to drive—and this is true for other insurers, too.

Adjusting insurance coverage as you travel and back forth between Mexico, the US and Canada

Most people who intend to stay in Mexico longer term adjust their auto insurance coverage plan to maintain the minimum legal coverage requirements while the vehicle is situated in Mexico. (Precise requirements vary – check with the state your vehicle is registered with.) Then, whenever they drive back to the US or Canada, they call their agent and add the collision and comprehensive coverages back onto their home policy. So by working with your US or Canadian car insurance agent, you can reduce/increase the coverage limits as needed and end up paying less, while still maintaining insurance and keeping the vehicle registered/legal.

For full details about how to be properly covered on your next road trip in Mexico, connect to our Mexico Auto Insurance Guide, from which you can also link to live quotes and arrange your cover online through our partners, MexPro.

Learn more about driving in Mexico

Mexperience offers articles with insights to help you prepare for your road trip and drive confidently in Mexico.

• Insuring your vehicle for driving in Mexico
• Importing a foreign car or other vehicle to Mexico
• Getting a Temporary Import Permit (TIP) for your vehicle
• Your Mexico road trip checklist
• Latest articles about driving in Mexico
• Guide to auto insurance in Mexico

Importing foreign-plated vehicles to Mexico

This section contains key questions and answers related to bringing a foreign-plated car or other vehicle to Mexico, with links to detailed information and helpful assistance services.

Learn more about driving in Mexico

Mexperience offers articles with insights to help you prepare for your road trip and drive confidently in Mexico.

• Importing a foreign car or other vehicle to Mexico
• Getting a Temporary Import Permit (TIP) for your vehicle
• Insuring your vehicle for driving in Mexico
• Your Mexico road trip checklist
• Latest articles about driving in Mexico
• Guide to auto insurance in Mexico

In a related article, we explained the procedures for bringing a foreign-plated vehicle to Mexico.  This article provides a detailed list of FAQs about an essential document you need to obtain when you drive your vehicle to Mexico: a Temporary Import Permit, or TIP.

What is a vehicle Temporary Import Permit (TIP)?

A TIP is legal document that allows a foreign-plated vehicle to be imported to and driven in Mexico for a defined period of time.  The vehicle must be exported (driven out of Mexico) before the TIP’s expiry date.  If you fail to export the vehicle and surrender/cancel the TIP, you will lose your deposit, you will not be allowed to import another vehicle in future; and you can also face fines and have your vehicle confiscated.

Who needs a TIP?

Anyone who wants to bring a foreign-plated vehicle into Mexico and drive outside of the Free Zones.

The Free Zones are:

• within 25km of the land border;
• the entire Baja California peninsula;
• a defined area in the northern state of Sonora; and,
• the southern state of Quintana Roo.

If you intend to drive your car beyond the 25km border zone (checkpoints exist), or anywhere outside of a defined Free Zone, you must have a TIP to avoid fines and confiscation of the vehicle.

Who can apply for a TIP?

Visitors entering Mexico under the auspice of a Visitor permit (FMM) and holders of a Residente Temporal residency visa/card may apply for a TIP.

Who issues the TIP?

Temporary Import Permits for foreign-plated vehicles are issued only by Banjercito, and by a limited number of Mexican Consulates (see below) who act as facilitators for Banjercito.  No other companies or agencies are authorized to issue the TIP and you should never deal with anyone other than Banjercito when buying a TIP.

How do I buy a TIP?

You can purchase a TIP in advance online, or at certain Mexican Consulates in the US, or you can purchase a TIP in person at a Banjercito office situated at major land crossing points.  The TIP carries an administrative fee, and you’ll also be required to leave a deposit. (The size of the deposit varies depending on the age of the vehicle.)  You will lose the deposit if you fail to export (drive out) the vehicle from Mexico before the TIP’s expiry date, or violate any other rules related to the TIP.

How long is a TIP valid for?

A TIP is tied to your immigration document and its expiry date will be tied to the expiry date on your immigration document.

Entering with a Visitor Permit: If you enter Mexico under the auspice of a FMM (Visitor Permit) this is valid for a maximum of 180 calendar days from the date of your entry to Mexico.

Entering with a Residency Card: If you enter Mexico with your foreign plated vehicle under the auspice of a Residente Temporal card, the TIP will be valid for as long as the temporary residency status remains current.

Entering with a Residency Visa Sticker: See the section below titled: How does a TIP work when I arrive in Mexico with a Residente Temporal Visa? that describes the procedure involved if you bring a foreign plated vehicle to Mexico when you have a Residente Temporal sticker in your passport, and have not exchanged that for a residency card yet.

How many vehicles can I import to Mexico using a TIP?

Only one vehicle can be imported into Mexico per person. If you are traveling with your spouse or adult child (18 years or older), they may each register one car in their name.

There is one exception to the one-person, one-car rule: If you tow a car behind your RV, there is no need for second person to be traveling with you; but you must show proof of ownership for both vehicles, and both vehicles must be taken out of the country together when you leave.

A trailer does not count as a vehicle, but you need to show ownership of it and it must be exported with the vehicle towing it when you leave Mexico.

Motorcycles, ATVs, etc. If you are towing or carrying other single passenger motorized vehicles, these may be registered with the car that is towing or carrying them. You must show proof of ownership of all vehicles and you can only bring up-to three single-passenger vehicles—one each for up to three passengers traveling in the main vehicle. All vehicles must be exported together when you leave Mexico.

Can I leave Mexico if I have a foreign-plated vehicle here with a TIP?

When you bring your foreign-plated vehicle to Mexico, your TIP’s expiry date will either be tied to a Visitor Permit (FMM) or to a Temporary Residency Permit.

Whether you your TIP is tied to a Visitor Permit (FMM) or your Residente Temporal permit, you can leave Mexico without your vehicle and the vehicle will remain legal in Mexico for so long as the TIP remains current (not past its expiry date).

The TIP’s expiry date is tied the expiry date of the Visitor Permit or Residente Temporal permit you used when you brought your car to Mexico with its TIP.

You can leave Mexico (e.g. fly out) using your Visitor Permit (or Residente Temporal permit) to exit the country; you can get a new Visitor Permit when you return, or use your Residente Temporal card to re-enter Mexico in the usual way.  However, the expiry date on your TIP will not change and you must drive the vehicle out of Mexico before the TIP expires.

If you don’t drive the vehicle out of Mexico before the TIP’s expiry date, the vehicle will become illegal in Mexico and:

• the insurance coverage will become invalid;
• your vehicle may be confiscated and impounded; and
• you will lose the deposit you paid to Banjercito.

The TIP’s expiry date is tied to the expiry date on the FMM you used when you first entered Mexico with your vehicle, or the expiration date of your temporary residency permit—cross check your TIP documentation for details.

What documentation is needed to get a TIP?

To apply for a TIP, you will need to be in possession of certain supporting documentation.  We recommend you carry two black-and-white copies of each of these documents when you drive to Mexico:

• A valid passport, or passport card;
• Your Mexican immigration permit: if you are visiting Mexico as a tourist this will be your FMM; if you are a resident, your Residente Temporal visa or card. Residente Permanente visa/card holders are not allowed apply for a TIP—see yellow box below;
• A non-Mexican driver’s license (with photo);
• Original and photocopy of the title and registration of the vehicle issued by a foreign authority in the applicant’s name. If the title or registration is in the name of a spouse, a marriage certificate must also be presented. Only the titled owner of the vehicle and/or their spouse can get a TIP;
• Proof of temporary Mexican auto insurance for the vehicle.

What if the vehicle is rented, leased, financed, or owned by a company?

If the vehicle you intend to drive into Mexico is not registered in yours or your spouse’s name, you will also need the following documentation to accompany your application:

Rented vehicles: If a rental car company allows you to drive one its vehicles into Mexico, you will need a notarized letter of permission from the rental car company.

Leased vehicles: If the vehicle under lease, you will need to show the lease contract and a notarized letter of permission from the leasing company.

Financed vehicles: If the vehicle is under a finance arrangement, you will need to show the credit contract and notarized letter of permission from the finance company giving permission for the car to be driven to Mexico.

Company car: If the vehicle is owned by a company (a company you own or a company you work for) you will need a notarized letter of permission (on headed paper) confirming the employment relationship and authorizing the employee to drive the vehicle into Mexico.

What is the TIP application procedure?

When you have your documentation gathered, you can begin to make the application for your vehicle’s TIP:

Where: You can apply online, or go to one of a defined list of Mexican Consulates in the US, or you can apply in-person a Banjercito office near one of the main land border crossings.

Declaration: You will be asked to sign a declaration, pledging to export the vehicle within the period for which the permit is valid and not disobey any other regulations related to the issuance of the TIP.

Payment: There is an administrative fee of around US$50 that can be paid with cash, or a non-Mexico issued credit card.  You cannot use a Mexico-issued credit card for this purchase; whether buying online or in-person.  The name on the card must match the name of the person on the TIP.

Deposit: In addition to the administrative fee, you will need to pay a deposit of between US$200 and US$400, depending on the age of the vehicle.  The deposit is refunded if the TIP is canceled/surrendered before its expiry date and no violations have taken place.  It can take some days or weeks for the refund to be returned to a credit card after cancelling/surrendering the TIP.

Where can I buy a vehicle TIP?

Buying Online

You can still obtain a TIP in-person at the border but applying for the TIP via the Banjercito Website will speed the process and avoid potentially long lines at the border.

Note: If you apply online, you must first get your FMM online (or have your Temporary Residency visa or card issued) before you obtain the TIP.  When you get your FMM online, you must stop at the border and get immigration (INM) to stamp/validate the document.  Carry a printed copy of the FMM (or passport stamp) and your receipt to show proof of payment when you do this.

When approved, you will receive your TIP by email.  Print out your TIP and receipt and keep the printed copies with you while driving in Mexico.  Keep and use the email version only as verification of your TIP approval.

Buying in person at the Land Border

Temporary import permits may be purchased at CIITEV offices located at Customs offices near various U.S./Mexico border locations in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas.  Check beforehand that the crossing you use has a CIITEV office.  When you apply in person, Banjercito will send an email with your TIP and hand you a printed copy of the TIP and your receipt.  Keep the email and paper copies to hand at all times while driving in Mexico.

Buying a TIP at a Mexican Consulate

A limited number of Mexican Consulates in the United States offer a TIP-issuing service.  Although the Consulate acts as facilitator, it is Banjercito that issues the permit.  Consulates in the following US States offer TIPs (we recommend you contact them beforehand to ensure that their TIP issuing service is available):

• Arizona: Phoenix
• California: Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Sacramento
• Colorado: Denver
• Illinois: Chicago
• New Mexico: Albuquerque
• Texas: Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston

How do I surrender and cancel my TIP when I drive out of Mexico?

A TIP must be cancelled and surrendered before its expiry date.

Once you have a TIP issued, the person whose name is on the register must drive the vehicle out of Mexico before the TIP’s expiry date and stop at the border to cancel/surrender the TIP.  This action notifies the Customs authority that you have exported the vehicle and complied with the rules.

If you do not stop at the land border and cancel/surrender your TIP (or forget), you will need to drive the vehicle back to a land border crossing to cancel the TIP.  You do not have to exit Mexico from the same port as you entered to cancel your TIP, but you must visit an approved Banjercito office to undertake the procedure.  Not all border crossings have a Banjercito office, check beforehand.

Your deposit will be refunded provided you have not overstayed in Mexico beyond the TIP’s expiry date and that you have not violated any conditions of the TIP.

What happens if I forget to surrender my TIP at the border?

You should always surrender your TIP, unless you plan to come back to Mexico in short order while the TIP remains current (not expired).

If you didn’t surrender your TIP before its expiry date, you will probably need to drive the same car back to a border crossing (it does not have to be the same one you entered through) and surrender it.

Some —but not many— Mexican consulates offer a ‘TIP Cancellation’ service. Contact your nearest Mexican consulate to ask if they do, or which one nearest to you does.

There are fees, penalties, and paperwork involved: it’s always best to surrender your TIP at the border.

What happens if I change from Residente Temporal to Residente Permanente while my foreign-plated car is in Mexico?

If your foreign plated vehicle is in Mexico when you exchange your temporary residency card for a permanent residency card you will need to export (drive the car out) from Mexico, unless the vehicle is, and will remain, inside one of the ‘Free Zones’ near the northern or southern border regions.

See How to bring your foreign-plated car to Mexico for more details about the options you have in this situation.

How does a TIP work when I arrive in Mexico with a Residente Temporal Visa?

There’s an additional procedure to take into account if you enter Mexico with a TIP and a Residente Temporal sticker in your passport. If you don’t undertake this procedure your car will not become illegal, but you will lose the deposit you left with Banjercito.

If you have been granted temporary residency in Mexico and have a Residente Temporal visa sticker in your passport (before you are issued the residency card) your TIP and FMM will have a 30 day limit documented, because this is the time frame you have to submit the paperwork to exchange your visa sticker for a residency card. If you already have a Residente Temporal card when you get your TIP this situation will not arise.

If you have the 30-day limit on your TIP, you need to go the immigration office nearest to your address in Mexico and process the paperwork for the exchange of your visa sticker for a residency card.  When you submit the paperwork, you will be given a printed receipt showing a NUT (Número Único de Trámite) reference.

Before the 30-day expiry date, you then need to go to your nearest Customs (Aduana) office, and present them with a letter (in Spanish) explaining that your residency card is in the process of being prepared, and give them a photocopy of the NUT receipt, and a copy of your passport.

When your card is issued, you will need to also give them a photocopy (front and back) of the residency card.  If the office where you are making the residency visa to card exchange gives you your residency card within the 30-day window, you can undertake this procedure in one visit to the Customs office once you have your residency card, with a letter explaining that your residency card is issued, and enclosing a copy of it.

If however the immigration office takes longer than 30 days to issue your residency card, you will first need to submit the letter stating you have applied for your residency card, a copy of the NUT receipt and your passport, and then return with a copy of your residency card when when it’s issued to you.

Once you have submitted the copy of the residency card to the Customs (Aduana) office, your TIP expiry date will become aligned with your Residency Card’s expiry date.

What if my foreign-plated vehicle is lost, stolen, or I abandon it in Mexico?

If you abandon your foreign-plated car in Mexico, you’ll have to pay Aduana (Mexican Customs) 40% tax on the car’s value. This rule was brought-in some while ago to discourage foreigners from abandoning or selling their foreign-plated cars and telling Mexican Customs they were lost or stolen.

There is an established process in place that prevents someone who has legitimately had their vehicle stolen (or suffered total loss of the vehicle in an accident) from having to pay the fee.

Proper documentation will be required to get the TIP cancelled, so a police report has to be filed, plus special forms have to be filed with the Mexican Customs office, and the hired services of a Mexican Notary Public will be needed to formalize all the paperwork to cancel the TIP of a stolen car.

While the authorities cannot prevent you from leaving if you don’t pay the tax, failure to do so will forfeit your rights to import any other foreign-plated vehicle to Mexico in future.

Donating your vehicle to Mexican Customs

If you want to dispose of your car, there is a procedure whereby you can “donate” it to Mexican Customs; you can find more information about that here on the Mexican SAT web site.

Some important points to note about Mexico’s vehicle Temporary Import Permits

• TIPs cannot be extended or renewed. If you don’t export the vehicle (drive out) from Mexico before the expiry date and cancel the TIP, you lose the deposit you left at Banjercito and if you never cancel the TIP you’ll find it very difficult to import another foreign-plated vehicle to Mexico.
• Only holders of a visitor permit (FMM) and a Residente Temporal visa/card may obtain a TIP.
• Residente Permanente visa/card holders are not allowed apply for a TIP—also see the FAQ above about changing from temporary to permanent residency.
• When your TIP is issued, you can drive the car back-and-fro across the land border provided the TIP remains valid.
• You cannot cancel/surrender or obtain a new TIP anywhere within Mexico.
• You cannot cancel/surrender a TIP online. The person who is named on the TIP must present the vehicle physically at a Banjercito office at the border to undertake the cancellation procedure.
• If your vehicle has not been physically returned to a Banjercito office at the border and the TIP cancelled/surrendered, a new permit cannot be issued for that person or vehicle.
• Hybrid and Electric vehicles are not exempt from requiring a TIP if you intend to drive the vehicle beyond one of the Free Zones.
• Applications online are checked in real-time on US/Canadian vehicle databases.  Your application for a TIP will be denied if the vehicle has any restrictions marked, e.g. reported as stolen or as sent for scrap.

Is auto insurance compulsory when I drive a car into Mexico?

You will need to show evidence of having a valid temporary insurance policy when you apply for a TIP.  Whether you are driving in the Free Zones or going further into Mexico with a TIP, ensure your road trip is properly insured with a policy is valid in Mexico, especially for third party liabilities.

Learn more about driving in Mexico

Mexperience offers articles with insights to help you prepare for your road trip and drive confidently in Mexico.

• Bringing a foreign-plated vehicle to Mexico
• Insuring your vehicle for driving in Mexico
• Your Mexico road trip checklist
• Dealing with minor and major road accidents
• Latest articles about driving in Mexico
• Guide to auto insurance in Mexico

However, even the best maintained vehicles can experience sudden failure when you’re on the road in Mexico and you’ll need to deal with the situation, whether you’re in the middle of a town or city or on a (remote) highway.  This article shares some practical tips and advice for dealing with vehicle breakdowns.

‘Angeles Verdes’ (Green Angels) on Mexico’s highways

On Mexico’s interstate highways, Angeles Verdes (Green Angels) patrol the roads, looking for broken down vehicles, and helping with minor repairs and, surprisingly frequently, selling fuel.

• They ride green-and-white colored trucks (thus the name); sometimes it’s a tow truck, and will provide free help, although they will charge for fuel if you need it, as well as any car parts.
• They’ll arrange to tow you to the nearest town if the situation calls for that. It’s appropriate to tip the mechanic(s).
• Angeles Verdes can help with immediate repairs and fuel, but their service does not substitute the coverages offered by an insurance based roadside assistance plan—that, in addition to mechanical support can also include rental car provision while your vehicle is being repaired, and repatriation in the event your vehicle becomes undriveable.

Dealing with roadside breakdowns

Dealing with a vehicle breakdown in Mexico will depend on where you are and what cover you have in place to help you.

• There is no better coverage in a breakdown situation than to have a team of mechanics and recovery vehicles prepared to come to your aid when your vehicle fails in Mexico.
• We recommend that when you purchase auto insurance you choose a policy that includes breakdown coverage and roadside assistance. This is especially helpful if you are on a remote highway and/or it’s nighttime..
• If you are in a large town or city when your vehicle fails, someone may come to your aid to help you move the vehicle to the edge of the road while you wait for breakdown assistance to arrive.
• If your vehicle is rented and the rental agreement includes breakdown coverage, call the rental car agency and ask them to mobilize their breakdown service.
• If you are on a major highway, especially toll-roads, a patrolling vehicle from the Angeles Verdes might find you and help you (see note above).
• If you have roadside breakdown coverage as part of your auto insurance coverage, you can instead contact the insurance helpline and have assistance sent to directly your broken down vehicle.
• Note that cell phone coverage can be scarce on remote roads across Mexico. Tolled highways have wired phones posted every few miles. If you are on a non-tolled highway, and there is no cell phone coverage, you may need to walk to find a cellphone signal or walk back to the nearest town or village to summon help.

Roadside breakdown and medical coverages

Good insurance brokers offer a comprehensive range of additional support services, which are sometimes part of the offer and sometimes sold separately. The two most important ones are:

Breakdown coverage

If your car breaks down while you’re driving in Mexico, roadside recovery will provide you with the essential support you need to get your car repaired and mitigate risks of becoming stranded.

Roadside assistance may include things like delivery of emergency fuel, towing services, dealing with flat or damaged tires, locksmith support, jumpstart assistance, and provision of lodging and a rental car while you wait for your vehicle to be repaired, and repatriation to your home country in the event of a write-off.

Medical assistance

a policy that provides medical coverage will provide round-the-clock medical assistance on your road trips, including in the event of a serious accident, land and air medical evacuation and coverages to support you and your travel companions, for example with accommodations and transport while you convalesce.

Arrange breakdown coverage

Mexperience’s auto insurance associate offers a comprehensive range of additional services that provide peace of mind when you’re taking a road trip in Mexico, including roadside breakdown and travel assistance, and medical coverages that can include medical evacuation.

Learn more about driving in Mexico

Mexperience offers articles with insights to help you prepare for your road trip and drive confidently in Mexico.

• Insuring your vehicle for driving in Mexico
• Importing a foreign car or other vehicle to Mexico
• Getting a Temporary Import Permit (TIP) for your vehicle
• Your Mexico road trip checklist
• Latest articles about driving in Mexico
• Guide to auto insurance in Mexico

Car rental in Mexico can offer you the flexibility and freedom that other forms of transport simply cannot provide

Car rental in Mexico

Driving across Mexico can be a rewarding experience as it gives you the choice and flexibility to visit remote areas which may be inaccessible using public transport and enables you to do so at your chosen pace and convenience.

A rental car can provide the freedom and flexibility that public transport cannot when you’re traveling longer distances, especially outside of Mexico City. If you want to see some of the outlying towns and villages “off the beaten track”, then taking a car is the most efficient way to accomplish this, unless you have the patience, time, and temperament to deal with local transport.

Mexico’s car rental business

Renting a car in Mexico used to be more expensive than renting in a car in the USA, but the Mexican market has become a lot more competitive in recent years, and prices have fallen, making car rental surprisingly affordable here.

As in all countries, quoted rental costs can inflate with the high cost of insurances which are added to the rental agreement.  Although some insurances are optional, it’s advisable to get sufficient coverage in place in case of accident or mishap.  See the insurance section later in this guide for full details.

This guide explains how the rental car business works in Mexico and steers you through the mechanics of successfully renting a car in Mexico and at the best price.

Requirements for car rental

Most car rental agencies in Mexico operate strict criteria for car rentals.

Minimum age of the driver

In some exceptional circumstances, and usually accompanied by a hefty deposit and hefty excess charges for damage and accidents, car rental agencies may accept drivers below the age of 25, but most require that the driver(s) of the vehicle are at least 25 years of age and some even stipulate that the person must have held a full driving license for a minimum time period, between two and five years. Ask the sales agent or check the small print on the rental agreement for details.

Credit card required

Most car rental agencies will attempt to pre-authorize an amount from your credit card before they will rent a car to you. If you don’t have a credit card then you will not be able to rent a car. You must proffer a valid credit card for this procedure as debit cards are not accepted.

Driving licenses

You will need to present a full, current, driver’s license showing the renter’s name and photograph. If your country’s driving licence does not display your photograph, another form of photo ID will also be required. Your own country’s license is accepted provided that it is printed with “Western Characters”. If you have, for example, a Chinese, Japanese, Greek or Russian document, you may be asked to produce an international driver’s licence, which you can acquire from your home country.

Acceptance of the agency’s terms

The precise terms of rental vary from agency to agency. The small print is always complex, presented in Spanish only, and absolutely in favor of the rental agency (this is true in all countries). The main things to check are your liabilities in the event of an accident or total loss of the vehicle, matters which are most often related to the insurance policy associated with the rental. Ask the rental agent for clarification if you are unsure about anything in relation to the rental agreement.

Car Rental Services

Car rental agencies in Mexico sell much more than car rental services these days. Some of the most profitable services have nothing to do with car rental and are sold (or offered) to you at the counter, not at the time you make an online booking. They include:

Insurance coverage products

All rental agencies sell a range of optional car insurance coverages, in addition to compulsory third-party insurance, to protect the driver, the passengers and the vehicle in the event of an accident. See the section about car rental insurance on this guide for more details.

Satellite GPS navigation systems

Car rental agencies now offer GPS, either built-in to the car or via a portable GPS unit in the car.  There is usually an additional fee if GPS is not already built-in to the car’s system. If you have your own satellite navigation equipment, you can purchase a Mexico atlas and take it with you for use in your rental car in Mexico.

Comfort add-ons

Child seats, roof racks, DVD players, etc., may come as standard or be charged as optional extras. Most accessories carry an additional daily charge. Check with the agency for details.

Cell phone rental

Some agencies offer local cell phone rental for an additional daily fee, which may include the cost of the calls and some mobile data.  Check with the agency and the small print for details and conditions.  See Also: Communications in Mexico

Additional drivers for your car

If you want to add additional drivers to your rental agreement, you will need to name them on the agreement and pay an additional daily fee for each additional “authorized driver” of the vehicle. If the car is involved in an accident whilst driven by someone not authorized to drive the vehicle, the insurance will usually become invalid, leaving you exposed to the repair or replacement cost of your rental vehicle AND any third party damages.

Car rental charges

Rates for car rental in Mexico

Car rental rates vary depending on the location, the date and duration of the rental and, depending on the agency, how many miles you’ll clock up. Most car rental quotes by agencies in Mexico include the legally-compulsory third party insurance cover, but double-check, otherwise your online quote will increase when you get to the counter.

Standard quotes sometimes exclude Mexico’s sales tax (IVA) – so double-check when you’re buying whether your quote is inclusive or exclusive of sales tax, because sales tax is relatively high in Mexico and thus adds a significant amount to your final expected price if it’s not included.

Many, but not all, quotes include unlimited mileage. Some offer a free allowance and then charge per mile (or per kilometer); some charge for every mile or kilometer. Mexico is a big country so if you plan to do a lot of driving, try to find a rate that is all inclusive, or take the additional costs into account within your travel budget.

The longer you rent for, the cheaper the daily rate will be. Usually step-discounts apply when you rent for more than 3, 7, 14, 21, and 30 days; but the amount depends upon the location, the time of year, and the agency—as well as local demand: if there is a festival or event happening locally on the dates you want to rent, car rental rates can escalate.

Also check to see that the insurance cover you need is included in the rental price. “Full cover” insurance fees often add up to more than the price of the car rental.

Location premiums

If you rent from an airport or a hotel, you may pay a premium in addition to the rental charges. The premium is usually itemized on your quote and bill, but not always—so check if you are unsure.

One-way car rental and drop-off charges

Note that drop-off charges apply if you do not return the car to the same agency (not just the same town or city) that you rented the car from.

The amount of the drop-off fee depends upon the agency and is most usually calculated on a cost-per-mile basis, so the further away the vehicle is from the agency that hired it, the larger the drop-off fee will become.

As rule of thumb, expect to pay around US$1 equivalent per mile; so if the agency you rent from is 200 miles away from the agency where you intend to drop-off the rental car, the drop-off fee is likely to be about US$200.

Go online for the best rates

The most expensive way to rent a car in Mexico is to show up in person at the rental counter without a reservation when you need a vehicle.

If you plan to rent a car in Mexico, go online and book your rate in advance. You’ll usually get a better deal, which includes a lower price and a better specification car.

Search online for Car Rental options in Mexico (Google)

If you’re already in Mexico and decide to rent a car, you may want to consider going online to make a reservation before walking into a rental or travel agency in person.

Car rental insurance

Car rental quotes in Mexico usually show relatively inexpensive rates; however the insurance cover charges can ramp up the cost significantly. The insurance costs can (and often are) more than the advertised rental charges. However, we recommend full and comprehensive insurance when you rent a car in Mexico to cover your liabilities in case of a serious accident.

Third party insurance

Third party insurance is compulsory by Mexican law when you rent a car in Mexico. This insurance covers third parties for any damages in the event of a mishap, but it does not cover the renter’s liability for the vehicle itself.  This insurance is usually included in the quote, but it might not be—double check, otherwise it will be added-on at the counter.

Additional insurance products

When you rent a car in Mexico, insurance beyond third party cover is sold as an optional extra. This is because not everybody wants or needs to purchase the additional insurance—see the next heading below, “Using Your Own Insurance,” for details.

Here is a list of the different types of optional insurance products car rental agencies tend to offer:

CDW – Collision Damage Waiver. This is a product that covers the vehicle in the event of an accident or damage, with a 10 % deductible. The 10% fee is based on the full retail value of the vehicle, as new. For example, if your rental car has a retail value of $10,000, your deductible is $1,000.

LDW – Loss Damage Waiver. This is sometimes referred to as “full cover,” as it covers the vehicle for any accident or damage, as well as theft, and with a zero deductible. However much damage is caused, or whatever the value of the vehicle, this insurance either prevents you from paying any out-of-pocket expenses in the event of a mishap or limits that liability to set amount, agreed in advance.

PAI – Personal Accident Insurance. This is an insurance product that will cover medical expenses for occupants in the vehicle in the event of an accident. If you have a travel or other medical insurance policy, you will most likely be covered already and there will be no need to purchase this.

ALI –Additional Liability Insurance. This insurance product extends the cover for damages to third parties, usually up to MX$5,000,000 Mexican pesos.

TP – Theft Protection. This insurance product protects you in the event that the vehicle is stolen; it’s automatically included with LDW (see above). Some credit card companies will also cover theft of the vehicle in the insurance policies they offer with use of the card—but check the small print.

Using your own insurance

Car rental agencies offer insurance as an optional extra because many people who rent cars could be covered by other insurance policies they have.

These can include your own car rental policy (check that it’s valid in Mexico), a travel insurance policy, a credit or debit card, a charge card (like AMEX) or some other insurance plan, for example, an insurance cover policy provided by your company.

Although you may have an insurance policy that covers car rental services, perhaps via your existing car insurance, or a credit or charge card, you should check that it is valid in Mexico.

When you rent a car without insurance coverage offered by the rental agency, you can sign the agreement to say that you are covered by a third party, but in the event of an accident or mishap, you will be held liable if it transpires that you subsequently are not covered for some reason. You will be asked to sign the agreement specifically stating that you are responsible for insuring the vehicle whilst it is in your care.

Credit and charge card insurance

Car rental cover provided by credit and charge cards can save you a considerable sum of money in optional insurance fees, so it’s worth checking with your card issuer to see if you have this coverage included. Many people who are covered by their credit card use it to save money on car rental insurance fees in Mexico.

If you are covered by other insurance products you have—e.g. travel insurance or credit card or company insurance perks, you don’t need to concern yourself with these extra insurance products.  But do check the small print in all policies to ensure that they cover rental cars in countries other than your own, and that Mexico is not on any exclusion list.

Ensure you’re insured!

Any quote you get from a car rental agency (online or in person) usually does not include “full cover” insurance. Most car rental quotes that include an insurance product in the quote, is the type that covers third party risks, i.e. covers the costs of any third party damages including other vehicles, road damage, and/or in the event that other people are hurt.

In Mexico, third party insurance cover is compulsory so if it’s not included in the quote, you will need to purchase it. See “Additional Insurance Products”, above, for details of optional coverage products.

Accident damage premiums and excess fees

The amount you pay for any damage, regardless of your insurance cover or whether or not it was your fault, varies greatly from agency to agency.

If your vehicle is damaged, lost (e.g. by engine fire) or stolen, you will need to cover the vehicle’s repair or replacement as set out in the agency’s agreement. Usually, the excess damage fee (deductible) is calculated as a percentage of the vehicle’s commercial value “as new,” and the deductible is often 10%.

For example, if the vehicle’s “as new” value is US$25,000 and your deductible is 10% of the vehicle’s value, then you will be billed US$2,500 in the event of any damage or loss of the vehicle. This fee can be waived by purchase of a top-up insurance giving the vehicle “full cover.”

If you are not absolutely sure that you are covered by a separate insurance policy you may carry (e.g. through a credit or charge card policy or by means of a company insurance policy), we recommend you ask for “full cover” insurance for the car rental when you get to the rental counter. It’s relatively expensive and will add a significant cost to your rental. The choice is a personal one and you need to weigh up the additional cost against the charge you would be billed in the event of the car becoming damaged or written-off whilst in your care.

Rental car inspections

Rental cars are inspected diligently in Mexico when you return them to the agency—so you should make a thorough inspection before you leave, especially if you have not taken out “full cover” of the vehicle through the agency’s own insurance policy.

Check your rental car before leaving the agency

Inspect your rental car very carefully before you sign the exit form at the agency. Ensure that the exit form documentation lists all existing damage, and add any other damage you see not mentioned on that piece of paper—no matter how small or ‘insignificant’ you think it may be.

Also, check underneath the car before you drive it away; this is because Mexico’s speed bumps and road surface holes can do major damage to a car’s underside and rental companies here are diligent in checking under the vehicle upon its return.

Rental car return inspections

Your car will be thoroughly inspected when you return it, and checks will also be made underneath the car to check for any damage caused by Mexico’s notorious speed bumps and road holes.

If you did not purchase the “full cover” insurance option from the agency and the inspector finds any damage, your credit card will be charged the excess (damage) amount, or a fixed damage fee, as specified on the rental agreement.

If you used a third-party policy to protect the vehicle while it was in your care (e.g. a personal or credit card insurance policy), and there is some damage to the vehicle upon its return, you may need to pay for the damage and then get reimbursed by your insurance or credit card company afterwards. Check with your insurance provider for details about how damage payments are dealt with.

Car rental bookings

For the best deals, book online, in advance. If you show-up at the rental counter on the day you need the car without a reservation, you will not get the best deal.

Driving on Mexico’s Freeways

Carreteras libres are typically local two-lane roads. They tend to be older and wander along the landscape through small towns and villages without sophisticated highway engineering. In rural areas especially, they are often marginally maintained, tend to be poorly marked, lack a shoulder (or have soft, unpaved shoulders) and they might also present driving challenges like potholes or farm animals wandering into the road. Then there is everyone’s favorite: topes—speed bumps, designed to control speed with bone-rattling effectiveness.

Although libres may sound like a challenge for the driver who is new to Mexico, you may eventually find a local libre that you like using simply because it is more scenic and interesting than a nearby autopista. You are going to find restaurants and fondas, shops of every flavor, old churches, schools, handcrafts, and tire repair shops. Everyday life in Mexico happens alongside the libres.

Autopistas – Mexico’s tolled highways

Across much of Mexico, the local freeways are shadowed by a system of super highways that are built and maintained under the auspice of CAPUFE (Caminos y Puentes Federales)—Mexico’s department of federal roads and bridges. These toll roads are typically either three lanes (one in either direction and a center lane reserved for passing in both directions) or four lanes with a median dividing each side.

Like many highways in the United States and Canada, autopistas are graded and straighter that free roads, they have safe shoulders, limited access and egress, and the signage is consistently clear and accurate. Autopistas offer periodic gas stations with restrooms and sometimes a coffee shop or mini-mart where travelers can seek passing refreshment.

If you travel any distance on an autopista, you will soon become familiar with the caseta or toll-booth. The tolls vary depending on the road and distance traveled, and if you are traveling long distances, the amounts can add-up so make sure you are traveling with adequate cash: ATMs are hard to find outside of urban areas, and not all casetas take bank cards. If you’re a frequent traveler on Mexico’s highways, you might consider purchasing an electronic ‘Tag-IAVE’ chip that’s affixed to your windscreen and deducts credit from your Tag-IAVE account balance or is linked to a credit card.

If you pay your toll in cash, you will be given a receipt, which you should keep for the duration of your journey. On the back of the receipt is the emergency number for CAPUFE.

Mechanical breakdowns on Mexico’s toll roads

If you have mechanical car trouble or see a hazard in the road, call the number and give them the nearest kilometer number; these are marked as small white signs like mile markers in the US. They may be able to send help in the form of “Angeles Verdes”—a roving fleet of repair and recovery trucks which operate on Mexico’s toll roads.  Alternatively, you can call your insurance company if you have breakdown cover included, who will dispatch immediate assistance to you.

In Mexico tow-trucks are rarely used. Instead, the mechanic will come to you and if parts are required they don’t have, they will go and get them. You will need to pay the mechanic in cash. Of course, if you have travel assistance as part of your auto insurance coverage, they can send help for minor incidents like a broken fan belt, or even a major breakdown, no matter what kind of road you are on.

Dealing with accidents on a road trip

If you are involved in a car accident on a road trip in Mexico (whether it happens on a libre or autopista road), the first thing to do is to call your auto insurance company.

Here it’s worth noting that your US or Canadian auto insurance policy will not provide adequate cover in Mexico, and if you’re not properly insured you’ll face arrest, liability charges, and legal costs—which can be very serious if anyone is hurt and/or public property has been damaged by your vehicle.  You can learn more about how to get adequate coverage for your road trip across Mexico.

To learn more about travelling on Autopistas in Mexico, connect to our guide about Toll Roads in Mexico; and to get acquainted with the nomenclature you’ll find on Mexico’s roads, read A Guide to Mexican Street Speak.

Learn more about driving in Mexico

Mexperience offers articles with insights to help you prepare for your road trip and drive confidently in Mexico.

• Importing a foreign car or other vehicle to Mexico
• Getting a Temporary Import Permit (TIP) for your vehicle
• Insuring your vehicle for driving in Mexico
• Your Mexico road trip checklist
• Latest articles about driving in Mexico
• Guide to auto insurance in Mexico

For every new bypass, overpass, or underpass, there appears to be a fleet of new cars ready to take up the additional space.  Unclog one main artery, and another one clogs up somewhere else. Surprisingly, the number of people using the capital’s Metro has fallen, perhaps as the proliferation over the last decade of attractive car loans which have made new cars more affordable.

Parking fees, on the other hand, have gone up substantially, and there’s nothing like driving to fully comprehend the reality behind the headline news that the government is rolling back the subsidies on gasoline. Local authorities have also been contracting firms to manage parking in districts and residential neighborhoods across the city: parking meters are appearing in ever-greater numbers, enforced by use of wheel clamps, or “candados” (padlocks) as they’re called in Mexico.

In more recent years, the hi-tech speed trap has complemented the wheel clamp as a way of punishing wayward motorists and filling the coffers of the city government. All across Mexico City, drivers are now presented with signs warning that traps are in operation—cameras that capture the license plates of passing cars and mail speeding and other fines to drivers’ homes. Where the speed limit is 80 kph (50 mph), this is reasonable, and may well reduce the number of accidents caused by speeding. But on stretches of major thoroughfares where the speed limit has been lowered to 50 kph (30 mph), it’s hard to persuade those being fined that the reason is any other than to collect money.

The calibration of the camera-operated traps is such that tolerance is low: a kilometer or two over the limit will trigger a fine.  Contesting the fines is a complicated and drawn out process, and most find it easier to just pay, especially as an 80% discount applies if payment is made within 10 days.  As letters sometimes get lost or delayed in the post, some drivers choose to download an App called “Auto Chilango” which alerts them if their license plate has been photographed so they can pay within the discount window.

Not only has traffic volume in the capital reached a critical point, so have people’s stress levels, it seems, with the resulting behavioral anomalies that will be obvious to visitor and veteran alike without any need to go into them here.

On the city’s cluttered roads, right of way appears proportionate to the monthly payments on the car. Exceptions to this rule are large trucks, interstate buses, and beaten up old cars and pick-ups on which the rust is proof of manufacture in the days when they still used metal. Your mostly plastic, fuel-efficient, zero emissions, lightweight “nave” will crumple to the tune of several years of deductibles and no-claims bonuses while the older vehicle in question will just need a dent hammered out for less than the cost of a tank of gas.

If, all this considered, you insist on sallying forth into the melee of capital city traffic, here are some simple rules for driving ‘the Mexico City way’:

• never let anyone pull out into your lane, unless you want to be late to your destination. If a bus or truck does pull out, yield and pepper the driver with abuse;
• if you reach the stop line in heavy traffic and the light’s green, enter the crossing even if you can’t exit. If you don’t, someone else will, snarling up the junction anyway;
• if you can advance three or four cars by slipping into the turning lane, do it, even if it means blocking the lane when the arrow goes green and getting the people behind you all worked up;
• if you think the car in the lane to your left plans to pull in front of you, or if it has indicated that it intends to do so, speed up;
• if someone is waiting for your parking space, take longer than usual to adjust your mirrors, fasten the seat belt, connect your phone to the in-car kit, etc.

By applying some or all of these rules, you can become a bona fide Mexico City driver, but if you wish to be an out-and-out five-star chilango behind the wheel, try the following: accelerate behind a car that is going at the indicated speed limit in the fast lane, up against the dividing wall. Brake within a few yards of it and turn on your left-indicator, showing the slowcoach that you intend to pass him on the left, without specifying whether you plan to go over or through the wall.

See also: Driving In Mexico and Living in Mexico Without a Car

How to identify toll roads on a map

You might not be able to travel your entire journey on a fast toll road. Online maps, including Google and Apple maps, indicate whether the road is tolled or not.

Tolled highways that run near federal roads (‘freeways’) are depicted with the letter ‘D’ after the road number.  For example, the road that runs between Mexico City and Cuernavaca is highway number 95 (a federal freeway) and the tolled road that runs ‘adjacent’ to this is 95D.

All tolled roads in Mexico follow this label protocol that enables you to choose the free road or its tolled equivalent, where a tolled highway is available on that route.

Mexico’s City’s elevated beltway

To ease Mexico’s city’s congestion, an elevated section of the capital’s beltway (Anillo Periférico) was constructed.

Colloquially referred to as the ‘Segundo Piso‘ (second floor), the project started in the early 2000s and has since been extended several times.  It now runs from the north of the capital (on the road to/from Querétaro) all the way around to the south, with an exit extension that connects with the tolled highway 95D south to Cuernavaca.

Drivers must pay a toll to use the elevated beltway using a TAG device (see section below) fitted in the vehicle’s windshield; no cash or cards are accepted at the automated ramp gateways.

Charges: Beltway toll charges (AUSUR) depend on how far you travel along the beltway and are calculated automatically based your entry and exit gates.  Online maps, e.g. Online maps, e.g. Google Maps, might show the toll fees across a route you define if it includes stretches of the capital’s elevated beltway.

Charges for toll rolls on Mexico’s national intercity highways

The total cost you’ll pay on an intercity toll road will depend on how far you travel along it. You effectively pay for your journey in parts, with payment booths set out along the highway at major towns or turnoff points.

Every time you go through a toll booth, you pay a set fee that covers your cost to the next toll/exit booth.

Charges: This online route checker gives quotes for routes between states and cities. Toll fees are also published in table format (PDF) here (CAPUFE). Intercity toll charges vary depending on the route and how long the stretch of road is to the next major town or turnoff point. Online maps, e.g. Google Maps, might show the toll fees across a route you define if it includes stretches of tolled highway.

How to pay for intercity toll roads and Mexico City’s elevated beltway

When you cross a toll booth, you’ll need to pay the corresponding fee.  Fees vary and tolls tend to go up by gradual increments throughout the year.

Credit and debits cards

You cannot use any credit or debit cards to pay your toll at the booth.  However, you can use a credit or debit card to pay if it’s linked to a TAG device on your windshield (see next section).

Cash

You can pay tolls in cash, using Mexican pesos. Foreign currency is not accepted. Toll booths are ideal places to make change, if you need it.

TAG device on windshield

You can fit an electronic ‘tag’ to your vehicle’s windshield and pass-through toll booths (and/or access Mexico City’s elevated beltway) using the automated gates.  TAG device credit can be topped up using cash (paying at stores and other retail centers) or linked to a credit or debit card.  See next section for more details.

Payment tags for toll roads and Mexico City’s elevated beltway

If you are a frequent toll road user, it makes sense to purchase a TAG for your vehicle’s windshield. If you intend to use Mexico City’s elevated beltway, you must have a TAG to access that road system as cash and cards are not accepted at the automated ramp gateways.

There are two tags you can choose from: 

• TAG IAVE, which is administered by the agency that runs the toll roads; and
• the TAG TeleVia

Both TAGs work at toll booth gates across Mexico as well as allow access to Mexico City’s elevated beltway.

You can top-up your TAG account at local participating stores and retail centers using cash or cards, or register online to link your payment card details to your TAG.

By linking your card with the TAG, your fees will be charged to the card as you cross through the gates; there is no need to ‘top-up’ and you don’t run out of credit as you travel (beyond your payment card’s limit).  Visit the websites above for details.

Mexican toll road terminology

Routes which have toll roads connecting the destinations also have a free alternative road. When you’re driving in Mexico, read the signs and follow the route for the road type you want to use. Here is a list of the three key words to look out for:

LIBRE = Free Road: Free roads are less well maintained, often single lanes each way that will take you longer to travel across. However, to see some of the ‘off the beaten track’ places, you’ll need to avoid toll roads, as they often double as “bypass roads” (see term below). It’s recommended that you don’t take the free roads after dark.

CUOTA = Toll Road: Follow this sign if you want to take the toll road to the destination to which you are traveling. Note that the highway numbers are often the same, so you can be on the right highway number, heading in the right direction, but on a free (slower) road than you’d like to be. For toll roads, follow the signs that read “CUOTA” and/or have the letter “D’ after the highway number.

LIBRAMIENTO = Bypass: Sometimes, major free roads that connect big towns and cities will give you an option to take the “Libramiento” route. This is like a toll road (and sometimes it’s part of the toll road) which, for a fee, will enable you to bypass the smaller town city if you don’t want to go there, saving you the time and hassle of getting lost. Libramientos work in the same way as toll roads, and libramientos (especially around bigger cities) might be free to all road users along certain stretches of that road.

SEGUNDO PISO = Elevated Beltway: This is the colloquial term for Mexico City’s tolled elevated beltway, most of which runs above the anillo periferico, the capital’s long-standing free beltway.

See also: Guide to Mexican Street Speak

Learn more about driving in Mexico

Mexperience offers articles with insights to help you prepare for your road trip and drive confidently in Mexico.

• Insuring your vehicle for driving in Mexico
• Importing a foreign car or other vehicle to Mexico
• Getting a Temporary Import Permit (TIP) for your vehicle
• Your Mexico road trip checklist
• Latest articles about driving in Mexico
• Guide to auto insurance in Mexico