Crossing the Mexican border

Don't ever change countries without car insurance. Mexico is as strict as the U.S. The first thing a Texas policeman wants to see is my rider for U.S. insurance. The same when we went to Canada.

In an accident you will end up with your car impounded and it costs a lot to get it out. Same for us in the U.S.

Crossing at any Mexican POE can be easy or difficult! With careful planning and obtaining the proper documents several Days to several weeks in advance ,always makes the crossing painless!

Always have Mexican Insurance prior to obtaining Your Tourist Visa and the Temporary Import Permit!

In My opinion and based upon My personal experience be prepared for all eventualities but expect to not have any issues!

Insurance is (almost) a must. Even in the lax Baja they've began asking to show Mex insurance at the border. And it is a must for your piece of mind anyway. In Mexico a party to any incident is presumed GUILTY until he/she proves otherwise. Insurance paper will allow you to walk away - rather than being thrown in jail - until they will sort things out. It can be purchased state-side.

Visitors within zona frontera that stay less than 7 days, MUST obtain tourist visa FMM though it is free of charge in this case. This is the law. They've been mostly ignoring it so far, but on some Baja crossings they are enforcing it now. I haven't heard of anybody thrown in jail for not getting FMM, but there can be fines and/or the order to return back to the border immediately to get FMM.

So, - yes, you need Mex insurance (purchased before the trip), FMM (obtained when and where you're crossing), and TIP for RV.

PS: never crossed at Nogales but I understand that the blockpost issuing FMM is about a dozen miles inland, not right at the border. Guys will correct me if I'm wrong.

And then there is the question of vehicle insurance. Your north of the border insurance likely won't cover you in Mexico, maybe for comprehensive but never for liability. Theoretically, you don't need insurance. But if you do have an accident you will want coverage unless unusually well heeled with lots of time on your hands to round up the cash. Rules in Mexico can be a little different, for instance, if someone rides a bicycle into the side of your vehicle the chances of you pleading your case, that they hit you, are slim. Insurance can help you with paperwork in a different language (the adjuster). That insurance must be from a Mexican company, but can be purchased through a Broker north of the border, even through the internet.

Going back to the United States and forgetting your passport or border crossing card it is easy for Customs and Border Protection to check and see if they are US citizens, entering mainland Mexico is a different story RV's get a 10 year importation permit, all other vehicles get a 180 day importation permit, all persons traveling into Mainland Mexico have to get a 180 day visa, you get caught with out them, you get to go to a real nasty forced vacation place.

North Baja and South Baja and a certain portion of the State of Sonora have different requirements since they are a different fiscal territory, all border towns and up to 25 kilometers South you do not need any documents if you only stay for 72 hours, after that you are required to obtain a "permiso fronterizo" border permit but of course no one does that lives on the border towns that are not Mexican.

navegator

My wife went to Mexico last week to get Dental work and on her way back she relized sje forgot her passport. Handed the guy her drivers L and said she forgot her passport. They put it in the computer and said "OK" and let her pass thru

Are you in a car or an RV? For San Carlos cars by themselves do not need a TIP. If an RV you will need a 10 year TIP. You will also need an FMM for every person. This is a tourist immigration permit. You will need insurance on all vehicles. Did you read the sticky on this forum?

Moisheh