What's the penalty for an expired 6 month tow-car permit?

As a good American, Lou, it doesn’t matter. Just pay what you owe and the penalty for missing the deadline and motor down the road.

At least, you are going to forfeit your deposit. Once it expires, you will be driving/towing a vehicle that is not legal in Mexico.

The US doesn't care about the status of your Mexican vehicle permits.

Beyond that, any one know???

If it is the registration from the USA, nothing I went from Mexico City to Texas and then to California with the toads expired tags in 2016, at one point I had a Texas State Trooper behind me at the Falfurrias check point behind the toad, I thought for Shure I will get a ticket, he just passed me and I drove in san Antonio two months with the toad and then on to California, I misread the year 15 for 16.

On the other hand if it is the TIP (Temporary Importation Permit), maybe loose the deposit, get a fine it is up to the border people to decide and that is anybody's guess, last I know they would confiscate the vehicle or nothing happens and they just take the sticker off and home you go.

Good luck!

navegator

If it was me, I would follow in other people's footsteps that have been in the same spot and get out of Mexico with a piece of paper that would allow existing Mexico minus the danger of getting the auto confiscated at a roadside SSP Reten.

It means going to a larger town or city or the best is a port that has an office of ADUANA. Explain the problem. They understand and won't play dumb.

The will issue you a get-out-of-jail-almost-free card. Almost free because I believe the work costs 750 or a thousand pesos payable at a bank. I do not believe the paperwork needs to be turned in at the border (what would be the point?)

Since the infraccion is computerized it will stay in the memory bank forever with your passport number being the flag against getting another TIP. Change cars or getting another driver license does not help.

I do not know what the current status of Retenes is on Mex 15 or 57, but if you get processed, the minute they check the registry in Mexico City on a laptop, the data is red flagged. The cops had better come up with your vehicle. So attempting a bribe is futile.

Thanks for the various advice. Don't think I want to chance having the car seized. Might try to find a way to get an extension in Vallarta

But another question. If we drove the car across the border with the aim of renewing the permit for another 6 months (and renewing my visa as well), then re crossed back into Mexico in another 2-3 days, is there any regulation against crossing and re-crossing in a short period like that? Perhaps if we crossed north at Nogales, then came back in via Lukeville?

Technically, you can't get more than one visa's or TIP every 12 months. In real life, I have never heard of anyone having an issue. We have done it.

There are ways of getting a legal extension on both your TIP and your visa. Do an online search, and depending upon where you are, there may be an Aduana nearby that can help you. Google is your friend!

Lukeville/Sonoyta is, in our opinion, the only place to come and go. We'd suggest going out at Lukeville and reentering at Nogales. Why? Sonoyta can be snotty about pets and things in your fridge and freezer coming in. At Nogales, they don't care. And, it's all the same computer system. You can always change names on the TIP too.

The way we have done it is:
1 both vehicles are registered in both my wifes name and mine
2 rhe RV has a 10 year permit and that is no problem
3 I import the toad for 180 days
4 we turn the permit at or fefore it expires 180 days not 6 months, count the days
5 we spend a week or more in Texas, brother lives in San Antonio
6 wife now imports the toad for the next 180 days
7 then I import the toad for the next 180 days
8 then she does it again

So far we have had no problems, same vehicle enters 180 days on one name then 180 days on a diferent name and different passports, that is the key.

navegator

There is no reason to play musical chairs with your permits. You an turn in the permit before the 180 days, cross the border, have a nice meal and return for another permit in the same name. Have never heard of any problems. I would like to see the "LEY" that says you can only get one permit every 12 months. ( I like my crow smoked) Ever since the permits began people have had this discussion.

Moisheh

Again, they can be extended legally. Do the homework, it didn't sound at all difficult when I read about it a few months ago. Don't remember the details, but they were workable.

To the best of my knowledge neither can be legally extended. Do you have a link? Or remember where you saw that info? Would sure help a lot of people.

UPDATE: I did a Google on this subject. You have to read the results carefully. The info that popped up referred to people with RT or RP that were renewing the visa and needed to renew the TIP. NOT for those with an FMM. The articles I found on renewing an FMM was for those with a 30,60 or 90 day permit. These can be extended to the 180 Max. The article stated that no FMM can be extended beyond 180 days without leaving the country. BTW If your TIP has expired you can get a permit that allows you to legally drive to the border. Years ago you could get an FMT extended with some Mordida. Things have changed.

Moisheh