Mexico travel with an expired US DL license...

[Jim]

Screwed up and forgot to renew my DL when I was back home in Oregon, and my upcoming travel plans to visit my daughter in Minneapolis will take me a couple thousand miles away from my home base.

My DL will expire in a couple months while I'm here in Mexico, two driving hours from the border, in San Felipe, Baja. My home state is Oregon so not one of the border states, unfortunately. I've been a full timer for 13 years.

My question is this, what's the possible penalty for a tourist driving in Mexico with an expired DL if I ever do get stopped for something down here?

Thanks!

[Wm_Elliot]

"Many years ago, we carried expired drivers licenses in case we got stopped."

I have requested a replacement DL from BMV here in Maine for $5 and I carry 2 of them when I drive/ride in Mexico - in separate wallets in separate locations. Just in case.

[Jim2007]

Drive in Mexico with a expired license?.not good to much risk. Take a look at what Mexico does when American'sdo not follow their laws. The Mexico cops and legal system are much much different than law enforcement in USA. Many are will take advantage of America citizens . ..Jim2007

[hypoxia]

pianotuna wrote:
One other thought. It is possible to apply for an "international" driver's license. They are sold by Youth Hostels. I needed one for a trip to Australia.

I believe the international license is only valid when accompanied with a valid drivers license.

[valhalla360]

pianotuna wrote:
One other thought. It is possible to apply for an "international" driver's license. They are sold by Youth Hostels. I needed one for a trip to Australia.

International driver's license is a misnomer. It's officially an "International Driving Permit".

I have one and it is basically a translation of your regular license in several languages and requires your regular license present to be valid. Real fun is getting the endorsement for over 3500kg stamped. I don't have a commercial drivers license but I am legal to drive over 3500kg. I've gone thru that argument with them a couple of times (needed to rent RV's in some European countries).

Call up the Oregon DMV and explain your situation. They have systems in place to deal with people out of state. You may need to sit on hold and explain it to 6 people but they have methods to deal with this but as you are an unusual situation, you probably need to talk to someone.

No I wouldn't try driving with an expired license. Good chance you get away with it but if the cop wants to he's got a perfectly valid reason to make your day difficult.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

After your license expires, your Mexico and USA automobile insurance becomes invalid - absolutely and without question. Surplus Line Broker USA Mexico insurance demands a valid USA license. Check you policies to confirm this 🙂

[Talleyho69]

Great idea! Also available through AAA, I'm told.

[pianotuna]

One other thought. It is possible to apply for an "international" driver's license. They are sold by Youth Hostels. I needed one for a trip to Australia.

[Talleyho69]

In Guerrero, I'd say just get a license here. Pay the 1,000p for a 5 year license, prove your blood type, your address and away you go. Provide an address from a rent receipt at the RV park, and you are in.

Many years ago, we carried expired drivers licenses in case we got stopped. We got stopped in San Miguel de Allende, the transito said, in perfect English that is was expired. We acted shocked, and in disgust, he just sent us on our way.

Good luck with your decision.

[navegator]

Contact the Oregon DMV by phone or E-mail and pay the renewal fee and let them know that you are out of state and will go in to a DMV office as soone as you hit Oregon.

Unless you do something really stupid to get pulled over, there should be no problem, two years ago I had the RV the toad and my licence past due, the toad three months, my licence two months and the RV one month, California does not accept renewals or pyament by phone or internet outside of California, I drove 3 months in Mexico with expiered plates and licence, and then drove in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California with everything expiered, so it cost me a little more, do not sweat it to much, things happen.

Contact the Mexican DMV?

You mean the town of Mexico in the State of New York! In the United States of America? __ right!

Some sugestions are funny!

navegator

[bgum]

https://www.dmv.org/or-oregon/renew-license.php

Look under renewal expired

[azdryheat]

Mexican authorities are always looking for some easy cash by throwing Americans in jail for anything they can think of. I wouldn't be giving them an opportunity. If it were me I would go home, renew the DL, and then go about my business.

[toedtoes]

If you have two months til it expires, why not make a quick trip back up. Drive the RV to just before you hit snow, then drop it and drive the rest in the tow/toad, get your license, drive back down to where you dropped the RV, then use that location as a starting point to continue your journey.

Isn't that one of the joys of RV travel? You can change your route/plans easily.

[Jim]

bgum wrote:
Become a volunteer to a nonprofit organization and get a letter to that fact while out of the US. Your license will be good for 90 days after you return to the US.

Had not heard of that one...looking through the Oregon DMV paperwork they sent me about this issue, I don't see that in there.

Is this some kind of universal thing you're aware of? Google isn't a help with this.

Do you have a link?

FYI Everyone, I have the instructions from the Oregon DMV about renewing by mail while in a foreign country and it doesn't appear I qualify. Just spend too much time out of the state so I don't meet the 6 mo. resident requirement. I'll keep researching that though.

[bgum]

Become a volunteer to a nonprofit organization and get a letter to that fact while out of the US. Your license will be good for 90 days after you return to the US.