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November 8, 2017
Third Time's a Charm - Permiso de Importacion Temporal de Vehiculos
So today, I got up and went down to the Mexican Consulate's office for my scheduled 9:42 a.m. appointment. Only I took the Beemer this time because the roads are so icy.
She was running a little behind, but she called my name at 10:00 a.m., and I went up and handed her my dossier. I'm not sure what she took,really, as I had so many copies of so many documents that you just wouldn't believe it. I have copies of my online FMM, copies of my title to the motorcycle, registration, and insurance. Color copies of my passport. She took some of the copies, and then she gave me lots of papers to sign. I don't recall what all of the papers were that I signed. I just signed everything she handed me.
"Where will you cross into Mexico?" she asks.
"San Ysidro," I reply.
"Tijuana?" She clarifies.
"Si."
These are the two border towns. San Ysidro, CA and Tijuana, Mexico.
"When are you crossing into Mexico?" she asks.
"Tuesday November 14th", I reply.
Only later did I realize that I could go into Mexico at any time after that date. So, I should have said Monday, but then she would have had to cancel the transaction and start all over, so I went with Tuesday. That's the date that I can go into Mexico. Fair enough. I'd be hard pressed to get to Tijuana before Tuesday, in any event.
Now, she wants a credit card. I have to pay a $400 bond, essentially, to take a 2017 vehicle into Mexico. When the vehicle leaves Mexico, I can get my money back, apparently. But I have to present the document when I leave Mexico to get my money refunded. I was charged $8,861.79 Mexican Pesos. If the exchange rate is 19:1, then that's $466 USD, which is about right. The permit costs about $44 USD plus some additional taxes.
Finally, she hands me the document that I've been struggling to obtain for so long, the Permiso de Importacion Temporal de Vehiculos. Now, understand, that I still have to get Auto Insurance for Mexico, and I also still have to get an FMM Visa when I cross the border.
"I can get FMM Visa here also?" I ask, just for clarification.
"No. You get that when you cross the border."
"Where do I go?" I ask.
"Aduana," she replies.
So, "Aduana" is "Customs". And, that's what I thought. I just wanted to clarify. So, I'm not clear how much time I've really saved myself by going down to the Mexican Consulate and getting this permit. Maybe I've saved myself some time. Maybe not. It's hard to know for sure.
I still have to get an FMM Visa when I cross the border at Tijuana. And I still have to get Mexican insurance for my motocycleta.
Posted by Rob Kiser on November 8, 2017 at 5:23 PM
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