AboutClaudia Reyes-Hull Expertise I have lived in both the US and México. I am familiar with both cultures and languages. I now reside in the mountain town of Coatepec, Veracruz but have traveled extensibly (with and without kids) throughout Mexico and can answer to general questions on culture, travel, people, etc.
Experience Mexican National with experience as a guide for professional architects from the US and Worldwide. Extensive travel through Mexico with and without kids.
Education/Credentials Masters degree in Architecture
Certified translator/ interpreter English/Spanish
Art Teacher
Personal Chef
We have been living in Mexico for the past 5 years and long since brought our car from Texas to Mexico and had it nationalized so it now has Mexican plates. We are returning to the US to live and don't want to take the car because it is really not up for highway driving anymore. So, we wanted to buy a car here in Mexico and take it to the US to live there. We have seen lots of cars that still have US plates and are wondering if it is better to buy one of those, or to buy a mexican car. And, is there anything we need to do with our old car - can we sell it here or trade it in since it is now nationalized with mexican plates??
We want to be super careful because we will be crossing the border with two dogs and all our belongings and don't want surprises with the car.
Thanks
Answer Well, Kit:
There really isn't an easy way around this. Your car is nationalized, so you can sell it or trade it in as if it had been mexican, there is no real problem there. The problem is the acquiring another vehicle.
Cars that you see around Mexico with American plates are usually those brought in by Mexican workers when they return home from the US. They probably get them in with a 180 day visa but never return to the border, so they are pretty much illegal. They can also be junk yard cars that "coyotes" bring into Mexico for "parts", but then sell them complete... you never know what you will find under the hood.
A new car bought in Mexico might be your best bet (or a used one bought from a very reputable dealer- car agency). You will have a much more reliable car. The problem comes when you export it. Most American made cars are obviously more expensive here, but are the easier to export to the US, they only have to change a few parts to put it to code with emmissions and some paper-work. Other cars have extra import fees to cover and probably the emissions check and fix. The export process is similar to the one coming to Mexico, but I recommend checking with US customs, they can give you better info on this. www.cbp.gov
My husband plans to take a VW new car back with us sometime since he likes the models they have in Mexico better than those in the US. He has been looking at VW because there will be an availability of parts for it in the US while FIAT, PEUGOT, etc.. might be harder to get.
Another option would be to rent a car to take you all the way to the border (return it in Texas) and then just buy a new car in the STates.
