Mexico
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[edit] Basic Facts
- Population: 109 million [1]
- Capital: Mexico City, one of the world's most populous cities
- Fun fact: Mexico is a newly industrialized country[2][3] and the 11th largest economy in the world by GDP by purchasing power parity.
While many people may know Mexico best for its beach destinations of Cabo San Lucas, Cozumel, or Cancun, it has much more to offer. Gorgeous beaches in Baja California and the Pacific coast, the spectacular canyons of Barranca del Cobre, the reawakening ghost town of Real de Catorce in the Northern Central Highlands, thriving colonial era cities like Zacatecas, San Miguel Allende, ruins from Monte Alban, Palenque, Yaxchilan, and Tulum, culture and arts in Oaxaca and San Cristobal de la Casas, you could spend months traveling Mexico and leave knowing there's still much more to see.
[edit] Border Crossing Information
[edit] Entry Requirements
[edit] Necessary documents
 Mexican FMT |  Mexican Vehicle Import Document |  Canceled Mexican Vehicle Import Permit |  Mexican Payment Receipt |
- Passport
- Vehicle Title
- Vehicle Registration
- Valid Drivers License
- Proof of insurance that is valid in Mexico
- You will need photocopies of all these documents to hand over to the Mexican consulate, which you can pay for at the border. Making multiple copies of your documents is a good idea, see more tips under Planning your Trip.
To drive legally anywhere in Mexico, you need to purchase insurance from a Mexican insurance agency. If you do not have proof of Mexican insurance, you may be held in jail until all claims are settled. Insurance can be arranged in advance, or purchased at the border. If you are staying for more than a month or two it is usually less expensive to purchase a full year of insurance. See the Insurance section of the Planning Your Trip page for more information.
[edit] Costs
- FMT: $22 American
- Vehicle Import Permit $30´Permiso de Importancion Temporal de Vehiculos´
- Deposit on valid credit card to ensure the car leaves the country
Make sure to keep all papers and receipts associated with these transactions as they are all necessary to leave Mexico.
No permits are necessary as long as the car remains within the border zone (within 18 miles of the border). Otherwise, the vehicle requires a temporary vehicle import permit (permiso de importación temporal de vehículosas) and any individuals traveling with the car need tourist permits or FMT.
Vehicle import permits can be purchased at the border, or beforehand at a consulate or online.
Permits can be purchased after crossing the border into Mexico. Using the above necessary documents you can obtain your FMT and vehicle import permits at the Aduana (Mexican Customs). All necessary payment of fees for this process occur at the Banjercito, located within the Aduana or immigration building.
If the title or car registration has any names listed on it of persons who are not traveling with you, you will need to bring a notarized letter from those persons authorizing the trip. If any lien holder is listed such as a bank or leasing agency, you will also need an notarized letter from that bank or leasing agency authorizing the trip into Mexico. This can make bringing a leased or loaned vehicle into Mexico difficult.
Border Wait Times
Check out border wait times on the US Customs and Border Protection website.
[edit] Exit Requirements
[edit] Necessary documents
- Passport
- Vehicle Title
- Mexican Vehicle Import Permit
- Receipts ´Recibo Bancario de Pago de Contrabuciones, Productos y Aprovechamientos Federales´
- Mexican tourist permit 'FMT'
Bajercito hours (in Mexico) M-F 8am-10 pm Sat 8am-5 pm Sun 9am-4pm
Canceling the Mexican Vehicle Import Permit and Tourist Permit:
After processing some information using your Vehicle Import Papers at the border, the aduana officer will inspect your car to make sure the VIN numbers on the car and documents match. The windshield vehicle import sticker will be removed, and the aduana officer should give you a receipt proving you canceled your vehicle import permission.
Returning the temporary vehicle import permit outside of Mexico
If the temporary vehicle import license is not returned at the border, it must be sent the appropriate authorities (detailed information here)
[edit] Individual Experiences
People's experiences vary depending on crowds at the border, corrupt or honest border officials, and rules can also change. People's individual experiences are included here.
[edit] Roads and Driving
The quality of the roads in Mexico are much lower than found in the United States or Canada. Many roads have large potholes, washouts, or fallen debris blocking part of the road. Never assume any of these things will be blocked off or well marked. Many drivers on the road will be driving at dangerous speeds, consider driving slower than other traffic. Additional information useful to driving in any Latin American country can be found on the general roads and driving helpful hints and cautions pages. Be sure to check out the Dangers and Annoyances section for scams involving the police in Mexico as well.
[edit] Toll Roads
Toll roads in Mexico are the only freeway type roads you will find in Mexico. They are fast, safe, but very expensive, which is why you will often find the toll roads deserted.
Often there is the option of taking a cuota, or toll road, which is often in better condition than the local, libre roads. Cuota roads are indicated with a 'D' after the road number. The cuota highways can cost up to $30 or $40 depending on the location and distance. The toll roads close to the U.S. border seem to be the most expensive. The cuotas tend to bypass the smaller towns as well, while often the libre roads will narrow and slow down significantly as they pass through downtown areas and markets.
[edit] Baja Ferries
You can take your car on a ferry from La Paz to either Topolobampo or Mazatlan on the mainland. The ferry has a bar and restaurant. you might want to consider reserving a cabin on the slower ferry. You can buy tickets at a booth in La Paz for the La Paz to Mazatlan or La Paz to Topolobampo ferry. The Baja Ferries site has more information (in Spanish). The trip takes around 18 hours on the slow boat, 12 hours on the fast boat. Prices around $75 USD per person, and around $250 USD for a normal sized vehicle. Note that you will pass through customs and you may be searched.
[edit] One and a Half Lane Roads
In some areas, you will find two lane highways with a dotted line on the right hand side of the road and a large paved shoulder. Vehicles on these roads drive partially in the shoulder, giving traffic in both directions a narrow amount of room to pass in the middle. Watch for vehicles driving halfway off the road, and be very careful when passing vehicles since an oncoming car may try to pass at the same time. Middle passing lanes have been removed in the United States due to the high rate of accidents.
[edit] Military Checkpoints
On many of the non toll roads, especially along the Michoacan coast and in Chiapas, there are many military checkpoints. These can seem alarming with the bunkers, machine guns, and men in full uniforms, but they are mainly there to combat drug dealers and illegal immigrants. If you are stopped, they typically ask where you came from, where you are going, and where you are from originally. They may ask to see your passport and even search the car. They are very professional, courteous, and even friendly, you may want to smile and chat with them if you feel comfortable.
[edit] Driving Restrictions
In 1989 Mexico State and Mexico City enacted a series of driving restrictions called hoy no circula (today my car won’t drive) aimed at reducing traffic and pollution. The rules, which do apply to any vehicle not registered and plated in the state of Mexico, mean that the last digit of your license plate determines which weekday morning (5 am to 11 am) you are not allowed to drive your car in Mexico City. For example, if the last digit of your plate is “2” it means you can’t drive Thursday mornings. In 2008 a Saturday restriction was also added. For example, based on the 2 at end of your plate you are not allowed to drive at all on the fourth Saturday of every month. You can exempt your vehicle from these rules by getting an inspection and emissions certification sticker for around $5. However, diesel vehicles are never given exemption. There’s not a lot of info available online but the best information is available at Wikipedia's Hoy no circula article. The cops in Mexico can and will pull you over and the penalty is a $100 fine and they can also impound your vehicle. Technically these rules apply to the entire state of Mexico, however, we have only ever seen them enforced in Mexico City.
[edit] Gas Prices
Gas stations are commonly found everywhere in Mexico, with the exceptions being:
- Baja Peninsula - The northern part of the Baja desert you can go 4 hours without a gas station, with no sign warnings.
- Carretera Fronteriza - The highway that follows the Guatemalan - Mexican border has only one gas station.
- Yucatan Peninsula - Long distances between gas stations.
Gas prices are expressed in the units of the specific country.
10/8/08: Price is in Mexican Peso ($) per liter Regular (Magna): $7.25/liter Conversion: 1L=0.26 gallons
[edit] Camping and Hotels
You will find many options for RV and tent camping in Mexico. If you plan to do a lot of camping, especially if you have an RV, you may find the Traveler's Guide to Mexican Camping book useful. Most of the tourist destinations will have a selection of RV campgrounds with hookups.
Compiled here is are roadtripper reviewed campsites and hotels with secure parking
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[edit] Notes
- ↑ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mx.html#People|accessdate=2007-10-03}}
- ↑ Globalization and the Transformation of Foreign Economic Policy, Paweł Bożyk, Newly Industrialized Countries, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd, 2006, page=164
- ↑ The Limits of Convergence, Mauro F. Guillén,Multinationals, Ideology, and Organized Labor, page 126, Princeton University Press, 2003
