Can I leave my car in México?

I get so many e-mails with that question that I have put a little FAQ on my website.

Rolly, I would politely disagree that only Mexicans can nationalize cars. The procedures in the handbook of SAT list one form of identification for permanent importers as their immigration document. If only Mexicans could import then they wouldn't give an immigration document as an option for ID. Now a few years ago I asked a customs imported if a foreigner could legalize a car and they said no and then asked an attorney for aduana at the Guad airport and they said yes the law had no restrictions but apparently from what the customs agent said, certain people at aduana were giving their own interpretation to the list of acceptable forms of ID and as immigration document used to not be there they assumed that only what was left on the list was to be accepted with no exceptions.

Old book (see p. 10): http://www.aduanas.sat.gob.mx/aduana_mexico/Descargas/vehiculos/VU3_2203061.pdf

Current regs: http://www.aduanasnet.sat.gob.mx/aduana_mexico/2008/vehiculos/141_10009.html


Here is the list from the last link:

Identificación oficial del importador, de cualquiera de los siguientes documentos:

* Credencial para votar con fotografía.

* Cédula Profesional.

* Pasaporte.

* Forma Migratoria con fotografía.

* Cartilla del Servicio Militar Nacional.

* Carta de Naturalización.

* Credencial de Inmigrado.

* Certificado de Matrícula Consular de Alta Seguridad o Digital.

I tried to nationalize my pickup. The broker said I could not. I would have to sign the title to a Mexican. It used to be possible for a non-citizen to do it. I wonder if the references you quoted contain out of date material?

PS, I hate your avatar. Your real picture is much better.

Hahahaha. Thanks. The rules are changing once again with NAFTA and I believe it easier to nationalize, supposedly. The link I gave says information accurate as of July 30, 2010.

Like I said, at one time aduana was interpreting the rules a certain way and now the rules provide for proper ID being an immigration document. I guess the best information would be from someone who has tried recently although many times people (I refer to government workers) don't know the rules or go off of tradition or their interpretation whether right or wrong.