Nationalizing Vehicle at Laredo

Has anyone nationalized their vehicle at Nuevo Laredo/Laredo? I have the names of 2 brokers there and was wondering if anyone has successfully used either one. We will be leaving in just over a week to go and nationalize our 2005 Chrysler Town & Country. We want to use a broker that others have used and then come home and gotten license plates.

The names I have are: Leopoldo Arevalo and his son Eric and also Ramon at GRUPO CUEVAS. Would appreciate any comments from anyone who has done business with either of these persons. If you have another broker you have used successfully I would really like to have their name and contact information.
You can either post here or PM me.

Thanks,
Joni

Here is the write up i sent to friends - late June

I had an appointment with ramon Grupo Cuevas for 9 am in Laredo. Ramon did speak English.

When I arrived on June 18, there were lots of big empty boxes on the front porch of an older two story home converted to a business. The boxes were marked office desks from Office Max. When I was inside it looked like they had just geared up with new inexpensive desks.

I had previously sent in $300, a picture of my Vin, FM3 Copy and Title Copy.

My broker arrived shortly after 9 and said that my papers were being sent over by the other office and they should arrive in about 20 minutes.

So I sat in the waiting room.

Picture a room with about 8 straightback yellow armchairs and 6 purple convention chairs lining 2 and ½ walls (the doorway took another half) with a fireplace in one corner. Then add a yellow dune buggy to the middle of the room. That was the waiting room. On the fireplace mantle was a Texas sales use certificate from 2002.

At 9:45 I went to check status as 20 minutes had gone by a long time ago, and then started paperwork .

Ramon introduced me to the person who would accompany us to the border (there were now 2 other cars). He initially said the person would go with me – I laughed and said I hoped he liked dogs – as they occupied the passenger seat and the rest of the car was loaded to the gills. (He went in another car)

I had a check for $990 which Ramon took and personally endorsed . He then said he was going to the bank to cash. And I signed over my title – as I did not have an IFE so used Ramon’s) I never saw or heard from Ramon again.

So three cars, with me in the middle, drove off to Aduana. The person from the office going with us must have been new at the job as he took a wrong turn. When we crossed the border, he traded places with a facilitator – who spoke only Spanish – who was with us the rest of the day.

When we did arrive at Aduana – a short drive away – we joined hundreds and hundreds of other cars there for the same purpose. Picture a football field filled with cars – in large circles – spiraling around other circles. It was a very warm day. Vendors sold water and other drinks– another older gentleman would periodically check to see if you wanted to order lunch. So I waited and waited – me in the car with two dogs. It took about 4 hours – for the next to last round, a line of 4 cars about 9 or 10 deep proceeded forward where officials checked the vin number and stamped the paper work and applied a sticker to the center windshield. Then it was off to another parking lot to wait while the facilitator finished our paperwork. By now I had also given him another $120 for this.

Then – Voilà ! I got my paperwork – and asked if I could leave – and asked directions – and left. (I also got my title back)

I left with paperwork in hand – nothing taped to the windshield – although I noticed a lot of other people had taped theirs – but my Spanish speaking facilitator never told me to do so (he never spoke to me at all however, just waved his hands when he wanted me do do something) – and I still had my license plates – so I figured, what the hey –

And the rest of the trip was uneventful – when I got to customs, the officer looked at the dog, the dog growled back at the customs officer and the customs officer waved us on through. (The dog, too, had a very long day – and at this point was not taken to wag his tail at strangers sticking their head in the window or washing windows)

All in all, it was easy. Not sure how much cheaper it would be then doing it locally – by the time you add tolls, gas and at least one night in a hotel room. My total cost for my 2001 Nissan was $1410. And I still need to purchase plates.

Give these guys a call. They gave ma quote of $1600 for my 2008 Nissan Pathfinder. Other people have used them. They are very professional. http://grupo-mca.com/
Erick Medina is the fellow to talk to. 956-334-7052 US number.

kiminmexico wrote:Give these guys a call. They gave ma quote of $1600 for my 2008 Nissan Pathfinder. Other people have used them. They are very professional. http://grupo-mca.com/
Erick Medina is the fellow to talk to. 956-334-7052 US number.

but what about your 2 ac bristols?

Pedro,
Those are AC Cobras. Not AC Bristols. Muy differente!!!!

kiminmexico wrote:Pedro,
Those are AC Cobras. Not AC Bristols. Muy differente!!!!

i do know the diferns. yer pics are small. the original bods were bristols. i had a friend in the 60's who heaved a vet engine in one-oh the shame-eh!.
here's one before shelby. a 6 with 3 downdraft webers-oh yeah!