How to Get Vehicle Permits for Mexico - TIP - 2022 (2023)

For 2022, the Banjercito vehicle permits (TIPS) online cost MXN $1063.84, which figures to USD $52-$55 using their exchange rate of a little over 20 pesos to the dollar. The permit fee is the same for Only Sonora, motorhomes, motorcycles as well as all-Mexico cars and pickups.

I had a customer cross at the Columbia Bridge, N. Laredo with a 3/4 ton, so things are loosening up. However, I cannot guarantee you will be so lucky. So here are all your alternatives. Pick the one that appeals to you.

If your pickup is 3/4 or 1 ton, trygetting your permit online. Click “English” to translate. You won’t get a TIP or vehicle permit at the Texas border, though you may get lucky (!!) on the Arizona / Sonora border. In case you want to get your tourist permit online,here’s the link for Mexican Immigration.

How To Get Car / Truck / Motorcycle Permit (TIP) for Mexico

You have to pay the Mexican Treasury department (Hacienda) by credit card (VI, MC) or debit card with a VI or MC logo. You need the title or registration for your car or RV (title only for motorcycles). Make sure your documentation has the VIN # and License Plate # on it. Otherwise you will be denied a permit. It happened to me.

You aresupposed to havea notarized letter of permission to take your vehicle into Mexico if it is financed (if you can’t get one, you’llprobablyget yourMexican vehicle permit— I have never been asked for one — but don’t blame me if you run into aHaciendaofficial who is a sticker for rules and refuses to give you aMexico driving vehicle permitfor not having it).

I never thought it was a Mexican government rule. I think it was something made up by the US companies selling Mexico insurance to make the lien-holders feel safer.

There is a deposit on all vehicles – Cash or Credit Card

You mustpay a deposit on your vehicleby cash or credit card (MC, VI only – though oddly enough, they say they accept debit cards if they have the MC, VI logo). The deposits for yourcar, RV, pickup truck or motorcycle permitvary by the year model of your vehicle.

You must pay a deposit on your vehicle based on its age. The cost of the deposit has not changed since the program was begun several uears ago. Your deposit is returned when you return your vehocle and cancel your TIP. It is the honey or vinegar method to insure compliance. If you don’t cancel your TIP you will be banned from driving in Mexoco untl you do.I have asolution for that here. If youy don’t cancel your FMM (tourist card), not only will you not be able to return to Mexico, you will acrue fines until you resolve the matter. I’ve got a solution for that too. But do the right thing and you won’t need either.

Put your truck on a diet

Vehicle permits (TIPS) are officially no longer issued to non-Motorhome vehicles with a GVWR greater than 7,714 pounds.

Tourist Permits – FMM

If you are a tourist, you must get a tourist card fromMigracion(Immigration). You get the tourist card at the border crossing in the same building where you get the vehicle permits, or just next door. If you are a newly-minted expat, you’ll get a 30 day visa that you’ll exchange for yourresidente temporalvisa in your new hometown. DON’T let them give you a 180 permit! Your vehicle permit will also be for 30 days and you get a new expiration when you get theresidente temporal.

Tourist permits are good for up to 180 days. So are tourist vehicle permits. However, Migracion is cracking down on gringo “tourists” who really live in Mexico as, get this, illegal immigrants. Their database also tracks who comes and goes and when. So, youmay not get a 180 day FMM. In fact, get a tourist card for fewer days so you can come back again and claim the rest of your time.

For 2007 and newer vehicles, (This has not changed since 2007) deposit is $400. 2001-2006 – $300. 2000 and older – $200. This is charged to your credit card immediately. If you cancel the permit on time you get your deposit back. It is refunded to your credit card two to three business days after you cancel your permit. Cash deposits are returned when you cancel the permit. These figures (as of 2022) don’t change each year, so you don’t drop down in rank each year. A 2001 vehicle will pay $400 this year just like last year.

If you return your vehicle permit even a few minutes late, you lose your deposit, though you can still cancel the permit. If the permit is issued at 9:00 AM on day 1, it expires at 9:00 AM on day 180. Be sure to check the expiration date of your permit, in case they figured the number of days on your permit differently. It happens.

Disadvantages Of Getting A TIP Online

While you can get yourcar, truck, RV or motorcycle permitonline, except for the exceptions I noted below, I don’t recommend you do so. You still have to stop at the border to get your immigration permit, so what’s the benefit?

Getting your vehicle permit at the border takes about thirty minutes (after you get your immigration permit). The officials are scrupulously honest these days. In the past, they were less so, which is why the government started the online program. The link to the Banjército website for onlinepermits is here.

Below are a couple of exceptions to this rule. Otherwise, I would not waste my time or money getting my vehicle permit online.

I put my money where my mouth is (on everything on this site). I get my vehicle permit at the border. And, yeah, you may be one of the lucky ones where getting your vehicle permit could take an hour or so. So? Enjoy the flavor of Mexico while you wait. I would still rather get my vehicle permit on the border.

Advantage of Getting A Vehicle Permit Online!

I am always learning from my friends (aka customers). Henry V. sent me this info.There ARE advantages to getting your TIP online IF you are in the canje part of the Temporal Resident process. You only get a 30 day TIP with this, since it has to follow the length of your canje visa. Then you have to scramble afterwards to extend your TIP or lose the deposit. If instead, you get it online, you can get a 180 day TIP and take your time dealing with Aduana to do your extension. I did this last year and got my deposit back.

Substandard Insurance Offered

If you do decide to get your permit online, pleaseDO NOTcheck the box to order theauto insurancethey offer. There is nothing wrong with the insurance, it is legitimate, it’s just that it is substandard. If you get “named peril” (the equivalent of full coverage, though there are differences), you will only be allowed to have your vehicle fixed in Mexico. With any better grade of insurance (like the ones on my site, of course – but there are others), you have the choice of getting repairs done in the USA or Mexico, in addition to getting emergency repairs done in Mexico to get you back on the road. If you have anRV or motorcycle, there is no way in hell you will get it repaired to your satisfaction in Mexico, if only because of the lack of parts.

Can You Enter Mexico At A Different Border Crossing If You Get Your Permit Online?

I have gotten a rash of people asking me if they can cross at a different border crossing than the one they chose when they ordered their permit. The answer is,“Yes, BUT ….”

Often people come to me for trip-planning advice after they got their online permit. After we talk, they often change their route, based on my knowledge and suggestions. Then they get in a panic.

One official told me privately that if you cross in the same region, you will be okay. That means if you chose any crossing in Reynosa or Matamoros, you will be okay, as they all are all in the same region. If you chose Nogales and change your mind to Matamoros, I really don’t know what would happen. However, I have had people cross at Reynosa who said they were going to cross at N. Laredo.

Sometimes It Makes Sense To Get Your Vehicle Permit Online

Nothing written about Mexico should be black and white. There are always exceptions. Somemotorcyclists find it of great value, however. It eliminates the need for them to carry the title to their ride, which is necessary (for them only) to get a vehicle permit.

If you are driving to Mexico during the Christmas or Easter vacation time, yeah, go ahead. It is definitely worth it because the lines will be long at the border.

If you have a vehicle with a GVWR > 7,700 pounds, since the regulations change often, try getting the online permit first.

You Can Cancel (Return) Your Vehicle Permit At Any Border Crossing

It does not matter where you got the permit for your car, truck, RV or motorcycle.Canceling your permitmeans showing up at the Banjército kiosk with your vehicle and all the documentation you received when you got your permit. If you lost that big, official paper your permit was attached to, you will get a scolding and be asked to sign a form indicating you are a forgetful, disorganized klutz and didn’t mean violate the laws permitting foreigners to temporarily import their vehicles into Mexico. Once signed, all will be smiles and you can cancel your permit. I speak from sad experience on this. It is officially on record that I am a forgetful, disorganized klutz.

Car & Trailer Permits

Now, a car and trailer get two permits. The car gets a six-month permit to allow it to be driven in Mexico. The trailer gets a ten-year permit. The trailer permit costs (this could change tomorrow) 644 pesos. Thanks to Gary W. for this information.

Those 10-year trailer permits are a dangerous thing. So often people don’t cancel them, leave them in Mexico and come home, or bring them back and end up selling the trailer in the USA or Canada. Then, when they expire, they will be barred from driving in Mexico.

Please note: If the border official wants to put your car and trailer on the same permit, don’t let him. If he does,you won’t be able to cancel your car permit if you don’t also cancel your trailer permit. In other words, you would have to bring them both back to the border. If you are getting aResidente Temporal(not permanente) visa, your car and trailer should be good as long as your immigration visa is good.

This changes all the time, but often RV’s are inspected when crossing at most border crossings, even at some Baja crossings.

Exceptions to Needing A Vehicle Permit

You must obtain aMexican vehicle permitif you aredriving in Mexicobeyond the Mexican border – except for parts of Sonora. No permits are required to drive to Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco) or as far south and west in Sonora asGuaymas,San CarlosandEmpalme. A special “Sonora Only” permit is required if you drive farther south or east, but still only in Sonora. Should you cross atAgua Prieta, you need the federal vehicle permit that is good for the whole country. You can get either the Sonora only or all-Mexico vehicle permit at theBanjercitokiosk right on MEX-15 atEmpalme, SE ofGuaymas. Thanks to alert reader, Maralan, who corrected an earlier mistake of mine. Last I checked you could not cancel the permit here, but things change so ask them.

You Can Lose Your Deposit If …

If you cancel your car, RV or motorcycle permit after expiration, you do not get your deposit back, but will be able to obtain a new permit after you cancel the old permit, no matter when. Let me be perfectly clear about this. You MUST ‘cancel’ or return your permit before you can get another permit. That pretty much means you have to drive the permitted vehicle BACK to the border. If you cannot drive it back to the border because it was lost, stolen or broken, go tosee my informationon what to do.

Special Rules for Residents

For Temporary residents (old FM3) and permanent residents (old FM2) things are a bit different. AND they could change tomorrow. They changed often enough last year.Double-check all this stuff while you are at the consulate, don’t wait until you get to the border!

Since you have to get your residency visas validated in-country, you should have gotten a temporary travel permit stamped in your passport by the consulate. It is good for 30 days and is validated at the border. However, some border officials want to issue you an FMM. You should make sure you got a travel permit and use that. Temporary visa-holders – your vehicle permit is good as long as your immigration permit is good. Permanent visa-holders – see below.When you get your temporary permit validated, things change. Again, thanks to Henry:for these details:I went to our office in Progreso Yucatan. There I needed to contact Aduana, submit a letter with attachments and copies, then wait for the packet to be sent to DF for approval. Hassle, but not insurmountable. This let me extend the TIP to the end of the first year of my Temporal ( I only paid for one year).

For permanent residents,you have to import your vehicle to Mexicoand pay taxes on it. It becomes “regularized” or registered in Mexico. The government began cracking down (impounding vehicles) on residents who didn’t pay their annual taxes so make sure you do this right – if you want to keep your vehicle. You could also take it back the the USA and sell it, then buy a new vehicle in Mexico.

How to Get Vehicle Permits for Mexico - TIP - 2022 (1)

Can you take a towed vehicle to Mexico? A motorcycle? ATV?

These are the official rules from Hacienda fornon-Motorhome tourists. If you have a motorhome, you can temporarily import a towed vehicle.

a) A temporary import is only possible for one vehicle at a time.

b) The maximum load capacity for a temporary vehicle import is 3.5 tons.Note: that is currently interpreted as GVWR – NOT payload.

c) You may tow with your vehicle one to three motorcycles, beach cars or dune buggies, or four-wheel motorcycles or ATVs, equivalent to the number of people traveling inside the vehicle. They CANNOT be street-legal. You must be able to provide proof of ownership for the vehicles being transported and they must be returned along with the towing or transporting vehicle. You get one permit for all.

d) It is not permitted to sell the temporarily imported vehicles on Mexican territory or use them for commercial activities.

e) The vehicle must be returned to the country of origin within the authorized time-frame as stated in the Temporary Import Permit.

Be darn sure to turn this permit in before leaving Mexico. Otherwise, you will not be able to drive to Mexico. Period. Hacienda (the treasury department) keeps really good track of these vehicle permits.

You can’t just pass them to the toll-taker at the bridge or border crossing. You must find the Banjército / Migración complex and get the vehicle permit recorded, scanned and scrapped off your windshield by a polite Banjército employee. He or she will give you a computer-printed receipt showing you canceled your permit. There is no other way to do it.

Sonora makes it easy to cancel the permits, with kiosks at KM 21 on MEX-15 (just south of Nogales, Sonora). You pull in, someone scans your permit, does the required checking and you are done. I wish all border crossings were that simple. During Christmas and Easter vacations temporary kiosks are always rumored to be put up near Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, but so far, they are not permanent. The Banjercito office is generally near the bridge or crossing point. Google “Banercito offices” to find addresses. ALWAYS stop before getting into a long line of vehicles at the border crossing. Look for official-looking buildings, generally to the left, in the middle between incoming and outgoing lanes. There is often a sign. Sure it is a PITA to retunr your permits, But, trust me, it is more of one to cancel one later.

What If I Don’t Cancel My Vehicle Permit?

I have been told often enough by Hacienda officials that there is no fine that I believe that to be true. I have talked to plenty of gringos who canceled permits months or even years old. You can turn in a permit no matter how old – you just have to have the vehicle and the permit. If you did not turn your vehicle permit in, I can provide you with the only official way to cancel them. I charge for this service. But read on.

You have to pay the Mexican Treasury department (Hacienda) by credit card or debit card with a VI, MC logo. Discover card is not accepted by them. (It has limited acceptance in Mexico in general).

That said, some people have told me that they didn’t turn their Mexico vehicle permit in and got back into Mexico anyway. Others have told me that they were detained at the Mexican border.

If you did not turn in your Mexican vehicle permit, you MAY still be able to get it canceled – if you did not sell your vehicle in Mexico and can prove it made it back to the USA. If you cannot do that, do not write me. I have thecorrect informationon how to do this andI charge for it.

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