Update on buying MX plated cars & MX license

[Jzmackenzie]

FYI

After weeks of careful research, there is a Mexican plated vehicle sitting outside my office door today. As the back of my "No Immigrante" visa is a 4, my next step is "residente permanente." To do this requires either not owning a vehicle, buying a MX plated vehicle, or nationalizing the vehicle you drove here (as long as it was manufactured in the US/Canada/MX).

After narrowing down the vehicle options, I used Mercado Libre to compare Kelly Blue book values with prices in Mexico - all over Mexico. I was able to find what I wanted in Irapuato, GTO, MX. I was told to stay in the same state to avoid "about 17 pages of paperwork." As it turns out, the owner just moved from Mexico City and had those tags! I forged ahead anyway after checking a site the Mexican government updates every 48 hours with NIV (VIN) numbers of vehicles reported as stolen. The one I wanted to buy was not there.

I had money wired to GTO. However, like most things in Mexico, getting what you want in your hand takes time. I took longer to get the cash in my hand, than for the international wire to get to Mexico. It took from 9am to 3:30pm for the bank's branch to gather about $5K in cash.

Yesterday we drove to Irapuato to get the vehicle. I had my passport, FM3, three utility bills (two in my landlord's name), my home rental contract, and cash. I was told that I could NOT get Mexican plates "unless you can prove the city where you live with a Mexican document." Fortunately, I had my Mexican driver's license with the notation "Cajones, Guanajuato, Mexico," on it. If you plan to live here, you might take note of the value of that ID. Be aware that you will have to give up your USA license when you apply (no worries, a duplicate can usually be ordered online).

How to Get a Mexican Driver's License

STEP ONE: Gather together and make ONE copy (a) your passport, (b) the front
AND back of your FM3 visa, © utility bills that have your address on
them, (d) your existing VALID drivers license.

STEP TWO: Go to the Red Cross ambulance office next door to Mexicana Comerical.
Just walk in and say you need a health declaration. You will pay
$50pesos for a blood test to determine your blood type. (ie.
regardless of the fact that my Medic Alert Bracelet says "B Pos" I
still had to have the test.).
The results take one hour (ie. they said one hour and it took just one
hour - amazing)
You will then pay $95 pesos to see the medical doctor. You will be
interviewed about your health: surgeries, medicine you take, vision
and hearing needs, weight (taken) and height (taken).
You will be given a health declaration.

STEP THREE: Go the the Transito Office. Take the road to Marfil, Yurabuena past
the Glorita Santa Fe toward... Puenticillias. Turn around and head
back to GTO and see a big clearly marked sign "Oficina del Transito"
with an arrow (another amazing occurance) and head up the hill a short
distance. The entire BIG building is a dark terra cotta - freshly
painted. A nice security guard will tell you to park in a fenced in
area to the right. Walk into the building about the middle and get in
the first of many lines. Show your ONE copy of (a) your passport, (b)
the front AND back of your FM3 visa, © utility bills that have your
address on them, (d) your existing VALID driver's license AND all the
originals and your health declaration. .
Answer lots of questions including how many years you want to buy. I
choose 5 years, the max. and the fee was $648 pesos.
Choose to give up your USA driver's license and move to step two OR
keep you USA drivers license and take an eye test, hearing test,
written driver's test (in Spanish), and physical drivers test. I choose to give up my existing VALID driver's license.
They will take and hold both your USA driver's license and your FM3/FM2
for about 30 minutes - this also happened when I got the Mexican plates - I suspect they are researching your credentials during that time.
You will then be told to go to the cashier. You will need to be sure
all the answers you gave are correct and have a photo taken, your
right and left fingerprint, and your signature. Then you will take a
paper outside to another building and stand in another line to pay.
Take that receipt back to the cashier and get back your FM3/FM2.
The man will hand you a driver's license!

BTW. I made about 6-7 phone calls to Jolene to help me translate. You
might want to take a Spanish speaker with you to help with the
process.

Total cost: $798 pesos ($57.75USD) for a five year license and about 3 hours waiting time.