Driving Méxican Plated Car in USA?

[Mayra]

Does know if I can drive my Méxican plated car in the US for 5-6 months? I see very conflicting information online. Some sites say you have up to a year, some say 90 days. I am a US citizen, have a Méxican license, a US license, an FM3 & would obviously get US insurance.

[The Duck]

You shouldn't have any trouble - we took a 45 day road trip last year. Crossed with no problem and were never stopped or questioned. Getting insurance for a Mexican car temporarily in the US was as simple as getting it for a US car temporarily in Mexico. You can buy it at the border or if you are using the Monterrey- N Laredo toll road there is an agent located at the rest stop just after the midway toll booth. You should also be able to get an idea of the cost from an online site if you Google " Auto Seguros USA " The issuer will probably be a company called National Unity

[doncoulter]

Mayra,

If you'll be traveling all over the country, no problem. But if you plan to stay in one place for those five or six months, you may run afoul of local laws. Most states, perhaps all, allow new residents to drive with out-of-state plates for a limited period, like 30 days. After that, they're required to register their cars locally. So if you'll be staying in one place and could be considered a resident, there could be a problem. You'd be unlikely to be caught, of course, unless you were pulled over for an infraction or involved in an accident.

Regarding insurance, I second what The Duck says, and add that you may be able to get a temporary U.S. policy from your Mexican insurer. In my case, my Mexican policy already includes collision and theft coverage while in the U.S. or Canada, so when I drive up north I only need a rider for liability and medical payments.

Don

[Mayra]

Don, who is your insurance provider? I will be in one small town for that time and expect to be my plates to be noticed by local police. I won't be able to register the vehicle in that State. I don't mind getting pulled over as long as I'm legal (pretty used to it from driving in Mex). I will look into it with the DMV. Thanks for the info!

[pianoheat]

Just a guess

But out of country plates on a car registered out of the country is a lot different than out of State plates and I'm sure the local Law enforcement will understand that. It's a foreign car and it will be going back to Mexico. I've run into the problem with out of State plates when I moved from Colorado to California but like I said it's a completely different situation.

[doncoulter]

Mayra,

I get my insurance through an agency called O&A Seguros, a.k.a. O'Rourke y Asociados, in San Miguel. My agent is Ana María Chávez, phone 415-154-9956. The policy they sell me for Mexico (where my car is registered and where I live year-round) is issued by HDI Seguros, which I think has offices all over. The temporary policy that O'Rourke sells me for U.S. travel is issued by National Unity (the same company The Duck mentioned), which is based in San Antonio, TX.

Don