Is it possible to bring your American-bought automobile into Mexico? 

Yes, of course you can. As long as you follow the rules set by the Mexican Government which I will talk about in a second. Just remember:  Your driver’s license is valid in Mexico. Your American auto insurance, I can almost guarantee, is NOT!

At the border, this is just part of the process of entering Mainland Mexico:

• You’ll need a temporary car-importation permit,

• A valid driver’s license,

• Current, original car registration, registered in your name, and a copy of the original car title,

• A valid international major credit card.

If your vehicle is financed you will need to take a letter stating that you have permission from the lending institution to take the car out of the country.

If you have an FM3 (Non-immigrant visa – what we call a perpetual tourist visa), you can have a foreign car as long as your FM3 is valid. (If you have an FM2 (Immigrant visa) you cannot bring in your American car.)

If you do bring your car into Mexico, you cannot let anyone drive it other than family members or it might be confiscated by Hacienda (the Internal Revenue).

Also, you can purchase a Mexican car and get it legally registered no matter what type of visa you have.

First, your car will have to be registered at the border crossing.

If you are in Mexico on a tourist visa, your car must leave the country when you enter back into the States. You must not permit anyone outside of your family to operate your car in Mexico. If you are in Mexico with an FM-3 (good for 5 years – renewal each year), and your car has been registered, it’s ok.

Every foreigner is allowed to enter Mexico with one vehicle, which is not Mexican-plated (e.g. US or Canadian), as long as you have the following:

• Mexican Insurance
• an FMT, FM2, or FM3
• registration/ownership in your name

If you have financing on your auto, you must have a letter stating that you have that lending institution’s permission to take that car out of the country), and a credit card or cash to cover a bond for the vehicle.

Your other alternative is to purchase a vehicle in Mexico…the best buy being a used car. They will be less to purchase originally, with lower insurance fees, and a lower registration fee. You can purchase a Mexican auto and get it legally registered, no matter what type visa you have,

A Mexican license requires that you first find the Secretary of Transportation and Vehicles (Secretaria de Transportes y Vialidad) in your locale.

You need:

• a valid passport,
• an FM2 or FM3,
• proof of address (a utility bill)
• a health declaration (sort of says you’re alive and can drive – and we’ve never quite figured our who will write this – other than if you go to a doctor and request one)
• and a valid foreign driver’s license. You may be required to take a written test.You’ll get the license quite quickly – probably within an hour.

If you’re planning on bringing your car across the border into Mexico, you will leave a deposit at the border crossing when they tell you to (a very minimal amount),(my book, Retire In Luxury, goes into all of this), and you must buy Mexican insurance. You must have an international credit card for the deposit (Master Card or VISA are fine). If you get FM-3 status, you can bring a car and keep it with you as long as that status is maintained.

Since it’s one thing to *read* about a place, it’s an entirely different matter to *see* it for yourself, right?

So I shot this quick video for you. You’ll see McDonalds, Applebee’s, the ocean and a whole lot of other familiar places.

OH and YES! Mazatlan is growing like crazy! In many ways, it looks just like your typical American vacation “strip”.

So here’s the video called “Driving around Mazatlan”.

On the way to Rosario, south of Mazatlán, is the small town of Aguacaliente, with banana, mango, orange and coconut groves and a natural hot spring, as the name suggests – in Spanish, “agua” is water and “caliente” is hot. (That’s temperature hot. Hot to the taste is picante.)

Like the hot springs near Concordia, Aguacaliente is a natural laundry center for locals. You may want to pick up a pinata here if a party is in the planning soon.

Copala, a picturesque colonial village that is nestled among the hills, is an ancient mining town, with red roofs, steep, cobblestoned streets and smiling, friendly people, where time seems to stand still. Copola has a number of pleasant restaurants and shops offering the usual range of handicrafts from all over the country, such as the usual hand-made furniture and pottery.

About twenty minutes from Copala, is a little German-inspired village, La Capilla del Taxte. Bird watching is the central activity here, but La Capilla del Taxte is also a great place for mountain hikes and catching a fantastic view of the Sierra Madre.

Less that five minutes before you enter Concordia off of Hwy 40, you may want to take a little side trip. Turn off on the dirt road. You will pass a colorful school on the right, and then turn left when you approach a slight incline. (Drive very slowly) Straight ahead and to the east will be a concrete pillared, open-air structure shading the natural hot springs.

For the locals, these hot springs are a laundry center, where the women come to wash the clothes. There are actually three nearby towns known for their hotsprings: Garate, Santa Fe and Arrona. Not really large enough to be full-fledged hot springs, the locals call these refuges “aguita calientes” or “little hot springs.”

And finally, visit Concordia, a beautiful town founded in 1565 as Villa De San Sebastian. Once in town, you will find a charming old town square, and as usual, it’s right in front of a church…but this church is over 350 years old and is the oldest church in the state of Sinaloa. You will probably want to stroll through the many antique and furniture stands. Do remember to drive carefully, please…and enjoy the trip.

What about you? Have you been to Mazatlan? What’s your opinion?

It’s Thursday, January 3, of the New Year – 2008.  Think we would all agree time goes much too fast nowadays!

Do you remember, years ago, whenever the talk got around to an elderly person, the phrase always came up -  “and the time drags by so slowly for them”?  Boy!  What a change today!

Dick and I finished putting the last of the Christmas decorations away yesterday…seems as though we just put them up.  And if things follow as they always have, I’ll be finding little decorations here and there for the next month or so that Dick will have to try to wedge into the already stored boxes  – that’s the way it goes.  

We have had a wonderful Holiday Season.  The whole family was together for Christmas, and we feel so fortunate for that.  Middle son, Steve, and I made baklava together (one of our favorites), and we all drank rich thick eggnog, exchanged gifts, ate and ate, and had a wonderful visit.  And, yes, we played Christmas music constantly.

The weather has been temperate – not too cold, not hot.  Actually we turned the heating system from “cool” to “heat” – feels so good and really helps to take the chill off.  Dick and I enjoy the short winter because summer will be here before we know it! 

Try to remember – the new year, when you write your checks.  You may want to flip through your checkbook and fill in the year slot on several checks, until you get used to writing it. 

Happy New Year  to you all!

Things have changed…

You used to be able to get back and forth between the States and Mexico with just your driver’s license.

As of January 1, 2008, all US citizens traveling by land, sea, or air, to and from Mexico will require a passport.

So, plan ahead. Get that passport – $97 – and then, guard it as you would any of your personal precious objects! There’s going to be a “frequent crosser” card offered this year, for around $50, apparently for people who cross almost daily.  A visa is not required for stays of up to 180 days, if holding a Tourist Card/FMT form issued free of charge by airlines.

Information for you, regarding a non-immigrant Visa… The FM3… For retirees:If you have decided you want to retire in Mexico, and your expenses will be covered by income brought to Mexico from a foreign country, or income resulting from investments, either in Mexico or abroad, then you can apply for a Nonimmigrant Visa (FM3) for retirees.

The Consulate is only empowered to issue the Nonimmigrant Visa for multiple entries (FM3) to those who wish to make trips of limited duration. (And the duration can be a long time.)

The requirements for a Nonimmigrant Visa (FM3) (we’ve always called this a visa for a “permanent tourist”) for multiple entries are:

• Fill out the Visa Application form, (available at the Consulate website for downloading).
• Appearance in person at the Consulate with a valid passport; and one photocopy of the pages containing personal information;  photograph of bearer and expiration date;
  two (2) front view passport size photos.
• Proof of economic solvency: Applicant must prove a monthly income of $1,000.00 USD dollars, or equivalent in Mexican currency.
• If the applicant will be accompanied by members of his immediate family, the minimum income required will be $500.00 additionally per month for each member 15 years of age or older.

The documents accepted as a proof are: Bank statement, Social Security or Pension Receipts. These documents must be notarized and bear the apostille issued by the Secretary of State of the State where the documents were notarized.

And of course, the all important: Payment of the Consular Fee. Your FM3 will be ready the next business day after applying for it. (FM3 $98.00 US, FM3 (Including work privilege) $159.00 US, FM2 $211.00)