RVIVA

Are you a resident of Mexico? Want to plate your RV in the Mexican state in which you reside?

How to import your RV or travel trailer to Mexico:

It’s not as difficult as you might think to import a RV or travel trailer into Mexico, but you can’t do it without a customs broker AND you need to understand the costs and processes involved with importation and registration of vehicles and trailers before you proceed.

Laredo has surpassed the Port of Los Angeles to become the nation’s busiest trade hub, accounting for $340 billion in trade with Mexico, annually. I have imported two travel trailers to Mexico via Laredo in the past several years. I have used Importadara Mardel on both occasions and without issue. I would highly recommend them to those looking to do the same.

First, you need to know that a US plated vehicle cannot tow a Mexican plated trailer. The vehicle and trailer must be plated in the SAME country. If you have temporary residency status in Mexico, you may drive a US plated vehicle and tow a US plated trailer. If, however, you have permanent residency in Mexico may not drive a US plated vehicle or tow a US plated trailer.

I imported my trailers while a temporary resident of Mexico, knowing full well that I would seek permanent residency after 4 years. If you’re not sure you want to stay in Mexico, don’t import your RV or trailer. Keep driving a US plated vehicle.

I made the decision to buy and plate a vehicle in Mexico months before I decided to buy a travel trailer. That limited my options to only one: Import the trailer and plate it in Mexico. My brand new and expensive truck was Mexican. Mexican plated trucks can’t tow US plated trailers. Most people in my position would have regretted buying the truck in Mexico and would have preferred to have had both plated in the US until such time that permanent residency was an option. My situation was unique and it worked for me.

The process to import an RV or trailer only takes a few days. To being the process, you must provide the importer with an electronic copy of your vehicle title, passport, and Mexican ID. The importer takes your documents to U.S. Customs to begin the process to canceling your US title. This process takes 2-3 business days.

Prior to importing your vehicle or trailer, most companies will request 50% of the customs and import fees upfront. The other 50% are paid when your vehicle or trailer is returned to you on the Mexican side of the border, along with the documents that you will need to register your vehicle in the Mexican state in which you reside. (You will also need to show this paperwork when you are stopped by the police or national guard while driving your trailer through Mexico. More on that in a moment.)

You make an appointment to meet the importer in Laredo with the vehicle or trailer. They drive the vehicle or trailer into Mexico along with your actual title and supporting documents.

Once your vehicle, canceled title, and importation documents have been given to you, you will pay the other 50% due in Mexican pesos, and you’re ready to return to your home in Mexico.

Be prepared. You will be stopped by police and national guard.

I am always stopped in Mexico while towing my trailer. On my numerous trips driving between Laredo and San Miguel de Allende and towing my travel tailer, I have been stopped as few as once on a journey, and as many as four times.

Have all of your documents ready and be prepared to allow police or national guard members to inspect your trailer or RV, including external compartments. If you are traveling with a trailer or RV that you have just imported, have your paperwork ready to show officers and guardsmen. If you have already registered and plated your vehicle(s), have your registration card and ID card ready handy to show officers and guardsmen. This will speed up the process.

Also, be polite to officers and guardsmen. It goes a long way. When you are motioned to pull over, do so immediately, and turn off your vehicle. I always have my documents ready to hand to the officer or guardsman when they walk up to my vehicle. I always offer or respond to a greeting: “Hola! Buenos días/tarde. ¿Cómo estás, amigo? I offer to invite them into my travel trailer. I answer any questions that they have (and I use Google translate if I have any problems understanding them.) Finally, when their inspection is complete and they return my documents, I offer a handshake or fist bump along with a “Gracias, amigo.”

Remember, these officers and guardsmen are just doing their jobs. Their primary concern is the trafficking of drugs, guns, and humans through Mexico. While they might look at you and think that you’re not likely a member of a cartel, it’s their job to be thorough and thoughtful because their work saves lives. Be grateful. They are interested in protecting you and all visitors to, and residents and citizens of Mexico.

How to register your RV or travel trailer in Mexico:

Step One: “Revisión Vehicular” Inspection by the Fiscalía General Estado (FGE)

Once you have arrived to your home in Mexico, you’re ready to start the process to register your RV or travel trailer. First, you need to make an appointment with the Fiscalía General (FGE) of your state to inspect your RV or trailer.

I live in San Miguel de Allende, in the State of Guanajuato, so I make an appointment with the Fiscalía General del Estado de Guanajuato for “Revisión Vehicular.” This is the legal inspection of your imported vehicle to ensure that its in Mexico and in your posession legally.

In Guanajuato, I use the online portal to schedule my appointment and upload about six different supporting documents in order to process my request for an appointment. Where I live, these appointments are often available same-day, but it might be several weeks depending upon your state and jurisdiction.

You will likely need to pay for the “Revisión Vehicular” appointment prior to showing up for it. In San Miguel de Allende, I go to a government kiosk at a different location to pay for small fee for the anticipated service.

On the day of your “Revisión Vehicular” appointment, arrive 10 minutes early. Have the email or printed copy of your appointment confirmation available to show the agenda, along with the canceled US title, importation documents, and your US passport and Mexican identification.

Where I live, this appointment takes 10-15 minutes with the inspection portion taking less than 5 minutes. The agent checks the VIN and the sticker on your trailer or RV, and provides you with a stamped receipt.

In San Miguel de Allende, they simply stamp the backside of the actual receipt that I received when I paid for the service at the government kiosk. I can’t book my next appointment to register and plate my travel trailer until I have this stamped receipt.

Step Two: Appointment for registration and plates

Now that I have the stamped receipt for “Revisión Vehicular” by the FGE, I can go online to schedule my appointment with Servicio de Administración Tributaria (SAT) for my state. For me, that’s SATEG (Servicio de Administración Tributaria del Estado de Guanajato).

I log into the SATEG portal and upload all of the requested documents. I typically wait 2-3 day for those documents to be verified, and then I am able to schedule my appointment where I can register my travel trailer and plate it in the State of Guanajuato.

When you arrive for your SATEG appointment, be sure to check-in. There may be a front desk administrator who checks your paperwork to verify that you have the necessary documents (which probably include proof of address-CFE electricity bill, bank statement with the QR code; residency card; the stamped receipt from your FGE; and other possible documents). Your state SAT should have a list online of the documents that you need. Most likely, you already uploaded all of them in order to secure your appointment. In San Miguel de Allende, I check-in, the clerk verifies my documents, I wait for my name to be called, start the process at the window, return to the kiosk to pay the fees for the registration and plates, and then return to the waiting room to meet with the same attendant to complete my process. You will receive your registration card and plates while you are there, just as in the USA.

Note: For government appointments at various agencies, I am sometimes asked to show documents that are not listed as requirements on the agency’s website for the prescribed appointment. I have learned to always bring with me a big folder that includes copies of my other government documents, including: a copy of my RFC document, a certificate of my CURP, copies of my property deeds/lease agreements, etc.

What do I do with my car or truck?

If you’re importing a travel trailer, you have to decide if you want to import it into Mexico, or sell it in the US and purchase a new one in Mexico. If you’re towing an old car behind a RV, maybe you want to import it to Mexico along with your RV. Everything that I have read says that a US plated RV can tow a Mexican plated car, but, my two cents, I think you’re setting yourself up for difficult conversations with officers and guardsmen. If your towing a travel trailer with a not-so-inexpensive truck, you might consider selling it in the US and buying a new one in Mexico, even if you have to store your travel trailer in the US while you purchase, register, and plate your new truck. You’ll have to crunch the numbers – import fees, sales taxes, transport costs, etc. – to see if it’s worth importing your vehicle or buying it new or used in Mexico.

Note: Chevrolet and GMC trucks are made in Mexico. Heavy duty RAM trucks are also made in Mexico. You’re getting roughly the same product in Mexico as you are in the US. Ford trucks are assembled in the USA.