TVIP- do I need my title to get this

[yukonron]

Hi All,

I am new to posting on the forum but have enjoyed Horizons Unlimited since discovering it in 2011 when my husband and I were planning our first bike trip from our home in Alaska to the Lower 48. It is inspiring to me to see all the places folks are traveling on their bikes!

Anyway, the answer is probably already here on the forum but I did not easily find it. Here's my question...

Do I need the title to get a TVIP to take the bike into Mexico or is the current registration sufficient?

All the reading I have done says title OR registration is needed. But last night I came across a website that said motorcycles specifically need the title to obtain the permit. Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated and I suspect I will have more questions as we are planning to head to Mexico toward the end of December. We did the Baja last year and loved the trip. We are looking to head to the mainland probably toward Gudalajara. So I know I have a lot of good reading to do here on the forum.

Gracias,
mary

[LD Hack]

Registration has worked for me multiple times between the US and Mexico. They ask for "el titulo", but presenting a registration works just fine.

[xfiltrate]

Hi Mary, Remember, to stop after entering Mexico and get a tourist permit for yourself - cost about $20.00 USD for US citizens - good for up to six months.

if you enter Mexico through the State of Sonora - and are not going further into Mexico than Sonora's "vehicle hassle free zone" - shown in yellow on the map found at link below you need only a .."Sonora Only Permit" or perhaps no permit at all....??? I have spoken to many foreigners here who don't bother getting the Sonora only permit. Perhaps this is now legal???

Sonora Vehicle Permit - Sonora, Mexico

But, if you plan on traveling beyond San Carlos you will need a TVIP for all of Mexico , have to present a credit card etc etc

I have encountered different answers to your question regarding the need for the vehicle/ moto title along with a registration or if a registration alone will suffice? This might depend on who you are dealing with to get your TVIP some officials might require title others not.

The link below has one answer - and mentions that "financed" vehicles need letters of authorization to visit Mexico from the financing bank - in reality I do not know if this is enforced or not...

Mexico Vehicle Permits


Some other links and blogs differ, as laws and enforcement of laws seem not to be a constant.

I will say, I am in Mexico now and the border crossing officials were very helpful and made our entry very easy...
Tourism is important to the Mexican economy and generally speaking tourists are welcomed into Mexico with as little hassle as possible. Sorry I could not be more helpful. Be prepared to wait in line unless you bypass
Nogales for the smaller border post nearby.

Buena Suerte

xfiltrate

[OzMatt]

Hi Mary,
I entered via Tecate a couple of weeks ago with another rider.
She only had her registration documents not the title and she got the TVIP with no problems.

[mollydog]

This is true, they ask for the "titulo" but generally current, valid vehicle state registration is acceptable along with Passport, credit card.

After all, valid vehicle reg. is all you ever need for proof when driving in any of 50 states. You are not required under US law to carry your title, in fact govt. advises against it. If someone has your title ... they legally OWN your vehicle and it's up to YOU to prove otherwise to get it back!. :help smilie:

It also helps if everything matches, IE: vehicle registration, Passport, name on credit card used for your deposit ... name and addresses should all match if possible.

I think the way the system is now, Mexico cannot lose. If you fail to check your bike out with Aduana before you leave Mexico ... you lose your $400 deposit! and THE FACT is: very few non Mexican tourists intend to sell their vehicle in Mexico. Only Mexicans pull this scam ... and it's fairly common and the reason why all this TVIP nonsense is in place at all.

Why would they demand title?
ANSWER: Long story (theory) for another thread)
In the end it's the money that matters most. Once they have your credit card info, they seem happy enough to issue TVIP.

NOTE: TVIP (not free) ... I believe it is now up to around
$55 to $60 USD, depending on X change rate? (good 6 months, multi entry)

Just in case, I bring a nice double sided, full color Zerox Laser copy of my original title (aka pink slip) printed on quality paper, but I DO NOT bring original title.

This has been fine combined with current reg., passport, credit card and DL. (DL not really required ... passport is what they want to see)
Technically, liability insurance is legally required in Mexico but Aduana (at this point) do not ask for proof of it. BUT DO BUY IT! Online or at the border.
Safe Travels!

[Tony LEE]

Several other country's aduanas also have no interest in whether you buy insurance so I guess it is really a police matter and something that ends up in the civil and or criminal courts if there is an accident

[RickMcD]

Originally Posted by OzMatt

Hi Mary,
I entered via Tecate a couple of weeks ago with another rider.
She only had her registration documents not the title and she got the TVIP with no problems.

At Tecate! Has this recently changed? Used to get TVIP there regularly but then they stopped issuing there. Are they back in the TVIP business again at Tecate?

[mollydog]

Originally Posted by RickMcD

At Tecate! Has this recently changed? Used to get TVIP there regularly but then they stopped issuing there. Are they back in the TVIP business again at Tecate?

Yes, I wondered about that too. Last I heard you can get your Tourist Visa at Tecate border but not a TVIP. Dunno.

Maybe things have changed up? ... I hope so as Tecate is far more mellow than
either Tijuana or Mexicali ... and great dirt routes begin not far out of town.