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

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

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

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.

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!

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

__________________
Tony
Click here for Travel Photos & Travel Map

Thanks so much for all your replies. I really appreciate your time! We figure to head into mainland Mexico end of Dec or beginning of Jan. We did the Baja last year and might ferry over there, also. We have several months before we head home to Alaska and are always just seeking the sun. Our experience in Baja last year was so terrific it left us wanting to explore more of Mexico. Gracias!

I've witnessed a few, been involved in one accident in Mexico. It's good to have insurance!

Fact is: Most Mexicans have NO insurance at all even though it's legally required.

In an accident, if Police show up, basically all drivers involved are under arrest. If you have insurance, you are immediately bailed out and depending on situation/severity, you are cut loose usually same day. No insurance? You sit in jail until fault is determined and debts settled. Can't pay? You stay in Jail.

In most cases Mexicans make a quick "side of the road" deal amongst themselves when an accident happens. They prefer to settle things before Policia show up. Once Police are there ... costs everyone a lot more. I recommend this solution if possible.

With serious injuries this all gets complicated and expensive.

One time a friend hit a flock of Chickens who wandered onto road in small village ... he crashed. He was carted off to hospital and later charged for dead chickens $, speeding $$ ... and (get this one) for damaging THE ROAD! $$$ Only in Mexico!

He dealt with all this from his hospital bed. BTW, medical care and attention was GOOD! (and nearly FREE!)

So ... if someone hits you, backs into your bike or whatever ... first thing ... get license number and get drivers I.D. if possible. If they refuse to pay ... threaten to call Police. This often will bring a result.

Many times driver will take off and run. This happened one time in our group ... guys chased the woman. Not likely she can outrun 1000cc sports bikes. Guys eventually got her pulled over and she paid up for damage done.

Drive careful, be polite but learn how traffic works there ... especially in cities.

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.

Didn't notice any Aduana at Mexicale last month, just immigration. 90% of vehicles will be staying in Baja so no need for a TIP at all and those getting on the ferry at LaPaz can supposedly get the tip in la paz

__________________
Tony
Click here for Travel Photos & Travel Map

The less traveled EAST entrance Border station to Mexicali has an Aduana/Bancjercito office. Right at the border.

It's hard to find when IN Mexicali (all roads try to route you to main, WEST border station. It's easier to find when coming from USA. EAST entrance is mostly used by Mexicans when importing cars from the USA into Mexico.

You don't have to wait behind them (hundreds there) ... it's a separate operation for those imports ... but you may see them lined up as you approach border crossing.

I never got a TVIP there, but did check out/cancelled TVIP there once.

Not everyone entering there goes to Baja, many go EAST along border to intersect with Mex. 15. Once South of Guaymas, you'll need a TVIP (maybe!)

Last week of September this year I entered Mexico at CITY CENTER of MEXICALI and it could not have been any simpler or easier to find the customs office for getting the TVIP and the FMM.
It is done right a the border line in the Mexican customs building.Ride through under the big cover and immediately move over to the left side lanes and park at that building. All paperwork is handled 24/7
Piece of cake ,.
When done you continue south east down Bulevar Lopez Mateos, a big wide busy artery , through the city, then through a nice bunch of neighbourhoods with fancy big box stores, hotels restaurants and you are automatically already on Mex 5 to San Felipe. . There are clear big traffic directing signs to San F and at the crossings with Mex 2 there are directions to Tijuana and San Luis. One would have to be hopelessly clueless to get lost here

The east end crossing called Nuevo Mexicali is more of a problem when coming into Mexico because it puts one in a maze of suburban industrial streets and finding the exit to Mex 5 is an effort. It is 12km east of downtown.
Nvo Mexicali might be okay when leaving Mexico as it is a bit more open air. maybe less hot If you have to wait in line

__________________
http://advrider.com/index.php?thread....207964/page-5 then scroll down to post #93

That's true, the only way I ever found it coming or going was because my friend, who lives in the "Campos" South of San Felipe, knows all the routes in and around Mexicali and knows all the border crossing points and Mexican offices as well. He leads, we follow!

And yes, he uses alternate crossing points to avoid the 2 hour wait. Even so, we split lanes to the front of the line!

From what I've seen in the last 5 or so years is that there is A LOT of construction in the border zones recently. You see it massively in Tijuana, but probably elsewhere too. Entering Tijuana is a totally different with a maze of new (temporay?) roads, an ALL NEW Migracion/Aduana building (huge) as well.

The USA side has undergone change as well. So much more "militarized".
Looks a bit like East Berlin pre The Wall coming down.