Hi All,

I lost my Mexican paper work for my motorbike. I am going to exit the country in Guatemala in about 1 month. I have been here for about 3 months so far. I still have my Mexican insurance so I know what date I arrived and what port of entry. How should I handle this at the boarder? I MUST have them indicate on their system that I have, in fact, left with the bike. I may want back in someday.

I am thinking I may tell them it got stole somewhere on the trip but I don´t know where.

kevin

Why make up a story about it being stolen?? Tell the truth at the border and they will look it up on their system and all will be fine. People do lose things and they are easy to get a long with. Now, hopefully you can speak a little spanish.

I would be more worried in country at the check stops and corrupt cops.
Cal

So, if you got TVI (temporary vehicle import) paperwork you also got a "Turista" sticker, right? (Hologram sticky) Did you stick it on the bike somewhere? It has a number on it.

No worries in any case. As long as you have not over stayed your 6 month
TVI time allowance you should be OK. Aduana/Bancjercito will use your passport to look you up on their computer. There they will see you've paid for the TVI and the Tourist Visa. (both good for six months) At this point they can check you out of the country, no charges should be forthcoming.

Meanwhile, use you Tourist card for ID along with your passport. It they push for the TVI paperwork, tell them they were lost or stolen.

The main thing is that you are there ... at the border .... with the bike in question within the six month time limit ... you're data should all be in their computer under your name and passport number. Try to tell them your entry date. It all should be there but some Aduana are idiots, some super bright and helpful.

When you check out of Mexico they need to give you a nice certificate showing you left Mexico WITH your bike. Keep this. If you don't check out, then you go on their shit list (computer) and will NOT be able to re-enter with any vehicle. (you can enter, just can't bring vehicle)

NOTE: Your original TVI is good for six months and is effectively a multi-entry permit for the bike, as is the tourist card for you. All multi-entry, which means you won't have to pay fees again if you return within the six months time period. So if you plan to re-enter Mexico soon, then hang onto these papers ... or you will have to pay again. Hope this is not too confusing.

Good luck.

Agree with previous answer- just tell the border officers the truth that that you lost your paperwork and they will find all the pertinent info on the computer.
The excuse that it got "stolen" is pretty stale , it gets overused by way too many travellers, some with not very noble intentions e.g. passports used as templates for making multiple forged documents for other illegals. Besides , it exagerates the perceived level of existing criminality.

Another point I mention is the 6 month validity of the tourist card : yes it is valid for 6 months and multiple entries at the NORTH border of Mexico. For some reason ,in my recent experience, the Mexican border migracion officers have insisited on getting the tourist card turned in when leaving for Guatemala and Belize, but they did not ask for the TVIP back. Hence I had to re-apply for a new tourist card - and pay again- when I returned to Mexico.
And from now on , be more careful of where you keep your documents and don't lose any more.

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

I have no experience in Mexico but if I were you I'd go to the police station immediately and tell them that you've lost your paperwork. They may be kind enough to write up something for you and stamp it.

Local Police in Mexico have NOTHING to do with Aduana and Migracion'. All you would do would be to set yourself up for paying a bribe. If you're a fluent Spanish speaker, you might get through unscathed, but otherwise, watch out.

Most local Police have no idea how Tourist Visas or imported vehicle importation works and never handle this sort of paperwork. There is a very good reason the Mex. Govt. keeps these functions separate.

Really, the only people who can help are either Customs/Banjercito (Aduana) or Immigration (Migracion). These offices are mostly ONLY at the borders and in Mexico City. If you did go into D.F. then you could go solve the issue there, but it won't be easy. Massive bureaucratic nightmare. Probably take a couple days until you find the right person to help you.
At the border it should be solved in 10 minutes.

Traveling in Mexico, the only people who may ask about bike papers will be Federales. Who are Federales? Federales are NOT Soldiers. They are basically Secret Service. Most times they only want to see a Passport, but can hassle you for bike paperwork too. Federales generally speak good English, are well educated (in Mexico City) and can be extremely corrupt and dangerous. They wear plain clothes, are friendly but beware. Local Police and Federales have a very adversarial relationship. Long story, power struggle issues. (sort of like FBI and local police in the USA)

You may encounter Federales at check points but these days its mostly Military only. As long as you've got a passport, most times everything else can be overlooked. The Military are not there to hassle tourists. Smile and do what they ask. Mostly teenagers with Belgian FN machine guns ... safeties OFF. Move slow, let them see your hands.

We traveled 5000 miles in Mexico and only one out of four of us had any bike import papers at all. We were stopped in the most intense drug areas of Mexico. All they ever wanted was Passports.

If anyone asks, tell them you are headed OUT of Mexico, towards la frontera. Now.

Shouldn't be any problem (as long as you haven't overstayed your 180 days). 3 of us rode 6000 miles around Mexico for about 5 weeks in March/April. We all started out with TVIP's, Tourist permits and everything. Did not stick hologram to windshield but kept it with papers (have done that everytime I have gone to Mexico). We were asked to produce the TVIP papers only once. One of the fellows LOST everything (not his passport) along the way. We exited at Progresso/McAllen, Texas and it only took him about an extra 10 minutes to clear it up and we were on our way back to California. You have the bike so obviously you didn't sell it!

Rick
www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/rickmcd

Thanks Everyone!

Very useful information. to answer a couple of questions you had:

I speak a little Spanish

I am not over the 6 month period with regards to teh TVI nand the tourist card

I didn´t put the sticker on teh bike. I told immirgacion that it would impare my vision and they were cool with that. So I lost that too

I know my entry day and point.

I am traveling south.

If there is anything else anyone wants to add please by all means...

K dog