The Mexican Ministry of Finance and Public Credit has issued a new decree affecting expats bringing foreign plated cars into Mexico: “New Requirements for Bringing Foreign-Plated Cars into Mexico: Banjercito”. From the Banjercito website:
“IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
The Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (SHCP) has issued a decree which states that beginning on June 11th, 2011 anyone applying for a temporary import permit for vehicles must make a deposit in the amount determined by the following table:
Vehicle Year Model:…….Amount to be paid in Mexican Pesos*
2007 and later…….USD $400
2001 until 2006…….USD $300
2000 and earlier…….USD $200
*Peso amounts are based on applicable exchange rate
This deposit is compulsory and can be paid by credit card, debit card, or cash (in US Dollars only).
Users must keep in mind that if the deposit is charged to a credit card, the charge will be made in Mexican Pesos and will be calculated based on the exchange rate of the day on which the payment is made. This deposit will be refunded to the same credit card on the next banking business day after the vehicle is fully returned and based on the exchange rate of that day.
Other Fees:
There is a one time $44 USD fee for getting a Temporary Import permit plus the IVA tax (typically about 16%), that can be paid on the internet or at the border. A number of web-reports from expats describe that their online payments were assigned to the wrong person or wrong vehicle, and they report that they had no way of recovering the money. This means that it may be worth it to stand in line at the Aduana/Banjercito lines at the border and apply for your Temporary Import permit in person, to avoid being permanently mis-charged.
Other Requirements:
The vehicle must be returned on time and within the time period stated on the temporary import permit. If the vehicle is returned after the stated time period, the entire deposit amount will be transferred to the Office of the Treasury on the day following the expected return date, as allowed by current law. The Temporary Import permit is kept from expiring by notifying Aduana of every INM visa renewal or change in residency status. The law requires notifying Aduana, in person, of INM visa status within 15 days of the renewal or change. See: “Moving to Mexico: FMM, FM2, or FM3“ Subsection: Added Rules for Keeping A Foreign Vehicle in Mexico: for the specific application letter and documents needed with the Aduana application to update your visa expiration date and visa status. (In reality Mexico does not issue visas, FMM, FM2/FM3 Inmigrante/No Imnigrante, Inmigrado are actually residency permits.)
Last Item:
Another clause in the new updated regulations requires FM2 Rentista and FM3 holders to notify Aduana within 15 days of when they renew their FM2 or FM3, otherwise Aduana is allowed to confiscate/keep these “new” deposits. Aduana’s address is listed in Yucalandia’s main article on cars in Mexico: “Importing & Driving a Car in Mexico”
June 22 Update:
Spent yesterday afternoon talking with 3 different Aduana officials (including 30 minutes with a supervisor) and with a Banjercito supervisor and agent at the Chetumal / Belize border. The Banjercito officials were very emphatic about encouraging people with Temporary Import Permits for vehicles that they start updating their INM permits process as early as possible (30 days before the expiration date), and they said to notify Aduana of the extension of the car permit expiration date by AT LEAST a week before the expiration date, and 2 weeks if possible. They said that the system between Aduana and Banjercito for updating expiration dates is not always working rapidly, and the STRONGLY ENCOURAGED notifying Aduana in person with an official letter long before 15 days after the issuance date of the renewed INM permit.
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This post is meant as a public service announcement (not meant as legal advice), so, we here at Yucandia will keep the post updated with further understandings and clarifications as they develop.
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© Steven M. Fry
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