Vehicle permit checker.
The rules follow your plates.
For a car, van, 4x4, motorhome or motorcycle you drive in and take out again. Pick where it's registered and where you're driving, and see how long it can stay and what it needs.
United States plates in Mexico
Permiso de Importación Temporal de Vehículos (Banjercito / ANAM)As long as the driver, up to 180 days
Get it online 10 to 60 days ahead, at a Mexican consulate in the US, or at the Banjercito (CIITEV) office at the border. Cancel it at a Banjercito border office when you leave or you lose the deposit and can't bring a car in again. Not needed in the border zone (about 20 to 26 km), the whole Baja California peninsula, the Sonora free zone (the 'Only Sonora' permit covers the rest of Sonora) and southern Quintana Roo. US-plated cars can drive the border zone, all of Baja, and Sonora (with the cheap Only Sonora permit for the interior of the state) without a full TIP. Everywhere else you need the Banjercito TIP. Mexican liability insurance is still required.
If you fly home without it: Yes while the TIP is valid you may fly out and leave it, but the registered owner must drive it out before the TIP expires.
Have these with you
- Permiso de Importación Temporal de Vehículos (Banjercito / ANAM), US$59.16 fee plus refundable deposit: US$400 (2007 or newer), US$300 (2001 to 2006), US$200 (2000 or older)
- Mexican liability insurance. Mexican-issued liability insurance is required for all vehicles; US/Canadian policies are not accepted. Uninsured drivers in a crash can be detained.
Customs cares where your
vehicle is registered.
An American driving a German-plated van gets the German-plates rule. Your passport decides how long you can stay. Your plates decide how long the vehicle can, and what paperwork it needs at the border.
Temporary import
Most countries let a visitor's vehicle in duty-free for a set time, as long as it leaves again.
A permit at the border
Some, like Mexico, issue a permit tied to your vehicle. Keep it, and cancel it when you leave.
Overstay costs
Stay past the limit and customs can charge import duty and tax, fine you, or hold the vehicle.
A plain-language summary of the official rules, checked on the date shown. It isn't legal advice. If your situation is unusual, confirm with the country's consulate or customs office.
Driving in Europe?Count your vehicle's 6 months and your 90 days side by side.Your days and your vehicle's →Stop typing in your trips.
The app logs your crossings as you go, keeps this count current every morning, and reminds you before you run out. The first week is on us.
