10 Year Permit

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

Fall is coming and many questions will be coming up about rv travel in Mexico. One of those questions is permits required for vehicles and persons. On the Rv.Net, our friend Mike (Turtle Toad) has done an excellent job with his FAQs post that he has recently updated http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/23016632.cfm

Not quite as complicated as it sounds, it is just a matter of being prepared. My comment though is regarding the 10 year permit. The 10 year permit was originally intended for Mexicans living and working in the U.S. who would be traveling back and forth with some frequency. This permit was extended a few years back to cover all vehicles requiring a TIP (temporary import permit). Generally, permits are for one year and are cancelled upon exit from Mexico.

I discourage rvers from asking for the 10 year permit for two reasons:

• availability to return permit before it expires

• change of vehicle before returning to Mexico for another trip

You must physically return or cancel the permit before the 10 years expires. So what if you decide while back in your native digs to buy a new vehicle?

There is a form that you can fill out and mail in along with your permit paperwork and sticker but it is a lengthy process and very difficult to track. In the meantime, you cannot take out another permit with your passport until it has been cancelled. The Mexican Aduana now has a very sophisticated system which will track this information. The only other way around it, that I can think of, is apply for a new passport as the system is passport number driven. Unless you know that you will be selling your vehicle in your native country before leaving Mexico, I really discourage this 10 year permit. Besides, you have to stop to get your visa anyway, so while you are there get your 1 year permit.

Also, should you be here for the winter and would like to fly back to the U.S., by law you must take your car to an Aduana office where it is impounded until your return. Many people don't do this and if it were my motorhome, I sure as heck wouldn't take the risk of losing it or paying stiff fines for not following the rules.

What generally happens in the case of an accident, insurance issues, aduana, and permits is that many people don't realize how strict the law is. Once they have a problem, they sour on Mexico travel and then Mexico has a bad rap.

Follow the rules for a safe, fun and enjoyable memory of your Mexico travels. Better safe than sorry.