Steven M. Fry - YucaLandia
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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: "New Requirements for Bringing Foreign-Plated Cars into Mexico: Banjercito."

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. (Peso amounts are based on applicable exchange rate.)
2007 and later - USD $400
2001 until 2006 - USD $300
2000 and earlier - USD $200

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.
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.

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.
Note: 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.

Over the years, there have been tons of repeated questions about driving cars into Mexico under Tourist Visas, FM2's, FM3's, and now: FMM’s. RollyBrook and others have lots of good stuff, but here’s a Yucalandia view: (Updated 6/19/2011)

Cars and pickups (no dually’s) can be either permanently or temporarily imported by expats with FMM’s, FM3's, and FM2-Rentista’s. The vehicle must be exactly 10 years old to be permanently imported (tramited / “nationalized”), but temporary permits are issued to FMM, FM3 (No Inmigrante), and FM2-Rentista (Inmigrante Rentista) visa holders.

Temporary permitted vehicles must be returned at the end of the visa’s period, or the car can be confiscated by Mexican officials. Visitor’s FMM’s and hence their temporary permits are for 180 days, while vehicles temporarily imported under FM3's and some FM2's are allowed to stay in Mexico as long as the visa remains valid. The owner of the vehicle must stop at Aduana offices at the border to have them remove the import-sticker whenever the vehicle leaves Mexico.

The main part of Mexican Customs Law (Ley Aduanera) that covers expat driving and importation issues is Article 106, and the Operations Manual for Temporarily Imported Vehicles, page 45, Sec. 17-17.4 (“Manual Importacion de Vehiculos”“)
Article 106 basically says two things:

• Your car registration is valid as long as your FMM, FMT, FM2, or FM3 is valid; and
• It describes who is allowed to drive your car.

Article 106 allows foreigners to temporarily import a car into Mexico for the duration of the registered importer’s immigration status: e.g. 180 day FMM visa gives 180 days for their car; FM3 & FM2 holders have the 365 days for their car (plus any extensions or re-applications).

It is also worth noting that:

1.The car import sticker is valid as long as the holder’s Visa remains valid, regardless of the expiration date shown on the import sticker. FM3 period = Vehicle’s approved period.

2.As long as you made your original deposit with a Credit Card, there is no requirement for the driver to go to a border crossing / car permit office to renew it, because it is automatically renewed when you renew your FM2 or FM3.

3. You are required to notify the Mexican Customs office IF YOU MADE A CASH DEPOSIT TO REGISTER YOUR CAR or if you made a credit card deposit after June 11, 2011. This notification (including copies of the vehicle permit and copies of the renewed Visa) can be made in writing and sent to:

Administración General de Aduanas
Administración Central de Planeacion Aduanera
Av. Hidalgo No. 77, Modulo IV, primer piso
Col. Guerrero, Delegación Cuauhtemoc
Código Postal 06300, México, D.F.

There have been many reports on the internet of Mexican police rejecting/challenging ex-pat drivers’ claims that their sticker expiration date is the same as their FM3's or FM2's exp. date. We suggest you keep a copy of Sec. 17-14.4 in your car along with a copy of Article 106.

It is worth noting that you may keep your US or Canadian licensed vehicle here even when you have Inmigrante (FM2) status, but only if that FM2 does not allow you to work in Mexico (Inmigrante Rentista). If your FM2 includes a work permit, then you may not keep a foreign plated vehicle here. FM3's with or without work permits are allowed to keep foreign plated vehicles here in Mexico.

In another twist of the regulations, you must notify Aduana with a simple letter, formally notifying Aduana within 15 days of your change in visa status (“prórroga”) from FMM to FM2 or FM2, so, Aduana can change the temporary status of your vehicle in their computer records.

From Rolly Brook’s excellent site, here is the form of the letter you should send to the above address:

"Por medio de la presente me permito informarle a used que El Instituto Nacional de Migración de este país me ha concedido prorroga en mi calidad migratoria por el tiempo de __*__ días para permanecer en México, con vencimiento del día __**____.

[*= number of days of your FM3 renewal – usually 365]
[**= expiration date of your renewal]

Lo que estoy avisando a esta autoridad para los efectos del Articulo 106, fracción IV, inciso a de la Ley Aduanera, con respecto a la importación temporal de mi vehículo:

Marca:_____________________ [Make of car]
Modelo: ___________________ [Model of car]
No de serie_________________ [VIN]
Efectuada por la Aduana de _______________________ [where you got the permit]
Amparo del Permiso de Importación Temporal No. _______ [hologram number]
Fecha de Entrada del vehículo: _______________ [date of entry with vehicle]
Fecha de Vencimiento del Permiso: ___________ [expiration date of permit]

Para que pueda prolongarse el plazo del vehículo mientras dure mi calidad migratoria.

Atentamente,

[Your signature]
[Your name]"

When you leave Mexico with the vehicle, the sticker must be removed by and retained by the Mexican Customs Authorities. If you do not have them remove the sticker, and have them register the exit of your vehicle from Mexico, then their computer tracking will not allow you to bring in any future vehicles, as there is only one vehicle allowed per visa/person – and their computer system will show that you already have a vehicle in Mexico.

Specifics: Remember the Banjercito office you registered your car at when you entered? When you are leaving Mexico, you need to return to the corresponding BANJERCITO office at the border crossing where/when you are crossing back into the USA with the vehicle. They will check your vehicle & your Temporary Import Permit, and log your vehicle into their computer system as having exited Mexico officially. Banjercito gives you a return certificate to document the change. As with all similar papers, keep this receipt for when you drive back into Mexico in the future (proof that you are allowed to bring another vehicle into Mexico, since the prior vehicle was not left in Mexico, ).

On the off chance that you drove out of Mexico without canceling the permit, then you must return with the car with the Mexican Aduana sticker intact. If that is not possible, it takes special actions and several months of Mexican Gob. actions to clear up the mess. (A good friend from Louisiana reports that it took her over a year to unknot the problems…) At last word, you can call 1 877 448 8728 from the USA or Canada for more information (in Spanish of course). You can then file a formal written request to document your proof that the vehicle cannot be brought back to the Mexican border to the above address.

If you choose this route, here are the basics of what’s needed (Note: this is only if you drove out without registering the vehicle’s exit, and cannot take the vehicle back to the border due to vehicle’s sale, accident, theft, loss in a divorce settlement etc.):

• A notarized letter that explains precisely why you cannot bring the vehicle to the border (in Spanish) and describing the current legal / physical status of the vehicle.
• Copies of the title & registration you used when you took the vehicle into Mexico.
• Your original permit from Banjercito & the sticker from the vehicle (plus a foto of the VIN is very helpful).
• Sufficient documentation to prove your claim of: sale of vehicle, accident, loss in a divorce settlement, theft. Fotos of accidents/total wreck, police reports, official bills of sale – notarized, copies of divorce papers, insurance company reports, etc and other documents that prove your claim are usually necessary. Some past claimants have found that fotos of a wrecked vehicle showing the sticker intact were helpful.
• Your current contact information: home address, phone & e-mail.

Does all this make it clear why it’s worth it to remember to stop and register your vehicle’s exit from Mexico, and let the Aduana folks remove the sticker?

Leaving Mexico without your Vehicle Registered under an FMM: (Hint: Don’t)

If you entered Mexico with a valid FM2 or FM3, then there are no issues leaving Mexico without the vehicle. If, however, you enter Mexico on an FMM, then you must leave only with the vehicle. The vehicle’s permit sticker has control numbers associated with your FMM, and when you leave the country (e.g. by flying), then when you depart Mexico, they take your old FMM.

When you re-enter Mexico, they issue a new FMM, and the number on the new FMM will not correspond to the control number on your car’s sticker, which will potentially cause big problems when you attempt to leave Mexico with the vehicle… ( = time to call a lawyer / abogado ).

Many people who drive across and around Mexico swear-by keeping a copy of Article 106 and Article 17-17.4 in their car, because many/most Mexican Police do not know the rules.

Here are copies to print and carry in the car:

"Que Se Entiende Por Régimen De Importación Temporal
ARTICULO 106.
Se entiende por régimen de importación temporal, la entrada al país de mercancías para permanecer en el por tiempo limitado y con una finalidad especifica, siempre que retornen al extranjero en el mismo estado, por los siguientes plazos.

FRACCION IV. Por el plazo que dure su calidad migratoria, incluyendo sus prorrogas, en los casos.Las de vehículos que sean propiedad de turistas,visitantes, visitantes locales y distinguidos, estudiantes e inmigrantes rentistas, siempre que los mismos sean de su propiedad a excepción de turistasy visitantes locales. Cuando no sean de su propiedad deberán cumplirse los requisitos que establezca el Reglamento. Los vehículos podrán ser conducidos en territorio nacional por un extranjero que tenga algunas de las calidades migratorias a que se refiere este inciso, por el cónyuge, los ascendientes o descendientes del importador, aun cuando estos ultimo no sean extranjeros, o por un nacional, siempre que en este ultimo caso, viaje a bordo del mismo cualquiera de las personas autorizadas para conducir el vehiculo.
Los vehículos a que se refiere este inciso, deberán cumplir con los requisitosque señale el reglamento.

Manual de Operación para la Importación Temporal de Vehículos y Motocicletas:
17.- El plazo para retornar los vehiculos que hubieran sido importados temporalmente al amparo de las calidades migratorias señaladas en la ley, será el de la vigencia de la calidad migratoria, sus prórrogas, apliaciones o refrendos otorgados a dichas calidades migratorial conforme a Ley de la materia.

17.1.- Para estos efectos la prórroga de la vigencia del permiso de importación temporal del vehiculo se acreditará con el documento oficial que emita la autoridad migratoria, sin que se requira autorización de las autoridades aduaneras; en este caso, el permiso de importación temporal se mantendrá vigente aún y cuando el importador haya obtenido cambio en la calidad migratoria de no inmigrante a inmigrante rentista, siempre que exista continuidad en las calidades migratorias.

17.4.- En caso de que el trámite de importación temporal se haya efectuado mediante tarjeta bancaria, y la documentación esté completa, el responsable del CIITEV de la aduana que corresponda, procederá a informa al interesado que no es necesario la presentación de dicho aviso, en virtud de que su vehiculo se encuentra legal en el territorio nacional mientras continúe vigente su calidad migratoria, incluyendo sus prórrogas, ampliaciones o refrendos."

English copies of Article 106 and Sec. 17-17.4

Customs Law Temporary Vehicle Importation Regulations

ARTICLE 106.
Temporary importation is understood as the entry of merchandise into the country, which will remain in it for a limited period of time and for a specific purpose, so long as it is returned abroad in the same condition. The former applies for the following term:

PART IV. For the term of his or her migratory status, including extensions, in the following cases: Vehicles owned by tourists, visitors, local visitors and distinguished visitors, students, and immigrants who are tenants, whenever said vehicles are their own, excepting tourists and local visitors. When the vehicles are not their own, requirements established within the regulations must be met. Such vehicles may be driven within the national territory by a foreigner –the importer holding one of the migratory status referred to in this paragraph, by his or hers spouse, parents or descendants, even when the latter are not foreigners: and by a Mexican as long as one of the persons authorized to drive the vehicle travels with him or her in the car.
Vehicles referred to in this section must meet the requirements pointed out in the regulations.

Manual de Operación para la Importación Temporal de Vehículos y Motocicletas: Sec. 17-17.4
17.- The deadline to return the vehicles [that] had been imported temporarily under immigration grades defined by law, this means the effect of immigration status, extensions, or endorsements given to these qualities migratorial [types of immigration status]under the Act.

17.1.- For this purpose an extension of the duration of the temporary import permit of the vehicle will be credited with an official document issued by the immigration authorities, without the required authorization of the customs authorities, in this case, the temporary import permit will remain valid even and when the importer has obtained the change in immigration status of No Inmigrante to Inmigrante Rentista, provided there is continuity in the immigration status.

17.4 .- If the temporary importation procedure has been made by credit card, and the documentation is complete, the head of CIITEV of the customs office, shall inform the person concerned that it is not necessary to submit such notice, which is required for those with a cash deposit guarantee (referring to paragraphs 17.2 and 17.3], under as their vehicle is legal in the country while their immigration status remains in place, including extensions or endorsements.

Here are a few other things to carry in the car, that really help (are necessary?) if / when the Mexican police stop you:

1. All original documents that were issued with the car’s Mexican importation sticker.
2. A copy of the visa associated with the car’s sticker: FMM, FM2, or FM3.
3. A copy of the passport associated with the car’s sticker.
4. A copy of Article 106 & Sec. 17-17.4 (shown above).

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.