Crossing the border in Laredo, TX...? (West: neighborhoods, license, rich)

[quefregados]

Originally Posted by Nyc01

Hello!
my boyyfriend I where reading the procedures for registering your vehicle at the mccallen boarder... Itmentioned that once you register your vehicle.. You need to wait 72hrs in the u.s before entering otherwise we will get a$500 fine. Is this true????

If you are crossing the vehicle with just a permit to travel in Mexico for less than 180 days and returning the vehicle to the US, then there is only the wait you have while you get the sticker & your own permits.

If you are crossing into a border town and not going beyond the limits then you don't need to wait nor do you need a permit for your car - but as of January, you will need your passport for yourself.

If you are crossing into Mexico with the intent on permanently leaving your vehicle and making it "Mexican" then you need to apply at one of the shops that say "nacionalizacion" of vehicles. There are way many more requirements and the car sits in an import/export lot run by US Customs for 72 hours. I assume its there that long so they can check that it isnt stolen or run other checks, etc. but for whatever reason, if you are not moving to Mexico or have other business reasons to make a vehicle mexican, then this is not the route to take.

Good luck.

[pixies]

Question: We are crossing in March driving a car we do not own. Well, we bought it new but we do not have the title. We are still paying it. We cannot get a letter from Capital One saying it is OK but everyone is saying we do not need it, they will let us pass. Is this true? Do we need the title or just the registration?


We cross every year at Laredo. We drive from Nashville and cross the border at 5am.
In 2004, we were robbed by a policeman in Mexico, about 10 miles in. It was very scary, then a white VW followed us and demanded a bribe because we didn't stop for customs. Which was a lie. We paid him 20 bucks to go away.
That was the worse trip ever.

Last year, my Birth certificate was stolen off the desk at the tourist card area. They refused to let me in the country even though the "official" had seen the entire thing happen soooo, I snuck across the border! LOL. I was illegal in Mexico! We take our 6 kids with us and honestly, after you leave the border area, Mexico is safe and beautiful.
You just have to be wise and aware.

[RGV]

that's why we mostly fly down to DF now.

[wade_word]

Regarding this thread's very subject, I have one question: Why?

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

The Mexican police have the ability to confiscate your car if they think your going to take it across the boarder to sell it which is against their laws.

I know this because I know people its happened to, they were driving into Mexico to see family, they confiscated his car and trashed it, a couple years later he got it back but only AFTER he spent money on a lawyer and of course he was paying for the car loan the whole time.

I personally wouldn't drive into Mexico.

If you doubt the cautious statements here, do some research about things that go on in Mexico. If your driving an SUV your just as likely to get it stolen or confiscated and the Mexican police will be driving in a couple days.

I lived in Texas half my life and I have heard horrible stories from many people about visiting Mexico. Not too mention what you read in the press in Mexico.

Check with the American consulate, they very often have travel adviseries out about Mexico for American travelers. In Mexico, you can get slapped with being a drug dealer if you have more then one months worth of medication on you, if they SEE you talking to a known drug dealer, they don't have to prove you KNOW he is a drug dealer or that you are trying to buy drugs from them.

If you get into trouble, in spite of our so called relationship with Mexico, the US has limited ability to help you. I have heard of young people being arrested and being in prison for years. When I was younger, a college girl went down to Mexico to purchase some asthma medication cheaper (as many people do), the police arrested her for being a drug dealer, threw her in prison, refused to give her asthma medication and there she died. A sweet innocent, college girl who had never done anything to anyone.

This is not about racism, I have some very good friends who are Mexican and will tell you even worse stories then I am. Think REALLY hard before you do this.

Does no one remember the case of the man with cancer going down to Mexico either to purchase medication or for cheaper treatment and he was arrested for being a drug dealer? He was not given medication and in spite of the US trying to get him released, he died there in prison.

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

GeACSeme

"Under Mexican law, automobile accidents resulting in personal injuries or property damage are treated as criminal cases."

Tips for Traveling Abroad

Mexico travel warning

Mexico travel advisory issued | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Mexico News

Travel Tips for Mexico

Note where this one points out you must have Mexican car insurance that has liability and legal assistance coverage. If they think you are under the influence, then even your insurance won't help you.

Here is a Canadian site with some interesting things to say.

Travel Report for Mexico

"Kidnappings occur frequently in large urban areas."
Businessmen who travel to Mexico have kidnap insurance its so bad.

"Incidents of assault and sexual aggression against foreigners have been reported. In some cases, hotel employees, taxi drivers and security personnel have been implicated."

"Criminals posing as police officers have approached tourists and asked for their passports or for foreign currency. There have also been cases of legitimate police officers extorting money from tourists or arresting tourists for minor offences."

US State Department Updates Mexico Travel Warning

"Violence by criminal elements affects many parts of the country, urban and rural, including border areas. In recent months there have been execution-style murders of Mexican officials in Tamaulipas (particularly Nuevo Laredo), Michoacan, Baja California, Guerrero (particularly Acapulco), Nuevo Leon (especially in and around Monterrey) and other states. "

I found these links with little effort. I hope we don't have to read about you in the news.

[Eastender67]

Queretaro is a Mexican state in central Mexico, just south of Mexico City. It is also the name of the capital city.
You've never even been to Mexico and you intend to drive to Queretaro? Not a wise move! You should insist that your boyfriend either MEET you at the Texas border and drive down with you or you should FLY down.
. . . and you should get a map and take a look as to just where this place is located. It's SOUTH of Mexico City for gosh sakes. I would not consider driving to there and I've been to Mexico more times than I can recall. Monterrey is the farthest south I've driven. It's not like driving in the U.S.A., especially with (certain) things going on now.
Reconsider.

[CurrentlyinSanAntonio]

Originally Posted by Lakewooder

Google Nuevo Laredo and murder. You must be warned about the dangers.

^^^ You probably really should do what Lakewooder suggest. Nuevo Laredo is where you will have to go through after you leave Laredo on the US side. It has been a hotbed for kidnappings of both US and Mexican nationals for a while now.

A SUV full of stuff with two American girls driving through Nuevo Laredo and the interior of Mexico is about the same as taping a bulls eye to your back and walking down a firing range. You are just asking for trouble, and yes even from police.

The last time I was in Mexico in a car we had to pay the "police" off to stop harassing us and to not give us a ticket for who the hell knows what. I am just glad we had a fluent spanish speaker driving


And like others have said, no guns, ammo, or drugs(I wouldn't even take any prescription if it was me). Your best bet is to fly and just have your stuff shipped to you. Does your boyfriend really think it's safe for you to make that trip in a car by yourself or with just one other girl?

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

Originally Posted by CurrentlyinSanAntonio

^^^

Does your boyfriend really think it's safe for you to make that trip in a car by yourself or with just one other girl?

I think you need to ask yourself if your boyfriend has much common sense if he even knows about your plan and has not advised you against it.

I can't think of another way to put yourself in MORE jeopardy except if maybe you made the trip in the nude.

[Muhnay]

Women, Alone, Traveling Into Mexico at the most volatile dangerous crossing we have. Yeah your Boyfriend is a Jack-Mule. Dump him, and find a man that will think of your safety first.

I have a feeling if she does this we will be reading about her gone missing very soon. Pray she has the smarts and common sense to not make this journey.