What's the deal with those Baja California FRONTERA license plates? (to live in, cars)

[Those Who Squirm]

I don't know if it's still a thing, but when I used to live in SoCal, especially the time I spent in and near San Diego, I would occasionally see vehicles from Baja that had such license plates. I know "Frontera" means frontier or border, but what does it mean in this case? Did it give the vehicle owner any additional rights or privileges, like being able to cross the border more easily? To be clear, I'm talking about a time long before 9/11, when crossing the border was significantly easier for everyone.

[arr430]

It means "fronterizo", or border."'

Mexicans can buy US-plated cars in the US, and get permits to drive them, forever, in the Frontier Zone, without meeting Mexico's strict import requirements. Such cars cannot be driven more than 20 miles into the Republic. An American can also drive that far into Mexico with a US car, no problemo. A "Front"-plated car is treated by Mexico the same as a US-plated car, but the border states require Mexicans to register those cars with their state plates. I presume they have to pay the state registration fee, but never have to pay import taxes into Mexico. It's a nice convenience for Mexicans who want a cheap car for local use.

The Baja Frinterizo Zone used to extend all the way to Cabo (when it was impossible to drive that road) , but I think it's changed now to 20 miles.

[malcorub16]

Like US cars, FRONT plated cars can only go to the pink area.




In South Texas, we would always see Front Tamps.



In So Cal it was Front BC. These days the Fronterizo license plates don't stand out as much as they use too.