My Experience Nationalizing My 2002 Jeep Wrangler in Sept / Oct 2013

By Bill Ragan Bill.d.ragan@gmail.com

I began the process by contacting Oscar Angulo (email:ancomercial@hotmail.com . Mexican cel 631-120-1015. US cel 520-988-1986. ) to get details and a quote. I needed to send pictures of my VIN number and arrival details when known. The quote to get the import documents was $950 usd but because it was registered in Alberta the title is the registration document. This required a workaround and the cost would now be $1090 usd.

Prior to leaving, two of us went to SAT to get the 5 day safe passage document. We actually left a few days later and most of the 5 days was over but it did not matter because we were not stopped on the way to Nogales. The safe passage document is easy to get, they have a template you fill in as well as the original and a copy of registration, TIP papers, passport, immigration document and a copy of the form itself. I have the form in Word format just needing you to fill in your details. If you would like a copy just let me know. Go in a couple of days before you want to leave.

The drive to Nogales was uneventful with lots of trucks and construction on the road (we took the toll road). We made it there in two days. The only thing I would do different is just choose hotels on the highway vs. using trip adviser and finding top rated places. Simpler.

San Carlos

We got to within 80 km of the border just north of Santa Ana and stayed in Magdalana for the night at a roadside hotel as you first enter town. We phoned Oscar and arranged to meet him the next day at the immigration station south of Nogales at km 21. His wife was having a serious medical issue so he sent an associate Roberto. I know there has been forum chat about Oscar not being a customs broker and I suspect this is correct. More important, however, is that he knows the process and does it quickly and in your presense. In 1.5 hours Roberto and I had my Pedimento (import papers), new window sticker, and turned in my old TIP sticker. This process apparently actually cost about 8200 pesos according to the official receipts received so the difference between that and the $950 usd being their profit, about $320. The best analogy is the immigration process and using a person to help obtain the old FM3. This person was not an immigration lawyer, just someone who knows the process. Would it be possible to do this yourself, yes, but for a one time event the extra time to me would not be worth it.

San Carlos Marnia

We took our time coming back and found a gem in a small town, San Carlos, just across the bay from Guaymas and then we spent a few more days in the historic area of Mazatlan.

I have now begun the process to obtain Jalisco plates, the first step being an emissions test. The receptionist at Unirse Region Costa Norte at 236 Av. De los Grandes Lagos gives a listing of 6 places but I, and others I know, used Juan Ortega Aro at Sara Garcia #449 Col. La Moderna, telephone 293 3828. He was able to see me without an appointment. The cost is $400 pesos but phone first to make sure he is open. I went in the morning and he was not open until the afternoon. Another choice is the GM dealer Flova in the marina; they have done it for people pretty quickly and charge 300 pesos.

Next I went to the big new government office building on Los Grande Lagos (turn north off Fluvial at the stoplights just before Costco) on the right/east side a few blocks before the bridge. On Oct 4 I got there at 10 AM, took 5 minutes in a line to get a copy of my emissions certificate (they have a copy desk for 1 peso/page) and walked up to caja 10 to have my papers inspected. He kept one of the three copies, gave me a phone number to call in 5 days to make sure everything was good. He also gave me another number to wait by caja 9 to be called. In a couple of minutes they called my number and I paid 520 pesos for them to check the papers and gave them the color of my car in Spanish. Make 3 copies of that receipt as you will need it for the next step. I was out in less than half an hour. I now wait 5 days and phone.

Here are the documents you will need for the step above

• Original passport and 3 copies of photo page
• Your immigration document (temporary or permanent) and 3 copies both sides.
• Utility bill (not older than 90 days)  and 3 copies
• Vehicle import document, Pedimento, from customs broker and 3 copies
• Original vehicle title and/or registration and 3 copies of each,  front and back
• Emissions certificate and 3 copies

After this step is done and they are satisfied your documents are in order, they will give you an appointment to have your vehicle inspected. At that time, they will put certain documents you will need for the inspection in a very special yellow envelop, tape it shut and tell you not to open it no matter what. Seriously. For the inspection, you will go to a big cement platform behind a fence on the right/east side a couple blocks north just before the bridge. It opens at 8:30 but people show up from 7:00 on to get in line.

The inspection will take until early afternoon and, when you’re done you go back to the big office building and go back to caja 10 to hopefully get your plates.