There has been quite a bit of discussion online about the registration requirements for cars in Los Cabos. Pressure is on for foreign plated cars – U.S. and Canada – to be legally imported and registered in Mexico. However, there are restrictions. Relatively new cars can not be imported. You must have a Mexican driver’s license to drive a Mexican plated car. You can not get a Mexican driver’s license unless you are a citizen or temporary or permanent resident. And as Josefina from Mexico Paperworks told us, for a used car, you must have the title history for the car in order to register it. With all of this information in mind, we decided to purchase a new car rather than a used car here in Los Cabos.
As the car would be primarily for Beth’s use, it was her decision what make and model that she would like. Wanting a small SUV and having done all of the research, she decided on a Fiat Pulse (a model not imported into the United States). We went to visit the Chysler, Dodge, Jeep, Fiat dealership on the highway just south of San Jose del Cabo. There were three different models of the Pulse. Beth choose the Audace – the middle model. One of the challenges – like in the United States and Canada – was the availability of the cars. The available car on the lot had a standard transmission.
Gaby, who helped us at the dealership, sat with the manager to see what was available and how long it would take to arrive in Los Cabos. The car is made in Brazil and comes into Veracruz and then is shipped. Beth looked at the color choices for the car and selected a white one. They told us that it would take about six weeks for the car to arrive. We filled out the paperwork; got the wire transfer information for the deposit and waited for updates.
The dealership and Gaby were excellent with their follow up. We received regular emails on the status of the car. When the car arrived, Gaby even offered to help with the insurance, giving us options and then arranging for the policy to be issued. When the time came to pick up the car, it was in the showroom with a big bow and balloons. They sat with us explaining all of the paperwork, the manuals, the warranty and then did a walk through with the car, showing Beth how everything worked and even setting up her phone with the video screen while changing it all to English rather than Spanish. The care and service were excellent.
The next step was the registration of the car, which was handled completely by Josefina of Mexico Paperworks. She provided me with a list of the original documents that were required – Mexican Driver’s License (which she helped us get), Permanent Resident Card, Passport, CFE Bill, the original Factura (bill) for the car and a Power of Attorney. With all of these things, Josefina set the appointment, went and obtained our license plates, the week after delivery of the car. You have 30 days to do this – in the meantime, a copy of the Factura is taped to the upper right of the windshield inside the car.
We are now the proud owners of a new Fiat Pulse Audace – a spunky little car that actually has more legroom in the back seat than our Ford Bronco Sport.
For more information on the Fiat dealership in Los Cabos visit them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FiatLosCabos
For more information about Mexico Paperworks and their assistance with immigration, driver’s licenses, car registration and more visit their website at https://www.mexicopaperworks.com/ or visit them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mexicopaperworks
