No Import Papers
(kindly reprinted with permission from George Beu)
If you didn't stop and receive your temporary importation papers at the border your car is in the country illegally. Your car may be impounded by the Mexican Federal Government and your insurance may be invalid.
At some border crossings, not getting you car paperwork is an easy mistake to make. George Beu, a Mazatlan resident, had this problem and here is what he did.
"I found myself in a similar situation a year or so ago and heard most of the same horrific warnings. I'm not saying that the ugly things can't happen, but getting your car impounded and smooshed is not a certainty.
I composed a letter, in Spanish, to the head of Aduanas indicating that I had made a mistake and asked that I be allowed to have 30 days from the date of the letter to return to the checkpoint to get my sticker. He didn't say "yes" but did put several official looking rubber stamps on the letter and I carried that with me around town and on my way north.
By the way, when I got to the checkpoint where you would ideally turn in your sticker, the person on duty looked in through the passenger window and asked where my sticker was. I told him that I had made a mistake on the way into Mexico and didn't get one. His reply........."Do you want one now?" LOL I told him that I didn't need it right then, but that I would get one on the way back after my trip to the US. Hi reply to that........"Vaya con Dios"
A copy of the letter is provided below.
The short of it is that I found everyone to be very helpful and not at all punitive. No money was involved and it was never implied that there might be some "fees" involved."
Sample Letter For Temporary Permission
English
April 1, 2004
Office of Customs C.P. José Alfredo López Arregui, Administrator Mazatalán, Mexico
Re: Hologram sticker for 1996 Ford Explorer VIN 1FMDU35P1TZB44438
Dear Mr. Arregui,
I am writing this letter to let you know about a situation that came to my attention recently. I was visiting with an American friend who lives and has his automobile in Mazatlán and I saw that he has a hologram sticker on his windshield. I asked him about it and he told me that he got it when he came through km 21 on his way to Mazatlán and that it is required to have it.
The information of my car follows:
Model: 1996 Ford Explorer Limited Color: Cream License number: Alaska DWG 999 VIN 1FMDU35P1TZB44438
I am the sole owner and driver of this vehicle, which is my personal auto, and I have not used it in any illegal activities, I will not sell it in Mexico, and I will be the driver who takes it back to the United States of America within the next 30 days.
I am asking your permission to continue to drive my car in Mexico for approximately 30 days longer until I am able to return to the border and km 21 to get the proper authorization to have it here in Mexico.
I appreciate any help you can give me and have attached copies of the papers for my vehicle for your information.
Sincerely,
George Beu
#5 Santa Barbara Sur
Frac. El Dorado
Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico 82110
669 913 03 62
Spanish
Mazatlán, Sinaloa., a 1 Abril, 2004.
ADUANA DE MAZATLÁN C.P. José Alfredo López Arregui, Administrador de Aduana Mazatlán, Sinaloa, México.
ASUNTO: Calcamonía holographica para 1996 Ford Explorer VIN 1FMDU35P1TZB44438
Estimado Licenciado Arregui:
Yo escribo esta carta para informarle a usted de un problema que tiene mi atención recientemente. Hace días visité a un amigo de EEU que radica aquí en la Ciudad y ví que en su auto tiene una calcamonía holographica en el parabrisas. Llamó mucho mi atención y le pregunté de sobre esa calcamonia y me dijo que lo recibió cuando pasó por el km 21, cerca de la frontera y la ley de México requiere que todos los autos de EEU las tengan.
Los detalles de mi auto: Marca: 1996 Ford Explorer Limited Color: Crema Numero de placa: Alaska DWG 999 VIN 1FMDU35P1TZB44438
Yo soy el propietario de este auto, y no lo he usado en actividades contra le ley, y no voy a venderlo en México, y yo quiero ser el conductor cuando mi auto salga a EEU en aproximadamente 30 días.
Yo voy a regresar de repente a km 21 para obtener la calcamonia requerida por la ley. Yo le pido a usted, su permiso de tener mi carro aquí en México una aproximadamente 30 días mas hasta que yo pueda regresar a la frontera y obtener la calcamonía en el km 21 para obedecer con la ley de Aduanas en México.
Yo le agradezco cualquier ayuda que usted me proporcione. Pegado aquí puede encontrar los papeles de mi auto para su información o cualquier duda. Me pongo a su ordenes para cualquier aclaración que usted requiera.
Atentamente,
George Beu
#5 Santa Barbara Sur
Frac. El Dorado
Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico 82110
669 913 03 62
