37 replies to this topic

[goodcat]

I have noticed a great deal of traffic police activity along the caretera these last few days ..many cars pulled over...Jalisco plated and US plated. I heard that ALL vehicles, regardless of registration, are being required to have current emission control stickers. Anyone know anything about this?

[jrod]

Spencer/Intercasa recently (in the last week or so) posted the new 2012 driving laws which, as he indicates, requires that all foreign-plated cars here over 6 m follow the emission laws. As I was at the dealer in Guad for warranty service, I asked them to perform the service. They said they could not, because the car was foreign-plated. Sign! So I came back and took it to Escalera yesterday. $250 but they do ask to see your car papers to provide you with the certificate that accompanies the hologram. And Escalera claims the sticker is for 6 mo, not a year, despite the year 2012 on the hologram. Can anyone confirm the length of validity for the emissions sticker?

[Don]

Since you just got the sticker during June, I believe they were letting you know it was good for the remainder of the year 2012, which would be good for 6 months. I believe the stickers are only good for the year in which you purchase the sticker which could make the sticker good for 1 to 12 months depending on the month you purchase the sticker.

[barbara habacht]

The last number on your license plate determines the month when you must have a new sticker...it then remains good until 12 months later when you renew on the same date/month that your plate signifies. A Mexican plate number seldom changes so the renewal date is always the same...there are no 6 month stickers.

[Intercasa]

The sticker is good from when you receive it until the month of the next year which is your deadline to get za new sticker for the new year so if you got your sticker late this year and your obligation is to get it in the first few months, then you could have a sticker for 2012 but then would need to get another within a few months if your time was the first few months of 2013.

[Paul's Grandma]

So if I understand this right if you are here as a full time resident you must get an emissions sticker, Is that right? Intercasa could you please answer. We have been here a year and first we heard about this.

[verchiel]

... and where the heck is Escalera?

[goodcat]

The most recent post regarding emissions stickers I could find from Spencer is dated 12 April 2012. In it he states that emission stickers were not required for foreign plated cars. I suppose the most prudent thing to do is go for the test and put the sticker on.

[hensley]

Our plate ends in 7 so we go in July and it is good for 1 year.
Escalara is located in Riberas on the lakeside about 1 block before 7-11

[Intercasa]

So if I understand this right if you are here as a full time resident you must get an emissions sticker, Is that right? Intercasa could you please answer. We have been here a year and first we heard about this.

Yes state law says that if your car is here continuously 6 months than you must comply with traffic code's rules about your car and part of traffic law is smog check. They really have no way of knowing your car was here continuously for 6 months but...

[CalGal]

My license plate ends in 0 (zero) - so what month does my sticker expire? October?

[jorgensen]

Here is the schedule. The last number on your license plate determines which month yours expires. This was developed first for Mexican plates, which presumably all end in a number. My Massachusetts plates end in a character, but I'll use the last number in my plates' sequence.

Month Ending Plate Digit
January – 1 July - 6
February - 2 August - 7
March - 3 September - 8
April - 4 October - 9
May - 5 November - 0

[maggilu]

What happened to June?

[jorgensen]

Dunno. They probably just wanted to spread out the activity during the year.

[chapalafan]

December?

[lcscats]

Be aware different places charged different amounts for inspection. Go to the guy in San Antonio. He has a sign turn right just past Wal Mart. He charges 250P. The Car something place in Riberas was asking 400P.

Beware!!

[jorgensen]

Be aware that the law says that the maximum a shop can charge for gas vehicles is 4 times the minimum daily wage (which currently comes to a total of $242 pesos), or up to 5 times the minimum daily wage for diesel vehicles ($303 pesos).

[koko]

If I don't have my sticker and the cop stops me, will I get a ticket and if so, how much?

[jorgensen]

1,211 pesos. But you get a 50% discount if you pay within 10 days.

[johanson]

Gosh Jorgensen, I thought it would have cost a lot less than that. Are you sure?

Gee, I will be back Friday night and on Saturday morning will be driving to get the car checked. It's been a couple of years since the last time I got a sticker