Driving mexican plated car to Canada

[LapazRico 0]

This whole discussion hinges on the difference between a resident or non-resident Canadian and how that is determined.

There is a good reference here -- https://moving2mexico.com/vehicles-returning-to-canada/

 

[RickS 1,892]

2 hours ago, LapazRico said:

This whole discussion hinges on the difference between a resident or non-resident Canadian and how that is determined.

... and not maybe how the Canadian Customs Agent at the border feels at the time?

 

 

 

[telcoman 0]

HMM, just out of curiosity what about a canadian vehicle that has since been nationalized in mexico? I od know someone who was truend back at th eborder. The mexican plated car was being towed by his RV, he had to store it in the US until he went back south.

 

I am wondering how the new USMCA may affect this: For greater certainty, no Party may adopt or maintain a prohibition or restriction on the importation of originating used vehicles from the territory of another Party after January 1, 2019. This Article shall not prevent a Party from applying motor vehicle safety or emissions measures, or vehicle registration requirements, of general application to originating used vehicles in a manner consistent with this Agreement.

[cedros 961]

It is a grey area-be prepared.

[RickS 1,892]

On 1/23/2020 at 11:25 AM, telcoman said:

I am wondering how the new USMCA may affect this: For greater certainty, no Party may adopt or maintain a prohibition or restriction on the importation of originating used vehicles from the territory of another Party after January 1, 2019. This Article shall not prevent a Party from applying motor vehicle safety or emissions measures, or vehicle registration requirements, of general application to originating used vehicles in a manner consistent with this Agreement.

I've now read this for the third time and I still have no idea what it might condone or consider illegal and for whom/where. What exactly might an 'originating used vehicle' be, and for whom?

 

[Mostlylost 1,431]

Since the public has not seen the finalized and signed by all three countries MCA, any interpretation now is futile. Wait for the final ratified version. Then see if Mexico observes the auto provisions because they did not fully observe the NAFTA provisions regarding auto importation.

[sem123 23]

I was the one that called the Canadian Government and posted  the email trail. And NAFTA 2.0 (as we Canadians call it ) won't change the fact that any car that has already been produced in Mexico won't meet Canadian safety standards, You can always call the Canadian Government to ask them for an update, the contact info is in the emails I copied in. My question is - do you really want to be driving a vehicle in Canada that "might" be legal (personally I think it would be illegal), and risk not being covered by insurance if you're involved in an accident. Why risk it ?

[Mostlylost 1,431]

18 hours ago, sem123 said:

I was the one that called the Canadian Government and posted  the email trail. And NAFTA 2.0 (as we Canadians call it ) won't change the fact that any car that has already been produced in Mexico won't meet Canadian safety standards, You can always call the Canadian Government to ask them for an update, the contact info is in the emails I copied in. My question is - do you really want to be driving a vehicle in Canada that "might" be legal (personally I think it would be illegal), and risk not being covered by insurance if you're involved in an accident. Why risk it ?

Are you referring to a vehicle being used for a vacation or imported and registered in Canada.

If it is on vacation and has US insurance which is valid in Canada and is allowed to enter by customs at the border then it is legal the same as a US certified vehicle that doesn't meed Canadian standards ie; KM speedometer, daytime running  lights

Maybe I don't get it, but if  Canada approves the importation and registration of the vehicle that is proven to meet standards for a used vehicle then it would be legal as well. 

Or what am I missing??

[sem123 23]

According to the Canadian government … currently, a vehicle manufactured in Mexico for Mexico does not meet the safety standards in Canada and CAN NOT be imported/registered in Canada. A Canadian resident (for tax Canadian tax purposes, not where they actually live) CAN NOT legally drive a foreign plated car in Canada even for a short period of time. Your insurance company will be more than happy to take your money but if you're in an accident you likely won't be covered.... your policy small print likely says something about the car has to be legal in the jurisdiction that it's being driven in. You can not buy insurance for something that is illegal. 

The new NAFTA may change this in that cars manufactured for the Mexican market may now have to meet Canadian/USA safety standards, but the existing Mexican cars will never meet the current Canadian safety standards, so will likely never be legal in Canada. 

So basically if you're a Canadian and own a Mexican manufactured and plated care and you want to drive in Canada rent or borrow a car.

 

[RickS 1,892]

5 hours ago, sem123 said:

snip...

The new NAFTA may change this in that cars manufactured for the Mexican market may now have to meet Canadian/USA safety standards.....

snip.....

 

I doubt seriously that this is a reasonable 'may change' to float around. While there are 'some' current vehicles made for Mexico here that do meet EPA/DOT standards.... and thus Canadian.... making ALL vehicle sold here conform is just not going to happen, IMO.

 

[cedros 961]

Also the different provinces have different regulations regarding this. 

[telcoman 0]

well may as well resurrect this. I am thinking it is different province by province. There is a guy in Calgary trying to sell an Jalisco plated vehicle back to mexico. They allowed him 3 months. Issue is the border is closed, but they may let someone transit with a resident card. BC ownt let you take one in, a friend had to store his below the border.

Maybe with the new NAFTA, rules will change.

Now I have a question. With residente permanente, can I drive a Canadian plated car in the Sonora free zone (No TIP required). I would like to store  a Mexican car in san carlos and do a swap over. I suspect if I can't all I have to do is add my son or brother to the registration and carry a letter.

[RickS 1,892]

I'm not sure that the "Permanente shall not drive..." law applies only to a non-Frontier location. BUT, since you will not need to stop at the border.... being a Permanente and not needing a TIP.... I suspect that you could easily drive the vehicle down to San Carlos without ruffling any feathers.

With respect to the 'swap over'.... it's not clear to me what you are trying to do/accomplish. What car is being driven where?

 

[RVGRINGO 2,085]

None of this is a good idea, as an accident will definitely ruffle feathers; yours, and there is no preening in jail.  There are rules for Residente Permanente, and it is best not to mess with them; especially if you have property and belongings in Mexico, etc.

[Out1 64]

On 2/4/2020 at 12:03 PM, RickS said:

While there are 'some' current vehicles made for Mexico here that do meet EPA/DOT standards..

RickS; can you let me know which vehicles made for Mexico meet the EPA/DOT standards; I would like to buy one.

[Mostlylost 1,431]

2 hours ago, Out1 said:

RickS; can you let me know which vehicles made for Mexico meet the EPA/DOT standards; I would like to buy one.

There is no list available. You would need to look under the hood for the USA federal emissions and safety stickers. My experience is it is mostly high performance models like Mustang Bullit  or Dodge Charger Hemi or Challenger Hemi, however there may be others. 

My nephew took his  Challenger Hemi when he moved to the USA and imported it. It had the Federal sticker for EPA & DOT. He still had to have a licensed inspection company certify it met standards as part of the importation process. 

Sample stickers. Some are black with white letters, 

[Out1 64]

Thanks, I know what to look for; been to just about every dealer in Guad and couldn't find anything with the DOT and EPA stickers.