Stage 8: Tucson to Bahia de Kino, Sonora, Mexico, via Nogales
May 2, 2013
6 hours 20 minutes

This was my first proper border crossing and I was freaking out. I can’t remember for sure, but if I know myself at all, I was awake at 4:00 a.m. and gone by 5:00 a.m. I had done my homework so I knew how critical it was that I dot every I and cross every T. The Mexican bureaucracy can be notoriously uptight, when they want to be. It was a good thing I left early, because the crossing was quite stressful – only because I was expecting to go through Mexican Customs and Border Patrol at the actual border, when in fact the office is a few kilometers south of the border. I kept looking over my shoulder, wondering how in the hell I could have missed it, when all of a sudden, the office was looming in the distance. I left Luna in the car because I felt the process would be easier without her, and I didn’t want her nosing any machine gun wielding border agents in the crotch, as was her habit. In that way, I got around the agricultural pet check – they didn’t realize I had a dog.

The 411 on Driving into Mexico

There are a number critical things that must be done if you plan to drive your car into Mexico.

• You need your actual vehicle title, not just the registration and not a copy of the title, the actual title. Before I left California I ordered a new title, claiming I had lost mine, just in case. My copy was safely stashed with my mom in Portland.
• You need Mexican auto insurance. This is quite easy to obtain and relatively inexpensive. I have used both Baja Bound and Lewis and Lewis, and it runs less than $200/year for my crappy old car. You can purchase this insurance online and keep the paperwork handy on your telephone in case you are asked for it.
• Fourth, you must to get your 180-day/6-month Mexican Tourist Card (formerly FMM). It looks like the process has changed and you can now order it online at no cost. https://www.mexicotouristcard.com/
• You must temporarily import your car into Mexico (TIP), it is valid for only 180 days/six months. You can register your car online or at the border. They require a refundable deposit, I believe I paid about $200.00 USD. This website has all the important information. They are very strict about the 180 days, so if you plan to stay in Mexico longer you must surrender your TIP, leave the country, and repeat the process upon reentry. If you plan to stay in Sonora, Baja Norte, Baja California Sur, or Quintana Roo you are not required to temporarily import your car. https://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/montreal/index.php/en/foreigners/services-foreigners/311-travelling-to-mexico-by-land
• Finally, if you are traveling with a pet you need to have that pet inspected at the agricultural window. What they are really looking for is proof of their rabies vaccine. Rules seem to fluctuate rapidly regarding travel with dogs, so to be perfectly safe you will want to get a Certificate of Health from a US veterinarian within ten days of crossing the border. https://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/montreal/index.php/en/foreigners/services-foreigners/312-taking-pets-to-mexico

As I drove away from the border and towards my first destination, I breathed a huge sigh of relief. The entire process was quicker and easier than I imagined it would be. In doing my research, it looks like 12 years later everything is easily done online, making the process even more simple!