Mexico Temporary Vehicle Importation Permit (TIP)
If you plan to drive your vehicle beyond Mexico's border Free Zone on your next trip, you must stop at the border and get a Temporary Import Permit (TIP). Once you leave the border area and enter the interior of Mexico, it is too late to get one.
Only Banjercito, the Mexican government bank, is authorized to issue the TIP. To get one, you must show proof that you have a Mexican auto insurance policy from a Mexican insurer. Mexpro provides the coverage required by law from reliable, highly rated companies, so you can get your permit and get on the road.
Who Needs a TIP?
If you plan to drive a vehicle with U.S. or Canadian license plates outside of the Free Zones in Mexico, you are legally required to have a TIP. If you are caught driving in the interior of Mexico without one, authorities can impound your vehicle.
To get a TIP, you must be:
- A non-Mexican citizen with an FMM Tourist Permit, or
- A Temporary Resident or Temporary Resident Student, or
- A Mexican Citizen living abroad with proof of your legal residence. You must provide a Green Card, Work Permit (EAD), or a non-Mexican Passport, AND a U.S. or Canadian Driver’s License or a recent utility bill in your name. Banjercito needs to see that your physical address is outside of Mexico.
*Permanent Residents (Residente Permanente) cannot get a TIP. This is the #1 reason people get their cars impounded in Mexico.
Please Note: Mexpro is a private insurance provider and is not affiliated with Banjercito. We specialize in providing the insurance needed to obtain a TIP, but the permit itself is issued only by the Mexican government.
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The Hassle-Free Zone
There are some parts of Mexico where you do not need a vehicle permit. These are called Free or Hassle-Free Zones. You can drive your U.S. or Canadian-plated vehicle in these areas indefinitely, as long as your registration stays current.
You do not need a TIP if you stay within these areas:
- The Entire Baja California Peninsula: This includes both Baja California (North) and Baja California Sur. You can drive from Tijuana all the way to Cabo San Lucas without a permit.
- Quintana Roo: This state (home to Cancun and Tulum) is a Free Zone. However, you must drive through many states that do require a TIP to get there.
- The Border Zone: Generally, the area within 20 to 25 kilometers (about 12 to 15 miles) of the U.S. border is permit-free.
- The Sonora Free Zone: Includes popular spots like Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point), San Carlos, and Hermosillo. It includes areas west of Highway 15D and north of Empalme (Kilometer 98). If you plan to stay strictly within the Mexican State of Sonora, but are traveling outside the free zone perimeters, you can purchase a “Sonora ONLY” Vehicle Permit at a discounted rate.
For the rest of México, a standard TIP is legally required.
FAQs
- Q: If I accidentally drive past the Kilometer 98 sign in Empalme without a TIP, is there a place to buy one right there, or am I in trouble?
A: No, you need to go back to the border to get one. - Q: Can I get a TIP at the ferry terminal in La Paz?
A: Yes. The Banjercito office at the Pichilingue ferry terminal is the only place in the interior of Mexico where you can get a TIP. Because the Baja Peninsula is a Free Zone and the mainland is not, the government provides this office so travelers can legalize their vehicles before boarding the ferry to Mazatlán or Topolobampo. Please note that the La Paz office is not open 24/7 like major border crossings. Even though you can get a TIP there, we suggest you do it online or at the border. If the system is down at the ferry terminal (which happens), you could miss your boat and have to wait for a system reboot. - Q: Can I get a TIP once I am in the interior of Mexico?
A: No. You cannot get a TIP at any inland checkpoint, police station, or government office in Mexico, except for the Pichilingue ferry Banjercito office in La Paz.
Vehicle Requirements
- Cars, SUVs, and trucks weighing less than 3.5 metric tons (7,716 lbs. GVWR). Permits are valid for up to 180 days. GVWR is the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (vehicle weight plus its maximum load). Some truck owners get rejected because their rating is over the limit, even if the truck is empty. Check the sticker inside your driver-side door frame for this number.
- A registered motorhome can get an RV TIP that is valid for 10 years.
If your vehicle is heavier than 7,716 lbs., you usually cannot get a TIP. Some drivers have been able to get a permit after talking to a supervisor at the Nogales crossing, and proving the vehicle is for personal use, not commercial work.
Rules & Exceptions
- Towed Vehicles: A vehicle towed behind a motorhome with a 10-year TIP must get its own 180-day permit.
- Ownership: The permit holder must be the owner, their spouse, or their adult child/parent.
- Title Classification: If a vehicle has a Salvage or Rebuilt classification on the title, Banjercito will often refuse to issue a permit.
- Mexican Citizens can drive in and out of the interior of Mexico for a total of 180 days over the course of one year. Unlike tourists, they are not limited by the single 180-day block.
- Who is Driving? If a friend is driving the vehicle, the owner/TIP holder MUST be in the car. Fines and impoundment are common for those who ignore this rule.
IMPORTANT: Your Mexpro auto insurance policy is void if the driver of your insured vehicle holds a Mexican driver’s license.
What if the GVWR sticker is missing from my vehicle door?
Some Aduana agents will accept the owner’s manual or a print-out from the manufacturer’s website showing the VIN and weight specs. They are trained to look for the physical sticker on the vehicle to prevent fraud, so it’s best to have this documentation if you’re missing the sticker.
Alternatively, you can apply online. The Banjercito system will check your VIN against U.S. and Canadian vehicle databases automatically. If the database confirms your weight is under the limit, you get the permit without an agent ever looking at your door jamb.
If you are already at the border and the sticker is missing, ask to speak with the Aduana Supervisor. They have the authority to look at your registration or title (which sometimes lists weight) and make a manual override.
Documents Required to Get a TIP
Mexican customs agents can be very strict about paperwork. A small mistake, like a typo in your VIN or a missing copy, can stall the process and your trip.
Mexico considers color copies to be attempts at forgery, so we recommend carrying three black-and-white copies of each document listed below.
- Identification: A Passport, Passport Card, or Green Card.
- Immigration Permit: A Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM) tourist permit.
- Driver’s License: A valid, non-Mexican driver’s license featuring your photo.
- Vehicle Title & Registration: The original and a photocopy issued in your name. (If the title or registration is in your spouse’s name, you must present your original marriage certificate).
- Proof of Insurance: You must show a printed copy of your Mexican auto insurance policy. Banjercito will not issue a permit without it.
Driving a vehicle you do not own requires additional paperwork:
If you do not own your car outright, you need a notarized letter of permission from your bank or leasing company. This letter must be on their official letterhead and must state that you have permission to take the vehicle into Mexico for a specific time.
- Leased Vehicles: Have your lease contract and a permission letter.
- Financed Vehicles: Have your contract and a permission letter from the lienholder.
- Company Cars: Have a permission letter on company letterhead confirming employment and authorizing you to import the vehicle into Mexico.
Contact your lending institution 10 to 14 days before your trip. It often takes them a week or more to mail a notarized original.
TIP Fees and Deposits
You must pay two separate fees to get your permit. You can use cash (USD) or a non-Mexican credit card (Visa, Mastercard, or AMEX) in the driver’s name.
You must also sign a declaration promising to return the vehicle within the 180-day window and obey all regulations.
The Permit Fee: This is a one-time fee of approximately $51.00 USD paid at the border, or $45.00 USD if purchased online, plus IVA (tax).
The Refundable Deposit: Banjercito requires a security deposit to make sure the vehicle exits Mexico. The deposit is refunded when you cancel your permit on time and without violations, when exiting Mexico. If you pay by credit card, the name on the card must match the name on the permit and your driver’s license. Deposits are paid in dollars, with cash or credit card. The amount depends on the year of your vehicle:
| Vehicle Model Year | Required Deposit (USD) |
|---|---|
| 2007 and newer | $400 |
| 2001 – 2006 | $300 |
| 2000 and older | $200 |
What to Know:
- Permit fees, taxes, and deposit amounts may fluctuate based on the daily peso-to-dollar exchange rate.
- It is best to pay the deposit with a Credit Card, not a Debit Card. Banks often take weeks to release “holds” on debit cards, while credit card refunds usually show up in days.
- Be sure to double check your VIN on your Registration and Insurance policy. A typo (like an “O” instead of a “0”) in the VIN can result in Banjercito rejecting your application.
- If driving a company car, be sure to include a statement confirming the driver is a company employee.
- A monthly statement is not accepted for financed or leased vehicles. You must have a notarized letter from the lender.
How to Get Your TIP
You must use one of the three official methods below to get a Mexico temporary import permit:
1. Buy Online
Banjercito recommends you buy your permit online to save time at the border. However, the system has glitches and limitations you should consider before choosing this method.
- Website Reliability: The Banjercito website can be unstable. It frequently crashes during the payment process. If this happens, check your email (including your spam box) for confirmation of your purchase before trying again to avoid duplicate charges.
- Inflexible Travel Dates: Your permit is strictly tied to the dates you specify. While you can enter Mexico later than your stated entry date, you cannot enter earlier.
- Vehicle Restrictions: If you decide to take a different vehicle, you cannot simply update or swap the permit. You must physically drive the original vehicle to the border to cancel the online TIP before you can register a new vehicle.
- Mandatory Border Stop: Buying online does not allow you to bypass the border stop. You must still pull over and go into immigration (INM) office to have an agent stamp and validate your FMM. If you skip this step, Mexico considers both your FMM and your TIP invalid.
Problems with Buying Online:
- Timing: You must make your purchase 10 to 60 days before you travel.
- Prerequisite: You must buy your FMM online before you can apply for your TIP.
- The Process: Banjercito will email your permit. Print both the permit and the receipt to keep in your vehicle.
2. Buy at the Border (Recommended)
You can purchase a TIP in person at CIITEV offices located inside the Aduana (Customs) building at most U.S./Mexico border crossings in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas. This is often the most reliable method because the agent handles the technical entry for you. They will provide you a printed copy and email you a digital backup.
3. Buy at a Mexican Consulate
Banjercito operates offices inside several U.S.-based Mexican Consulates. You can get a permit in person at the following locations:
- Arizona: Phoenix
- California: Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Sacramento
- Colorado: Denver
- Illinois: Chicago
- New Mexico: Albuquerque
- Texas: Austin, Dallas, Houston
Permits issued at a consulate have the same problems as those listed for buying online, above.
- No Renewals: A TIP cannot be renewed or extended.
- One Permit per Person: Banjercito only issues one TIP per individual at a time. (Exceptions include towed units like boats, trailers, or ATVs that are listed as “accessories.”)
- Previous Permits: If a previous permit was never cancelled, the system will block you from getting a new one for any vehicle.
- Salvage/Theft Titles: A salvage, total loss, or theft record on your title will result in the denial of your permit.
- Permit Locations: You can only get a permit online, at a Mexican consulate in the U.S., or at Banjercito offices at the border. You cannot obtain one in the interior of Mexico.
- Cancellation Locations: You can only cancel a permit at designated Banjercito offices at the border. Cancellations cannot be done online, at a consulate, or anywhere within the interior of Mexico.
- If you buy online and don’t see your permit within 24 hours, search your email for itvnet@banjercito.com.mx. It often lands in the spam folder.
- When buying online if the website rejects a credit card, call your bank before trying a second card. U.S. banks sometimes flag Banjercito as fraudulent because it is a foreign military bank, which causes the transaction to fail.
- If you choose to buy at the border, Friday evenings, Saturday mornings, and holidays can have wait times of 3 to 4 hours. Crossing the border on a weekday can save you time.
Eligibility & Restrictions
Before you apply, keep these limitations in mind:
What to Know:
Who Can Drive Your Car?
The rules about who can get behind the wheel are very strict. If you are the person listed on the TIP, the following people can drive without your being in the car.
- Immediate Family: Your spouse, parents, siblings, and children (as long as they are NOT Permanent Residents of Mexico).
- A family member driving alone should carry a photocopy of a marriage license or birth certificate to prove their relationship to you.
- Foreigners: Anyone with a valid tourist permit (FMM), Temporary Resident status, or Temporary Resident Student status.
- According to the Aduanas website, Mexican citizens and permanent residents of Mexico can drive your vehicle ONLY if you are physically in the vehicle with them.
WARNING: Even if the law allows a person to drive while you are in the car, your Mexpro insurance policy is void if the driver has a Mexican driver’s license. If an accident happens while someone with a Mexican license is driving, you have zero coverage. Always ensure the driver has a valid U.S. or Canadian license.
Multiple Entries
Your TIP allows for multiple entries. You can drive your vehicle back and forth across the border as many times as you like until the permit expires. You do not need to cancel the permit every time you cross into the U.S. if you plan to return to Mexico before the expiration date.
If you are stopped at a checkpoint, authorities will usually scan your TIP using a mobile app or verify your physical paperwork to ensure the permit is still active.
Vehicle Import Violations
The Mexican government strictly enforces vehicle permit rules. Any of the following will result in the immediate loss of your deposit and potential vehicle impoundment:
- Expired Permits: Your vehicle becomes illegal the moment your TIP expires. Your insurance is void, and the car can be seized.
- Selling a Vehicle in Mexico: It is illegal to sell, donate, or scrap a foreign-plated vehicle in Mexico.
- Failing to Cancel: While you can cross the border multiple times while the permit is active, you must stop at the border and cancel your TIP before it expires. Failure to do so will cause you to lose your deposit, and you will not be allowed to get a permit in the future.
- Unauthorized Drivers: A Mexican citizen or Permanent Resident is not permitted to drive your car without the TIP holder in the vehicle.
- Abandoning the Vehicle: You cannot leave your vehicle in Mexico and fly home.
Cancelling Your Permit
You MUST Cancel Your Temporary import permit. This is the most critical step of your trip. When you finish your travels and make your final re-entry into the U.S., you must cancel and surrender your TIP at an approved Banjercito return location at the border.
If you fail to cancel your permit before it expires, you will forfeit your deposit (up to $400 USD) and Banjercito will ban you from obtaining another TIP until the old one is cancelled. Mexico uses this strict process to ensure that foreign vehicles have physically left the country.
Cancellation Rules:
- You cannot cancel your permit online, at a consulate, or in the interior of Mexico. You must physically bring the vehicle to a Banjercito booth at the border so an agent can verify the VIN.
- You do not have to exit Mexico through the same port you used to enter. Any major border crossing with a CIITEV/Banjercito office can handle the cancellation.
- The agent will scan your permit (or your VIN) and take a photo of the vehicle. They will then provide you with a printed Cancellation Receipt. Keep this receipt! It is your only proof if there is ever a dispute about your deposit.
Get all the details on how to cancel a TIP on Mexpro’s blog.
Before You Go
To ensure your trip into the interior is legal, you should have the following two items handled before you reach the border:
1. Proof of Mexican Auto Insurance
Mexican law requires liability insurance from a licensed Mexican company. Even if you are staying in the free zone and don’t need a vehicle permit, liability coverage is mandatory everywhere in Mexico.
- TIP Requirement: Banjercito will not issue a vehicle permit without a printed copy of your Mexican insurance policy.
- Liability Limits: Liability requirements vary by state. We recommend a limit of $500,000 to ensure you are fully covered in every state you visit.
2. Print Your Documents
While digital copies are a great backup, Mexican authorities require physical paper documents. Digital versions are often rejected at roadside checkpoints if your phone has no signal or a dead battery.
- If you buy online: Print your policy at home or at your hotel.
- If at the border: Use our mobile-friendly site to buy your policy instantly. Then stop at a local pharmacy or print shop to get a physical copy.
Warning
Travelers should avoid individuals outside vehicle permit offices offering to obtain the permits without waiting in line, even if they appear to be government officials. There have been reports of fraudulent or counterfeit permits being issued adjacent to the temporary vehicle importation permit offices in border areas.
If the proper permit is not obtained before entering Mexico, do not proceed to the interior. Without the proper permit you could be incarcerated, fined and/or have your vehicle seized at immigration/customs checkpoints.
Sonora ONLY TIP
In Sonora, you are required to get a TIP if you will be driving outside the free zone, which is the area west of the 15 highway and north of KM 98 (Guaymas). If you do drive outside the free zone, you have the option to purchase a "Sonora Only" Vehicle Importation Permit for a reduced price.
RV/Travel Trailer TIP
RVs and Travel Trailers require a TIP specifically for those vehicles. If you plan to drive your RV outside the free zone in Mexico get an RV Importation permit.