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If you’ve seen posts about U.S. and Canadian plated vehicles being seized from Permanent Residents in Baja Sur, you’re not imagining it. Some permanent residents have been stopped at federal checkpoints and had their cars impounded. That’s stressful, especially if you’ve driven in Baja for years without anyone ever caring about your plates. Foreign or domestic.
Let me give you a clear, reality-based explanation so you can plan from facts, not rumors.
Bottom line: Mexico isn’t inventing new rules. The rules have been there. What’s changing is enforcement. And once you understand that, you can make calm, smart decisions instead of reacting to the loudest Facebook thread.
What the Law Has Always Said
A Permanent Resident (Residente Permanente) is technically not allowed to drive a foreign-plated vehicle in Mexico. Not in mainland Mexico, not in Baja, not in any of the free zones, and not even if your spouse is a Temporary Resident with a TIP (Temporary Import Permit).
Only Temporary Residents, Tourists and Mexican nationals can drive a foreign plated car.
Baja and Rocky Point felt different because it has historically always been a hassle free zone. Enforcement was inconsistent for a long time. Permanent residents drove U.S. plated cars openly, rarely got questioned, and assumed it was allowed. But here’s the key phrase I want you to remember:
Past tolerance is not legal permission.
Temporary Residents have always been able to process a TIP and legally keep a foreign-plated vehicle in Mexico under that status. In regions like Baja, Baja California Sur, Rocky Point, and Quintana Roo, people with Temporary Resident status have the right to drive a foreign plated car. This area is known as a Free Zone- which means you do not need to apply for a Temporary Import Permit (TIP).
However, many permanent residents assumed that because you didn’t need a TIP- it also meant they were legally allowed to drive a car with foreign plates. Now, could this evolve over time? Sure. But today, the important point is that Temporary Resident rules and Permanent Resident rules are not the same.
I know there are a couple of “expat” sites stating that permanent residents are “allowed to drive a foreign plated car… as long as they are the spouse, parents, grandparents, brothers or sisters, children, or grandchildren of a temporary resident or temporary import permit holder”
THIS IS INACCURATE!
The accurate law is clear. Permanent Residents are NEVER allowed to drive a foreign plated car in Mexico. Enforcement has just been inconsistent. But hey, welcome to Mexico right? The country where the only consistent thing is inconsistencies 🙂
Additional Reading: Do Foreigners Need A Mexican Driver’s License in Mexico?
What’s Happening Now in Baja Sur
Checkpoints run by SAT (customs/tax authority), and the Guardia Nacional are checking immigration status more actively than they used to. If the driver is a Permanent Resident and the vehicle is foreign-plated, some officers are applying the rule strictly and seizing cars.
There hasn’t been some huge public announcement. In Mexico, changes often show up on the ground first, then the news covers it, then word spreads. So yes, this feels sudden, but the law itself didn’t change. Enforcement did.
Why Enforcement Is Tightening
I assume the reason for the sudden enforcement is a few reasons:
1-Mexico is strengthening customs and tax compliance nationwide. The current president, Claudia Sheinbaum, would like to share with her constituents that our economy is better than ever. The best way to do that is to show new revenue sources. And taxes on previously laxes processes is the lowest hanging fruit.
2- There’s also talk that SAT has more staffing and authority to regulate imported goods and vehicles than they did before. That there are more trained officers on the ground.
But I want to make sure everyone knows that this isn’t about targeting expats or “making new laws up.” It’s a system getting stricter and more organized. When a country modernizes enforcement, it often feels bumpy at first, and then it settles into a clearer new normal.
What Should You Do?
If you are a Permanent Resident wanting to bring your foreign-plated car to Mexico (or keep one here), you still have real options. Here are the practical paths:
- Nationalize your foreign plated car- This gives you Mexican plates and legal status country-wide. Even as a permanent resident.. In many cases, the “sweet spot” is for vehicles around 8–9 years old, because costs are lowest for this group But eligibility depends on your exact VIN, model year, and origin.
- You could use the Decreto program- This can be simpler than full import, but it comes with limitations. For example, the vehicle usually must have remained in Mexico since 2021 and must match certain requirements.
- Sell it and buy a Mexican-plated car. Honestly, for a lot of Permanent Residents this ends up being the cleanest, lowest-stress solution.. If you haven’t moved yet and you already hold Permanent Residency, buying in Mexico is often your best long-term bet. I would even argue this is the best solution for most people moving to Mexico who want to have a car
- Keep driving, and assume the risk– Some people will choose to roll the dice. Just know that one stop can lead to seizure, major fines, and a long resolution process.
No one option is right for everyone. What matters is choosing based on today’s enforcement reality, not yesterday’s habits.
A Few Driving Realities That Will Keep You Safer
While we’re here, I want to remind you of a few “Mexico-specific” driving realities that don’t get talked about enough. These help you avoid accidents and headaches whether you drive U.S. plates or Mexican plates.
First, speed and distance are in kilometers, and gas is sold by the liter. It’s worth knowing your tank size in liters so you can watch the pump and avoid being overcharged.
Second, on many two-lane highways in Mexico, the shoulder functions like a slow lane. If you’re not passing, you move onto the shoulder to let faster drivers go by.
Third, if a driver in front of you signals left on a straight road, they’re usually telling you it’s safe to pass — not that they’re turning.
Fourth, stop signs (“ALTO”) are often treated like yield signs if the road is clear. You still want to be cautious, but don’t be shocked if locals roll through.
Fifth, topes (speed bumps) can be tall and unmarked, especially on free highways, which is one of the big reasons I recommend avoiding highway driving at night.
And finally, if you use toll roads, getting a PASE tag makes life easier, but still carry cash because scanners go down all the time.
If you want the full version of these tips, download our free Driving in Mexico guide — it lays all this out in a simple, step-by-step way.
Living in Mexico Means Being Flexible
I know this car situation is frustrating. But the authorities are following the law. The difference is that enforcement used to be lax in Baja and now it’s tightening.
Mexico often has long gaps between rules on paper and enforcement in real life, and then enforcement catches up as systems improve. That’s normal here. It doesn’t mean the government is corrupt, and it doesn’t mean rules are made up on the spot. It means Mexico is evolving — and part of living here well is staying flexible and informed.
If you want to live in Mexico smoothly, don’t build your plan around “what people got away with.” Build it around what’s stable and legal, then enjoy the life you came here for.
Need Help With Nationalizing a Car?
If you want help figuring out whether your vehicle qualifies for import or decreto, we can help connect you to the right experts. The ones that know how to make sure you don’t get in trouble and do things THE RIGHT WAY.
That’s exactly why we created our COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide. We’ll connect you with vetted professionals who can run your VIN, confirm eligibility, and give you real pricing — not guesses.
And if you haven’t already, make sure you grab our free Driving in Mexico guide. It will save you hours of confusion, help you understand checkpoints, and keep you one step ahead as Mexico continues to tighten enforcement.
Mexico is still a beautiful, manageable place to live. You just need good information, a realistic plan, and the flexibility to adjust when enforcement shifts.
Before you panic, take a breath. There is nothing here that requires fear or a rushed decision. This looks like a focused enforcement push that may feel intense right now and then level out once SAT has met its short-term goals. Whether it continues at this pace or not, they are not doing anything illegal.
But I want to make sure you all know that the Mexican government is NOT targeting expats, they are not asking for bribes, or making up laws. They are finally applying a law that has existed for years, just more consistently than before. ☺️
