Let’s be honest here. Crossing the border with Mexico for the first time is scary. So many wild stories go around. Sadly, some of them are very true, but I realized that most people who tell all those ghost stories and warned us not to go to Mexico, never been in Mexico themselves!
Our first time crossing the border was stressful aswell. That is….until we actually did it.
Those warnings and stories has gotten to us like they probably gotten to you aswell. But crossing the border with Mexico can be described as smooth.
Smooth…..as long as you prepare yourself well. There are a few things to do and a few things NOT to do. When you follow these advices, crossing the border with Mexico is like crossing any other border.
You need to know that the Mexicans are proud about their country and most don’t like the stories we all hear about Mexico being dangerous. The average Mexican is hospitable and wants you to enjoy their beautiful country and culture. Particularity on the border, they are very willing to help you to get into the country without problems. Even when you don’t speak Spanish.
What Border is Safe To Cross Into Mexico?
Mexico has many borders. Because there is some paper work to do, your safest bet is to go to one of the bigger border crossings. Also the bigger borders are just the borders, that those who have bad things in mind, will avoid because of the large amount of border control officers.
We choose for Laredo, Bridge 2.
Laredo, Bridge 2 is one of the biggest border crossings. Just follow the I35 and at the very end of it, follow the signs Bridge 2. You will cross the American border going out with no problems at all. Once you are at the end of the bridge, crossing the Rio Grande, you follow the sign TOURISTS.
This will bring you to a designated parking lot where you can park to do the paperwork needed to visit Mexico.
What Do You Need To Do Before Crossing The Border With Mexico
Apart from having a valid Passport, you need 3 things:
- Mexican Car Insurance
- Visa
- Temporary Import Permit
Before I will talk
about these 3 points, I will tell you this:
Mexican officials love copies!
Make sure that you bring copies of all your papers. Before I cross the border I made 5 copies of each document.
Passports, Car papers, Insurance papers….everything.
Not only at the border you will need them, but throughout the country you can run into controls or have an accident. The will always ask for copies.
MEXICAN CAR INSURANCE
By law, when entering Mexico with a vehicle, no matter in what country its registrated, you need a Mexican Insurance.
But that doesn’t mean you need to do business with a Mexican car insurance company yourself. There are many American (Online) insurance brokers that have an official Mexican insurance title.
You can get a Mexican Insurance on the border aswell, there are various insurance brokers who try to catch your attention when you’re walking to the offices where you have to take care of point 2 and 3. But I prefer do it online. Its quick, cheap and you can communicate completely in English with them.
I choose to do it with BajaBound.com
You can get a free quote there and the website is completely in English
I investigated various websites of the different American/Mexican brokers. Bajabound was one of the cheapest but I mainly choose it because it was the most user friendly.
VISA MEXICO
As a tourist visiting Mexico outside the borderzone, which is a small stretch close to the border (Please read this about visiting the border zone) , you will need a tourist visa.
This is a simple administrative process to be done at the office of Banjercito right at the border.
You can get up to a 180 days visa with no problem.
Make sure you bring copies of your passport for this process. When you don’t have any copies with you, there is a copy service right in the premises.
We paid about 25$ per person for our 180 day visa
They ask a few simple questions about your stay in Mexico. The staff is friendly and speak a little English, but they open up completely when you address them in Spanish.
TEMPORARY IMPORT PERMIT MEXICO
In the same Banjercito Office, you have to pay for “Importing” your foreign car. This is not really a payment but more of a Deposit.
Many foreigners brought in American cars into Mexico and sold them there. No import fees were ever paid. So they decided to ask a deposit for every foreign car entering Mexico.
A small administrative fee of about 50$ is paid for the process. And depending on the age of your vehicle, a deposit between 200$ and 400$ is charged.
This deposit will be returned when you leave the country on time. Meaning within the days that are on your visa. To get a return of your deposit, you will have to visit a Banjercito office at the border you choose to exit the country.
Not all borders have such an office, so make sure you choose one where there is a Banjercito office.
After the payment you will receive a sticker that you have paid your deposit which you put on your windshield.
Before leaving the parking lot you can expect a control by an official. They might check the papers and might want to do a visual inspection of your vehicle (inside and outside)
After that you are good to cross the border!
After the “No Visa” zone, a few miles passed the border, you will find another checkpoint. Mostly they will only do a quick check of your Passport, Visa and Sticker on your windshield.
Please read this about the dangers about the Mexican border zone.
