"Bob F." wrote in message
news:3fc26656$0$43847$39cecf19@news.twtelecom.net...
> Travelling to Mexico, one's thoughts eventually turn to the subject of
> smuggling cars into the country.
It's kind of a shame your mind seems to have jumped to the criminal
rather than the legal and you seem to be over-looking the obvious. Lots of
used vehicles are imported into Mexico legally. You'll often see them
driving in trains of 6 to a couple dozen vehicles. Most often it's compact
pick-ups towing a second pick-up with very obvious import papers on the
windows. They're often carrying used washing machines and refrigerators.
I've also seen used school buses being driven from Chicago to Guadalajara,
one rig towing another. They had cut off the corner of one of the bus
bumpers to make a towing bracket for a pick-up behind the last rig. "They're
practally brand new, they're only 9 years old." Most of the import rigs I
see seem to be headed to Guadalajara. The process looks to be very simple.
Pay an import broker to take care of the paperwork and drive south.
>
> Can anyone out there tell me if they've pursued this strategy before:
>
> 1. I legally register my car at the border, using my credit card to pay
> fee.
>
> 2. I travel into Mexico where I find a willing buyer for the vehicle.
I
> sell them the car a the agreed upon price, give them the title, then
return
> to the USA by bus, plane, hitchhiking, or donkey.
>
> 3. Once back in the USA, I cancel the credit card.
>
> Since the credit card has been cancelled I'm guessing that I can't be
> charged a penalty by the Mexican government for not returning the car to
the
> US. Are there any ramifications to this strategy that I'm overlooking,
> perhaps I won't be able to bring any more cars into the country? Could I
> run into problems if I try to get a tourist visa in the future?
Ok, I'm no expert but, a few years ago the Mexican government tried to
add a $300 cash deposit to the process of temporarily importing a vehicle
during the Chirstmas holidays because so many Mexicans were importing
vehicles with temporary import permits and leaving them "at home" in Mexico.
The cash deposit didn't fly and the process must have been similar to what
you are suggesting--BUT--a few years ago it was also a lot more common to
see vehicles with expired stateside plates driving around Mexico. That seems
to have mostly ended. It's a pretty sure thing that some of the cars stolen
here in Tucson end up south of the 21km point, but they're probably mostly
used for parts. The groups that manage that trick probably don't welcome
competition.
Dennis
|
|
|
|