Guatemala to Mexico - do I need a TVIP?
 

Later this month I'll be taking a Guatemalan plated motorcycle into Mexico for a few days. I have a US passport but the bike (in my name) has Guatemala plates, will I have to pay for a TVIP? I'm only planning on being in San Cristobal for a few days and then heading back to Guatemala.

While you don't need the TVIP on a Guatemalan plated bike when traveling between the four countries of Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, Mexico isn't part of that pact.

Riding a Guatemalan registered bike, with you on a US passport, you need a tarjeta de tourista for you and a TVIP sticker for the bike if you are traveling from Guat to Chiapas. Even if only for a few days. The bike needs to be registered in your name, or you need a letter from the owner of the bike saying it's OK to take the bike to Mexico. At least that is how it was last year.

The only place in Mexico you don't need the vehicle sticker is in Baja, the northern half of Sonora state, and in the tourist zone near the US border in the Mexican states on the northern border.

Best,
John Downs

They have an habit to give you only 30 days on your tourist card if you do not ask specifically for 180 days
Remember if they give you only 30 days, your bike papers will be only processed for the same 30 days, probably in your case not important , but if you have the intention to go again in 6 months, you can use the same papers.
You probably are using the Messilla border, everything is done @ the border, if you take Talisman, your bike papers is done @ Vivo Mexico, 20 miles down the road outside of Tapachula , where your first major aduana, checkpoint is, you can miss it!

Thanks John and Ron for the info.

You're right, we will cross at the Mesilla border.

What can I expect $$ wise for the tourist card and the TVIP?

Entering Mexico from el norte, you can get a 7 day tourist permit for free, not sure if it is different coming from the south, but worth asking. My last 180 day visa was 205 pesos. Can't help with the TVIP with a Guatemalan registered bike, but from the US it is roughly 350 pesos.

Have a good trip, Chris. Check out Agua Azul, about 3/4 of the way along the highway to Palenque, if you get a chance.

From the south the same 7 days rule apply, same fees as well for bike, there is no different price, regardless the nationality of person or bike

Beautiful ride if you go from San Cristobal de Las Cases to Palenque, including the waterfalls @ Aqua Azul