A friend will be riding from California deep into Baja, but not going to the mainland. Want to confirm the following:

Not needed for Baja -

• He won't need to import his motorcycle (importation is not required for Baja)
• He won't need to produce the title of ownership

Required for Baja -

• Passport
• Drivers license
• Registration card
• Proof of liability insurance for Mexico

Did I miss anything?

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Peter B
2008/09 - NJ to Costa Rica and back to NJ
2012/13 - NJ to Northern Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba and back to NJ
2023 - Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia...back to Peru.

Blogs: Peter's Ride

You missed Mexican Tourist Visa, everything else is about right NO TVIP required for Baja!
Tourist Visa is $22 at most Mexican/USA borders at the Migracion office, get it upon entry to Mexico right at border.

Takes about 10 minutes, you need passport to get it.

Change US Dollars for Pesos at border town to get best rate. Once deep into Baja exchange rate is not good. Border is best.

No documents for the bike to get Visa. They don't ask for insurance but it's a good idea to have insurance. (Never been asked for proof of insurance in Mexico but it IS law now) Use Baja Bound on line.

I would suggest having a COPY (not original) of original title/pink slip along with the current registration (original) Chances are neither will ever need to be shown. Best if all names match but not essential, if bike is borrowed or rented have a note or contract. All good. Very easy going in Baja.

Driver's License, yes, but it's your passport officials will most likely want to see and your Mexican visa.

Most road side checks never ask for ANY paper work, ID or anything. They may check luggage or just wave you through.

Thanks Mollydog,

My friend is leaving from New Jersey and blasting his way across the US to Southern California on his rat Harley Davidson. He is a Satanic mechanic, so I have every confidence he will get that old HD to California. The title is in deep storage, outside of Washington state. Pretty much not on the way and no enough time to get it, so its really good news that he won't need it. He has a few days to spare, then will cross the frontier into Baja, with a band of irregulars and yahoos.

I kind of wish I could break away and join him, but it is far from being in the cards right now. He gave a loose description of the motley crew, camping on the beach and blinding drinking binges. Apparently part of the entertainment is an organized contest, worth mentioning for its insanity. Participants put down $20 (or maybe it was $40...$60?) to enter a sizable area marked in the sand by the outline of a penis. Each person has a whiffle ball bat and can only wear shorts, nothing else. At the appointed moment anything goes, smacking each other with the plastic bats, pushing, shoving, grunting... If you touch the ground with a hand and knee, you are out. If you get pushed out of the penis circle or run out, you are out. Last man standing keeps the money. I'll really too old for Cro-Magnon hijinks, but it stirs the sleeping testosterone idiot in me. Come Monday "I'll be doing the high ho, off to work I go..." (sigh)

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Peter B
2008/09 - NJ to Costa Rica and back to NJ
2012/13 - NJ to Northern Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba and back to NJ
2023 - Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia...back to Peru.

Blogs: Peter's Ride

Get all docs including insurance and tourist card (FMM) in advance from Discover Baja in San Diego. You need it when you're traveling, even if in Northern Baja only. (This is a new rule.) They used to just shake their finger at you but now they will send you back to the border from the Ensenada military checkpoint if you don't have it.

Get insurance from Discover Baja, too. Insurance at the border often is not quite legit and sometimes does not cover everything.

Also, getting your FMM in advance means you won't have to leave your bike to go inside to get your FMM at the border.

I just started writing their motorcycle column. Get it by subscribing to their email newsletter at www.discoverbaja.com. They also posted updated travel information about Baja, road conditions, etc.

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Wherever I am, you can always find me at www.carlaking.com

I thought the no TIP for Baja only applied to the northern half.

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Tony
Click here for Travel Photos & Travel Map

I've stopped at the Border migracion offices many times and walked in and got my Tourist Visa. Easy peasy.
Typically takes about 10 to 15 minutes. I've done this at Tijuana, Mexicali, Sonoita and Tecate. Always parking for bikes, easy to find, some staff even speak a bit of English.

You do not need a Mex. Visa if visiting in the Border free zones for less than 7 days. This means you are allowed to go South about 100 miles (or so) with NO Visa for a short stay. They do this to encourage Tourist Day Trippers, of which there are MILLIONS each year. Makes sense.

YOU DO NEED INSURANCE for even a one day visit. But NO ONE will ever ask for it ... until you get into an accident! Then, if you don't have insurance, all parties go to Jail until case is resolved. With insurance, they let you go, but you can't leave town until resolved.

I always get a Visa, it's multi entry, good for 6 months, costs about $22.

No TVIP is required for ANY of Baja, North or South ... but a Visa IS, if going for extended stay or distance South.