who can crack this conundrum? (part II) Mexico
 

Dear Friends

It would appear that I have been slightly ambitious about worrying over getting my bike into the States and should have set my concerns on Mexico.

For those unfamiliar with my situation. I am a Brit, travelling with a Colorado plated bike that I bought in Chile off another Brit in April and am using a power of attorney (from Chile) to cross borders. The bike is still in his name and after a year the tags have expired.

Today I excitedly rode up to the Mexican border at Tapachula - my very last central American border crossing. Left Guatamala without a hitch and got my passport stamped for Mexico.

I then pulled the bike up outside the Aduana - at which point a snotty woman insisted i drive past the inspection point - I explained I hadnt obtained my papers yet but she insisted (she had a gun and i usually listen to such people). She demanded to see my registration papers (something I have never been asked) to which I claimed I did not have - this turned into an argument to which I finally caved and showed her the previous owners old registration papers.

I then sat outside the Aduana office (was not allowed in) for about an hour. She finally returned with a big smile on her face saying there was good news and bad news. The bad news being that I would not be allowed to get a second permission (this being the second time the bike has passed through Mexico) with expired registration.

I asked what the good news was - she explained she had convinced her supervisor not to impound the bike then and there - claiming that as the bike was on mexican soil without the necessary paperwork they were completely in their right to do so - i promptly stopped arguing at this point.

She explained I would be allowed to enter if I have up to date registration and then (in a very stern voice) insisted the bike would be taken from me if I entered without renewing the registration - i assume this is to warn me from simply trying my luck at another frontera.

So I am now back in Guatamala. I have spent the entire day searching forums and NOWHERE can I find that registration papers are essential for entering Mexico. Only that Registration papers OR title documents are needed to enter. (NB - she had no problems with me entering with the POA). Have I just been incredibly unlucky? Shoudl I already be on my way to try entering at another border? I must insist she was very seriosu when she told me the bike would be taken if i entered or tried to enter the bike with out of date registration - have other fronteras been told of my presense?

I have already been online to see if I/or the previous owner can renew the registration but as it expired over two months ago this is not possible.

With regards to forging documents remember this is the second time this bike will be entering Mexico and they will have records of the previous entry.

If am welcome to any ideas but im sternly against illegal options. I would sooner try and enter with out of date registration papers than with forged documents. The prior leading to the bike being impounded, the latter potentially lfeading to a criminal ofense.

Hope you can help.

Duncan

Furthermore if Mexico refuses me entry due to expired registration surely America is going to do the same thing?

Yep, quite probably. The rego is required to legally use it on the roads. So if you put it on a trailer/truck and don't use it on the roads, just transport it... then it will be ok.

Where can you get rego done? Guatamala, Mexico (I'd try that woman with the gun - knows what she is doing!)?

Just throwing this out there - what if you went online and got a 30 day temporary permit?

I don't have any useful advice but if you get to Mexico City you are welcome to stay with us.
There will be a solution to your problem the online option sounds good.

Garry

I should preface the comments below by saying that I have never crossed the US Mexican border so cannot claim any first-hand knowledge, but hopefully something I write might be helpful...

1) What do you mean by a "second permission", do you mean a waiver or something? And the bike entered Mexico previously with an expired rego? That doesn't seem to make sense, presumably the previous US owner had a valid rego when he left the US?

2) As far as the US refusing you entry: not sure if that is the case; not all US states allow rego renewal online, and given how long the bike has been out of the US, it is understandable that the rego is expired. And I'm pretty sure I've read elsewhere on HUBB that people have entered the US with an expired rego and then rode straight to the nearest DMV to renew it. Even if that fails, as someone else pointed out, you should be able to truck the bike from the US border, because rego is only required to operate the vehicle on the roads, not to own it.

3) Have you asked these questions or for help on ADVRider? Given its American-heavy member base, I would think that a lot of them would have lots of Mexico-experience and might have some good advice. You might want to go the the appropriate geographic subforum and ask there. If nothing else you might find someone with a truck to pick you up at the US border.

Good luck, sorry to hear you're having such trouble with paperwork!

This is a brilliant idea - considering how anal the aduana were that my registration was expired maybe it wont hold up but my argument would be that if its legal for an american bike in america, surely it is legal in Mexico - it is definately worth a try - only problem is I imagine I would have to get the colorado 30 day permit and after an entire mornign searching for how to get it the only page regarding it is this:

How do I get a 30 day permit? - DMV Answers

This gives absolutely no indication of how the hell you actually go about obtaining the permit - only that it is possible - i have a bad feeling it will not be possible online.

If so I need to find out if somebody else can apply for it and then find an insanely genrous tourer who is willing to help - bit of a long shot.

You can get the Arizona registration online - but would this hold up:

https://servicearizona.com/webapp/permit30/start.do

This is a very generous offer - thank you very much. I may take you up on it.

Thats the one I was thinking of - you can apply and print it out from what I can see.

I don't know if it will work for the Mexican's or not.

Next week, hopefully, I will be in Cancun driving a 4 Runner back for someone, I am happy enough to bring any paperwork to some where near the border. Let me know (by tomorrow I am leaving on Sat all things going well).

Edit: BTW I think a forgery will work. Its not the Mexicans computers tie back into the Colorado DMV.

If you get into Mexico and get into the Freezone (North Baja and north Mexico) you should be able to just ride straight across without anybody stopping you. They don't require bike importation papers to get into or out of the Free zone (or visas).

Get someone in Colorado to put the bike in your name. You do NOT have to be present in person for this to happen, at least in California.. I have done it a ton of times for bikes I purchased for people abroad.
This can be done in 10 min's and scan a copy of the new reg down to you.
Post this on Advrider and there will be plenty of volunteers to help.
The original can be mailed down to you by fedex.