Visit Mexico!
RENTING A CAR:
Renting a car in Mexico is similar to renting one anywhere in the world with a few caveats. You must have a major credit card. All major rental car agencies are located at major airports. Their rates vary so shop around. Please check the car carefully! Any little ding not noted will be charged to you as if you damaged the car. Make sure all lights, signals and especially the horn work. Unlimited mileage is the exception rather than the rule, so be sure to ask if it is available. There should be a decal in the back window with the license tag number on it. Be sure they match or refuse the car. Renting in one city and returning in another is expensive. The car rental company will charge you a per kilometer fee that may double your bill.
INSURANCE:
Mexican law requires liability insurance for foreign-registered vehicles driven anywhere in Mexico. Insurance agents also recommend comprehensive and collision insurance, which usually add little to the cost. Without insurance, if you get into an accident, you can be jailed.
INSURANCE CAN BE PURCHASED FROM:
THE BORDER ZONE:
By law, the border zone extends 20 kilometers (about 12 miles) into Mexico. Americans can travel in this area without obtaining a tourist permit or a vehicle permit. Practically speaking, this zone includes the territory up to the first customs/immigration checkpoint south of the border cities. The zone includes Agua Prieta, Naco, Cananea, Nogales, Sasabe, Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point) and San Luis Rio Colorado.
TOURIST PERMITS:
All foreign tourists must obtain a tourist permit before traveling beyond the border zone. For those traveling into Mexico at Nogales, permits are available at the customs and immigration checkpoint at kilometer 21. For those entering Mexico at any other point in Sonora, the permit must be obtained at the border port of entry. Officers at the immigration checkpoints south of the border zone may ask to see a permit but cannot issue them.
To obtain a permit, you must have either a passport alone or a birth certificate and a driver's license. U.S. military id and voter id may also work in combination with a driver's license, although some traveler’s have reported problems using these two. The tourist permit costs 170 pesos per person (about $18) and must be paid to one of 27 banks listed on the form. Pay this whenever possible after entering Mexico's interior. The permit is also required if you are going to stay more than 72 hours in Mexico's border zone, except in Puerto Penasco where the time limit does not apply.
VEHICLE PERMITS:
Only Sonora. At kilometer 21 south of Nogales, you can obtain a free vehicle permit good only for travel in Sonora under a program called Sonora Only. Those who use this option must carry a vehicle title or registration in the name of the person driving, as well as the tourist permit. After showing these and the identification used to obtain the tourist permit, the Only Sonora employees will give you a form and a sticker. Although the Only Sonora pass is good for up to 180 days, you must return these to the booth in the middle of the road at kilometer 21 on your return north. If you don't return the form and sticker at the booth south of Nogales, the Sonoran government must pay the Mexican government the taxes that would have been required on the vehicle if it were imported. a sum as high as the value of the vehicle. Sometimes, Sonoran officials travel in Arizona in an effort to prove the vehicle is no longer in Mexico.
Customs Vehicle Permit. Those who wish to travel beyond Sonora, or who prefer unlimited entries and exits over 6 months, should obtain a vehicle permit from Mexican customs, known as SAT. To obtain one of these permits, you present your tourist permit, a registration or title in the name of the driver, a personal identification such as the one used for the tourist permit, and a "guarantee." That guarantee is usually in the form of a credit card presented to the nearby Banjercito office. That bank will charge about $17 to the card and keep a print in case the car is not returned. Those who don't have a credit card can pay for a bond which is sold by private businesses near the ports of entry. The cost depends on the vehicle. If you obtain this 180-day permit from customs, you must return the sticker given you to the customs station. Otherwise, you face the possibility of a charge applied to the credit card or loss of your bond. By law, you also may not obtain another such permit until a year has passed from the day you list obtained a permit, although this is not always enforced.
Click here to go to the Banjecito web site home page, where you can fill out and print your Vehicle Permit application.
MISSING LICENSE PLATES:
There is one way to know your car is over parked or parked illegally- your license plate will be missing. Paper parking citations can be ignored and fines forgotten. However, when the police possess a license plate, drivers are compelled to go to the station and pay their fine to reclaim their plates (placas).
DON’T DRIVE AT NIGHT!
A number of factors make night driving hazardous. On older, two lane roads, you could hit a chuckhole with no warning. Shoulders are narrow or sometimes non-existent. Drivers of broken down vehicles often place rocks on the road to warn you that they are taking up the lane ahead. Long after they’re gone, the rocks often remain, despite signs telling you not to leave them. Mexico has a lot of open range; loose livestock is common place and roads are often poorly lit.
GREEN ANGELS:
Green Angels are trained mechanics who roam all th major highways to assist disabled travelers. This is a free service provided by Mexico’s Department of Tourism. You’ll see their bright green panel trucks driving slowly down every major highway. They cover each route twice daily. If you break down, they will find you, or you can call them on your CB, channel 9. There are over 800 “Angels” covering 230 routes. If one of them helps you, his service is free, but he will have to charge you for any parts you need or gasoline. He can also provide emergency medical aid, so a tip is recommended and always well received. If you need help, a phone is nearby, call the Green Angel Hotline: 01-800-90392 or the central radio room 01-55-5250-8221.
TOLL ROADS:
Take the toll roads whenever possible as they can save a lot of time, although some can be quite expensive. You can find the latest tariff rates at http://www.capufe.gob.mx/
FLAGMEN:
When you see a man on the side of the road with a red rag, assume you’d better slow down as there could be a myriad of dangers ahead.
TRAFFIC SIGNALS:
Left Turn Signals
On the open road, a left turn signal is an invitation to the person behind you to pass. Trucks and busses frequently turn their left blinker on to guide you around them. They can usually be trusted, but use common sense. Sometimes they have optimistic views of your acceleration capabilities. Don't use your left turn signal on a two lane road when you are about to pass. You might get hit. A few readers have pointed out that on the toll roads, people use turn signals as they do here. Our advice -- use them as you are used to on toll roads, but don't expect the other drivers to do the same.
Left Turns
Left turns are different! When there is a left turn lane, there will usually be a left turn arrow. Look for 4 lights on the signal. You MUST wait for the arrow.
Right Turns
Right on red is usually not OK, unless there is a sign saying that it is (Derecha con Precaucion). If you are determined to turn, use your best judgment.
MONEY MATTERS:
Pay with your credit card whenever possible to take advantage of the best exchange rate. Credit cards like Visa and MasterCard are accepted almost everywhere. Discover is not accepted anywhere. American Express, Diner’s Club and Carte Blanche are accepted only at the finer establishments. You can get cash advances on the Visa and MasterCard at some ATMs. Pesos bills come in denominations of $10, $20, $50, $100, $200, $500 and probably even bigger. Coins are 5¢, 10¢, 20¢, 50¢ (centavos) and $1, $2, $5, $10 and $20 pesos.
WATER:
Avoid tap water (even for brushing your teeth). Use purified water or agua purificada available in gas stations and small stores, just like in the States. In supermarkets, it ca be purchased in one-gallon plastic containers. Mineral water, while perfectly safe, has the side effect of a mild laxative on some individuals due to its mineral content. So be sure and ask for purified water at hotels, motels and restaurants.
GENERAL SOCIAL RULES
If someone invites you to dine with them or come to their home, they are sincere. To refuse without giving a reason s bad manners. In general, whenever a place and time are mentioned, the invitation is sincere. Their sense of time (except in business situations) is different, so allow thirty minutes to an hour for acceptable tardiness.
PARKING ATTENDANTS- Will watch over your car. Pay them the peso equivalent to fifty cents to a dollar.
TIPPING- remember that U.S. coins are useless to anyone in Mexico, so don’t use them for tips. The kids who wash your windshield get fifty cents. Maids should get two dollars a day. Waiters get 15% average and exceptional service, of course, gets 20%. Please use common sense and don’t over tip or under tip.
WHAT YOU CAN TAKE INTO MEXICO:
When crossing into Mexico, if you have no merchandise to declare, you must go through the Stop and Go light check point. A green light means proceed ahead without inspection. A red light means stop for inspection.
When you travel to Mexico by airplane or by ship, you are allowed to import (duty free) a total of items worth up to $300 per person (including children). For example, a family of five members consisting of the parents and three minor children can import up to $1,500 worth of merchandise, duty free.
When you bring items whose value exceeds the above mentioned limits, but not more than $1,000.00, you can pay the taxes yourself. If your merchandise is worth more than $1,000.00, you must use the services of a customs broker.
If the flight by which you arrive come from the border zone you are allowed only $50.00 of new items per person.
If you are a resident in Mexico you are allowed to bring in free of duty the following items for your personal use: One camera or video camera if it can be carried by the passenger; up to 12 rolls of new film, video cassettes, or photographic materials; one article of sports equipment or a used set of equipment that can be hand carried; books and magazines; 20 packages of cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grains of tobacco; 3 liters of wine, beer or liquor (adults only); medicines for personal use or with a Doctor's prescription, if it is a controlled substance; and the suitcases to carry baggage.
Tourist are allowed to bring in their personal effects duty free, in addition to the above, your personal effects may include: New or used good for personal use, such as clothing, footwear, and hygiene products, so long as they are in accordance with the duration of the trip, and their quantity does not suggest that they can be the object of commercialization. A tourist can also bring a set of binoculars, a photographic camera and a video recorder (their power sources too), a television, a radio or radio-cassette, tape, CD, or DVD player, a personal computer (i.e. laptop, notebook, omni book, etc.), up to 20 recording tapes or CD’s, 5 DVD’s, 12 rolls of unused film, a cell phone, a typewriter, a musical instrument that can be hand carried, books & magazines (whose quantity does not suggest that they can be the object of commercialization). For out door activities tourist can bring a camping tent and camping equipment, a set of fishing equipment, a pair of skis, 5 used toys for minors (as long as they can be transported by one person), two sets of used personal sports equipment (as long as they can be transported by one person), a motor-less boat less than 5 1/2 meters long or surf board with or without a sail. Regarding disabled persons, goods for personal use that, by their characteristics, compensate for or diminish their disability. Tourist can bring medicine for personal use (The prescription must be shown if they are psychotropic substances). Adult passengers may also bring a maximum of 20 packs of cigarettes, 25 cigars or 200 grams of tobacco, and up to 3 liters of whine, beer, or liquor, with the understanding that a larger quantity of these products cannot be imported without complying with the applicable regulations and restrictions.
If you are inspected and are discovered with items of greater value than is permitted and you have not paid duty on them, you risk having to pay a high fine (of up to four times the value of each item) or seizure of the goods as a contraband plus the seizure of the car in which the goods are traveling. If weapons or ammunition are found, the penalty could include imprisonment.
The following are products you can take into Mexico without previous authorization:
• dehydrated or canned foods
• roasted coffee (packaged),
• fresh or dry meats (beef, sheep or goat from US or Canada) candy (not lactic)
• bamboo (dry)
• dried spices
• dry herbal medicines
• dry or preserved insects canned jellies or fruit preserves nuts
• straw articles or artisans dried fish
• cheese (processed in US or Canada) canned or processed sauces soups without meat canned or processed vegetables
• dogs or cats (with health certificate).
Penalties for drug offenses are strict and convicted offenders can expect large fines and jail sentences up to 25 years.
MORE TRAVELING ADVICE:
Mexican citizens who live in the U.S. don't need to obtain a tourist permit, but they must demonstrate their Mexican nationality. They also must obtain a permit for any foreign-registered vehicle.
Those who are paying off a vehicle and don't yet have a clear title or registration must bring a letter from the financing company. The letter must give permission for the vehicle to be driven in Mexico.
Vehicle renters must bring a letter from the rental agency giving them permission to take the car into Mexico.
Nobody may take a borrowed vehicle into Mexico. Spouses, children or parents of the registered owner may take a vehicle in, but only when they bring documentation of that relationship, such as birth certificate. Notarized letters are not accepted.
Do not loan an American-registered vehicle while in Mexico unless the person who took the permit out is also in board.
Those pulling boats, trailers, ATVs and motorcycles must bring registration for these. The same person cannot take out a permit for both recreational vehicle and a car at the same time.
Fishing licenses are not necessary when fishing from shore, but are when fishing from a boat.
Don't take firearms or ammunition into Mexico unless you have a pre-arranged hunting trip and have the necessary permits.
Pets being brought into Mexico must have proof of rabies vaccination dated between 1 and 12 months previous to date of entry.
Electricity in Mexico is the same as the US and Canada, 110volts, 60cycles.
Mexico cellular networks are GSM, which uses the SIM chip that fits inside the phone. Cingluar/ATT is partnered with CelTel in Sonora, and if you are a Cingluar/ATT customer and tell them you're travelling there, they can set you up to "roam," although it costs about a dollar a minute. If you have an "unlocked" cell phone, you can grab a local Mexican SIM card (prepaid), and use it in your phone, which gives you a temporary local number and cheap local calls.
RETURNING TO THE UNITED STATES
-There are limits set for items you wish to bring into the U.S. Liquors are limited to one liter per adult, and Tobacco products are limited to one carton per person over the age of 18. For additional items, consult a U.S. Customs Agent before crossing into Mexico.
-Upon entering the U.S. from Mexico, certain articles are either prohibited or subject to various quarantines, limitations or special permit requirements. Those articles include all narcotics or drugs, weapons, certain trademarked articles, most fruits, vegetables, plants, animals, birds and meats, and products made from the hides, shells, feathers, or teeth of endangered species.
-The Mexican and U.S. Customs offices are available 24 hours a day to answer any questions at (520) 287-1410. You may also call (520) 885-0694 for more information.
PHONE NUMBERS:
Sonoran Emergency (like 911): 066
Operator: 091
Bilingual Operator: 070
Mexican Consulate: 520-287-2521, 520-287-3381, 520-287-3386
US Consulate:
Nogales: 631-313-4820
Hermosillo: 662-217-2575
US Customs: 520-287-9706
Border Patrol: 520-377-6000
CANACO (Chamber of Commerce Nogales, Sonora)
011-52-631-31-2-02-03
011-52-631-31-2-48-55
Office of Tourism (Nogales, Sonora)
011-52-631-31-2-06-66
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IMPORTANT CHANGE IN INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
Travelers Reminded of New Document Requirements Beginning January 31, 2008
Documents Proving Citizenship, Identity Will be Required when Entering U.S. Through Land and Sea Ports.
(Monday, December 03, 2007)
contacts for this news release
Washington – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of State (DOS) remind the traveling public that as of Jan. 31, 2008, all adult travelers will be required to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, and proof of identity, such as a driver’s license, when entering the United States through land and sea ports of entry. DHS will be issuing a notice in the Federal Register formally announcing the change.
This change is a necessary step to prepare travelers and ease the transition to the future requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). WHTI proposes to establish documentation requirements for travelers entering the United States who were previously exempt, including citizens of the U.S., Canada, and Bermuda. As recommended by the 9/11 Commission, Congress enacted WHTI in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. WHTI will result in both enhanced security and increased facilitation across the border once implemented. During this transition, DHS and the Department of State are working diligently to minimize the impact on legitimate trade and travel.
Currently, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers may accept oral declarations of citizenship from U.S. and Canadian citizens seeking entry into the United States through a land or sea border. However, as of January 31, 2008:
Oral declarations of citizenship alone will no longer be accepted
U.S. and Canadian citizens ages 19 and older will need to present a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, along with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate
Children ages 18 and under will only be required to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate
Passports and trusted traveler program cards - NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST - will continue to be accepted for cross-border travel
All existing nonimmigrant visa and passport requirements will remain in effect and will not be altered by this change.
DOS reminds the public that the current turnaround time for a passport is four to six weeks, so Americans planning international travel may wish to apply now. For information on obtaining a U.S. Passport visit the U.S. Department of State Website or call 1-877-487-2778. ( U.S. Department of State ) Specific documentation requirements for land, sea and air travel may be found at Ready, Set... Go!. ( Ready, Set... Go! ) To learn more about NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST, visit Trusted Traveler Programs. ( Trusted Traveler Programs )
Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
Contacts For This News Release
no address available at this time
DHS Public Affairs Office
Phone: (202) 282-8010
CBP Headquarters
Office of Public Affairs
1300 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Room 3.4A
Washington, DC 20229
Phone: (202) 344-1770 or (800) 826-1471
Fax: (202) 344-1393
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/home.xml