Border Information

Note: Vehicle permits are not required for Baja, northern Sonora State & Quintana Roo.

You cannot get a vehicle permit if you hold Mexican Residente Permanente status, you can if you hold Residente Temporal.

Important note (Jun 3, 2016): I am getting reports of people being refused permits for 3/4 ton trucks & up. This is because they are taking the GVWR figure off the registration or door sticker, which is the max loaded weight of the truck & cargo. In these cases the 3500 kg limit is exceeded. Banjercito's own website is contradictory on this subject (see images for downloading below). Problem crossings appear to be the Guatemalan border, El Paso, Laredo and la Paz (ferry from Baja). I have had no reports from Nogales which is my recommended crossing. In the interim, I strongly suggest anyone with a 3/4 or 1 ton pickup, download these files and print them out and I also suggest taking your unloaded truck to a commercial scale and get a print out of its unloaded weight. Ask them to put the VIN number on it if they can.

To confuse matters more, the SAT website (they set the laws) states it's 3500 Kg (7710 lbs) cargo capacity. This is NOT GVWR. GVWR is the safe max loaded weight of a truck to where the axles and braking system (whichever is less) can withstand the load. GVWR is the Curb Weight of the truck plus the maximum cargo capacity (including Pasenger weights) set by the manufacturer for safe operation. It is NOT just cargo capacity, as they appear to be interpreting it as. GVW is the weight of a vehicle, loaded or unloaded with cargo, at any given time. GVW is fluid number, GVWR is not.

I believe this all boils down to an issue with translation from Spanish into English in Banjercitos documentation. SAT sets the regulations, Banjercito applies them.

Update September 2022

Ok here is the latest. This issue is still ongoing. Banjercito showed me a memo stating that SAT now considers GVWR and Cargo Capacity to be treated as the same (It is not). That makes the paragraphs below more or less useless. However, I did find a helpful agent who told me you should do this is you have a 3/4 or 1 ton:

1) Take a photo of the truck hitched to the RV with the front plate clearly showing. Print it out on a full sheet.

2) Only cross at a crossing that has an Aduana office.. (Nogales, Laredo, Mission, La Paz)

3) Try to get the permit in normal fashion . If they won't give it to you try showing them the picture.

4) If still refused, go and see the Aduana, he should inspect your rig and determine it is being used for recreational purpose and provide you with an exemption form

The info in purple below may not do you any good. In some cases you may have to pay a "fine" (read bribe). Try not to do that, it encourages extortion.

We do not advise obtaining permits son line, it is causing issues for some

 

I suggest you print all of these out so you have ammo. (except the banjercto English page which contains the error, and they likely cant read it, anyway)

You can download the offcial SAT regs HERE. See Page 22. Here is an image of the page in question Image 3

Here is the Aduana Manual (Customs). It is section 159 Subsection VI, Page 56 . Every aduana should have a copy of this manual, so you can draw their attention to that section.

Here is an image in Spanish from Banjercito on line permit page Image 1

Here is the mistranslated English version of that. Image 2 I believe this is the source of all these problems. (do not show this to officials at the border)

Here is an explaination of how weights work, explained in Spanish Link . Download the PDF version HERE

Update Aug,2016: The latest is that if you are over, they will send you to customs to inspect the truck to make sure it is a passenger vehicle, not a commercial one. I will have more info in November 2016, after I cross myself, with my 1 ton.

Update Oct,2016: The latest is that this problem has been resolved. The individual who caused it no longer works fo Banjercito and things are back to the way they were before. We will see.

Update Sept, 2017: The issue seems to be back, Mike & Terri Church who write books on Mexico Camping, were refused a permit on theri 1 ton PU, at Laredo (both Crossings).

Update Oct, 2017: I am now getting lots of reports of people being denied permits at all Texas crossings if they have a 3/4 ton or 1 ton truck or E350 van. I do not know at this time if they are blocking people who already have obtained permits on line (see Vehicle Permits). If anyone manages to get across with a pre-approved permit, I would like to hear from you ([email protected]).

I did successfully get a permit for my 1 ton on-line. I advise anyone with a 3/4 or 1 ton truck get their permit on line ahead of time.

The Nogales, Az crossing does not seem to be an issue, so at this time I advise anyone with a 3/4 or 1 ton pickup to use that crossing rather than any of the Texas crossings. The advantage of Nogales is that they are unlikely to walk out and look at your door sticker, as it is 5 minute walk for them at that crossing, and you are already clear of the border being in the free zone. This is what Mike & Teri Church did after being refused at Laredo. And they got across OK.

Update Feb. 2018: I have encountered a few rigs with Travel Trailers or 5th wheels who have obtained a 180 day permit covering both the truck & trailer. I have been assured by Customs that this is not legal, although they got away with it, due to the ignorance of a Banjercito agent. The only trailer you can add to a truck permit is a cargo or utility trailer, not an RV. You must obtain a separate 10 year permit for the trailer. If you manage to cover it with a single 180 day permit, you will have a lot of difficulty at the border if for some reason you write off that trailer in Mexico. You will also have issues if you cross through the mandatory inspection station on the road to Palenque where they are sticky about rules. I saw 2 impounded RV's there this season who had improper paperwork.

Update Oct 2018: So far this session I have no reports of refusals. However there was a new wrinkle at Nogales. They wanted a photo of someone's Truck & trailer, taken from the front, down the side, showing the truck and trailer. Also a photo of the door sticker. Best to be prepared and do this ahead of time and print it out. Don't offer it, but you have it if they ask.

Update Dec 2021 : They are no longer issuing window stickers. you now get a printed sheet. Because of this, highway checks for papers are more common. Keep the sheet accesible.

 

ULSD Diesel : I believe most stations are now actually pumping ULSD by Spring 2020, but do not quote me on that. According to Ted White who is somewhat of an expert, it is now all ULSD. A sure sign is DEF consumption and people on our caravans are reporting normal consumption, which indicates it is all ULSD. Its is called UBA in Mexico, but seldom is indicated on pumps

 

Vehicle permits are good for 6 months, although you will  get a 10 year one for some RV's (Class A's & C's & some Class B's, plus 5th Wheels & Trailers (but not the tow vehicle). Unless you plan to leave the vehicle in Mexico for a few years and not bring it back into the US, you may want to cancel it on your way out. It can cause you a lot of grief if you write the vehicle off or sell it sometime during those 10 years. However, it does allow you to leave the RV in Mexico & fly home. (See section on returning sticker further down this article) If you do write off a vehicle in Mexico, get the hunk of windshield with the sticker attached , plus ensure the police & insurance reports show the vehicle VIN number. Unless you turn these in at the border, you will not be permitted to take another vehicle into Mexico at a later date. If you do have an accident, phone your insurance provider immediately and do not admit blame. They will provide a  lawyer. You may or may not need a separate permits for motorcycles & ATV's. It depends on the engine size. If you have a scooter, the word for that is "motoneta".

Up to 3 items can be added to a vehicle permit, including trailers, scooters, ATV's (Maybe a Truck Camper) but see the "Gray Area's" section below.

You can have only one 6 month permit & one 10 year RV permit in your own name.  Eg. A Motor home towing a car.

Example 2: A PU truck with a Slide in camper, towing a car will likely require 2 six month permits and require 2 individuals. Like a husband & wife.

So, photocopy the following

Note: Not all crossings have a copy booth so make copies ahead of time.

1) Your passport front page

2) Any vehicle registrations

3) Your birth certificate

4) Photocopies of your drivers license (or licenses if more than one vehicle) - front & back

5) Photocopies of your credit card

6) Copies of notarized permission to take any leased or company vehicle into Mexico. Also if you are driving into Mexico alone with a vehicle co-registered in another name, have a notarized letter, preferably in Spanish, stating that the other individual has given you permission to take that vehicle into Mexico.

Note: If you scan & print, ensure the printed images are the same size as the originals. They can be sticky over that.

You may or may not need all of those. You will have to get  photocopies of your Mexican visa at the border itself at some crossings. At smaller crossings with no copy booth it won't be required usually because in those cases the Banjercito booth and the visa booth are often combined.

You will receive a sheet of paper with your vehicle sticker, which you must affix to the windshield. It looks like the first picture below. You will also receive a receipt for your vehicle deposit. It is important you keep both these (the form less the sticker plus the receipt). You will need both when you exit Mexico.

It is very important to get a receipt for your vehicle permit when you cross back into the US, (see 3rd picture below) no matter what crossing you use. Failure to return the sticker will prevent you from entering Mexico in future and even if you have returned it, their record keeping system is far from perfect, so you should retain a receipt. You cannot return it at all border crossings. You can no longer return at Tecate, for example.

 

Crossing back into the USA can be a 2 or 3 hour experience. You may not bring any Pork or Chicken products across and some vegetables are not allowed, specifically potatoes & avocado's. If your remove the pit from the avocado's & cook the potatoes, they are OK.  Most fruits are prohibited.

Please note your vehicle may be searched by US border control on the US side and again by Mexican border patrol on the Mexican side. They are looking for guns going south & drugs going north. Both governments stepped this up in 2010.

Here are some documentation examples (some areas painted out for privacy):

Vehicle permit: Former, now just a piece of paper

 

Vehicle Insurance:

 

Exit receipt:

IMPORTANT: I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to return your permit before you cross back. If you do not, you will not only forfeit the $200-$400 bond you placed on your credit card, you may also be unable to ever bring another vehicle into Mexico again. If you write off your vehicle in Mexico, or have the windshield replaced, ensure you keep the glass with the permit on it and have a police report showing the VIN number of the vehicle.

Gray areas:

Unfortunately there are some gray area with regards to vehicle permits. I have been unable to get a straight answer from Banjercito on any of these issues, and believe me, I have tried. They are:

Truck Campers

Motorcycles & ATV's

Cargo Trailers

Can you leave a vehicle in Mexico while you fly home, for eg over Christmas? You can leave a motorhme under a 10 year permit, for sure.

Truck Campers: These seem to fall between the cracks when it comes to RV rules. You cannot seem to get a 10 year RV permit for them, in most cases, but you can manage it if you do it on line. I did, and got away with it 3 years running until I sold it. Simply classify the truck as an RV and use its VIN number. Normally they appear to consider it part of the truck. What worries me is if I am in an accident or it is stolen. I would try to obtain some sort of documentation with its VIN number to prove you own it. Insurance certificate and/or Bill of Sale.

Motorcycles: From what I can determine you can bring in a motorcycle under 150 cc (it may actually be 250 cc, another thing I cannot get a straight answer on) without a separate permit. They have added my 50 cc scooter to my truck permit each year. The rule actually states it should  be unlicensed, so my advice is remove the plate when entering or leaving Mexico & put it back on when in Mexico. Make sure you do show them the registration when you enter, however.

ATV's: In theory to bring an ATV in you must have a passenger with you. One gas powered vehicle per passenger, although as with scooters this appears to be flexible. It will likely be added to the main permit. If unregistered you will need the sales receipt.

Cargo Trailers: These can be added to the towing vehicle permit. You may have trouble if they have no VIN number such as in the case of a homemade trailer.

Temporary trips home: From what I can tell (And I have had contradictory info on this one as well), you can definitely leave an RV with a 10 year permit in Mexico & fly home, you cannot leave a vehicle with a 180 day permit in Mexico & fly home. Lots of people have done it, including myself, but now they are supposedly tying Passport numbers to vehicle permits, you could find yourself in trouble. In my case my wife does fly home. I make sure the vehicle permit is in my name, not hers.

Vehicle Insurance:

Note: be careful of labor rate ceilings. Some cap at $75 or even $38. This will not cover the labor rate in the US if you have to have it repaired there. HDI (Sanborns) & Qualitus (Lewis & Lewis) appear to have no ceiling.

Most policies start at noon PST of the start date, you may want to start your insurance a day before crossing.

You must have Mexican insurance. Expect to pay about $60 - $75 US for each $10,000 of value (RV & truck). This is for a 6 month policy, the most economical. You can purchase insurance  before crossing. AJO, Mexpro, Don Smith, Baja Bound, Sanborns, Motor Mexico, Lewis & Lewis, Sanborns or San Xavier are a few that are recommended.  Shop around & compare coverage & price, but it is best to use one that others have recommended and you know are OK. Do not underinsure yourself.  In many cases you can get a rebate from your insurer for the time spent in Mexico. Ask them what proof they require that your vehicle was below the border. This will likely give you a couple of hundred back. If not, consider canceling your North American insurance for the day after you cross & re-instating the day before you return. (more info on this below). Another trick to save money is to consider placing storage insurance on any vehicles you leave at home.

You may buy insurance for various periods from 1 day & up. At some point it becomes more economical to buy a 6 month policy. In most cases, one policy can cover your truck, RV and other vehicles like scooters or ATV's & trailers.

You can often buy insurance where you obtain your vehicle permit. Unfortunately this is often 20 km into Mexico, and Murphy's law increases your chance of having an accident in those 20 km. Remember an accident in Mexico is a felony, not misdemeanor. Buy your insurance before crossing the border.

If you have an accident, immediately phone the number given to you by the insurance provider. Do not admit blame, let them handle it. This is a good reason to have a cell phone. Even if its an American or Canadian cell phone & the call is expensive. The police will very likely impound the vehicle until things are settled. In Mexico you are guilty till proven innocent. The insurance company will take care of legal aspects & provide an interpreter. It is not as bad as it sounds, your Mexican insurance provider is used to being able to deal with it.

Do not move your vehicle if in an accident until the police arrive. It is illegal to do so. It is a good idea to have a dashcam

Check with your insurance company . You may be able to get a rebate for your insurance for the period you are in Mexico. For example,  ICBC in British Columbia does this. Check with them to see what documentation & proof you will require for a rebate. If you are down for 4 or more months, chances are it will neutralize the cost of your Mexican insurance. Make sure campground receipts show your plate number & keep entry & exit receipts plus toll road receipts. Some US insurance companies also provide collision coverage in Mexico & you may only have to buy liability coverage.  If your RV is separate from your vehicle, like a Truck camper or trailer, also check with the company insuring that.

RV Parks or Boon docking:

There are a lot of RV parks in Mexico, but many of these can be quite full during the peak period of November through March, especially on the West Coast, north of Manzanillo. Boon docking is possible, but not advisable if alone. You may overnight in many Pemex Stations. Campsites & RV parks range from about $5 up to $30 US a night. The most expensive ones I found were in San Carlos & Sayulita, near Puerto Vallarta. $18- $20 US is more the norm. For that, you usually get full hookup's. From November through March, remain flexible, or reserve. One park in Paamul costs almost $50 US a night.

Is Mexico safe:

It's as safe as you make it. Most of the problems are within 100 miles of the US border, mainly in Tijuana and Cuidad Juarez. RV 'ers who follow a few rules are probably as safe from violence as they are in the US, especially in a group. Avoid traveling at night and never park overnight on the side of the road. Avoid hanging out in large crowds & in bars with Mexican nationals. There is a case of a Canadian in jail down there. He was arrested when he was drinking with drug dealers. He had no idea that is what they were.

You may have heard of the RV' er being shot in the leg in March 2010 in an RV Park in Mazatlan. He was fending off a robbery attempt. This is an extremely rare incident, in fact I have never heard of another like it, where an RV' er was following the basic rules of safety. Before you panic & think you will be murdered, try looking up similar incidents in Canada & the US. Possibly you should be more scared of campgrounds in those 2 countries. I should mention that the Mexican authorities in this case paid all the medical expenses, flights home for the man & his wife, since the man could not drive) and offered to pay a flight down for someone to drive their RV back.

Let us put this into perspective by comparing a couple of incidents in Canada & the US. 3 examples from July 2010.

1) A teenager was shot to death in Surrey, BC. He made the mistake of vandalizing a car, which just happened to be owned by a drug gang

2) An elderly couple in  a Motor home disappeared on their way from Alberta to BC. Their burned out Class A was found with the tow vehicle missing. A week later the towed SUV was found in the bush several hundred miles away. Their bodies have not yet been found. This is in the area that 100's of American RV 'ers pass through each summer on their way to Alaska. Are they going to be scared off. Not likely.

3) A shootout in a Washington State Park kills 2 & wounds 4 other.

Guadalajara, Mexico's second largest city, has a lower murder rate than the top 80 listed US city murder rates. It has 1/2 the rate of the top 25.

Mexico City's murder rate is the same as Los Angeles, there are 40 US cites that are worse.

Cuidad Juarez on the other hand is off the scale. Don't go there.

As far as I know, no RV' er has ever been murdered in Mexico

If you do encounter trouble on the road, you will find Mexicans far more inclined to stop & offer assistance than is the case in either the US or Canada.

 

There are stats available for Canadians killed in Mexico. For 2006-2010 it was 15 (murder & accidents). During that period there were 4.5 million Canadian visitors. If you do the math and assume an average trip of 10 days, that is not that much larger that the same stats for that number of people, had they remained in Canada. I suspect if you could find the stats for Canadian visitors to the US (You cannot, I tried - if you Google it you get articles about murders in Mexico, which proves which country gets the negative media coverage), the figure would prove to be higher.

Do Mexicans hate or resent American's or Canadian's:

I have not experienced this. Most Mexicans I have encountered are more friendly than either Americans or Canadians & will go out of their way to help visitors. Just remember it is their country & they are proud of it. Americans may possibly find a bit more hostility than Canadians, due to the current border wall thing, etc. but none have complained to me. I have found most Mexicans treat people as individuals without preconceptions. Avoid overt signs of wealth or superiority, and avoid flying American or Canadian flags. If you must, ensure a Mexican flag is displayed more prominently. Displaying a Mexican flag is much appreciated.

Language issues:

Many Mexicans speak at least some English. Attempts at speaking Spanish are appreciated.

Can I get my truck fixed if it breaks down:

Most larger Mexican cities have Ford, GM & Dodge dealers & service. Service tends to be quite a bit cheaper than in the US, but here could be a few days wait for some parts.  E-Class tires are hard to come by. Carry a good spare. If you have room, an extra tire, off rim, is not a bad idea. Carry coolant & oil. Green Angels which are sort of like the AAA, cruise the highways helping tourists in distress. They do not charge anything except for parts, and most of them are legendary mechanics. Most highways are however patrolled only once in a 24 hour period, so timing is everything. I have heard that on the Cuota's (Toll Highways) towing is free. AAA is no good in Mexico, Sam's Club does provide some service, so they are recommended.

Can I get my RV fixed:

That one is tougher, RV parts are tough to find. Bring an extra sewer hose and any other specific fittings you think you could conceivably need.  Distilled water for your battery is also not a bad idea. If you tow a trailer, consider carrying an extra wheel bearing kit and possibly spare U bolts if they are used on your trailer. They can be difficult to obtain. I actually also carry a spare RV water pump, I kept my old one when I installed a constant flow one.

Can I drink the water:

No, usually not. Bring a refillable water container. (Maybe in your shower stall). These can be filled at almost any town, or exchanged. Maybe wait to get one in Mexico, they are available in almost any store and look for one the screw top types rather than the compression caps. These are very easy to find in Mexico, and means you can reseal it after each use, a good thing, especially if you are carrying it in your shower.  There are different brands and you can only exchange like for like, so be prepared to pour from one container to another, so you can immediately return the empty. Expect to pay about 15 Pesos  ($1- $1.25) for a large container fill. Use local water to fill your holding tank & use one of those blue cylinder water filters to ensure that sediment does not get in. They can be obtained at Camping World in the US or Canada Tire in Canada for about $20. They claim to remove bacteria & guardia, but don't trust them for drinking, but at least it is probably safe to use the water from them for teeth brushing & washing dishes. You can put a cap full of bleach in there  & use that water for showering & washing dishes. If you get Montezuma's revenge, Cipro (Ciproflaxino in Spanish) is available over the counter in Mexico. Flush your tanks a couple of times with good old USA water after you come back. Don't forget the hot water tank.

Are there sani dumps:

RV parks usually have them, so do bus stations in a pinch. I have never tried using one, but I have heard some will let you pay to use them.

What about power:

Power in Mexico can be very inconsistent. Voltages can range for 80 to 150 volts. I advise everyone to purchase a power surge protector. These are about $250 at Camping World for the 30 amp model, add about $75 for the 50 amp model. Otherwise you run the risk of blowing your fridge circuit board for starters. Many RV parks have only 15 amp service. It is actually not a bad idea to keep your fridge on propane.

A better solution is a voltage regular available in Mexico for about $250. This will jack up low voltage and lower high voltage, negating the need for the protector above. You have to wire it up yourself and you need to take a 25 ft 30 Amp extension cord to butcher with you. You will not find it in Mexico. It will fit in a milk crate and I just shove mine under my rig. I have more info on this if you download Regulator . If you are crossing at Nogales, phone Totonaka RV park and speak to Jose, he sells them

What about propane:

It can be trickier find propane, or butane, as is often used instead. You cannot get it at gas stations, you have to search for a central outlet, usually located near larger towns. They will be called things like Global Gas and you will see the large white containers. Simply take your tank over to one and ask to have it filled. Sometimes refill trucks will come around RV parks. Please note that Butane can freeze, so if you are returning to colder climes, use it up first.

Gas, Diesel & prices & Pemex Stations:

All auto fuel in Mexico is sold through Pemex. prices are usually around $3.75 a gallon for diesel (2021) and it is widely available.  Sometimes you will find resellers using barrels in real small towns. Use these only as a last resort, and you won't likely find diesel, only gas. Mexico subsidizes fuel prices when the world price goes up. Diesel pumps are BLACK, not GREEN in Mexico. Green pumps are gas. ULSD is now widely available (2021). A locking gas cap is advisable. This prevents attendants from starting to pump without zeroing before you are out of the truck or pumping the wrong fuel. In most cases you have to pay cash, so make sure you always have 1000 peso's in cash available. I always tip the attendant about 20 peso's . They really appreciate it, and it gives us Gringo's a good name.  If  someone washes your windows, give him 10 peso's, he may not actually work for the station & relies on tips. I would carry 1500 Peso's as there are toll booths to contend with as well. That brings up another point, a portable air pump is useful, it is hard to find places that can handle more than 60 PSI.

Roads:

Most roads in Mexico have little or no shoulders. This means extra caution while driving, especially passing. There are several freeways, but these are nearly always toll roads (Cuota's) and are almost as good as a US Interstate. They can get quite expensive, especially if you have a dually and/or tow a trailer. However, I have heard towing on them is free and I have also heard they will pay the deductible if you have an accident on them. I cannot confirm this, but save your receipts. I have also heard, but not confirmed, that should you get a broken windshield, for eg, you simply drive to the next booth & they will bring in an insurance adjuster and take care of it. You can always take the free road (Libre's), but they are often slow & do not bypass towns. Libre's also have frequent Tope's (see description further on). on 2 lane highways, a dotted shoulder line indicates you should straddle the shoulder so others can pass. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sL7IV5PQLYY

Mexican Road rules & hazards:

From what I can tell, it is illegal to turn right on a red light. A very common practice in Mexico is to activate your left hand turn signal to indicate to the vehicle behind that it is OK to pass. Many trucks do this. Obviously this can be very dangerous. If you do indicate you are about to turn left or move out to pass, ensure no one behind you is taking that as a signal, they can pass you. One way roads in towns are very common and sometimes not very well marked. Another quirk are left hand turns out of lanes to your right. These are associated with left hand turn signals, but it is very disconcerting to see cars turning left across the front of you. Many larger towns have lateral roads that parallel the main road. In some cities you are required to use these if you have an RV. Puerto Vallarta is one example. You will get ticketed if you do not use them. If you see buses & trucks using them instead of the main road, you can bet that is the case.

Low hanging trees or trees close to the edge of the road are a hazard especially to high RV's with vinyl roofs. It is very easy to get trapped in small towns on roads that have low trees, so exercise caution & try to use roads you see trucks or buses using. Low hanging power lines are also a hazard. One trick I have done is to create a guide using nylon tent poles. I cut them down so that if I hold the bottom (or a tape mark near the bottom) level with my eyes, the top measures my clearance. I then walk under the debatable object with it.

Some free roads have very little shoulder and sometimes that shoulder is very steep, so exercise caution.

Since driving in Mexico takes more concentration, try to keep segments short, and be aware of what is behind you. It is easy to forget to check your mirrors when you are concentrating a lot harder on driving. I find driving more than 200 miles a day is tough down there.

Topes, Vibradores, & Vado's:

These are speed bumps. Most are marked, some are not, and they are common on main highways (but not on toll roads). You do not want to hit one of these at over 5 KPH. Keep watch on the vehicle in front, to alert you to them or approaching vehicles that may give away their location. . I can guaranty you will hit at least one, too fast. Vibradores are series of small speed bumps, you can usually take at 30 KPH. A Vado is a dip in the road designed to allow streams in flood to pass over the road in rainy season. Some of them can be quite deep & a hazard especially if towing a trailer. Tope's are a favorite spot for vendors, who can be a pain, but they are also frequently manned by people collecting for charity, notably the Red Cross. Keep some small change handy.

Passports:

As of June 1st, 2009, you require a passport to travel between Canada, the US & Mexico by road. Make sure yours is good for at least 6 months & carry photocopies of the main page. It is also a good idea to carry your birth certificate & picture ID.

Can I bring a Toad or ATV or motorcycle:

You must have one licensed driver (& registrant for each motorized vehicle). If you have a camper & 2 motorcycles & there are only 2 of you, you may not be allowed to bring one vehicle into Mexico, although apparently this rule is being relaxed. A motorcycle under 200 CC's does not count as a vehicle. . Ensure that registrations for more than one vehicle are not only in one name. If so transfer one to your wife. You will need to leave a $300 deposit at the border or a credit card imprint. Keep in mind that a towed vehicle will increase your toll highways cost a fair bit.

Can I bring my gun:

No, don't even think about it. Also no ammo.  You can carry a machete if it makes you feel better.

What about Checkpoints:

Checkpoints are common in Mexico. Don't let the guy behind sandbags with the machine gun scare you. They are looking for drug runners, not overweight Truck Campers. They seldom stop RV's, but they may. There are also agricultural checkpoints at many State lines. They will confiscate some fruit & vegetables.

What if a cop pulls me over:

Some cops still take bribes, it is known as mordida. Is it legal? No, in fact bribing  a police officer is a criminal offense. If you think he is trying to shake you down, offer to follow him to the police station to pay the fine right away, the ticket may suddenly change to a warning. This all assumes you can speak Spanish or the cop speaks some English, of course. Sometimes the best tactic is to pretend you do not speak a word of Spanish other than beer, even if you do. If the officer speaks no English, this may frustrate him enough to let you off. Just keep smiling & playing the dumb Gringo. It is very difficult to advise how to handle each situation, you have to simply play it as it comes. It may come down at some point to effectively offering a bribe.  For example if they want you to take your RV to the station where it is impossible to navigate it. I am not advising you to do it, but you can try offering to pay the fine on the spot. You won't get a receipt so you know the money is going into the cops pocket, but at least you are appearing to be above board. If you are driving down here for over a month, chances are you will get pulled over at some point, for some infraction, real or imagined. Simply budget a couple hundred dollars for it, and do not get upset about it. You will seldom see the federal police trying to shake you down, but it is still common with municipal or transit police.

Another strategy that has worked for me, is to tell him you are lost and offer to pay for him guiding you out of town. Sort of a bribe, but legal.

Pets:

Make sure their shots are up to date and get them on a program to prevent heart worm. Carry flea soap & spray, as fleas & ticks can be a problem.  Mexico does have good vets, finding one who can speak English can be a problem. Be prepared for a shock when you enter a vets office. They are often markedly more primitive than those at home. You cannot buy poop disposal bags in Mexico, take enough with you.

Here is a link to the latest requirements including the new certificate of health rules: http://www.senasica.gob.mx/?Idioma=2&id=623

Should I exchange money before crossing:

You can, but ATM's are common in Mexico. The Canadian  Scotia bank, & Hong Kong based HSBC, have tons of them. Scotia bank is associated with BOA. Maybe start with 1500 pesos before you cross. I have had one experience of a mistake with an ATM in Mexico, so it is a good idea to keep track of your account on line. Keep all ATM receipts just in case.

What about food:

Large supermarkets are common, including Wal Marts. You can buy anything (except decent whole grain bread, although I have found it in some). Cheddar cheese is hard to find. The larger grocery chains are Wal Mart, Mega, Gigante, Sobriana's & Ley's. The larger ones accept credit cards. if you are on a diet, the only diet soft drink is Coke & Sprite, but try Clight, the mango flavor tastes like real mango juice.

Metric:

Mexico uses metric, you may want to measure the height of your rig in metric. There are radar traps, so get familiar with the speed conversions.

Very approx conversions are as follows.

50 km = 30 miles

60 km = 40 miles

80 km = 50 miles

90 km = 55 miles

100 km = 60 miles

110 km = 70 miles

Will my GPS work:

 Garmin now includes Mexico with its North American Maps.

Internet Access:

Many RV parks now have wireless access, in fact its more common than in the US. Many have satellite, so uplink speeds are slow & Skype may not work. You can purchase inexpensive dat on a Telcel SIM card. Ask for Amigos sin Limites 200. Good for 26 days and I believe 4 gig of data . $10 US. Recharge at any OXXO store.

Satellite Radio & TV:

Both XM & Sirius work well in Mexico. Sirius works better due to its higher satellite orbits. I have been told that Direct TV won't work south of Mazatlan, but Canadian based Star Choice works well all over Mexico. Go figure. There are no over the air English language TV stations in Mexico. However, Mexican soap operas are very entertaining even if you can't understand them. Digital TV is now the norm in Mexico. .

Telephone:

This can get expensive. I suggest using Skype. If your cell is activated for Mexico, use it only for emergencies. It will cost a fortune. You can get relatively inexpensive pay & talk Mexican cell phones. Caller ID works in Mexico, so you can always let it ring then call back using a cheaper method.

To dial the US or Canada from a US or Mexican cell, dial +1 (or 001) plus the 10 digits (same to dial a US cell)

To dial a US/Canada 1-800 number dial +1-880 instead. For 1-888, it's +1-881. For 1-877, it's +1-882. For 1-866, it's +1-883. For 1-855, it's +1-884. For 1-844, it's 1-855

To dial a Mexican cell within Mexico from either a US or Mexican cell, usually just dial the 10 digits. On some foreign cell phones you may have to add +52

To call a Mexican cell from the US or Canada, dial +52 plus the 10 digits , You may sometimes have to.i use +521

 

VOIP services such as Magic Jack or Vonnage Digital Phone will also work in RV Parks that have broadband wireless. Magic Jack plugs into a USB port and some digital phone services like Vonnage work if you plug the module into your Ethernet port then create a software bridge to your wireless. To do this the digital phone module has to be stand-alone (as opposed to built into a cable modem) with an Ethernet port & a phone port. Go into your network connections on your laptop, hold down the Control key, & click the Ethernet & the wireless connection icons. Right click & select "bridge connections" and you are done. I have had suceeds with the app form OOMA, if you usethat for your hom phone

More on Cell phones:

Many North American cell phones will work in Mexico, but roaming charges can be high. Calling number display will work in many areas, so you can choose whether or not to answer. An alternative is to purchase a Mexican cell phone. There are "Pay & Talk" type cell phones available at quite a reasonable rate. The emergency number for Mexico, BTW is 088. I am not sure if this will work on US & Canadian cell phones, roaming. AT&T Go Phone, a US pay & talk phone, will work in Mexico roaming on TelCels network. It is 25 cents a minute. It also works in Canada. This is a good option as people calling you can dial a US number.

Web Sites & Travel Books:

Mike & Terri Church's Books Mike & Terri Church write the definitive guides on RVing in Mexico. They also have a Truck Camper. The newest edition of the guide came out in Fall 2009, so its outdated, but don't go to Mexico without a copy. Just keep in mind not all parks in there still exist .

Dot &Bill's Mexico Site This is one of the best, if not the best, web site for Rving in Mexico with Maps containing click able links to RV Parks. It is the work of Dot & Bill Bell of North Vancouver, BC.

ioverlander - Great web site to locate camping spots

Mexican Road Signs:

Download a pdf of translations here (Compiled by Bill & Dot Bell)