Isn’t better to buy a car in Mexico than bring it to the USA?
Since I know that Mexico is way cheaper than the USA I figure why not buy a car in Mexico? But don’t know what will be the requirement to register it in the USA later? Or how does this work? I’m asking this question before I do something that might be dumb.
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Your Mexican car may not meet US safety or emission standards. As well you will still have to pay your state sales tax on it. Importing just one car into the US is a painful process unless you have owned it more than 6 months outside the USA. To start you will need to get documents proving the car meets US safety and emissions standards
If you buy a foreign car you have to convert it to US emission standards. It can be expensive and you have to wait until it passes inspection before you can drive it.
Well, you would have to pay import taxes on it. It would have to meet all the manufacturing standards for USA road legal lighting. It must meet crash standards, which can only be decided by submitting the same model to actual crash tests (so you would need to buy 5 of the same car to crash them). Must be CERTIFIED to meet US Federal emission guidelines. It must meet the state emissions guidelines for the state you are going to register it in.
The way around this is to get the manufacturer to send you a letter that the vehicle is substantially similar to one sold in USA. Now, this can be successful for a car sold in Canada as Canada has similar standards. But not for Mexico, Central America, South America or Europe
The only time these rules above do not apply is if the car you are importing is at least 25 years old. Then it does not have to meet ANY standards.
It is possible. It is not easy and there is some paperwork you need to do in advance.
Some cars may come in and some cannot. They are long lists.
This web site will guide you through the process.
If you DO NOT do the advance paperwork and plan your car could wait at a Border crossing for weeks while it is processed.
WARNING
Be skeptical of claims by a foreign dealer or other seller that a vehicle meets these standards or can readily be brought into compliance. Vehicles entering the United States that do not conform with U.S. safety standards must be brought into compliance, exported, or destroyed.
https://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-import-export/impo...
Suggest you take your time and READ the procedure it is long and has many steps. It can be done.for some cars.
Older cars usually do not meet the standards for importation.
It depends on the car as manufactured. Added stuff might not let the car pass.Take your time and read the rules.
The seller just wants to sell.They might not tell you everything needed at the Border.
If it was easy to do THINK for moment. There are many with big pockets that would buy them in Bulk to sell in the USA.
It can be done. The vehicle must pass the Border Inspection and meet US Standards and the standards for the State you want to take it. MOST available in Mexico cannot be imported. SOME CAN. Do your due diligence BEFORE you open your wallet.
The bargain could end up being very expensive.
This site has lots of information including lists of allowed and not allowed car models. Scroll down there are links to dealers that have experience importing cars.
https://icsw.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/
You could also look to Canada for a vehicle. Those cars can pass most of the rules. This is ONE of the Benefits of NAFTA as the car parts move back and forth over the Borders in the making of cars and then the finished car can move across Borders.
The current President does not like NAFTA.
Cars that are normally sold in the USA could be made in Mexico or Canada. In two countries or all three supply parts to the final assembly of the finished product.
Good Luck . It can be done. but only for some car models.
Not for California because of the emissions standards. Otherwise maybe.