- Last Updated: July 8, 2022 by
- Categories:
- Vehicle Import Permit
A Temporary Vehicle Importation Permit or TIP is a legal document that allows non-Mexican citizens and Mexican citizens living abroad to take a vehicle across the border into Mexico. It is a requirement for driving vehicles owned by foreigners outside the Mexico free or border zone.
Purchasing a Temporary Importation Permit
Except for when you buy it online, a TIP will cost $51 plus VAT (a minimal tax). You have three options for buying your TIP:
- You can save money by buying the TIP online at the official Banjercito website (Mexico's military bank) for $45.
- You can also buy a TIP in person at the CIITEV module, located at customs gates at the port of entry to Mexico in Arizona, California, New Mexico, or Texas.
- You can purchase in person at any of the Mexican Consulates in the U.S. in Chicago, Illinois; Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston, Texas; Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Sacramento, California; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Denver, Colorado; and Phoenix, Arizona.
In some cases, Banjercito may deny a TIP for a vehicle. For example, if there is a record of theft or accident against the registration in the U.S. or Canada. Or, if the vehicle has a salvaged title.
In addition to the fee there is a mandatory deposit which is refundable once the vehicle exits Mexico, and the permit is canceled. The amount of the deposit varies depending on the age of the vehicle and are as follows for 2022:
- 2007 and later — $400 USD
- 2001 to 2006 — $300 USD
- 2000 and earlier — $200 USD
The deposit is considered a pledge to return the vehicle within the period for which the permit is valid. The vehicle must leave the country on or before the date specified on the permit. If the permit is not returned to the Banjercito location at the border when exiting the country, the deposit will be retained by the Department of Treasury.
Accepted Methods of Payment
At the consulate and online you can pay by credit card only. At customs gates you can pay in cash.
Canceling a TIP
When you leave Mexico, and if you have no plans to return before the expiration date on your TIP, it's important to cancel it in order to get your deposit back. And, so Mexican authorities know you have taken the vehicle out of the country as expected.
How do you cancel a TIP?
Canceling your TIP prior to or at the time of expiration can only be done at the Banjercito kiosks set up for processing cancelations of TIPs located at most, but not all, border crossings. If the crossing is small, chances are it will not have a facility to cancel your TIP. If you have any doubt, use our 2022 table of Banjercito office locations and phone numbers to find the nearest Banjercito.
We also provide Banjercito information by U.S. State:
- Arizona
- California
- New Mexico
- Texas
What If I Can't Get My Car to the Border?
You must cancel your TIP even if any of the following occur:
- Your car was stolen in Mexico or the U.S.
- Your car was in an accident in Mexico or the U.S.
- Your car was sold or traded in the U.S. or Canada
In the event your car was stolen or in an accident while in Mexico, you still must cancel your TIP. You can do this while the vehicle is in México by contacting the Mexican Customs Administration HQ at the following address:
Av. Hidalgo núm. 77, módulo IV, primer piso, Col. Guerrero, Deleg. Cuauhtémoc, 06300, México, D. F.
Mexpro's MexVisit® travel assistance, included with all our policies, can help you cancel your TIP.
What if you are in the interior of Mexico when it expires?
Remember the TIP is only good until the expiration date. If you end up staying longer in Mexico, your TIP will need to be canceled and you will need to get a new one. You must return to the border to cancel and get a new TIP. You cannot get a TIP anywhere within the interior of Mexico.
What happens if you don't return the TIP?
If you don't return your TIP when you and your vehicle leave Mexico, your deposit will be forfeited. There will also be no official record of the vehicle leaving Mexico, which will restrict you from getting another TIP. It is possible that your vehicle will be impounded, and the fines and fees often exceed the value of the vehicle.
Summary
If you are headed to Mexico and traveling outside the Free Zone, make sure you get a Temporary Importation Permit online, at one of the Mexican consulates that issue them in the U.S., or at Banjercito at the border.
The time and expense are worth avoiding troubles in the interior of Mexico. And don't forget to return the permit at the border before or when it expires to get your return deposit, and to avoid any penalties. Remember the TIP is only good until the expiration date. If you plan to extend your stay in Mexico, be sure to schedule a trip to the border to cancel your TIP and get a new one. You cannot do this within the interior of Mexico.
PLEASE NOTE that Banjercito is a Mexican government agency. Mexpro has no affiliation with Banjercito and we CANNOT provide Temporary Vehicle Importation Permits (TIPs) for Mexico.
Mexico auto liability insurance is required to obtain a TIP. Don't forget to purchase insurance from top quality insurers with Mexpro. And, Happy Travels!
