Want to bring your car into Mexico legally? First go through taxes, NOM and customs declaration agency

    Under the framework of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement and relevant EU rules, Mexico can enjoy duty-free import treatment for eligible new cars...

     According to Mexican media reports, imported vehicles from Mexico are not "ridiculously expensive". What really causes people is the complete set of layered procedures. With sufficient patience and budget, individuals can indeed legally import vehicles from theUnited States, Canada or the European Unionto Mexico, but only if they strictly comply with local regulations, especially "new car" conditions and customs declaration requirements.
     The report pointed out that under the framework of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (TMEC) and relevant EU rules, Mexicocan enjoy duty-free import treatment for new carsthat meet the requirements, but not everyone can buy or ship them at will. If an individual handles as a natural person, hecan usually only import one car permanently every 12 months, and generally does not need to enter the importer list; if this condition is not met, he will have to enter the importer registration system, which will make the procedures more complicated.
     More importantly, Mexico's identification of "new cars" is very specific. The vehicle must bea first-hand vehicle and the model year must be the same as the calendar year at the time of import, or later; this will be verified by the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN/NIV). At the same time, the odometer for passenger carsmust not exceed 1000 kilometers, and the odometer for heavier vehicles must not exceed 5000 kilometers. In other words, what Mexico wants is not a "near-new car", but a brand new vehicle that barely makes the road.
       In terms of practical operations, Mexico also mandates processing through a certified customs broker or customs agent. According to the Mexican Tax Administration (SAT), customs agents are licensed professionals authorized by the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit to handle various customs procedures on behalf of importers. The report emphasized that car imports involve a large number of Mexican Technical Specifications (NOMs), and if there is a problem with the declaration, the vehicle is likely to be directly stuck at customs.
     In terms of import documents, the first thing to prepare is an import declaration form (pedimento), which must be declared separately for each vehicle. In addition, the manufacturer's invoice, importer's identity certificate, certificate containing address information, and document proving the origin of the vehicle are also required. The vehicle itself must also meet applicable official standards in Mexico, including technical requirements such as exhaust emissions and noise. Customs brokers are almost a "necessity" in this process, because once a certain specification does not meet the requirements, imports may be rejected or extra money will have to be spent to rectify it.
   In terms of fees, Mexico has to pay many items for imported cars, including General Import Duty (IGI), New Car Tax (ISAN), Value-Added Tax (IVA), Vehicle Possession or Use Tax (ITUV), and Customs Declaration Fee (DTA). Coupled with the customs clearance agency fees, the purchase cost of the vehicle itself, and the transportation cost from the place of origin to Mexico, it is not easy to calculate the entire account. In terms of transportation methods, you can go by sea or through the northern border port of Mexico, depending on the source of the vehicle and customs clearance arrangements.
   The report finally reminded that this process is aimed at"new car imports" and does not cover temporary imports, nor does it involve the formal registration of used cars. If some vehicles do not meet the "new car" conditions, it is basically impossible to apply this set of rules directly.
   written in the end
   The biggest reminder that Mexico's system provides to China exporters is: Don't simply interpret "being able to export" as "being able to customs clearance." For those who want to be a Latin American market, Mexico is more like a market with overlapping rules, heavy documents and heavy agencies, especially when it comes to new and old vehicles, mileage and technical standards. If you want to enter the second-hand car business, you must first find out what is allowed locally, how to declare it, and who will declare it; otherwise, even if the car has been transported to the port, the entire order may be stuck because of one document, one NOM, or one mileage verification.