Buying a used car — the best way to acquire a vehicle during a temporary or permanent stay in Mexico. The purchasing procedure is much more transparent than in Ukraine or Russia. At the same time, it doesn’t matter at all what status you are in Mexico — as a guest of the state or as a resident. The main thing is that you are in the country legally.
After purchase, the car must be registered to the new owner. In most states, guests are denied vehicle registration, but those who look will always find. As a result, registering a car as a guest of the state is still possible. Often it depends not even on the state, but on a specific official.
The most common way to buy a used car in Mexico — directly from the owner. Purchasing through showrooms, although it does occur, is not that common. On the one hand, this carries certain risks associated with possible fraud, on the other — These risks can be minimized, but the price of a used car can be a key factor in choice.
Any new car that leaves the gates of a car dealership can already be considered used. On average, a used car, even with minimal mileage, will cost 27% less than the same new one, which in principle corresponds to the profit of the car dealership, taking into account taxes. It is believed that in the first five years of useful operation, depreciation of a car reaches 10% per year, and after five years the loss of its original value begins to increase.
When purchasing a used car, you no longer need to pay the car sales tax (ISAN), which ranges from 2 to 17% based on the cost of the car.
Insuring a used car is no different from insuring a new one, in addition, when buying a new car, insurance is usually already included in the price, and when buying a used car, you choose the insurance company and insurance package yourself.
So, you have chosen a car and want to buy it. In thisarticlewe wrote how to find the nearest SEFIPLAN office — Ministry of Finance and Planning. There the purchased car will be re-registered. You will also receive new license plates there.
You should re-register the purchased car to the new owner within15 calendar daysfrom the moment of purchase. We suggest re-registration at the same time as the purchase to protect yourself from fraud.
Where to find a used car to buy in Cancun, read the followingarticle.
Papers
In Mexico, the following documentation will be required to register a vehicle to the new owner. In addition, the presence of the best-selling car upon re-registration is mandatory.
Texture
In Mexico, the main proof of ownership of a vehicle is the sales receipt.(factura), which is issued by a car dealership when purchasing a car. The invoice is printed on secure paper. When reselling a car, the seller writes approximately the following text on the back of the invoice:
Yo (seller) cedo la propiedad de este automóvil a (buyer), como nuevo propietario de dicho vehículo.
(I transfer title to this vehicle to (the buyer) as the new owner of said vehicle)
Municipality, date, signature.
Every time a car is sold, a similar inscription will be written on the back of the invoice.
If the original invoice is lost, you can obtain a certified copy from the same car dealership where the car was purchased.
To re-register a vehicle to a new owner, the invoice must be provided in the original along with a photocopy made on one sheet of paper on both sides.
If an imported car is being sold (most often from the USA), the owner will not have an invoice, but must have a document confirming ownership of the car issued by a foreign country. You must accompany this document with other documents confirming the legal import of the car into Mexico and payment of import duties (pedimiento). All documents must be original.
Tarjeta de circulación
Registration certificate or car registration card — plastic card or laminated paper with holographic protection. The seller is obliged to provide it along with a photocopy and license plates for the car.
Carta responsiva
This is analogous to a purchase and sale agreement between the buyer and seller, a legal document that transfers the title to the car to the new owner. Must be signed by the buyer, seller and two witnesses. Witnesses may be Mexican citizens or non-citizens; it is important that they are in Mexico legally.
You should attach the following to the original:
- copy of Carta responsiva
- copies of identification documents of all four signatories
The correspondence of signatures on the Carta responsiva and copies of documentation has the right to be carefully checked.
SampleCarta responsiva. You can simply print it as is, fill it out and sign it.
Confirmation of absence of debts on fines, taxes and fees
The seller must prove that all registration fees and taxes have been paid for the last five years. We wrote about thisHere. During the re-registration of the vehicle, this issue may not arise; however, if it arises and the seller cannot confirm payment of taxes, they will have to be paid again.
A vehicle cannot be sold if the owner has unpaid fines. Fines are tied to the vehicle's license plate number, not the driver's license. Because some fines tend to increase over time, it is strongly recommended that the buyer does not assume the responsibility for paying the seller's fines.
Below we will present several Internet resources where you can check the seller’s debts for paying taxes and fines.
Buyer's address
The buyer of the car must confirm his residential address in Mexico. Typically proof is an electricity bill from the CFE, the Federal Electricity Commission.
If someone else's name is on the invoice (the buyer is renting), it may be possible to require written confirmation from the owner of the property along with a copy of their ID or a notarized rental contract. The papers you need should be original plus copies.
Checks
To check the technical condition of the car, invite a familiar expert or use the service offered by the companyCambiauto.
You can check whether the car is on the wanted list on the official websiteREPUVE. If you enter «repuve consulta» in Google search, you will find about two dozen more sites with a simpler check, say,thisfrom. To verify, you need to know the NIV or VIN — 17-digit vehicle identification number.
It is possible to check the authenticity of the invoice or its certified copy bylink.
You can check the absence of debts on taxes and fees on the websitessatq.qroo.gob.mx(Quintana Roo) ortenenciavehicular.com.mx. To check, you need to know the car number.
You can check which accidents or fines a car has had, and whether all fines have been paid.Here. You need to know the car number.
Price of the car and its registration
If you want to roughly estimate the price of the car you are buying, based on its age and condition (mileage), please refer to the websiteLibro Azul. This site evaluates cars by comparing them to similar models in its database.
The cost of vehicle registration may vary depending on the state or municipality. For example, in Cancun (municipality of Benito Juarez, Quintana Roo state) it is approximately US$200 in pesos equivalent.
Safety Tips
- No prepayments!
The Mexican market is saturated with used cars, and there is no point in paying in advance to «reserve» selected car.
- Discuss the deal with the seller only in public places
Do not agree to have the car inspected in private homes, etc. If the car is running, it can be presented to the buyer at any location of his choosing. Sign the papers there.
- Check your papers carefully
Actually, in addition to this, the official will deal with this when re-registering the purchased car in your name. At the same time, initial verification of documents by the buyer is necessary so as not to waste time on an irresponsible seller. All paperwork for the car should be original.
In addition, make sure that the seller is the owner of the car or the person named in the power of attorney.
- Pay in cash or by transfer to the seller's account — it's up to you
The second method is often preferable, since when paying through a bank branch or through the OXHO store chain, the buyer will have proof of the payment. In addition, carrying a large amount of cash with you is often imprudent.