Quite a few foreigners live permanently in Tijuana, Mexico. Tijuana is not only the largest transit point on the way from Mexico to the United States and vice versa. Tijuana — it is also the country's largest market of «gray» used cars («chocolate», as the Mexicans say), which were imported from the USA under various schemes, but were not cleared through customs. According to estimates by the National Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Services (Canaco-Servytur), in Tijuana there are — about 700 thousand.
The city has a developed trade in used cars, and buying or selling a car is not difficult at all. The purchase is possible even if you are in Mexico as a tourist. After purchase, you will have 30 days to register your car with the traffic police, and tourists may have difficulties with registration.
In this post we will tell you about the places where you can buy a car in Tijuana. We will assume that you need an inexpensive car, because more expensive cars can be purchased at numerous car dealerships throughout the city.
For reference, in Mexican territory the $ sign means "Mexican Peso", not "American Dollar". In addition, the peso has the option of being designated as MX$ or MXN.
Automotive markets
Market on Cucapah Boulevard in Buenos Aires Sur
Actually, the car market — it's just a part of this boulevard about 1 km long, along which cars are parked along the sides. Cars are not concentrated in one place, but are spread out along the highway. The year of manufacture, price and telephone number of the seller are painted on the glass or doors. Not all cars have identification marks for sale, you need to come up and ask. By haggling, you can get a significantly lower price.
Address: Blvd. Cucapah, Buenos Aires Sur, 22207 Tijuana (between Calle Chilpancingo and Calle Mariano Matamoros).
Cucapah, Francisco Villa 2da Secc, 22236 Tijuana — This is an incorrect address.
There are several groups on Facebook that post advertisements for cars for sale on Cucapa Boulevard, in particular:this.
Be sure to inspect the vehicle before purchasing. There will be nothing wrong if you ask the owner to bring the car to your hotel for inspection. If you don’t have the right to check the car yourself, find an assistant.
Don't trust taxi drivers and mechanics who offer help in buying a car! They have the right to hand you over to the police.
In addition, there are several unorganized markets in different areas of Tijuana: on Rosas Magallón Boulevard near Colonia Oaxaca, in the areas of Cerro Colorado, La Presa and San Antonio de los Buenos. But they are regularly closed as part of the fight against the illegal trade in «gray» cars. Then they come off there or in other places. However, any taxi driver in Tijuana knows places where it is possible to buy a car inexpensively.
On the Internet
If you have a Facebook account, you can find the largest selection of cars onMarketplace(not available in all countries). On the left in the filters, select the city of Tijuana, category «vehicles» or the search phrase «autos usados».
In addition, you have the right to enter the search phrase «autos usados tijuana» in the general Facebook search, and then select «Groups». Get a large list of groups that sell cars in Tijuana or classified ads from private sellers.
Craigslist— An American car sales site where you can also buy and sell cars in Tijuana. Use filters to find the car you need.
Some more popular sites for selling cars:
Mercado Libre— Usually, cars of higher class and price categories are sold here.
To choose a car, communicate and bargain with the seller. In Mexico, almost every mobile phone has WhatsApp — This is enough to contact the seller. If you don't know Spanish, use Google Translate.
How to buy a car in Mexico, we explained in thismaterial. In Tijuana, purchasing is even simpler: documentation is simply signed on the hood, money is transferred from hand to hand. Everyone understands that a car is not needed for long trips around the country. At the same time, buying a car with California license plates (and these are the ones most often needed) does not imply its re-registration, it is enough just to rewrite the ownership.
Refrain from buying cars labeled importado. Most often these are «gray» cars that did not go through the usual import procedure, but were imported only on the basis of an invoice. They receive the closest attention from the police, who at every turn will ask you for a registration card or temporary import permit. Moreover, you will not be able to insure such a car.
Refrain from buying a car from which the previous owner removed the plates before selling it. As a tourist, it will be difficult for you to obtain new license plates.
How to get from Cancun to Tijuana on your own, we told you in thispublications.