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We're thinking of driving a car from San Diego to south Baja and leaving it there for a friend to use, indefinitely - maybe a year or more. What do we need in terms of permits, insurance, etc.? Will this take us a long time at the border? Thanks much...

Originally Posted by Jabenz

We're thinking of driving a car from San Diego to south Baja and leaving it there for a friend to use, indefinitely - maybe a year or more. What do we need in terms of permits, insurance, etc.? Will this take us a long time at the border? Thanks much...

A 'tourist' (FMM tourist card holder) cannot leave any property in Mexico when the vacation is over... that requires a different type of visa, typically an FM-3. Since your providing a car for a friend would take income away from a Mexican who would otherwise sell or rent a car to that friend, this activity by foreignors is not allowed.

That's not saying it isn't done "all the time" by other gringos... just be prepared for the laws of another country.

You can drive down with insurance you buy at the border as long as your registration is current.

If your friend is Mexican, and has a Mexican drivers license, they cannot legally drive a car with U.S. plates.

If your friend is from the U.S., they will be driving a car that's legally registered to you. That could be a trigger for him/her to be hassled if they are pulled over. Once the registration expires (unless you are willing to keep the registration in your name and continue to renew the registration, or legally sell it to them, or import it legally) your friend will not be able to drive it without the risk (and eventuality) of being pulled over and hassled. The car "could" be impounded if the registration is not current, at the very least the mordida will be large.

Your should make sure your friend should be able to legally register the car or your wasting you time and effort.

Great advice