Mexico Temporary Vehicle Import Permit (TIP): When You Need It and How to Get It
You need a TIP to drive a US-plated car into mainland Mexico beyond the border strip. You don't need one in the 20 km border strip, the whole Baja peninsula, the Sonora free zone or Quintana Roo (Baja Bound).
Where you don't need a permit
- A 20 km strip along the US border
- The entire Baja peninsula (but the ferry to the mainland requires a permit)
- The Sonora free zone in northwest Sonora, which includes Rocky Point, Nogales, Hermosillo, Guaymas and San Carlos
- Quintana Roo
What it costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Processing fee (online) | About US$52 |
| Refundable deposit, model year 2007 or newer | US$400 |
| Refundable deposit, 2001–2006 | US$300 |
| Refundable deposit, 2000 or older | US$200 |
You get the deposit back when you cancel the permit at a border Banjercito module on your way out. Figures from Baja Bound; confirm on Banjercito before applying.
Three ways to get it
- Online, 10 to 60 days before you cross. Get immigration pre-authorization first, then apply on the Banjercito portal and pay with a card that allows foreign transactions. The permit arrives by email, which can take about ten days.
- At the border. Go to the CIITEV module with original documents and photocopies; cash or card.
- At a Mexican consulate in the US, up to six months before entry.
Sonora Only: if you'll stay within Sonora, the Sonora Only permit costs the same but has no deposit, and is valid for 180 days within 12 months.
Don't forget insurance
A permit doesn't insure you. Mexican liability insurance is required on federal roads. What to buy.
Source: Baja Bound – Mexican vehicle permits. General information, not legal advice; rules change.