Temporary Import Permit (TIP) for Legal Temporary Residents (TR) of Mexico - Legal TEMPORARY residents of Mexico can keep their foreign plated vehicle in Mexico for the term of their legal temporary residency. To retain their TIP deposit, they must notify Aduana Mexican customs (at any international airport or head office in CDMX with a "TIP extension" by submitting a copy of their passport, residency card and TIP document EACH time there is a change to their temporary residency. Ie. 30 day sticker to 1 yr card, 1 yr card to 3 yr card or FMM tourist to 4 yr card WITHIN 15 DAYS of immigration visit and prior to 30 day or 180 day TIP expiration. Legal temporary residents are required to remove their foreign plated vehicles from Mexico PRIOR to becoming legal PERMANENT residents of Mexico as permanent residents are NOT ALLOWED to drive foreign plated vehicles in Mexico. Solutions are removal of the vehicle from Mexico, driving it to the border for PERMANANT IMPORTATION with Mexican customs (Aduana) or "regularizing/legalizing" it within Mexico if it qualifies.
Legal PERMANENT Residents (PR) of Mexico as permanent residents are NOT ALLOWED to drive foreign plated vehicles in Mexico with the exception of those entering on their 30 day PR sticker issued by a consulate. The foreign vehicle should be removed from Mexico within that 30 days. Pat's Plates recommends PERMANANT IMPORTATION with Mexican customs (Aduana) on the way INTO MEXICO if it qualifies for those that want to keep it in Mexico long term or permanently so that they have the option to sell as well.
What are "Mexican Farmer Plates"?
Also referred to as "Mexican farmer plates." It's a private (not govt) association that charges a upfront fee to join and then a yearly fee to maintain. Technically they have filed an injuction to protect their members foreign plated vehicles from impound as they intend to nationalize the vehicles. The purpose is for Mexican nationals that are driving a vehicle that is illegally here in Mexico and pulled over and threatened with impound, IN THEORY - fellow members will rush to their aid, blockade the road and protest until the police let them go. From what we have seen reported locally, the cops will impound the vehicle and this association will provide an attorney to help you get it out. We know of one person that got caught with them on the road to Guadalajara, the attorney was sent and it took a few days and 20k pesos in fees/fines to get out. Another's vehicle was impounded just south of Vallarta. The membership wasn't paid up so they paid an attorney out of pocket. It took a couple months or more as they wouldn't pay a bribe and cost about the same, roughly 25k pesos. These associations typically advise members that their vehicles are limited to where they can travel. For example: no federal roadways or zones (highways/toll roads/international airports/ports etc.) In the PV specifically they are told do not go to the PVR airport or to cross the AMECA BRIDGE. People with said "plates" have been warned at both by Federal National Guard Hwy (White/Black Dodge Chargers) to not drive there.
In the PV/Bay of Banderas area, Pat's Plates- Expat Help for Vehicle Registration and Driver's Licenses has spoken with Federal, State and Municipal (city) authorities. The Municipal say that they will not target a vehicle with these "farmer" plates but they are a major issue IF the car is involved in a traffic accident because technically the plates don't legally exist to them. So basically the car can be impounded for not having valid plates. Local state authorities seem to have similar unofficial policy. The issue there is the state rotates state police (big black "Policia Estatal" trucks) though the area and those are more aggressive. Federal GN are aggressive at the PVR airport and inconsistent at the Ameca bridge station located on the border of Jalisco and Nayarit. One foreigner shared that a federal authority stopped them driving on the toll road from Mazatlan with these "Mex farmer plates" on their foreign plated vehicle. The Federal authority made them remove the farmer plates on the spot saying, "those are for poor mexicans."
Federal authorities in Mexico City told Pat's Plates that they recommend foreigners continue driving with foreign plates even if the TIP permit is expired. The alternative options are to remove the vehicle from Mexico, import it with Mex customs at the border or "regularize"/legalize it if qualifies within Mexico.
Temporary Import Permit (TIP) for 180 day FMM Tourists - Said persons are supposed to remove the vehicle from Mexico and cancel the TIP with any border Banjercito office. If not done so, the deposit is forfeited and the vehicle is considered "contraband" and subject to impound by Federal authorities. State and Municipal authorities technically don't have the right to impound expired TIP foreign vehicles for being in Mexico illegally. The only way a FMM 180 tourist can keep their foreign vehicle in Mexico beyond the 180 days is if they become a LEGAL TEMPORARY RESIDENT of Mexico.