Buying a Car how easy

[CraigP]

Looking for info on buying a car in Penasco are there any dealers? anything online been searching but not finding much.
We are looking to move here as permanent residents in the next 18/24 months so just getting my research in regarding the following.

1. Buying property areas looking at La Conchas & Playa Encanto seem safe unless someone says different.
2. Who would you recommend to deal with regarding buying property?
3. Buying a boat how easy and availability?
4. Translation services any recommendations with helping with paperwork for residency/ registering car( if I can find one) getting Mexican drivers License.

I know so many questions but I like to plan everything like a military operation I like to leave nothing to chance.
Background live in UK looking to retire nice and early and spend about 8/9 months here and the rest in Tucson with family so envisage hopping over the border at least two times a month. Aware it gets hot in July-Sept spent time in middle east & Africa and there is that great invention A/C and lots of cold beer.

So any help much appreciated

Craig

 

[mexicoruss]

Hi Craig,

Depending on what you want, you may want to buy a car in Nogales Sonora or Mexicali. Both large towns with dealerships. There are tons of cars for sale on the streets of Peñasco. Some are legally imported and some not. In this area there are 2 different license plates available. Cars with "Frontera" plates are for use in the frontera and can also be driven to the USA if properly insured, they cannot be driven outside of the frontera so no travel south of Peñasco. The other plates are "nacional" and you can drive that car anywhere you want in the Republic as well as the USA. As far as property purchase there are many people here in the RE business. I personally think it's wise to come down and rent something with no long term obligation and spend time putting feelers out and getting to know some of us locals before buying.

 

[Roberto]

craig;
Craig Sez: I like to plan everything like a military operation I like to leave nothing to chance. Good luck with that !!! Every day is a new day here in Mexico. What you find out today may be totally different in 18/24 months. The Sea of Cortez will still be here but nothing else is guaranteed. Part of the charm living here. Best to come here when you are close to retiring or retired and rent for a time to get the current picture.
Having said that here is abit of recent info.

As of today, There are no dealers of new vehicles in Penasco. Used, US titled vehicles are plentiful and cheap but only older models. best to buy one in Arizona.
There is really no reason to need a Mexican titles and plated car. In order to have or drive one you need permanent residency. There is no problem owning and driving a US registered car here.
1. Either community is safe. Playa Encanto has lovely beaches but is a bit out of town and isolated. Las conchas is a well maintained community with nice beaches and minutes from the grocery store.
2. Realtor. Dee Brooks at Twin Dolphins 638 383 3919. On Fremont next to Cruze Roja. She has been licensed and in business longer than anyone else in town. Most honest and knowledgeable. A nice person to boot !! She will search for you and can show you any property for sale. Twindolphinsrealty.com. You can view all of the properties for sale.
3. Boat selection has been very thin but just recently a large storage facility has opened and there are several amazing motorized and sailing craft for sale there. These are largely live aboard craft.
4. You will need the services of a Notorio to effectuate a real estate purchase. there are several in town. All provide English language. as an all around guide to legal matters, residency, etc. I would contact Jose Galvan. Perfect English, intelligent, responsible and responsive and very pleasant fellow. Dee can provide his contact info.

 

[CraigP]

Both thanks for that yes I do intend to rent first and intend to move when retired as no sense in owning and living in UK bit of a trek.
So if I have temporary residency I can still drive a car I have bought in Tucson and insure it for both Mexico and US if on Frontera plates if yes how easy is this process? If on Frontera plates do I need a Mexican License or do I just need to hop between US and Mexico every couple of months
The reason I am looking at residency is for medical intend to stay down here long term or can you just remain on tourist and hop back and forth and pick up cheap medical insurance if there is such a thing.
Regarding my planning always like to have plan 1,2,3,4,&5 used to living in unstable country's not sure about the wife although it helps daughter and granddaughter 4 hour drive away and son-in-law works for CBP fluent in Spanish. Do not mind quiet and isolated as long as I have cold beer bbq and I can fish also positive not near shops stops her spending.

thanks

Craig

 

[gup]

. Do not mind quiet and isolated as long as I have cold beer bbq and I can fish also positive not near shops stops her spending Above description, is Playa Encanto. Security (12 men, with quads roaming check-gate NO fireworks). Probably the strongest HOA, in Penasco. spend 5 months a yr. here for 27 yrs., rest of time home in Denver area.

 

[mexicoruss]

Both thanks for that yes I do intend to rent first and intend to move when retired as no sense in owning and living in UK bit of a trek.
So if I have temporary residency I can still drive a car I have bought in Tucson and insure it for both Mexico and US if on Frontera plates if yes how easy is this process? If on Frontera plates do I need a Mexican License or do I just need to hop between US and Mexico every couple of months
The reason I am looking at residency is for medical intend to stay down here long term or can you just remain on tourist and hop back and forth and pick up cheap medical insurance if there is such a thing.
Regarding my planning always like to have plan 1,2,3,4,&5 used to living in unstable country's not sure about the wife although it helps daughter and granddaughter 4 hour drive away and son-in-law works for CBP fluent in Spanish. Do not mind quiet and isolated as long as I have cold beer bbq and I can fish also positive not near shops stops her spending.

thanks

Craig

not sure what you want so I am out

 

[rplarry]

Now you know Russ....

 

[CraigP]

. Do not mind quiet and isolated as long as I have cold beer bbq and I can fish also positive not near shops stops her spending Above description, is Playa Encanto. Security (12 men, with quads roaming check-gate NO fireworks). Probably the strongest HOA, in Penasco. spend 5 months a yr. here for 27 yrs., rest of time home in Denver area.

thanks looks good to me

 

[CraigP]

not sure what you want so I am out

Seems clear to me the issue is I am a UK citizen that can only travel to USA as a visitor I must be able to prove to customs and border that I only inted to visit the US as a tourist not work or reside. If I was a US citizen it would be a no brainer go down to Mexico using tourist visa and hop back over the border to reset unfortunately if I do that kind of hard to prove I am a resident of Mexico with no temp/perm visa.

But thanks for your help anyway not being sarcastic just trying to cover all scenarios.

Regards

Craig

 

[Roberto]

Was not clear that you are a UK citizen. Would have been good to know. Ignore my suggestions as I am sure there is a different layer of regulations than I am familiar with. Seems like you will be dealing with three different layers of government regs. .

 

[CraigP]

Roberto I did put it in the original post although there was a lot in the post so easy to miss. Yes it is not straightforward although logically it makes sense to go straight to perm resident as I qualify on income, The issue was finding a car as I understand if I am a resident I have to have a Mexican plated car but I may have been wrong but as far as my wife is concerned I am never wrong thanks any for your help.

 

[mondone]

Roberto I did put it in the original post although there was a lot in the post so easy to miss. Yes it is not straightforward although logically it makes sense to go straight to perm resident as I qualify on income, The issue was finding a car as I understand if I am a resident I have to have a Mexican plated car but I may have been wrong but as far as my wife is concerned I am never wrong thanks any for your help.

You will only need a Mexican plated vehicle as a perm. resident if you wish to drive outside of the hassle-free zone.

 

[Kenny]

GraigP said, " but as far as my wife is concerned I am never wrong thanks any for your help." Ha, wait till he finds out she only lets him think she thinks he is "never wrong", and she will.

 

[joanC]

craig;
Craig Sez: I like to plan everything like a military operation I like to leave nothing to chance. Good luck with that !!! Every day is a new day here in Mexico. What you find out today may be totally different in 18/24 months. The Sea of Cortez will still be here but nothing else is guaranteed. Part of the charm living here. Best to come here when you are close to retiring or retired and rent for a time to get the current picture.
Having said that here is abit of recent info.

As of today, There are no dealers of new vehicles in Penasco. Used, US titled vehicles are plentiful and cheap but only older models. best to buy one in Arizona.
There is really no reason to need a Mexican titles and plated car. In order to have or drive one you need permanent residency. There is no problem owning and driving a US registered car here.
1. Either community is safe. Playa Encanto has lovely beaches but is a bit out of town and isolated. Las conchas is a well maintained community with nice beaches and minutes from the grocery store.
2. Realtor. Dee Brooks at Twin Dolphins 638 383 3919. On Fremont next to Cruze Roja. She has been licensed and in business longer than anyone else in town. Most honest and knowledgeable. A nice person to boot !! She will search for you and can show you any property for sale. Twindolphinsrealty.com. You can view all of the properties for sale.
3. Boat selection has been very thin but just recently a large storage facility has opened and there are several amazing motorized and sailing craft for sale there. These are largely live aboard craft.
4. You will need the services of a Notorio to effectuate a real estate purchase. there are several in town. All provide English language. as an all around guide to legal matters, residency, etc. I would contact Jose Galvan. Perfect English, intelligent, responsible and responsive and very pleasant fellow. Dee can provide his contact info.

Where is the storage facility ? Is it a consignment operation of some sort ?

 

[CraigP]

You will only need a Mexican plated vehicle as a perm. resident if you wish to drive outside of the hassle-free zone.

thanks that is what I was hoping for will buy a car in Tucson

 

[Roberto]

Where is the storage facility ? Is it a consignment operation of some sort ?

I was referring to the large lot at Calle 11. Runs along the ship yard construction area at the harbor. No idea how it works but ther are several with for sale signs .

 

[Kea]

So if I want to buy a Sonoran (national) plated car, what are the logistics?

Can I pay with a US check or credit card? (I doubt it)

I do have a local bank, but no checks (only debit card). Also, there are limits as to how much money I can have outside the US at any one time (IRS reporting purposes).

Can purchase be made in payments (probably 2)?

Do dealerships tend to have large invetory? Or do you have to order what you want and go pick it up later?

Are prices set or are sticker prices only a ridiculous suggestion (like in the US)?

Is there likely to be a sales person who speaks English? I know some Spanish, but not enough to be comfortable making a big purchase & understanding contracts and legal issues.

Any other logistics I should know about?

Thanks!

 

[Roberto]

Might be cheaper all around and easier to buy a vehicle in the US and just import it as a National vehicle.

 

[mexicoruss]

Might be cheaper all around and easier to buy a vehicle in the US and just import it as a National vehicle.

I have imported several cars. It's a pain, only certain years and certain values can be imported. I just imported my wifes car in April and it took 22 days where my car was sitting in Calexico waiting to be exported from the USA so my broker could import it into Mexico on the 23rd day. It cost us around 1500.00 usd for import taxes and a couple of bus rides to Mexicali. If you have the money just buy it here. If you want new you can buy in Caborca, Mexicali or Hermosillo. It is the easiest way to get National plates. There are always used cars for sale on the weekends but some cannot be imported and some (many) are salvage titles.

 

[Kea]

Thanks!

We’ve never had a car we could import (too old, too new, not made in a NAFTA country...). Since we’re looking to buy a new (or newish) car anyway, we thought it would be easier to buy here and get the national plates (may want to travel beyond Peñasco at some point).

We just need to figure out the logistics of how to actually make a purchase here, especially when money is in the US, and my Spanish is not great.