Car Legalization

I am new at this and may be going over old ground.
Does anyone know how to get a car legalized in Mexico.
Its a 2001 Toyota 4 runner. Is there a special Abogado that can help?

Martiin,
Who did you pay the fees to, or did you pay him $100 on top of all the other fees?

The way it worked, he gave me a flat rate and asked for a $100 deposit up front. I was reluctant to doing that since he asked me to deposit the $100 in a Wells Fargo account, but I was running out of time.

Then he asked me to meet him close to the border the day I was to cross it. I was there a little early when I called him and he asked me to get my car in line...gave him (reluctantly again) the title and other doccuments he asked for. Then we just waited. My number was called, he picked up the doccument handed it to me, gave him the rest of the cash and I was on my way to getting lost in Tijuana. Looks like he paid all the fees b4 I paid him. When I reviewed the the breakdown of the fees, it was about $150 more than the fees shown on paper. I figure after taxes and bribes, he makes around 100 per.

Now, registering it, was a different deal. Had to go to places where nobody seemed to know why they were there, I was sent to another town where I was told to go back to the city and do it there......well...u know the drill.

Btw, the man sent me an email to inform me we can now ilegalize up to 2003 models.

So in other words you registered it illegally with some guy paying bribes and paperwork before you even got the car there? What about the manadatory smog check, was it done before you got to the border too?

And you recommend this guy as someone honest that people can trust? OK then.

Sorry.....hope no offense was taken but the last time I checked bribes, which you mentioned, are illegal.

it was about $150 more than the fees shown on paper. I figure after taxes and bribes, he makes around 100 per.

Kat, you can drive with an expired sticker as long as you are an fm3 holder. I have been told that the change of registration could take place here in Vallarta without going back to the border.

Mike, the law has changed. Now cars up to 2003 can qualify. A 92 might not cut it though. I believe is way too old. Pick ups can qualify older than 95 since they are used for work on the fields. But while at the border I asked around and I was told it was from 95 to 2001 starting novermber 1st of last year and 2003 starting Feb.

Where was the Mitsubishi made in? Part of the requirements to legalize a car is that the car was made/assembled in North America. That is, the first character of the vin # has to be a numbver from 1-5. If it starts with a a letter, it will not qualify. This is one of the Nafta clauses to protect the North American workers (or the ones left, anyways). I wanted to bring my 94 Nissan Pathfinder, but started with a J (for Japan) so what was a no go.

I read the law, but it is so fuzzy, hard to understand.

I wish I could be of more help.