Importing and Buying Used Cars in Mexico is Big Business

In spite of continually changing auto import laws, red tape as long as the border itself, and limited designated times for processing car imports at the border, thousands of used cars and trucks still make it across the US – Mexico border each day where American used car sales makes for big business.

Due to tougher regulations and more scrutiny of paperwork with Mexico’s tax administration (SAT) implemented this year on imported “junk cars” or “chatarras”, imports have declined nearly 38% compared to 2013, a trend that Mexico’s auto dealers welcome.

From January to August of 2014 used car imports declined compared to the same period last year from 63,764 to 39,826.

However tougher regulations come at a time when even more cars will be eligible for importation into Mexico next year. In 2009 American used car imports were only possible for cars ten years old or older. Under NAFTA the age restriction for used cars has dropped to eight years, and in 2015 the age of an import vehicle to Mexico will be lowered to four years old. However the reduction in age limits is being challenged in courts as unconstitutional.

The fees for importing a used vehicle into Mexico can range between $800 – $1200 USD depending on the make, model, year, and value of the car being imported. While the cost of importing is significant for a used car, the cost at resell is still attractive to Mexican buyers and usually much less expensive than Mexican used cars in the market.

People importing and reselling used cars in Mexico say many cars are damaged from accidents where the owner didn’t carry sufficient insurance on the vehicle so they are sold at a low cost. The automobiles are then imported into Mexico where auto bodywork can be much cheaper than in the United States. Many say that the once damaged cars are still in better condition than the used cars in Mexico because the road’s infrastructure in Mexico causes a rapid decline in auto suspension and other issues, and many feel that Americans take better care of their cars with proper maintenance.

Eduardo Solis, president of the Mexican Automotive Industry Association, said that Mexico is turning into the waste bucket of American junk cars.

Also fueling the used car industry is a lack of financing, or eligible individuals, in Mexico for automobile purchases, where only 52% of cars are purchased using financing, compared to over 75% in Brazil and other similar economies in Latin America.

The border cities between Mexico and the United States are lined with import agents and import lots full of cars waiting for clearance to be important for sale and usage in Mexico.

Many retiring Americans and Canadians choose to import their vehicles using agents to avoid the process of purchasing a car as a foreigner in Mexico.

In spite of continually changing auto import laws, red tape as long as the border itself, and limited designated times for processing car imports at . . .

Follow Us On Google News | Get Our Newsletter



Trending News on PVDN

  • puerto-vallarta-rainfall-hurricane-flossie-july-2025Puerto Vallarta braces for torrential rains as Hurricane Flossie gains strength Puerto Vallarta faces a high risk of flooding as Hurricane Flossie intensifies in the Pacific. Torrential rains and overwhelmed drainage systems pose major challenges for the city. Puerto Vallarta, a city wedged between the Sierra Madre mountains and the Pacific Ocean, is no stranger to dramatic weather shifts—but this summer, the skies are testing the…
  • raw-sewage-playa-los-muertos-puerto-vallartaMore Raw Sewage Dumping at Playa Los Muertos Appear to Come From Local Hotel Business owners in Puerto Vallarta are demanding action after raw sewage was discovered leaking onto Playa Los Muertos, raising public health and tourism concerns. A raw sewage leak at Playa Los Muertos in Puerto Vallarta has sparked outrage among local tourist service providers and business owners, who say the contamination is driving away visitors and…
  • hurricane-flossie-strengthens-july-1-2025Hurricane Flossie will bring tropical storm conditions to parts of Guerrero, Michoacán, Colima, and Jalisco Hurricane Flossie intensifies off Mexico's Pacific coast with winds near 90 mph. Heavy rain, flooding, and tropical storm conditions expected in parts of Guerrero, Michoacán, Colima, and Jalisco. Hurricane Flossie continued to intensify early Tuesday morning as it moved west-northwestward off the coast of southwestern Mexico, prompting tropical storm warnings and watches across multiple states.…
  • tropical-storm-flossie-hurricane-mexico-pacific-coastTropical Storm Flossie to Strengthen into Hurricane as It Tracks Along Mexico’s Pacific Coast Tropical Storm Flossie is expected to become a Category 2 hurricane by July 2 as it moves parallel to Mexico’s Pacific coast, bringing dangerous rainfall, wind, and surf. Tropical Storm Flossie is on the verge of forming from Tropical Depression Six-E and is forecast to strengthen rapidly into a hurricane as it parallels Mexico’s southwestern…
  • tropical-storm-flossie-strengthens-mexico-june-2025Tropical Storm Flossie Strengthens Off Mexico’s Pacific Coast, Could Become Hurricane by Tuesday Tropical Storm Flossie gains strength off southwestern Mexico, with hurricane status possible by Tuesday. Storm warnings issued from Punta San Telmo to Playa Perula. Tropical Storm Flossie continues to gain strength off Mexico’s Pacific coastline, prompting tropical storm warnings and watches across several southwestern states. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Flossie is expected…
  • oregon-murder-fugitive-extradited-puerto-vallartaFugitive Wanted for 2008 Oregon Homicide Captured in Puerto Vallarta and Extradited to U.S. Jesús Rodríguez Borrayo, a fugitive for 17 years, was extradited from Mexico to Oregon for his role in a 2008 drive-by shooting that left one dead. He was located in Puerto Vallarta. A man wanted for murder and other violent crimes in the United States for nearly two decades has been extradited after being found…
  • tropical-storm-flossie-mexico-coast-rain-surf-alertCabo Corrientes under tropical storm watch as Flossie expected to Bring Heavy Rain and Dangerous Surf to Southwestern Mexico Tropical Storm Flossie is forecast to strengthen and may impact Mexico's southwest coast from Zihuatanejo to Cabo Corrientes with heavy rain, flooding, and hazardous surf early this week. Tropical Storm Flossie is expected to deliver heavy rains, gusty winds, and dangerous surf conditions to Mexico’s southwestern coast in the coming days, prompting authorities to issue…
  • cabo-corrientes-warning-canceled-hurricane-flossieCabo Corrientes Spared as Hurricane Flossie Warning Lifted, But Pacific Coast Still at Risk Cabo Corrientes no longer under tropical storm watch as Hurricane Flossie nears Mexico's Pacific coast, with dangerous winds and heavy rains threatening Michoacán, Colima, and Jalisco. The tropical storm watch for Cabo Corrientes was officially canceled Tuesday, offering a measure of relief for the scenic coastal town as Hurricane Flossie continues to churn off Mexico’s…
  • cancun-2025-sargassum-beaches-and-activitiesSargassum won’t ruin your Cancun vacation, there are plenty of clean beaches and tourist activities As the 2025 sargassum season continues through September, visitors to Cancun can still enjoy clear beaches like Playa Delfines and Playa Caracol. As the 2025 sargassum season intensifies across Quintana Roo, tourists are finding it more difficult to enjoy the region’s iconic white-sand beaches without encountering the unsightly brown seaweed. While the influx of sargassum…
  • cancun-beach-cleanup-sargassumMassive Beach Cleanup to Combat Sargassum in Cancun After a week of the Cancun’s tourism department denying sargassum existed and insisting media photos were fakes, over 600 public servants and volunteers joined the first simultaneous beach cleanup. In a bold step toward environmental preservation and tourism sustainability, Cancun's Municipal President Ana Paty Peralta led the city’s first simultaneous beach cleanup effort this week.…
Scroll to Top