Vehicle owner’s permission to drive in Mexico

Who needs this letter, and what it does not do

To take a foreign-plated vehicle past the border zone, the person entering needs a temporary import permit. Mexico’s customs agency (ANAM) says a foreign visitor or temporary resident may import one vehicle with a valid passport (or passport card) and their immigration document, and must prove ownership or possession with one of the following, in original and copy: the title or current registration showing them as owner; a lease contract in the importer’s name with the lessor’s letter authorizing the import; a credit contract in the importer’s name; or an employment document plus the company’s proof of ownership. ^[1]

An owner’s permission letter is not on that list. Insurance sellers say a driver whose name is not on the registration could be asked for one by customs, Banjercito or police, and recommend that it be notarized and written in English and Spanish. ^{[3] [4]} That is practice reported by insurers, not a rule we can cite from the authorities. So treat this letter as written proof of your consent, not as a replacement for the documents above, and ask Banjercito how a borrowed vehicle should be presented before you travel.

Who drives matters. For Mexicans who live abroad, the Customs Law says the vehicle may be driven in Mexico by the importer, their spouse, parents, children or siblings who are permanent residents abroad, or by a foreigner with the right immigration status; anyone else may drive only if the importer travels on board. ^[2] If a driver is a Mexican citizen, read that article or ask Banjercito, because a letter from the owner does not change who may drive.

If the vehicle has a loan or lease, the lienholder or lessor has to authorize the import, and the official list asks for the lessor’s letter alongside a lease in the importer’s name. ^[1] We do not provide that letter and we will not pretend to: the form asks you to confirm that you already have it.

In short: this is a useful, low-cost document that records consent and the vehicle’s identifiers, but it promises nothing, and no authority has to accept it.

What the letter includes

• The owner’s (or two owners’) name, ID, address and phone, with a signature block for each
• Up to three authorized drivers, each with citizenship, ID, driver’s license number and issuer, and a phone for the trip
• The vehicle: model year, make, model, color, 17-character VIN and plate number with its state or country
• A statement that the vehicle has no loan or lease, or that the lienholder or lessor’s written authorization has been obtained and will be carried with the letter
• The border crossing, the destination in Mexico, and the entry and exit dates
• A statement that the permission is for this trip only, does not transfer ownership, and that the vehicle will not be sold, given away or used commercially in Mexico, which are the limits that come with the permit ^[1]
• A blank notary public area
• English and Spanish side by side on every page

How it works

1. Enter the owner, the drivers, the vehicle and the trip. The VIN is checked for length and the characters a VIN can use.
2. Look over the free, watermarked preview. Nothing is stored to make it.
3. Pay once ($9, no subscription) and download the PDF.
4. Print it and sign in front of a notary public with photo ID.
5. Apply for the permit separately. Mexico’s customs agency says you can do it online 10 to 60 days before the trip, at a Mexican consulate in the United States up to six months before, or at the border; the fee is $45 plus VAT online or $51 plus VAT in person, and a refundable deposit of $200 to $400 depends on the model year. ^[1]
6. Carry the signed original, a copy of the title or registration, the permit and valid Mexican auto insurance; insurers point out that U.S. policies do not cover you in Mexico. ^[3]

Is there a free official form?

The permit itself comes from Banjercito, the bank that runs the program for Mexico’s customs agency, and is requested online or at a border module or consulate. We link to it and do not replace it. ^[1]

No authority publishes a model owner’s permission letter. The insurers’ guides describe what to include, which is what this document prints: owner, driver, vehicle identifiers, travel details, an authorization statement, a signature and notarization. ^[3]

Frequently asked questions