Driving to Mexico is straightforward, but only if you have the right paperwork. Showing up at the border missing a key document can mean being turned away or facing problems once you are across. Here is a complete checklist of what you need to drive to Mexico.
Essential Documents Checklist
- Valid passport or passport card. Every traveler, including children, needs a valid passport book or US passport card to re-enter the United States. A standard driver’s license or Real ID is not sufficient. Note that passport cards work for land and sea crossings only, not air travel. Make sure passports are not expired and have enough validity remaining for your trip.
- Driver’s license. A valid US driver’s license is all you need to legally drive in Mexico as a visitor for stays of up to six months. It must be current and not expired. An International Driving Permit is not required.
- FMM tourist permit. An FMM (Forma Migratoria Multiple) is required for every foreign visitor entering Mexico, including for short trips to Tijuana and elsewhere in Baja. The FMM is free for stays of seven days or less, and around 983 pesos (approximately 54 USD) for longer stays. There is no exemption for short border trips, despite a common misconception.
- Mexican auto insurance policy. Your US auto insurance is not valid in Mexico. You must carry a policy from a Mexican insurance company. Keep proof of the policy printed or saved on your phone, since you will need to show it if you are in an accident.
- Vehicle registration. Carry the current registration for the vehicle you are driving. This shows you are authorized to operate it and may be requested at a checkpoint.
How to Get an FMM Tourist Permit
You can obtain an FMM in one of two ways: complete it online before your trip and have it stamped at the immigration office at the border, or fill it out in person at the Instituto Nacional de Migracion (INM) office at your port of entry. Either way, your FMM must be stamped at the border to be valid.
In Baja California, the INM Regional Delegate has been allowing multiple crossings on a single FMM at land ports of entry, as long as it has not expired. This is an exception to the general rule of single-entry FMMs. Check current policy before your trip if you plan to cross multiple times.
Documents for Driving Beyond Baja
Baja California and Baja California Sur are part of Mexico’s Free Zone for vehicle imports. This means travelers driving into Tijuana, Rosarito, Ensenada, and the rest of the Baja peninsula do not need a Temporary Vehicle Import Permit (TIP) for their car. This is one of the reasons Baja is such an accessible destination.
If you plan to drive to mainland Mexico beyond the Free Zone, a TIP is required in addition to everything else on this checklist. The Free Zone exemption applies only to the vehicle permit, not to the FMM, which is still required everywhere in Mexico.
Documents for Children and Additional Travelers
Every person in the vehicle needs their own valid passport or passport card to cross the border. FMMs are required for everyone, including children. Children under two are not required to carry their own FMM.
If you are traveling with a child who is not your own, or without the child’s other parent, it is wise to carry a notarized letter of consent. While not always requested, it can prevent delays at the border.
Documents If You Are Driving a Borrowed or Rented Vehicle
Borrowed vehicle. If the car is not registered in your name, carry a letter from the owner authorizing you to take the vehicle into Mexico, along with the registration.
Rental vehicle. Many US rental agreements do not allow the vehicle to cross into Mexico. Confirm with the rental company first, and if they permit it, carry the rental agreement showing cross-border travel is authorized.
Financed vehicle. If your vehicle has a loan, you may need a letter of permission from the lienholder. Check with your lender before the trip.
Before You Leave: A Quick Final Check
Run through this list before you head to the border. Passports for everyone, valid driver’s license, FMM tourist permits, Mexican auto insurance policy, and vehicle registration. If you are traveling beyond Baja into mainland Mexico, add a Temporary Vehicle Import Permit. Having pesos and offline maps ready will also make the trip smoother.
Don’t Forget Your Insurance
Of all the documents on this list, Mexican auto insurance is the one travelers most often overlook. Your US policy will not cover you, and driving without valid Mexican insurance is against the law. Baja-Mex has been insuring travelers since 1974, with policies underwritten by GNP, Mexico’s largest insurance company.
Get a quote online in minutes or stop by any of our locations in San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, and Tecate. on your way to the border.
