Ship a Car From USA to Mexico
Bold delivers to U.S. border cities — Laredo, El Paso, Brownsville, San Diego — for handoff to a Mexican customs broker or owner-driver crossing. We do not cross the Mexican border directly.
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MC-1349681
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USA to Mexico Car Shipping — At a Glance
The essentials on pricing, timing, coverage, and what to expect. Get a live quote for your exact route above.
How do I ship a car to Mexico?
USA-to-Mexico: Bold Goes to the Border, Not Across
USA-to-Mexico is unique among our international lanes: it's overland (no ocean freight), but unlike Canada we do not cross the Mexican border with the vehicle. U.S. carriers don't have Mexican operating authority, and Mexican customs (Aduana) requires either the owner to drive the vehicle across with a Temporary Import Permit (TIP) or a Mexican-licensed broker to handle a permanent import (pedimento).
What Bold does: deliver your vehicle to a U.S.-side terminal or freight forwarder near the border — Laredo, El Paso, Brownsville, McAllen, Eagle Pass, or San Diego. From there, you (or a Mexican customs broker you've hired) take possession and complete the border crossing.
This is the standard model. Almost every U.S. carrier serving the Mexico market works this way. Anyone telling you they'll "deliver to Cancun" is either using a Mexican subcontractor (which we can also arrange via partner — ask) or misrepresenting their authority.
How USA-to-Mexico Shipping Works With Bold
- Decide your customs path before booking. Two options:
- TIP (Temporary Import Permit) — You drive the vehicle across the border yourself. Vehicle stays your U.S.-titled property. Permit lasts 6 months (tourist) or up to 4 years (FMM/residency). Best for snowbirds, RV trips, and short-term Mexican stays.
- Permanent import (pedimento) — A Mexican customs broker (agente aduanal) clears the vehicle into Mexico permanently. Eligible vehicles are typically 8–9 model years old. Broker fees plus duty plus VAT can run $1,500–$4,000 USD depending on vehicle.
- Choose a U.S.-side delivery point. If you're driving across with a TIP, we deliver to a terminal near your planned crossing — Laredo for Tamaulipas-bound, El Paso for Chihuahua, Brownsville for the Yucatan-bound coastal route, San Diego for Baja. If you've hired a Mexican customs broker, deliver to whichever terminal they use.
- Get a Bold quote. Cost calculator with your origin ZIP and the U.S.-side terminal address.
- Standard U.S. dispatch. Carrier picks up, inspects, transits to the border city.
- U.S.-side handoff. Driver delivers to the terminal/forwarder. You (or your broker) take possession.
- Border crossing. You drive across with the TIP, or your broker handles the pedimento. Mexican Aduana inspects.
- Final destination. You drive (or have someone drive) the vehicle to its Mexican destination.
Border Cities We Deliver To
| U.S. Border City | Crossing Into | Best For | Sample U.S. Lane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laredo, TX | Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas | Highest-volume crossing — Monterrey, Mexico City, central MX | Dallas → Laredo (~430 mi) |
| El Paso, TX | Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua | Northern MX, Chihuahua state, Pacific routes | Phoenix → El Paso (~430 mi) |
| Brownsville, TX / McAllen, TX | Matamoros / Reynosa, Tamaulipas | Yucatan, Cancun, Gulf coast routes | Houston → Brownsville (~350 mi) |
| Eagle Pass, TX | Piedras Negras, Coahuila | Saltillo, Monterrey alternative routing | San Antonio → Eagle Pass (~145 mi) |
| San Diego, CA | Tijuana, Baja California | Baja Peninsula, Tijuana, Ensenada | LA → San Diego (~120 mi) |
| Calexico, CA | Mexicali, Baja California | Baja, Sonora alternative | Phoenix → Calexico (~285 mi) |
| Nogales, AZ | Nogales, Sonora | Sonora, Sinaloa, Pacific route | Phoenix → Nogales (~180 mi) |
Pricing — U.S. Domestic Leg
Standard open transport pricing. The U.S. leg ends at the border city; everything south of the border is your customs broker's or your own responsibility.
| U.S. Origin | Border Terminal | Approx. Distance | Bold Range (Open) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | Laredo, TX | 430 mi | $650–$875 |
| Houston, TX | Brownsville, TX | 350 mi | $600–$825 |
| Phoenix, AZ | Nogales, AZ | 180 mi | $475–$650 |
| Los Angeles, CA | San Diego, CA | 120 mi | $425–$600 |
| Atlanta, GA | Laredo, TX | 1,150 mi | $1,000–$1,325 |
| Chicago, IL | Laredo, TX | 1,400 mi | $1,150–$1,500 |
| Denver, CO | El Paso, TX | 660 mi | $800–$1,075 |
| New York, NY | Laredo, TX | 1,940 mi | $1,400–$1,825 |
TIP vs. Permanent Import — How to Decide
Temporary Import Permit (TIP)
- What it is: A permit issued by Banjército that lets a foreign-titled vehicle enter Mexico for a fixed period.
- Cost: Approximately $50 USD permit fee + a refundable deposit ($200–$400) you get back when you exit Mexico with the vehicle.
- Term: Up to 6 months (FMM tourist), or matching your residency permit for residents (180 days for FMM, up to 4 years for temporary residency).
- Best for: Snowbirds wintering in Baja or San Miguel, RV trips, students at Mexican universities, short-term consultants.
- Restriction: Vehicle must leave Mexico by permit expiration or you forfeit the deposit and the vehicle is technically illegal in Mexico.
- Free zones: No TIP needed for the Baja Peninsula or the "frontera" zone within ~20 km of the U.S. border.
Permanent Import (Pedimento)
- What it is: Permanent import of a foreign vehicle into Mexico. Title transfers to a Mexican title (factura).
- Cost: Customs broker fees ($300–$700) + IGI duty (typically 10–15% but varies; some USMCA-origin vehicles are 0%) + IVA (16% VAT) + DTA + ISAN. Expect $1,500–$4,500 USD total beyond Bold's domestic transport.
- Eligibility: Most foreign vehicles must be 8–9 model years old (the rule fluctuates with NOM regulations). USMCA-origin vehicles get more lenient treatment.
- Best for: Mexican expats returning home permanently, dealers running U.S. inventory south, residency-based moves.
- Required: Mexican RFC (tax ID) for the importer of record, and engagement with a licensed agente aduanal.
Documents You'll Need
- Original U.S. title in your name (no liens — clear title required for permanent import; TIP is more flexible)
- Bill of Sale
- Valid passport and Mexican FMM/residency card
- Mexican vehicle insurance (required at the border — purchased online before travel via Sanborn's, Lewis & Lewis, or local providers)
- For permanent import: Mexican RFC, broker engagement, factura preparation
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on documents matching the vehicle physically
Mexican Auto Insurance — Required at the Border
U.S. auto insurance is not valid in Mexico. The Mexican government requires liability coverage from a Mexican-licensed insurer at minimum. Most U.S. snowbirds buy Mexican tourist auto insurance for the duration of their trip. Common providers: Sanborn's Insurance, Lewis & Lewis, Mexpro, Adventure Mexican Insurance Services. Daily/weekly/monthly/annual policies are available. This is your responsibility, not Bold's.
Who Ships USA → Mexico
- Mexican expats returning home with a vehicle owned during their U.S. residency
- Snowbirds wintering in Baja, San Miguel, Mazatlán who want their RV, sport utility, or daily driver waiting for them
- Texas-to-Mexico vehicle exporters running used U.S. inventory into Mexican wholesale markets via licensed brokers
- Boat and RV trip planners shipping a tow vehicle close to a Baja or Sea of Cortez launch point
- Mexican nationals who bought a vehicle in the U.S. (auction, private seller, dealer) and need it delivered to their nearest border city
Why choose Bold for USA to Mexico Car Shipping
Six reasons operators and customers keep coming back — from the insurance that actually covers you to the one-person, one-phone-number model.
How Bold's usa to mexico car shipping works
Four steps from quote to delivery. Most shipments are booked in under 15 minutes.
What customers say
Real reviews from real shipments — pulled live from our public review feed.
First time using a company like this, very polite from the dispatcher to the driver. Was able to get my car towed in a reasonable time and within the time frame they gave out. Also very reasonable with the price. Would definitely use them again if I had too.
I highly recommend Bold Auto Transport to anyone looking for affordable car shipping service. I got a great price transporting my car to New Jersey. Communication was very effective and they show up on time. Great guys. I’ll use you again.
Bold Auto Transport, led by their exceptional team, provided me with outstanding service. Michael, in particular, was prompt and knowledgeable, making the car transport process stress-free. Thanks to his expertise, my vehicle was delivered securely and on sche…
USA to Mexico Shipping FAQs
Border, TIP, pedimento, and U.S.-side pricing — straight answers.
Can Bold deliver into Mexico?
No. U.S. carriers don't carry vehicles across the Mexican border. We deliver to a U.S.-side terminal in your nearest border city (Laredo, El Paso, Brownsville, McAllen, Eagle Pass, San Diego, Calexico, Nogales). You or your Mexican customs broker takes possession and crosses the border. This is the standard model — any U.S. carrier "delivering to Cancun" is using a Mexican subcontractor.
Should I use a TIP or import permanently?
If you'll be in Mexico under 6 months (snowbird, vacation, contract job), get a Temporary Import Permit from Banjército — fast, cheap (~$50), and refundable on exit. If you're moving to Mexico permanently or running U.S. inventory through Mexican channels, you'll need a permanent import (pedimento) via a Mexican licensed customs broker. Total broker + duty cost runs $1,500–$4,500 depending on vehicle.
Do I need Mexican car insurance?
Yes — required by law. U.S. insurance is not recognized in Mexico. Buy Mexican tourist auto insurance from a U.S.-friendly provider (Sanborn's, Lewis & Lewis, Mexpro) before crossing. Daily, weekly, monthly, and annual policies are available. Even short trips require valid Mexican coverage.
Can I get the TIP at the border or do I need it in advance?
You can get it at the border at the Banjército office, but most travelers apply online in advance via the Banjército portal 7–60 days before crossing. Doing it online gets you a printout you bring to the border, which speeds up the process significantly.
Which crossing should I use?
Whichever is closest to your final destination in Mexico. Going to Mexico City or central Mexico? Laredo. Heading to Yucatan or Cancun? Brownsville. Going to Baja? San Diego. Going to Sonora or Pacific route? Nogales. Bold delivers to whichever U.S. border terminal works for your route.
What about non-running vehicles?
Bold can deliver a non-running vehicle to the border (winch surcharge $150–$300, see inoperable vehicle shipping). However, you can't drive a non-op across with a TIP — only an owner-driver crossing applies. Non-running vehicles require permanent import via a Mexican broker, who will arrange Mexican-side towing onward from the border.
Popular Car Shipping Locations
We ship vehicles door-to-door across all 50 states.
Other International Destinations
Bold handles the U.S. CONUS leg for international shipments — door to West Coast, East Coast, or Gulf port — and coordinates with your freight forwarder for the ocean side and destination customs:
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