Leased, rental or company vehicle?

Can you bring them in?  Maybe…

Leased or Rented Vehicles

Many car rental companies in the United States/Canada have clauses in their contracts prohibiting drivers from traveling out of the country. When renting a vehicle in the United States or Canada, check with the company to see if your contract allows you to drive it into Mexico. You will also want to get written permission (notarized document) to show proof that they agree to you bringing the vehicle into Mexico.

The same applies for leased vehicles.  Essentially, with a leased vehicle, it is considered that the finance company is the owner of the vehicle you are buying under lease.  Therefore it is important for you to get a notarized permission letter to allow you to bring the car into Mexico.

Company Vehicle

When we first came to Mexico, we were driving our Motor Home and pulling our Saturn behind it.  Both vehicles were in our company name.  Not having anyone to ask ten years ago, we just showed up at the border expecting to cross.  Whoops!

We soon found out the rules and we were in luck.  We needed to have a notarized letter from our own company, giving us permission to bring the vehicles in.  That was easy!  We had the company documents on board and our computer and scanner.  I just whipped up a piece of letterhead, gave us permission and put on the company seal.  A quick trip to the lawyer and we had it notarized.  I scanned in the company documents proving who we were and printed them off.  Then we were back to the border and crossing with no more problems.

However, not many people travel with their company books and seal, let alone a computer and scanner.  Best to know these rules in advance and come prepared.  It’s always easy once you know how.