Por Neft Román — Legacy Vallarta Realty
Puerto Vallarta sits well outside Mexico’s northern border free zone, so a foreign-plated car can’t just drive in and stay. Anyone bringing a US- or Canadian-plated vehicle into Jalisco needs a Temporary Import Permit (TIP), also called a TVIP or “permiso de importación temporal,” issued through Banjercito. It’s a straightforward process on paper, but the deadlines and the cancellation step are where people get caught out.
What You Need to Apply
You can apply online through the Banjercito website before you cross, or in person at a border module. Either way, you’ll need:
- The vehicle’s original title or registration, in the name of the person applying
- A valid passport
- Your current immigration document — FMM tourist permit, or temporary/permanent residency card
- A valid driver’s license
- A credit card in your own name to cover the refundable deposit (debit cards and cash are not accepted for the deposit)
If the vehicle isn’t fully paid off or isn’t registered to you personally, Banjercito requires extra documentation — a notarized letter from the lienholder or owner authorizing the import. This is one of the most common reasons applications get rejected at the border, so sort it out before you drive down.
What It Actually Costs
The permit fee itself is roughly MXN $1,064 (about $55 USD) as of 2026. On top of that, Banjercito holds a refundable deposit against the vehicle, sized by model year:
- 2007 or newer: $400 USD deposit
- 2001–2006: $300 USD deposit
- 2000 or older: $200 USD deposit
That deposit isn’t a fee — it comes back to you when the permit is properly cancelled. Skip the cancellation step, and you lose it entirely.
How Long It’s Valid — And Why That Trips People Up
TIP validity is tied directly to your immigration status, not to a fixed calendar term. On an FMM tourist permit, the TIP maxes out at 180 days. On temporary residency, it runs concurrent with your residency card — typically one to four years — and needs to be renewed each time your card is renewed. Miss that window and you’re driving on an expired permit without realizing it, since nothing forces you to check.
If your residency card lapses and gets renewed, you have 15 days from the new card’s issue date to extend the TIP to match. Let that window close and the permit is void even though your car never left the country.
The Part Nobody Warns You About: Cancelling It
A TIP can only be cancelled in person, with the vehicle physically present, at a Banjercito module at a border crossing — not online, and not anywhere in the interior of the country. If you flew into Puerto Vallarta with the car already here, or if you plan to sell the car, leave it behind, or fly out instead of driving back across the border, cancelling becomes a real logistical problem.
An uncancelled TIP does two things: you forfeit the deposit, and Banjercito’s system flags you, making it difficult to import another foreign-plated vehicle under your name in the future. If you’re planning to keep a foreign-plated car in Puerto Vallarta long-term, build a border run into your plans before the permit expires — don’t assume you’ll deal with it later.
¿Qué hacer a partir de aquí?
Once your car is legally in the country, you’ll likely also want a Jalisco driver’s license, and TIP validity runs on the same clock as your residency status, so it’s worth tracking both renewal dates together.
This article is for general information only and is not legal or customs advice. Fees, deposit amounts, and document requirements change periodically — confirm current requirements with Banjercito or a licensed customs broker before importing a vehicle.
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