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Driving In Mexico Index

 Driving In Mexico

Driving from Creel to Batopilas in the Copper Canyon

I had planned to send you my Mexican Traffic Cop stories, but Curly was very insistent that I pass on information about the road conditions from Creel to Batopilas. This is as of 02/14/08...
The pavement from Creel to Samachique is in great shape, though drivers should keep an eye out for rocks in the road.... (more) by B.J.(5-08)

A Single Woman Going to Sinaloa: Rent a Car or Take the Bus? Is it Safe?

Devra: I'm a woman (60) and am doing some historical research in the areas of Sinaloa and Sonora... is it better to rent a car… or take buses? ...I have some Mexican friends who warn I shouldn't be driving anyplace in northern Mexico alone, no matter when (narcotraficantes and kidnappers), and others who say its no problem....

Carl: I think the odds of being kidnapped or even carjacked in northern Mexico are less than in much of LA and southern California…. The last time I went to El Fuerte… a great shrimp cocktail… You can walk at night there, especially around the central plaza… a small bookstore.… Here's a tip that really works: carry your PDA, camera, and can't-bear-to-lose items in a cheap..

Later Devra: I loved driving. Ended up driving out to a small ejido.… (more) (5-08)

Searching for Sustainable Communities

My friend Katie and I (two women in our late 20's) are planning a 2 month trip "through" Mexico, leaving in Feb. We are thinking about driving from the US-Mexico border at Nuevo Loredo and down the Gulf Coast to the Yucatan. We are planning on making a documentary along the way of sustainable communities (i.e. communities that are ecologically, culturally and perhaps even economically sustaining themselves)....(more)

Not All Mexican Auto Insurance Is The Same!

Tips on How to Shop for Mexican Auto Insurance: If you are planning a road trip to Mexico, acquiring quality Mexican auto insurance should be one of your top priorities. It is not much fun to think about having a car accident in Mexico, but it will be even less fun if you end up getting in an accident and you don’t have quality Mexican auto insurance to back you up....(more) by Jeff Nordahl, President, Adventure Mexican Insurance Services

Can One Person driving a motorhome with a tow-car?

I'm planning a trip to the mainland, and I plan on crossing from Nogales. I've heard different stories about being able to tow a car behind the RV. I hear only one vehicle per person is allowed. I've read where the suggestion is to put one of the vehicles in the spouse's name. Only one problem. No spouse..... (more) reply by Carl Franz

•Our Truck Runs on Veggie Oil: Border Crossing with jugs hanging off the back?

We drive a diesel pickup truck with a camper on it. We've converted the truck to run on used vegetable oil, which I collect from restaurants when they throw it away. Obviously on the FAQ page of the Aduana Mexicana website there is no written regulation regarding crossing into Mexico with jugs of veggie oil hanging off the back of the truck, but since that is what I'd like to do, I'd like to try avoiding any hassle at the border by getting a written opinion in advance.... (more) Q&A between Steve Crofter and Carl Franz

•Driving to the Copper Canyon: Tucson to Creel

I-10 at 90 miles per hour

It's 14 hours and roughly 500 miles from Tucson to Creel. If you do the math, that's about 35 MPH. Even driving at 90 miles per hour isn't going to improve your time because once you leave the I-10 interstate at the Benson turnoff, you're only 45 miles from Tucson. And now you're forced to slow down enough to enjoy the drive.... (more) By Mike & Cathy Waterman

•¿Is It Safe to Drive in Baja? ¿Banditos?

Perhaps the best way to describe Mexico1, the transpeninsular highway is to say that many solo grandmother types drive small to medium size RV's annually to a winter's perch on a beach. Sadly, the days of banditos, highway robbery and ambushes have seem to have gone the way of the dodo.... (more) questions answered by David "El Codo" Eidell

Motorcycles to Belize

We crossed the border at Nogales, AZ. on Jan 31, 2002. There were 5 of us on trip: Gail Brooks (74 years old), Jerre & Helen Doss (late 50's) & Ralph & Charlene Wallace (early 60's). There were 2 Honda Goldwings 1800's & a Honda Shadow 1100.... (more) by Charlene Wallace

RV, Van & Trailer: Classifications for Mexico's Toll Roads & Money-Saving Tips

Who else to ask but the experts! My wife and I plan on doing some extensive "adventure travelling" throughout Mexico. As part of the budgeting process I am trying to figure out how a Class B motorhome would be classified on the "cuotas". Would it be a "pick-up/panel", an "autobus" or a "C2"?... (more)

Mexican Auto Insurance: A brief introduction

To drive in Mexico, the minimum required insurance coverage is Civil Liability Insurance. This coverage protects you in the event you cause bodily injury or property damage to third parties... (more) by Peter Bassel, Mexican Auto Insurance

Toll Road Costs

Mexico’s extensive system of toll highways cause a good deal of groaning and teeth-gnashing from tourists. Those who drive “big rig” RV’s and motorhomes are especially vocal in their complaints about the high toll costs involved in an extensive Mexican road trip.... (Mexico’s extensive system of toll highways cause a good deal of groaning and teeth-gnashing from tourists. Those who drive “big rig” RV’s and motorhomes are especially vocal in their complaints about the high toll costs involved in an extensive Mexican road trip.... (more)

Char & Al and friends taking motorhomes into Mexico

Thus, if a tow car is brought along as a 2nd vehicle, it has to be put into a 2nd person’s name. All the paperwork has to be separated into one car or motorhome per person.

Important: This also means having a credit card in each person’s name. It can be the same account number on each card, but it absolutely has to have different names on the cards. So for each vehicle, there has to be a title, registration paper, a credit card and drivers license, plus multiple copies of each, and ONLY ONE VEHICLE PER PERSON.... (more) by Char & Al Bennett

Winnie, the motorhome, has VIM problems

Very excited, we got back in the Motorhome (I will call her Winnie from now on, her nickname, as she is a "Minnie Winnie") and headed through the customs checkpoint with the ‘random’ red or green light. Of course we got the red light. They asked for our import permit, passport and vehiclecar registration. ....But, it seemed to be taking a little too long. I was starting to wonder if something might be wrong. I saw a grim look on his face. Then he hit us with the bad news. “This is not this car.” (in Spanish).... (more) by Paige & Rich Demuth

Paisano Mexican Auto Insurance

Your American or Canadian automobile insurance is not valid once you cross the border into Mexico. If you have an accident while in Mexico, even if you were not at fault, you can be put into jail for failure to have liability insurance coverage..... (more) by Richard Dalton former owner Paisano Mexican Insurance

•Is it Safe for a Single Woman to drive in Mexico

I am a single middle aged woman with an old Vanagon & a big dog. Is it safe to drive from Nogales to the ocean & then south? Possibly to San Miguel de Allende. First time & don't know much Spanish.....Want to have a winters rest in a little house near a beach. .... (more)

Taking an Unimog to Central America?

Dear Carl and Lorena:

We would appreciate your thoughts regarding a trip I my son and uncle are planning. Taking much of the Myan route in Guatemala, Belize and Mexico.

We are planning to use an old military style vehicle which is converted into a camper, known as a Unimog and are anticipating mostly living in the vehicle while in Guatemala, Belize and Chiapas, Quintana Roo and the Yucatan in Mexico. Opinion varies on the wisdom of using this type of vehicle or camping out in relation to safety because the vehicle is quite conspicuous and we may not be able to find a camping site.... (more) from Matthew Solomon

•Colima Police

"Screeeeech!" An endless sound of crunching metal, a *pop*, and another sound, something unidentifiable, something we can't see.We zip on like Bonnie & Clyde, half believing we'd stop if only there were enough room, when we hear the quick "wheerp" of a siren.

*If you’ll be driving to Mexico, read this!

Mexico Proposes -- Then Delays -- Implements -- Then SUSPENDS--New Redtape For Tourists With Vehicles.

We’d been on the road for about a week, so to a casual observer the conditions inside our van might have appeared seriously chaotic.The bed that theoretically makes the van a “camper” was buried somewhere under this stuff. In order to actually get into bed, much of this cargo had to be moved and repacked -- into, around, and beneath the front seats. Thanks to almost ten years of serious meditation practice, however, we were able to accomplish this gruesome task with a minimum exchange of elbows and insults.by Carl Franz

•The Resurrection of the VW Van

"Many of us have fond memories of the time we spent in the 'old days', lumbering along the highway in our VW vans. We loved our vans, especially when they were working well...." by Ken Luboff, the author of Live Well In Mexico: How to Relocate, Retire, and Increase Your Standard of Living

•Extending Car Papers?

Question: We are living in Zamora at the moment and will need to renew our vehicle's six month permiso by the end of March. Our personal tourist visas will have been extended by virtue of visits home by plane, but we wonder if you have any advice on how to extend or renew the car's permiso without having to drive to the border. We are quite close to Guadalajara or could go to D.F....

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