Taking a dirt bike to Mexico...

[Amauri]

Well I am currently in Mexico and decided I want to stay for a while. I left my dirt bike back home and would like to bring it down here. I'd probably have it shipped over here. Are there any issues doing so as far as any extra paperwork? I assume I just need my registration and I'd be set??? I'm not sure how long I'll be staying, would I have to register it here?? I have a dual citizenship if take makes any difference.

[goodtimes]

I'm not sure if the dual citizenship thing will change this, but . . .

If you ride the bike into the hassle free zone (Sonora & baja) - no importation is required. But, if you are towing (including hitch carriers), you have to import each 'vehicle' (one permit listing each VIN). I've never done it, but I have heard that if you ship a vehicle down, you will have to do the temp. vehicle import on it (so that last bit is 2nd hand info - take it as such).

If you're going outside of the hassle free zone (Sonora & Baja), you need the temp import permit regardless.

[Amauri]

Yeah I am in the state of Jalisco right now. I think the best thing to do will probably be to contact a shipping company and see what they have to say about it.

[Rallyroo]

My buddy and I went to Baja back in Feb. He took his motorcycle on a hitch mount on his truck and all he needed was to show registration papers.

As for shipping your bike, I'm guessing that it will add extra steps and paperwork.

[goodtimes]

My buddy and I went to Baja back in Feb. He took his motorcycle on a hitch mount on his truck and all he needed was to show registration papers.

As for shipping your bike, I'm guessing that it will add extra steps and paperwork.

Really?

They turned me around at immigration and made me go back and do the temp importation for the truck and both bikes (again, one permit covered all three). I was told (by immigration) that the import wasn't needed if the bikes are ridden it (and stay in the hassle free zone) - but any vehicle that does not come in under it's own power (including trailer, boat, jet-ski, motorcycle, quad, side-by-side, etc) has to have the temp permit covering both the tow vehicle, and every towed vehicle.

[dcabcody]

My buddy and I went to Baja back in Feb. He took his motorcycle on a hitch mount on his truck and all he needed was to show registration papers.

As for shipping your bike, I'm guessing that it will add extra steps and paperwork.

Same here. No issue with the bike on my hitch hauler going into baja.. But were talking Baja vs. mainland. I agree the shipper should be able to fill you in on the details.

[goodtimes]

Same here. No issue with the bike on my hitch hauler going into baja.. But were talking Baja vs. mainland. I agree the shipper should be able to fill you in on the details.

Where are you guys crossing the border?

I usually cross at Nogalas & drive down to pick up the ferry (import permit still required), or at Lukeville and head west on the south side of the fence. If I could get in/out without the hassle of permits, it would make the drive across I-8 worth it.

[Rallyroo]

Where are you guys crossing the border?

I usually cross at Nogalas & drive down to pick up the ferry (import permit still required), or at Lukeville and head west on the south side of the fence. If I could get in/out without the hassle of permits, it would make the drive across I-8 worth it.

We went through the San Ysidro crossing. The Mexican border official didn't care about our passports, or car registration, and only wanted to check the motorcycle registration and we were on our way.

[dcabcody]

I crossed at Mexicali last february.

[Drumboy]

What kind of dirtbike?

If it's a smaller non-plated bike you should be able to just carry it in the back of a truck. Even if it's like a plated DRZ400 you could just remove the plate and say it's off-road only.

For something like a 650 street legal bike you'll have to import it just like any other vehicle.