Customs rules for drivers to Mexico are flexibly enforced. Don't stress out. Aduana (customs) isn't out to get you, unless you are smuggling a lot of stuff. If you have a lot of stuff to take to Mexico, pay the customs duty (usually about 10-15% of the assessed value.).

The exact procedure for crossing the Mexican border and when you encounter Mexican customs agents varies from crossing to crossing. This is general border crossing info. When driving to Mexico, you may or may not be inspected by Mexican customs officers (aduana) two times (except for Baja and Sonora).

When driving to mainland Mexico, when you first drive across the Mexican border, you will either get a get a green or red light (no, this has nothing to do with a red light district). Green means you do not get inspected by Mexican customs (aduana). Red means you do. After driving about 21 kilometers into the interior of Mexico, you will go through the same customs inspection process.

Do not confuse army checkpoints with customs. The army does not care what you have as long as it is not drugs or guns.

Driving to Sonora, you will encounter the customs guys at the 21 kilometer mark. Driving to Baja, you may never see Mexican customs or immigration officials.

Personal Effects

A complete list of what is allowed and what is not follows at the end of the page. These lists are generally guidelines. I have never had a customs officer count the number of CD's and have taken a couple of hundred cigars when I smoked (but I spread them around).

In general, as long as you do not have too much stuff, don't worry about it. A laptop is no problem.

One time I was having a hard time with a computer until I told the official that I was a writer. "What kind of stories do you write?" he asked. "Like James Bond, 007." He beamed and waved me through. I have known people who have been turned back from one border crossing, who have driven to the next border crossing or waited for the shift to change and gotten in. New clothing with the tags still on, even a couple of shirts, will almost always cause you trouble.

Another time, I had a new shirt and the customs officer at the secondary stop (approximately twenty-one kilometers from the border) and talked my way out of it by saying that my girlfriend thought I had such bad taste that she bought me a new shirt. Some of you may be saying, "Yeah, it's easy for him to say, he speaks Spanish. I don't." Most visitors to Mexico do not speak Spanish. Most customs officials speak some English and many are fluent. Don't worry about it. If you really want to learn Spanish, check out the course offered here.

What customs is looking for is new items that could be sold. The secret is not to have new-looking items with you. For example, if you have new clothes, take the tags off. If you have new camping gear, take it out of the shiny boxes and throw some dirt on them to make the boxes look old. Get the idea? Of course, just to make things complicated, Mexican customs officers frown on taking old, used clothing to Mexico. Say what? In fact the best way to get bothered by Mexican customs officials is to have bags and bags of used clothing. I know you only want to give it away. They won't believe you. While the duty on stuff like that has practically disappeared in this decade, guns and drugs are often smuggled in with used clothes. And yes, you will see tractor-trailers with bales of used clothes running down the highway. Who said life was fair?

Official list of customs allowances for tourists

• Goods for personal use, such as clothing, footwear and personal toiletries and beauty products, as long as they are appropriate for the duration of the trip, including wedding party items.

• Two photographic cameras or video recorders, 12 rolls of film or videocassettes; photographic material; two cellular telephones or radio phones; a portable typewriter; an electronic calendar; a portable computer (laptop), notebook or similar items; a copier or portable printer; a portable projector, and their accessories.

• Two sports equipment, four rods, three speedboats with or without sails and their accessories, trophies or recognitions, provided that they can be transported normally and commonly by the passenger, one stair climber and bicycle

• A portable radio for the recording or reproduction of sound or mixed tapes; or a digital sound reproducer or portable reproducer of compact discs and a portable reproducer of DVD’s, such as a pair of portable speakers, and their accessories.

• Five laser disks, 10 DVD disks, 30 compact disks (CD) or magnetic tapes (audiocassettes), for the reproduction of sound and five storage devices or memory cards for any electronic equipment.

• Books, magazines and printed documents.

• Five toys, —included those that are collectible— and a video game console and video games.

• One device that permits measurement of arterial pressure and one for glucose, as well as medications of personal use; in the case of psychotropic’s the medical prescription should be shown.

• One set of binoculars and a telescope.

• Valises, trunks and suitcases necessary for the movement of goods.

• Passengers over 18 years of age, may introduce a maximum of up to 20 packs of cigarettes, 25 cigars or 200 grams of tobacco and up to three liters of alcoholic beverages, and six liters of wine; in excess of the above, cannot be imported without complying with applicable regulations and restrictions.

• Baby travel accessories, such as strollers and baby-walkers.

• Two musical instruments and its accessories.

• A camping tent and camping equipment, as well as their accessories.

• Handicapped or old travelers may introduce items for personal use, useful to have a better performance of their activities, such as walkers, wheelchairs, crutches and canes.

• A set of tools including its case, it might have a hand drill, wire cutters, wrenches, dices, screwdrivers, current cables, among others.

• Beddings, that will be able to include a set of matching sheets and pillowcases, a set of towels, a set of bath, a set of table linen and a set of kitchen.

• Up to two dogs or cats, maybe introduced as well as their accessories, if the corresponding zoo sanitary import certificate issued by (SAGARPA) is presented to the customs officials.

• Animals, agricultural products and medications

 

A journalist friend of mine was moving to Mexico and had a lot of stuff, including a desktop computer. The customs inspector wanted to do his job, but he was a practical man. "Your computer," he asked, "it is small, no?" "Si," the scribe replied, "muy pequeño." Be honest and friendly and things will work out. Be arrogant and I guarantee that you will have trouble.