who knows the answer

when traveling to mexico by car you need to have certain documents one of them is an international credit card. What if you don't own a credit card? Is there any way around this law?

[Chino1]

When I travel oversea I don't like to use credit card because the fee is higher and preventing fraud and scam on your card. I do use money belt and special pocket to hide some cash, recommended to carry $100 bill, you have better rate in exchange. But majority of money should be traveler's checks (make sure carry ID. best is Passport) and keep copy in different luggage just in case you need the replacement checks .

[moisheh]

There is no" way around" the reg. BUT you can use the bond option. You leave a bond or deposit and sign a paper that you will return the vehicle to the USA. The amount varies with the year and value of the car. When you return to the border they return your money LESS a fee. Not a method I would recommend.

[joaquin]

Debit cards work just as well as credit cards. I assume that you have a checking account. You should be able to get a debit card from them.

DEBIT cards are used at all crossings. They are just the same as credit cards when doing any transactions here in Mexico. We have never owned a credit card and the cost of using them is too much. All stores, crossings, gov. agencies accept them. All you have to say is,"Debito" and they take them.

[moisheh]

Can any of you read ENGLISH?? This poster is asking about not using a credit card to pay for his car sticker at the border. He is not asking about using a credit card while travelling. Yet some of you are posting all this junk!! Also you do not get market rates when using any credit card. VISA International sets the rates NOT YOU BANK OR CREDIT UNION> I havent checked lately but they add about 2.5% to the rate of exchange. This applies whenever you use your card outside of your home country. Do the math.

[whip_52]

I stand corrected. Sorry for the posting inaccurate information.

[davide]

Being that the cardholder has to SIGN the receipt at Banjercito a PIN is not mandatory. A VISA logo debit card gives a MUCH BETTER "tipo de cambio" than exchanging US dollars or traveler's checks, and certainly better than the punitive loan rates afforded by using a credit card.

The reason that the Mexican government tied the credit card / debit card issue into car bonding is that it is a DIRECT WAY for them to access your identity and be more certain that your registration and personal ID are not forged in order to import some fancy rig into Mexico then sell it. Mexico has no way to be certain that your paperwork isn't cleverly forged. Their hope is that you would have had to fool a bank into issuing a credit (which now includes debit) card. This isn't about your trust worthy '79 VW van, but intended for folks who lust for new Trans Am's, Corvettes, and Jeep Wagoneers. Keep in mind that Mexico's car laws were not aimed at Americans or Canadians, but mostly at FRONT vehicles owned by Mexicans on the border. We gringos just caught the backwash.

[moisheh]

Davide; The best exchange rate one can get is at a Mexican bank or a currency exchange. Most banks will charge you a fee for using their ATM card in a non owned machine. Visa and Mastercard bury their fee in the exchange rate. But all of this is certainly off topic.

[zunigan]

I bought a truck in 2004. It is only in my name. After I pay it off can I add my husband who is a mexican citizen to the reg? If we go to mexico will we have to reg it there? if so can I still drive it? And can I still drive it to the USA. Or is is better to have two cars, one I can drive back and forth and one he can drive down there. He can not go with me acoss the border.