The following day, we were up early and headed for the border. We needed to drive across the International bridge, then find the vehicle permit office, get our vehicle permit and tourist cards, and that should be that.
But it never is? Is it!
First, was the task of finding the car permit office. We crossed the bridge, paid our toll, passed through customs and followed the signs to the vehicle permit office. The road was thin, with ramshackle houses sitting tightly on the road on both sides. Dogs and chickens were running up and down the street. We were definitely in Mexico, but as of yet we hadn’t shown our passports to anyone. One wrong turn led us back onto a toll bridge going to the USA. Exactly where we didn’t want to be, especially as the toll was $20. We asked the guy in the booth, who directed us to reverse down the 5 lane road for 300 meters, to his friend who moved one of the bollards and allowed us to pass through the side road to get to the vehicle permit office. I guess that’s just how things are done here in Mexico.
Unfortunately, our fun hadn’t ended just because we had found the correct building. The vehicle permit requires a copy of the car title, drivers passport and a cash deposit of $200 that ensures you take your car with you when you go. The BC title (or proof of ownership and registration) is a crappy piece of paper, printed in Times New Roman in black and white, on the bottom of your insurance paperwork. It is issued by the Insurance Corporation of British Colombia, a government body. First, the man at the permit office said our paperwork was out of date. Our insurance in Canada ran out in September, and as it’s not valid from Mexico onwards, we had not bothered to renew it. We had brought Mexican insurance instead. Then, because the piece of paper said ICBC (Insurance Corporation of British Colombia) he said it was an insurance document, and not a title. He pulled out a huge bundle of titles from all over the Mexico, the USA and other places in Canada. They were all nicely printed certificates, with fancy colored borders. BC however, had obviously cheaped out. It meant two hours of arguing, haggling, and finally when I found an updates version, which said our insurance is valid until September, he was satisfied. What happens at the next border will be interesting… I have a feeling we haven't seen the back of this problem.
From the border, we drove South to Monterrey. We had heard that the region around the border was very dangerous, and had been cautioned not to stop until we were at least 100km away. Ready to run the gauntlet, and imagining cartel car jackers and hijackers at every turn, we were off. What we saw from the car windows however, didn’t look at all dangerous. There were baseball teams playing Sunday ball by the road, families enjoying a picnic, people just doing what people do on a Sunday. Seems the danger of the border region had been exaggerated.
But it never is? Is it!
First, was the task of finding the car permit office. We crossed the bridge, paid our toll, passed through customs and followed the signs to the vehicle permit office. The road was thin, with ramshackle houses sitting tightly on the road on both sides. Dogs and chickens were running up and down the street. We were definitely in Mexico, but as of yet we hadn’t shown our passports to anyone. One wrong turn led us back onto a toll bridge going to the USA. Exactly where we didn’t want to be, especially as the toll was $20. We asked the guy in the booth, who directed us to reverse down the 5 lane road for 300 meters, to his friend who moved one of the bollards and allowed us to pass through the side road to get to the vehicle permit office. I guess that’s just how things are done here in Mexico.
Unfortunately, our fun hadn’t ended just because we had found the correct building. The vehicle permit requires a copy of the car title, drivers passport and a cash deposit of $200 that ensures you take your car with you when you go. The BC title (or proof of ownership and registration) is a crappy piece of paper, printed in Times New Roman in black and white, on the bottom of your insurance paperwork. It is issued by the Insurance Corporation of British Colombia, a government body. First, the man at the permit office said our paperwork was out of date. Our insurance in Canada ran out in September, and as it’s not valid from Mexico onwards, we had not bothered to renew it. We had brought Mexican insurance instead. Then, because the piece of paper said ICBC (Insurance Corporation of British Colombia) he said it was an insurance document, and not a title. He pulled out a huge bundle of titles from all over the Mexico, the USA and other places in Canada. They were all nicely printed certificates, with fancy colored borders. BC however, had obviously cheaped out. It meant two hours of arguing, haggling, and finally when I found an updates version, which said our insurance is valid until September, he was satisfied. What happens at the next border will be interesting… I have a feeling we haven't seen the back of this problem.
From the border, we drove South to Monterrey. We had heard that the region around the border was very dangerous, and had been cautioned not to stop until we were at least 100km away. Ready to run the gauntlet, and imagining cartel car jackers and hijackers at every turn, we were off. What we saw from the car windows however, didn’t look at all dangerous. There were baseball teams playing Sunday ball by the road, families enjoying a picnic, people just doing what people do on a Sunday. Seems the danger of the border region had been exaggerated.