We’re often asked: What kind of documentation will I need to ride a motorcycle or drive a car in Baja? Here’s the list of what documents are required for a trip into Baja:
1. You’ll need your US passport, or a passport card. I’ve always used my passport; I’ve never had the passport card (the passport card is issued by the US State Department). Either one will work.
2. You’ll need a Mexican tourist visa. This is something you get immediately after you enter Mexico, not before. If you enter through Tijuana or Tecate (my typical points of entry), there are Mexican immigration offices off to the right as soon as you enter. That’s where the tourist visas are issued. You might be tempted to just blow this off because you can drive by and continue your trip into Baja, but if you’re stopped further inland and you don’t have the tourist visa, you’ll have to go back to the border to get one (don’t ask me how I know this). The good news is that if you’re planning a stay of less than 7 days, the tourist visa is free. If you staying longer, it’s $20.
3. You’ll need your US driver’s license.
4. You’ll need your vehicle registration.
5. You’ll need Mexican insurance for your motor vehicle (your US insurance is not adequate). We use BajaBound insurance exclusively, and we did a post about that great company here on the ExNotes blog a short time ago.
You can contact BajaBound directly at this link or by clicking on the photo above. If you get stopped in Mexico and you can’t show proof of Mexican insurance, you’ll have a real problem (like we said above, your regular US insurance won’t cover you in Mexico). You’ll need to print a copy of your policy (which you can do online after you purchase it from BajaBound) and bring that with you.
And that’s it, folks.
Want to know more about riding in Baja? Check out our Baja page!
If you plan to travel in Mexico outside of Baja, such as taking the ferry to Mazatlan, you will also need a Vehicle Import Permit.
That’s correct, Dan.