8 replies to this topic

[NuttBoxer]

I've been looking for information on how to cross our furniture, boxes, etc. into Tijuana from San Diego without having to pay a big tax.  I guess if your a citizen you can get a Menaje de Casa from the Mexican Consulate and avoid paying that way.  My brother in law asked the Mexican customs officials when he was walking across this past month, and they said you have to pay if you drive though San Ysidro, but not Otay.  Can anyone confirm that?  

I'm trying to check with TET Movers but was wondering if there were any other movers who offer the same service that anyone could recommend?  I'd prefer to pay for door to door service if it's feasible, but have no idea what the normal price range is.  We don't have much, and will be moving less since we plan on selling several items and replacing them once we're there, but it will be a small truckload.  We'll be checking with the consulate here or in Tijuana, but any advise from people with recent experience/similar circumstances is appreciated.

[HK70]

If you do it the proper way you should get a FM3 to live in Tijuana. If you do that you have a one time thing where you can cross all your junk but you have to list everything out with serial numbers. If interested go to the Mexican Consulate on India street and get the information. I did this in 2005. I still paid a import tax on the stuff I brought over but it was not much.

In December 2009 I moved back to TJ. I skipped the FM3 part and I paid TET to move my large stuff that I could not get in my car. I think they had to pay about 1,500 pesos of import tax. It was furniture, bed a tv. All my other junk that I could fit in my car I moved my self.

You need to cross the truck in Otay.

[NuttBoxer]

I suspected I might have to.  I think we'll move the appliances down with my brothers pick-up and then do one load for everything else.  I spoke with Yvette at TET Movers and she gave me a quote and some good information about the whole customs thing.  It's a bit out of my price range, but she was helpful enough to inform me that I would still have to pay something at the crossing even with a Menaje de Casa, and for a smaller move like ours it would be better(cheaper) to skip the consulate and pay at the border.

My wife says she's seen smaller trucks cross at San Ysidro.  You don't think they'd let me in driving a 17'?

[NuttBoxer]

Kind of a bump, but also wondering if anyone has updated information on if you can still drive rental trucks (17-20' range) through San Ysidro?  Apparently you could when this thread was active...

http://www.tijuanabl...hl=rental truck

Maybe we could even drive through without declaring?  Kind of doubt it though since Tijuana sort of modernized their border entry.

[HK70]

You can try but I bet you they will waive you over once you get through if you are driving a moving truck at SY crossing. I see pickups and vans cross at SY all the time in the normal lanes with stuff in them. I don't know if they get waived over for inspection though.

Crossing my stuff in my car in Dec. 2009,I got the red light a few times but no one was around or waived me over so I kept driving. I have heard that they will chase you down if you don't stop

I remember when I moved my stuff in a moving truck in 2005. I did the proper FM3 with the list of junk. I crossed the moving truck illegally in TJ. I paid the import tax then before you leave you have to hit the button and I got the red light. I had to open up the back again and for a review. After that I drove quickly as possible in the yellow truck hoping to not get stopped by the policia looking for a bribe.

TET did a good job at a reasonible price in December 2009. I live on the 4th floor and no way did I want to lug my stuff up there so I was willing to pay them to do it for me.

[NuttBoxer]

Does anyone know if it's better(faster) to cross on Friday or Saturday at Otay?  I was thinking to cross Friday, but Saturday would probably have less commercial traffic?

[Cyanide41]

I would GUESS that Saturday would be good, but then again, this is mexico, They probably only have 1 guy working on Sat.

[Mary Ellen]

I would GUESS that Saturday would be good, but then again, this is mexico, They probably only have 1 guy working on Sat.

It's going to be the same on Friday as on Saturday so whatever time allows minimum 3 hours.
I arrive at Otay on Fridays at 10:00am and it usually takes 2.5 to 3 hours. You might try after 6:00pm for less wait time.

Otay is generally faster than San Ysidro esp. going into the U.S.

If you're bring stuff into Mexico, I would make small frequent trips to avoid paying customs.

[Cyanide41]

It's going to be the same on Friday as on Saturday so whatever time allows minimum 3 hours.
I arrive at Otay on Fridays at 10:00am and it usually takes 2.5 to 3 hours. You might try after 6:00pm for less wait time.

Otay is generally faster than San Ysidro esp. going into the U.S.

If you're bring stuff into Mexico, I would make small frequent trips to avoid paying customs.

He is talking about bringing a truck load INTO Mexico.