Car Care Tips

Regular maintenance of your vehicle will extend its life, and decrease the odds of breaking down. There are some things you can do to prevent problems:

  • Don’t let your gas tank go lower than a quarter tank
  • Use premium gas (red gas “premium”)
  • Do regular oil changes, recommended every 5,000 kms
  • Check all fluid levels on a regular basis (oil, coolant, brake, power steering and transmission)
  • Check air pressure on tires on a regular basis.
    • Tires being at the correct air pressure will extend the life of your tires as well as improve your gas mileage.
    • Check the owner's manual for your vehicle for the recommended tire pressure.
    • All Pemex stations have air at the gas pumps.
  • Keep your maintenance receipts. This will improve your car's resale value when it comes time to sell.

Registration - Tenencia & Refrendo

There are two mandatory taxes payable for all Mexican-plated vehicles, due the first quarter of every year.

The first, Refrendo, is a municiple tax, and is payable for all vehicles no matter what model year it is. The cost runs approximately $25 USD. The second, Tenencia, is a federal tax and is a percentage based on the comercial value of the vehicle. This tax is on a sliding scale down to zero for the first ten years only.

Both taxes are paid to the license office (Secretaria de Finanzas), if not paid by March 31, there will be fines.

With every receipt they will issue a sticker and a circulation card (Tarjeta de Circulacion), you must carry the original circulation card in the vehicle when driving, if not, you could receive a fine.

When purchasing a used car, if the taxes have not been paid, the license office will charge any outstanding annual taxes along with a Buy/Sell tax to the buyer. You can get online at this link to see what amount is owed on any vehicle, all you need is the license plate and serial (VIN #) numbers.

It is important to keep all original receipts, especially if selling the vehicle to someone in another jurisdiction, as they will request the originals for the last five years. If originals are lost, than certified copies can be requested from the license office in the jurisdiction the car is currently registered.