Suspended Registration

[skitz]

My question involves vehicle registration or title in the state of: Nevada

Nevada requires you to be insured at all times. No problem with that. But, if I drive my car to Mexico, stay for 6 months, and as soon as I cross the border I buy Mexican insurance, then cancel my Nevada insurance (which I wouldn't have to do if it wasn't for the fact that the Nevada insurance is no good in Mexico), Nevada will suspend my registration the minute I cancel the Nevada insurance and I'll have to pay over $1200 in fines when I return. They say I have to have Nevada insurance regardless. When I cross the border back into the USA I would cancel my Mexican insurance and buy the Nevada insurance again so at no time would I have had a lapse of insurance. Apparently this isn't okay with the DMV of Nevada. That doesn't sound right to me. A Nevada resident should be able to drive their car anywhere without having to deal with this sort of BS. Why should I have to pay for Nevada insurance if I'm not driving in Nevada? Isn't it illegal to force someone to pay for something they don't need?

 

[Just Blue]

My question involves vehicle registration or title in the state of: Nevada

Nevada requires you to be insured at all times. No problem with that. But, if I drive my car to Mexico, stay for 6 months, and as soon as I cross the border I buy Mexican insurance, then cancel my Nevada insurance (which I wouldn't have to do if it wasn't for the fact that the Nevada insurance is no good in Mexico), Nevada will suspend my registration the minute I cancel the Nevada insurance and I'll have to pay over $1200 in fines when I return. They say I have to have Nevada insurance regardless. When I cross the border back into the USA I would cancel my Mexican insurance and buy the Nevada insurance again so at no time would I have had a lapse of insurance. Apparently this isn't okay with the DMV of Nevada. That doesn't sound right to me. A Nevada resident should be able to drive their car anywhere without having to deal with this sort of BS. Why should I have to pay for Nevada insurance if I'm not driving in Nevada? Isn't it illegal to force someone to pay for something they don't need?

When you move to Mexico you would register/insure your car there. You register your car (or whatever the Mexican law calls for) where you live and if/when you move back to Nevada you reg/insure per the laws here. Make since?

 

[adjusterjack]

That doesn't sound right to me.

Of course it is. You want to keep your Nev registration, you keep your Nev insurance, and avoid fines.

Or, do as Just Blue suggests. Register and title your car in Mexico as a resident, then re-establish residency in Nev when you get back.

 

[skitz]

Of course it is. You want to keep your Nev registration, you keep your Nev insurance, and avoid fines.

Or, do as Just Blue suggests. Register and title your car in Mexico as a resident, then re-establish residency in Nev when you get back.

I live in Nevada. If I leave on vacation for 6 months, it doesn't mean I'm giving up my Nevada residency. I can't register my car in Mexico because I'm not a Mexican citizen. If I've paid my registration in full, it shouldn't matter that I temporarily have a different insurance that covers where the car is being driven on vacation, as long as I have Nevada insurance when I return to Nevada.

 

[Ohiogal]

Says you. But you are bound by the laws where your car is registered. And if you are registered in Nevada you need insurance for Nevada. Any won't your insurance cover you in Mexico?

 

[adjusterjack]

If I've paid my registration in full, it shouldn't matter that I temporarily have a different insurance that covers where the car is being driven on vacation, as long as I have Nevada insurance when I return to Nevada.

Nope. You're not going to win this. You'll have to keep the Nevada insurance in force while you are away. Or, you can pay all the fines when you get back plus surcharges on your auto insurance because of the 6 month lapse in coverage. Your choice.

won't your insurance cover you in Mexico?

Mexico doesn't recognize US auto insurance and requires, by law, that drivers in Mexico buy auto insurance from a Mexican insurance company that complies with Mexican insurance laws.

A driver having an accident in Mexico without Mexican insurance could find himself in a Mexican jail. I have read that Mexican jails are very unpleasant.

 

[quincy]

skitz, some insurers allow for a reduction in coverage as long as you have the minimum required for a registered vehicle. All registered vehicles in Nevada require insurance, though.

Have you thought about storing your vehicle in Nevada for 6 months (no registration, no insurance) and renting a different car while you are in Mexico? Compare costs to see which is cheaper.

 

[not2cleverRed]

If I leave on vacation for 6 months, it doesn't mean I'm giving up my Nevada residency.

Keep your NV ins., and think of the Mexican auto ins. as "travel ins."

If you have the resources for a 6 month vacay, then part of that cost is travel insurance.

 

[adjusterjack]

kitz, some insurers allow for a reduction in coverage as long as you have the minimum required for a registered vehicle.

It's a 5 hour trip from Las Vegas (for example) to Calexico and another 5 hour trip back upon return to the US. Not a good idea to be underinsured. Of course, he could email the change to his agent after arriving in Mexico and another change before leaving Mexico.

Have you thought about storing your vehicle in Nevada for 6 months (no registration, no insurance)

Nevada requires surrender of license plates if not used on another vehicle within 30 or 60 days depending on the type of plate.

https://dmvnv.com/platesurrender.htm

Then there is still the matter of the six month lapse in insurance which will make new insurance pricier on return. I have no way of knowing whether any given insurance company will accept Mexican insurance as non-lapse.

renting a different car while you are in Mexico? Compare costs to see which is cheaper.

Hard to imagine that the cost of renting a car in Mexico for 6 months wouldn't be prohibitive. Just for giggles an economy car from Avis in Mexicali base rate $20 per day. That's $3600 for 6 months. Add tax and the usual extras and probably $4000 to $5000 for 6 months. Maybe there is a long term rental discount but it's still going to be a few thousand. Might be better to buy a car upon arrival, insured it there, and sell it before returning to the US.

 

[quincy]

Keeping the car registered and insured in Nevada and then acquiring necessary insurance in Mexico certainly appears to be the best option. Other options are available to explore, however.

 

[Brackwom]

As per my opinion, you should discuss this once with Nevada insurance customer care about the query and ask them a good option for you and do the same with Mexican insurance. After their final statement and reasons, you can choose the best option if you don't feel better yet then find more options for you that help you. I hope this will help you.