END THE VEHICLE PERMIT LINEUPS
END THE VEHICLE PERMIT LINEUPS
By Dot Bell
KM 98 Guaymas to Obregon
Nogales is one if not THE most popular border crossing from the USA to Mexico. There is a reason. It is super-fast to use the truck crossing – known as Mariposa- to skirt around the busy city of Nogales. You avoid the narrow streets, normal Mexican congestion, unfamiliar language etc.
With the Mariposa crossing you just drive down a 4-lane highway until you reach what is known as KM 21. This is where you go to get your FMM’s and car permits. I should point out that KM 21 is not actually located at KM 21. Those km markers are long gone. It is actually located at KM 295 if you are to go by the markers at the side of the road.
I transgress. When you reach “KM 21” you park. Sometimes if it is a holiday, the parking lot will be full and cars, RVs and trucks overflow onto the highway. You get out of your vehicle, grab your papers and head for the buildings clearly marked KM 21. Did I mention that it is not really km 21?
Once inside the tourist visa building the paperwork and payment take only 10 minutes or so. The end is near as the official stamps your passport and documents. However, December 23rd 2021 saw a 2 hour wait before you entered the building to begin the tourist visa process. The office is overrun on holidays both Mexican and American.
This year after a two hour wait, we waited in line to get our papers copied – only a few minutes really. And then we faced the reality of getting our vehicle permit. It was at least a three hour wait.
Instead of waiting in line, we decided to try our luck with another approach. We were tired and had driven or waited in line all day. We wanted to get to San Carlos for a rest and a meal before driving on. Empalme, a small town just south of Guaymas has a banjercito (Government bank) that can process vehicle permits. We had used it many years ago but were not sure if it was open. We googled Empalme Banjercito on our phone and it showed that the office closed at 3. We spoke to a guard who assured us that indeed the office was open. We thought we would try our luck.
In the morning we left San Carlos at 9. The lineups at the toll booth were gone and we sailed right around the Guaymas ring road. When highway 15 and 15 D merge, keep your eyes peeled to the right. At KM 98 you will see a small sign that reads Sonora Only. You turn right into a huge clean parking lot and proceed to the office. We entered immediately and were directed to a counter to the right. Two people were in lineup in front of us.
A large sign in English laid out clearly what papers were required. When it was our turn, we handed over our original documents to the official. He examined them and then copied them (free of charge) before returning them to us. We were then directed to a counter to the far left of the building.
The next official took our email and phone number and processed our papers. She took our credit card and explained in English that we would be emailed a copy of our vehicle permit. REMEMBER you cannot get your FMM at Empalme, you must get that at the INM office at KM21
We were out of there in under 15 minutes.
We strongly recommend KM 98 for processing your vehicle permits.
- It has a large clearly marked parking lot
- There are no people loitering around the cars
- Clean facilities and washrooms
- The lineups are small
- They copy your papers as needed
