Can You Drive In Mexico With A US License?

Yes, you can. If you are one of those tourists with an American drive license, here are some tips that you should keep in mind before starting your car trip:

• US and Canadian driver’s licenses are recognized in Mexico. Besides, your Mexico Insurance policy is invalid if you do not have a valid, non-Mexican, driver’s license.
• It is important to note that when crossing the Mexican border by car, if you plan to travel outside free or border zone, you must obtain a temporary permit to import a vehicle.
• US Liability Insurance is not valid in Mexico. Therefore, the US Department of State strongly recommends that you purchase a full coverage insurance policy that will cover the collateral cost in the event of an accident caused by a vehicle in Mexico.
• Citizens of the United States and Canada who wish to visit Mexico to travel, study at a university/college, or travel through Mexico for a period not exceeding 180 days do not need a tourist visa.

Please note that crossing the Mexican-US border by car is legal through individual checkpoints.

Several large border cities have several crossings, including one or several that bypass the city center and are designed for trucks’ movement.

California/Baja California

• Otay Mesa
• Tecate
• Calexico West
• Calexico East
• Andrade

Arizona/Sonora

• San Luis II
• Lukeville
• Sasabe
• Nogales-Mariposa
• Naco
• Douglas

New Mexico/Chihuahua

• Antelope Wells
• Columbus
• Santa Teresa

Texas/Chihuahua

• El Paso-PDN
• El Paso-Stanton
• El Paso-BOTA
• El Paso-Ysleta
• Tornillo
• Presidio

Texas/Coahuila

• Del Rio
• Eagle Pass II

Texas/Nuevo León

• Laredo
• Colombia Solidarity

Texas/Tamaulipas

• Roma
• Rio Grande City
• Anzalduas
• Hidalgo
• Pharr
• Progreso
• Los Indios
• Brownsville Veterans

A useful resource to find the border wait times between US and Mexico:

https://smartbordercoalition.com/border-wait-times