Buying, insuring and registering a Mercedes sprinter in Texas as a tourist.

I am sure you know that in the USA, every state writes the rules for doing this. Some states it is easy like where I live in Michigan, but it is impossible in Georgia.

I just had some friends here from Israel who did almost the same thing and it was a very simple process with the DMV, BUT with a RV, getting insurance was a real problem, but they did finally get some. i have helped people do this with cars in the past and insurance was not a problem. From what I could gather, insurance companies don't seem to like to insure RVs.
You do know that the insurance you will get for the vehicle in the USA, is not good in Mexico, you will have to get insurance to cover the vehicle in Mexico.
I guess you could probably buy the vehicle, fly to Michigan, or another state, have the signed title, your passport for identification and a valid drivers liscense from your country. Register it in your name, pay the fees, plus a 6% sales tax, get the plates and fly back to Texas, put the plates on the vehicle and drive.

One of the biggest problems is that some states make you prove you live there, that is not a problem in Michigan. But you will have to have a Michigan address for the insurance company and the State of Michigan. Someone could let you use their address.
Good Luck
I am not sure if the Michigan DMV would work with a Texas title, you will have to check that out or maybe some else on this forum will know.

Do your troubles really end at the Rio Grande? You are "importing" a car into Mexico. Do you know what Mexico thinks of that? Why can't you buy your van in Mexico?

zeldasdad makes a good point. It all hinges how Mexico will look at a vehicle in their country for that length of time.

If buying it from a Dealer...You may want to speak to the dealer. New Car dealers have to collect sales tax and license the vehicle in the transaction, in many states. There are also issues restricting a dealer selling a vehicle knowing its going across the border. Reason being, Manufacturers have markets to protect, and Mexico has their own tariffs and import duties, so if you take the vehicle to MX, you will have to import it (if you plate it) otherwise, you have to leave with it when your Tourist Visa is up...

When I was in the Motorcycle business, selling BMW, Ducati and Aprilla, we had to sign a contract promising all vehicle we sold as new, would not be EXPORTED. Reason the Russians wanted to by them and send to Russia as new, but the Dealer had to plate them, have the buyer pay tax, and register the warranty in USA. If they took outside country, the warranty was voided.

You also have to have the Title of the Vehicle on your person, same as your Passport, in order to cross borders in Latin America. You do realize driving the Americas involves a major hassle at every border, you must temporarily Import it, and then when leaving country, get it out of your Passport as its a Visa, if you leave the country without the vehicle, you will have to pay the fees and taxes to Import it, meaning at least 50% to 100% of the value of the vehicle...thousands of dollars.

Also, you can't drive all over Latin America, there is no road south Panama, the Darien Gap is there, You have to ship the van to South America, if it does not fit in a container, its a lot more expensive. Most ship to Ecuador as its a major port.

Read the Drive the Americas...

http://www.drivetheamericas.com

You need to realize if you take this vehicle out of the USA, the warranty may be voided.

If you plate and Title the vehicle outside the USA, You will have to IMPORT the vehicle and pay huge taxes, as Latin America taxes vehicles huge as a source of revenue.

Once you get done doing all that, you can't just sell it at end if trip in Argentina or wherever, you need to Import it there, in order for it to get valid plates and title. So think twice about taking the US Regsitration Off, it could have huge financial ramifications.

You need to do your homework....

Lastly, you do realize a gringo in a mercedes is a target in Latin America, you can't just camp with it where you please, you need to park it in secure parking. You can not leave anything, not even sunglasses, in the vehicle locked and unattended. Latin America petty crime is terrible.

You can buy anything you want if you have the money. Buy yourself a 747 jet if you want.
The time of enjoyment of your new vehicle will be limited by your visa arrangements with the USA, Mexico and others.
WHY DON'T PEOPLE TELL US WHAT COUNTRY THEY ARE COMING FROM?
Apparently, New Hampshire is the only state which does not require car insurance before car registration. You will want insurance. Many US states' department of motor vehicle DMV registration offices will recognize you being a resident of that state with proof of rent receipts or rental lease and bills from a utility company for that address (electric, gas, cable). You do not have to be a US citizen to rent an apartment. Getting utilities in your name can be more complicated, usually a credit check. Length of time at that address may not apply for the purpose of residency to register a car in a US state. Are you willing and able to rent a place in a US state until you can get registration and insurance in that state? Once you have the paperwork done on the vehicle, you are not required to maintain that address. Some DMVs will require that you have your new vehicle inspected or certified. Often that is simply a police officer signing that the vehicle identification number VIN on the application matches the one on the vehicle. That requirement could be a problem if your plan is to buy your Sprinter in Texas, park it, and take the paperwork to apply for a title, license plates and insurance in another more lenient state which you fly to for that purpose.

I have found that DMV public service people vary in reliability, so I just spent some yawn-inducing time with Texas law. Yes, you must be a resident to register a vehicle. That’s mainly because you have to register it in your county of residence, so they can collect state and local taxes. They define “resident” as “where the person sleeps at night” and some other things about Texas being your permanent domicile. and specifically say that visitors without a Texas address cannot register a car.

Individual counties decide what is proof of residence.

There is a loophole for what they call “Winter Texans,” people who have a second home n Texas. They can apply for an exemption to the permanent residence rule. Still need that Texas address.

Texas has a separate procedure for titling a vehicle—proof that you really are the owner. They used to require. US Social Security Number, but no longer do so. There is a procedure to register a vehicle in Taxas, but keep it titled in another state.

Some states just want an address in the state, without proof of residence. California is one. The address has to be physical, not a post office box, and can’t be a hotel. And you have to be able to receive mail there, as final documents are sent out after registration

If buying it from a Dealer...You may want to speak to the dealer. New Car dealers have to collect sales tax and license the vehicle in the transaction, in many states. There are also issues restricting a dealer selling a vehicle knowing its going across the border. Reason being, Manufacturers have markets to protect, and Mexico has their own tariffs and import duties, so if you take the vehicle to MX, you will have to import it (if you plate it) otherwise, you have to leave with it when your Tourist Visa is up...
Thats the plan, to leave Mexico with the Van once mex visa is up.
When I was in the Motorcycle business, selling BMW, Ducati and Aprilla, we had to sign a contract promising all vehicle we sold as new, would not be EXPORTED. Reason the Russians wanted to by them and send to Russia as new, but the Dealer had to plate them, have the buyer pay tax, and register the warranty in USA. If they took outside country, the warranty was voided.

You also have to have the Title of the Vehicle on your person, same as your Passport, in order to cross borders in Latin America. You do realize driving the Americas involves a major hassle at every border, you must temporarily Import it, and then when leaving country, get it out of your Passport as its a Visa, if you leave the country without the vehicle, you will have to pay the fees and taxes to Import it, meaning at least 50% to 100% of the value of the vehicle...thousands of dollars.

Also, you can't drive all over Latin America, there is no road south Panama, the Darien Gap is there, You have to ship the van to South America, if it does not fit in a container, its a lot more expensive. Most ship to Ecuador as its a major port.
Do you know if a sprinter or promaster vans fit in those containers?
Read the Drive the Americas...

http://www.drivetheamericas.com

Thats the plan, to leave Mexico with the Van once mex visa is up.
Do you know if a sprinter or promaster vans fit in those containers that ship the darien gap?