Official Decree for the Importation of Used Vehicles
This Wednesday, November 5, the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) published a presidential decree that establishes the definitive regulation for the importation of used cars, extending the validity of permits for units known colloquially as “chocolate cars” until November 2026. The issuance of this regulatory framework is considered an urgent and necessary measure to provide certainty legaland security to the economic actors involved in this commercial activity. The legal instrument was endorsed by the President of the Republic, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo; the Secretary of Economy, Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon; and the head of the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit, Édgar Amador Yassín.
Regulatory Harmonization and Compliance with the T-MEC
The decree is based on the need to harmonize national policy with the obligations contracted within the framework of the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (T-MEC). According to the government analysis, it is still essential to prove the origin of the goods so that they can access the tariff benefit agreed in the treaty. At the same time, the Mexican State must ensure the application of the same standards of road safety and environmental protection that govern the national vehicle fleet, extending these requirements to imported goods. This double aspect seeks to implement strategies that improve the well-being of the population, reinforce security and protect family assets.
Among the social considerations that support the measure, the objective of reducing gaps of socioeconomic inequality stands out, facilitating sectors of the population with access to an accessible and functional means of transport. To determine if a vehicle originates from the territory of one or more of the T-MEC parties, the procedure requires that the importer have a valid certification of origin. Said certification must be based on reliable and verifiable information that demonstrates that the unit complies with the specific rule of origin. Therefore, it is essential that the importer has the technical documentation on the production of the vehicle, information that is normally the domain of the original producer or assembler.
This requirement seeks to prevent illicit trade practices and guarantee that vehicles imported under this scheme meet technical and environmental requirements, thus contributing to a more orderly and transparent market. The extension of the deadline provides a broader planning horizon for those involved in the import chain, while giving the competent authorities a defined period to strengthen verification and control mechanisms.
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