Ever wonder if your old VW traveled to Mexico?

[kinggeorge13]

I have one that did.   My 1974 was apparently there in 1987.   Just started reading about these window stickers.   There are posts about them out there on the Internet.   From what I've read so far is it seems back in the 60's - 80's (and quite possibly outside that range) if you and your vehicle went touring around in Mexico, you needed to get one of these "permit" stickers.  Mine has the month of January circle-punched so I assume someone from here in Canada decided to travel to warmer climates down south and drove down in January 1987.   Here is a photo of mine:

[Bruce]

They still do it that way today.
Any foreign registered vehicle that you want to drive past the border zone needs a permit. (not included is both Baja Californias).  The difference today is that when you leave, you have to give back the sticker to prove you took your car out of Mexico.

[kinggeorge13]

They still do it that way today.
Any foreign registered vehicle that you want to drive past the border zone needs a permit. (not included is both Baja Californias).  The difference today is that when you leave, you have to give back the sticker to prove you took your car out of Mexico.

Do you mean all those Netflix movies and tv shows where they just easily drive back and forth across the border with barely a non-committal wave from the border guard are not accurately portrayed?   

[Bruce]

The Mexican's don't care much about people entering Mex.  It's getting back into the USA that's strict.
In the other border states (ie. not Baja Calif Norte), there is a tax free frontera zone where anything can be brought into Mex without any checks.  But once you try to continue further into Mex from the frontera, it's a full-on border check.  That is where you have to get your permit for your car, visitor's visa, and show proof of insurance.  This is all before you pull up to Mex customs for a possible car search.