Nuevo Laredo

[TopoChico571]

Are there any hotels with a late check-in (I. E, after midnight)?

[Zygomatic]

Thank you so much Bbond and unstoppable for sharing your wisdom and knowledge. I will be sharing my border crossing experiences within a few weeks. I will probably start visiting Laredo / nuevo Laredo for dating purposes more often because Monterrey is a little too far sometimes when I just want to leave San Antonio and Saturday and come back on Sunday.

[Bbond]

I am 3 weeks away from going and he said that the bus seats are already starting to fill up so 4 rth of July weekend is going to be very busy at the border for people going into Mexico. Should I be scared of being kidnapped or exported while taking the taxi to the Nuevo Laredo grupo senda bus station? I am starting to think that I should take a greyhound bus instead which would put me in Laredo around 9 am, meaning that 15 de junio street would free up by the time I cross into Mexico but there will be more people crossing into Mexico as well.

I would not worry about taxis to the bus station, they know the best routes, and getting on 15 de Julio from downtown is not a good route. They normally go down Juarez, and catch a street that leads to Lopez Lara. I have never had any issue what so ever with a taxi and am always charged a fair rate, often even less than I expected to pay. Tip them fairly too, and they will remember you. I do have a secure taxi for night time, but he works only from 5 pm to 5 am.

[Unstoppable]

Unstoppable,

Can you please tell me what is required to drive a car across the border into Mexico on bride 2? I don't have the title because I am still paying off my car. But I do have the Bill of Sale and the Registration Receipt in my name. I can also apply for the Mexican permit. Do I need a letter of permission from my lien holder to drive my / their car into Mexico? I can also get Mexican insurance.

Thanks, Zygo.

Zygo,

Legally, you'll need a permission letter from your lien holder to drive the car across but they usually just give you a month which means when you apply for the car permit, they'll only give you a month but you'll still be charged a full $60 plus a deposit.

What I did was I found a killer deal on a used Suburban on Craigslist and got the title in my name. I then got my immigration permit for 180 days so I can get the car permit for 180 days because they'll only give you a car permit for the number of days left on your immigration permit. This maximizes your time and money.

You'll need to put a deposit (either $200, $300 or $400 depending on the year of the car) but you'll get the deposit back when you cancel the car permit. I just reuse the deposit when I re-apply for the permit.

You'll also need to buy Mexican auto insurance although they don't ask for it when you apply for a permit. I buy the insurance on the AAA website; they only re-sell insurance from a major Mexican insurance company. This can be done online although you can buy insurance on the Mexican side when you apply for your immigration and car permits (they're all in the same building).

You'll need to get to a building called CIITEV. See my attached map for driving directions.

[Zygomatic]

The taxi stand, on 15 de Julio, is on the east side of Guerrero, traffic is not allowed to go straight from there, on 15 de Julio, past Guerrero, and must turn down Guerrero. From 6 am to 9 am, bridge 1 is Sentri traffic only, and that traffic comes from the west on 15 de Julio, and down Matamoros street, and early can be quite heavy. The vast majority of foot traffic between 6 and 8 am is people crossing into the US, and at times the wait line is quite long, extending down 15 de Julio and Ocampo streets.

Thanks for the info Bbond. I just bought my bus ticket today which would drop me off in Laredo before 6 am. I told the guy selling my bus ticket that I really wanted to go straight to Monterrey but before I could tell him about what Mexican immigration is doing on the Mexican side, he told me that he already knew that Mexican immigration is making buses wait about 6 hours at the Mexican immigration bus station so they can bully and steal from bus passengers. I asked if this happens all the time now and he said it only happens during high peak travel days. I am 3 weeks away from going and he said that the bus seats are already starting to fill up so 4 rth of July weekend is going to be very busy at the border for people going into Mexico. Should I be scared of being kidnapped or exported while taking the taxi to the Nuevo Laredo grupo senda bus station? I am starting to think that I should take a greyhound bus instead which would put me in Laredo around 9 am, meaning that 15 de junio street would free up by the time I cross into Mexico but there will be more people crossing into Mexico as well.

[Bbond]

Okay, I've been thinking about waiting until 7 am before I cross the bridge in Mexico in order to allow time for people to wake up and start their day. Given your recent experience, I will try to talk to the taxt driver so he can only go on 15 de junio street and cesar de Lara street which would take me directly to the bus station. Coming back, I plan on taking a direct bus from Monterrey to San Antonio. Thanks for the heads up Dramafree11.

The taxi stand, on 15 de Julio, is on the east side of Guerrero, traffic is not allowed to go straight from there, on 15 de Julio, past Guerrero, and must turn down Guerrero. From 6 am to 9 am, bridge 1 is Sentri traffic only, and that traffic comes from the west on 15 de Julio, and down Matamoros street, and early can be quite heavy. The vast majority of foot traffic between 6 and 8 am is people crossing into the US, and at times the wait line is quite long, extending down 15 de Julio and Ocampo streets.

[Zygomatic]

They are available, you might have to wait a couple minutes, but be careful drunks are on the streets. Also, this is the time that I was stopped at the road block.

Okay, I've been thinking about waiting until 7 am before I cross the bridge in Mexico in order to allow time for people to wake up and start their day. Given your recent experience, I will try to talk to the taxt driver so he can only go on 15 de junio street and cesar de Lara street which would take me directly to the bus station. Coming back, I plan on taking a direct bus from Monterrey to San Antonio. Thanks for the heads up Dramafree11.

[DramaFree11]

Hi Bbond,

I am planning a trip through Nuevo Laredo and walking across the bride 1 around 6 am. Do you know if the Taxis are out waiting by bridge 1 by that time or around what time they start lining up there?

Thanks, Zygo.

They are available, you might have to wait a couple minutes, but be careful drunks are on the streets. Also, this is the time that I was stopped at the road block.

[Bbond]

Hi Bbond,

I am planning a trip through Nuevo Laredo and walking across the bride 1 around 6 am. Do you know if the Taxis are out waiting by bridge 1 by that time or around what time they start lining up there?Thanks, Zygo.

Should not be a long wait if there are none, they run bringing people to the bridge at that hour.

[Bbond]

Unstoppable,

Can you please tell me what is required to drive a car across the border into Mexico on bride 2? I don't have the title because I am still paying off my car. But I do have the Bill of Sale and the Registration Receipt in my name. I can also apply for the Mexican permit. Do I need a letter of permission from my lien holder to drive my / their car into Mexico? I can also get Mexican insurance.Thanks, Zygo.

https://www.cnet.com/es/como-se-hace...viajar-mexico/

In Spanish and tells you the requirements, you can do it all online.

[CenTexCrash]

Unstoppable,

Can you please tell me what is required to drive a car across the border into Mexico on bride 2? I don't have the title because I am still paying off my car. But I do have the Bill of Sale and the Registration Receipt in my name. I can also apply for the Mexican permit. Do I need a letter of permission from my lien holder to drive my / their car into Mexico? I can also get Mexican insurance.

Thanks, Zygo.

As of May 2019, Bridge 2 is open for southbound traffic into Mexico. May or may not have northbound reopened too but for longest time the retooled the northbound lanes into pedestrian walkway. Annoying thing is Mex officials built random barrier so you have to turn right toward Lopez De Lara which is a PITA to you turn if you're trying to continue south on Ave Guerrero. Oh well.

Big bridge open both directions no issues.

Bridge 3 is 18 wheelers only.

Colombia Camino Bridge is supposed to be a hidden gem 20 minutes or less but the secret's out so last time I drove out there it was 4 hours to cross. Still mad about that.

If your vehicle in question still has temp tags and / or title transfer is still pending I would NOT chance driving it into Mexico until permanent plates are in. You're opening a can of worms on that one. And when you do have registration, keep copy in glove box, ypu never know when authorities from either country will ask.

[Zygomatic]

Hi Bbond,

I am planning a trip through Nuevo Laredo and walking across the bride 1 around 6 am. Do you know if the Taxis are out waiting by bridge 1 by that time or around what time they start lining up there?

Thanks, Zygo.

[Zygomatic]

All this talk about how dangerous the drive is to MTY is way overblown. I drive to MTY on a monthly basis via bridge 2 in Nuevo Laredo. After I going through customs, I hop on Av. Luis Donaldo Colosio until then turn left onto 85 then I'll take the tollway (85 D) all the way into MTY. I've been taking this route since 1999; never had a problem as there are law enforcement all over the place. I also avoid driving at night, mostly to avoid hitting the pot holes as we all know how terrible Mexican roads are. Use common sense and be aware of your surroundings and you WILL be fine. The level of paranoia in here sure is high.

Unstoppable,

Can you please tell me what is required to drive a car across the border into Mexico on bride 2? I don't have the title because I am still paying off my car. But I do have the Bill of Sale and the Registration Receipt in my name. I can also apply for the Mexican permit. Do I need a letter of permission from my lien holder to drive my / their car into Mexico? I can also get Mexican insurance.

Thanks, Zygo.

[DramaFree11]

All this talk about how dangerous the drive is to MTY is way overblown. I drive to MTY on a monthly basis via bridge 2 in Nuevo Laredo. After I going through customs, I hop on Av. Luis Donaldo Colosio until then turn left onto 85 then I'll take the tollway (85 D) all the way into MTY. I've been taking this route since 1999; never had a problem as there are law enforcement all over the place. I also avoid driving at night, mostly to avoid hitting the pot holes as we all know how terrible Mexican roads are. Use comm
n sense and be aware of your surroundings and you WILL be fine. The level of paranoia in here sure is high.

Yes, I blew a tire on the trip, the road is terrible. Correct, but disagree slightly once you are out of Laredo you are fine. Laredo is little more dangerous then you want to admit. MTY, there are cops all over the place and they love to pull Americans over, but I do feel safe in MTY. Central not as much, but San Pedro is incredibly safe.

[Unstoppable]

All this talk about how dangerous the drive is to MTY is way overblown. I drive to MTY on a monthly basis via bridge 2 in Nuevo Laredo. After I going through customs, I hop on Av. Luis Donaldo Colosio until then turn left onto 85 then I'll take the tollway (85 D) all the way into MTY. I've been taking this route since 1999; never had a problem as there are law enforcement all over the place. I also avoid driving at night, mostly to avoid hitting the pot holes as we all know how terrible Mexican roads are. Use common sense and be aware of your surroundings and you WILL be fine. The level of paranoia in here sure is high.