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At the border

Correct as of: November 2010

Required Paperwork

The border with the United States of America and Mexico has a zone where you can drive your car without doing any of the paperwork listed below. This zone usually extends about 20km South, and includes all of Baja California. If you plan to go further into Mexico, you will have to complete the paperwork listed here.

Passport of registered owner (original and 1 copy).
Vehicle registration (original and 1 copy).
Drivers license of registered owner (original and 1 copy).
Mexico Tourist Card you received when you crossed the border, or crossed outside the special zone mentioned above (original and 1 copy)

Process at border

The owner of the vehicle gains entry at immigration (migración), including a stamp in their Passport and a Mexico Tourist Card (depending on which border you cross at, you may get this at the actual border, then proceed further until you are required to complete paperwork for the vehcile).
The owner must show the new passport stamp and tourist card, drivers license and the original vehicle registration to customs (aduana).
The owner is issued a temporary import permit for the vehicle.

Cost of entry

$30.00 USD for the vehicle permit.

Permitted length of stay

90 days.

Extension of stay

Unknown.
Describe the process to extend the permitted length of entry for the vehicle, if possible.

Storing a vehicle and temporarily leaving the country

(unknown)
Describe if/how a vehicle can be stored, and for how long.
Also mention if the owner / temporary importer can leave the country while the vehicle is in storage.

Exiting with a vehicle

The registered owner presents the temporary import paper to customs.
The registered owner is stamped out of Mexico at immigration.

NOTE: When leaving the country, you may be asked by immigration to pay a fee - this is bribery and you should not pay anything without getting an official receipt.

Overland Essentials

Vehicle Insurance

Insurance requirements

Insurance is mandatory in Mexico, and you will have problems with the Police if you don't purchase it. You can buy it at the border, or many companies exist online that piggy-back on your insurance from the United States of America

Cost of insurance

BZ$46.00 BZD for two weeks for a 4x4.

Where to purchase insurance

There are a couple of offices right at the border. The Insurance Corporation of Belize Ltd. seems to understand the idea of Overlanding and so purchasing insurance there is easy.

Driving license

Technically an International Driving Permit is required.
In reality, showing a license from anywhere in the world seems to be good enough.

Driving side of road

Right.
Right hand drive vehicles are permitted without problem.

Mandatory items in vehicle

None.

Roads

General Road quality

Roads in Belize are typically good, though you can expect dirt roads to be impassible mud pits in the rainy season.

Road signs

Road signs are common enough, and are generally good enough to rely on.

Toll roads

None.

Bribery

Police bribery is uncommon in Belize, but it might happen. See the bribery tips page for advice.

Checkpoints

Police checkpoints are common in Belize, where the Police primarily want to see your vehicle insurance. You'll be asked to show your Passport, Vehicle registration, drivers license, vehicle insurance and the temporary import permit you were issued at the border.

Traveling with pets

Unknown.
List the entry requirements and anything else required to travel with a pet.

Gasoline / Petrol / Diesel

Last updated: Sept. 2009

Price

Currency and unit to display:

Gasoline Grade	Price
Regular	BZ$9.00 BZD per Gallon (US) ^[1]
Super (90)	??
Premium (95)	??
Ultra (97)	??
Normal Diesel	$0.95 USD per Liter^[2]
Diesel (low sulfur)	??

Gasoline Availability / Frequency

Gasoline is common.

Gasoline Quality

Accepted to good quality. Sulfur content of diesel is unknown.

External information about gasoline

Price Information: gasoline-germany.com - International Gas / Petrol / Diesel prices - Belize Last updated 2009

Safety / Security Considerations

Driving at night

Driving at night is probably OK in Belize, though definitely not recommended in big cities like Belize City due to safety considerations.

The border with [Guatemala] is known to be particularly full of bandits and people wishing to visit the ruins of Caracol in the area will be given a military escort along the roads.

Vehicle parking

Find a secure parking lot to park in big cities. Price unknown.

Special driving considerations

None.

Security advisories and information

Camping

Camping is becomming more popular in Belize, and you will almost always find somewhere in the rural areas. Roadside camping is also OK in smaller places.

Camping guide books

Unknown.

Drinking water

Tap water in Belize is not safe to drink.

Navigation

Paper maps

There really are not too many roads in Belize, so any map you have is probably good enough. If you do want a good one, purchase it before arriving as good ones are very difficult to find in Belize.

GPS

Open Street Map: Appears to have good coverage.^[3]
Garmin: Apparently no map of Belize.
TomTom: No map of Belize. ^[4]

Directions and GPS co-ordinates for camping, propane, gas, repairs, etc.

Camping Sites: Belize - Detailed list of campsites and propane filling with description, directions and GPS co-ordinates. Some at hotels (lists facilities and price), some roadside and free.
Central America Camping Locations - List of campsites, with basic directions and GPS co-ordinates. Mostly free sites.