By Evelyne Bevacqua

It Ain’t Fair - The Car Registration Law Stinks!

Why is it that our timing seems to be always wrong?

We bought land in Playacar in July 2003 and, as I recall, it was raining. Joe, my husband, must have been bored because we came back as proud owners of a piece of jungle in Playa del Carmen.

Why not? The plans started to emerge and since we were to retire in a couple of years, we had plenty time. Right? Wrong!

Our course the best laid plans of mice and men did not work out. You see, Real Estate in the New York area had been soft so we decided to put our house up for sale and what do you know? It sold in one day! Ouch!

We still had our business to run and had two cars ... Joe put up his Benz on the side of the road. Sold! One Day! Great!

Joe, being a fanatic of internet research, he read all info ever produced on "How to retire in Mexico".

You know that guy who finished the net? That was Joe!

Anyway, we had to start the procedures to obtain our FM3's... as well as the nightmarish list of getting household goods. Three weeks later, after many frustrating trips to New York City, we were … almost ready.

The “Free to a Good Home" ads took care of furniture and most of what surrounded our life. And we were off as Joe said “Fly me to the Moon………….”

Since we have our wonderful dogs, actually flying was not an option. So we decided to drive.

We had to replace our brand new Land Rover for a Honda Element, fearing lack of service and cargo capacity. After all … we could always take the ferry from Tampa, FL. Across the gulf to Progresso, Right? Wrong! Ferry service was suspended for the Fall of 2003 ! But of course, it will resume in 2004!

Nothing left to do, but to drive the 3700 miles. Well we made it … and I contributed 128 miles!

Anyway, we start attracting lots of interest in Mexico. Hum? Could it be because this car does not exist in Mexico? Hey, it”s orange and it looks like an armored vehicle. Maybe that’s it! Or maybe it had something to do with our New York plates? Would it be the reason why Joe is stopped so often ??? I got it .. every policeman wants to know us ! We must be very special !!!

Time to do something, about it! Drive the car to the States? You must be kidding! Why not register the Car in Mexico! Great Idea! NO, NO! It cannot be done - have to wait 10 years! What about the new law allowing you to import a vehicle? Yes, and this is it…….. the car has to be a 2004 Not a 2003!

So basically, we have to drive the car back to the U.S., sell it, get a 2004 model and bring it back! Right? Urgh!

Frankly ......It Ain’t Fair!

Evelyne Bevacqua is an ecletic member of Playa’s new resident community. She can be reached at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it