If your goal is to drive with a dog to a destination in central Mexico, I highly recommend crossing the border in Texas using the Colombia Solidarity International Bridge.
It is about a 30-minute drive west of Laredo Texas.
Below is information about crossing from Texas to Mexico with pets at the Columbia Bridge.
I provide tips on places to stop and get gas, have lunch at a pet friendly restaurant and where to spend your first night in Mexico.
What you need before crossing the Texas-Mexico border
Paperwork Requirements For You, Your Car, Your Dog.
For YOU to enter Mexico:
Passport –A valid passport that is good for the duration of the visit.
Have a few black-and-white copies with you.
Note: For some reason Mexico does not allow color copies.
NEW Visitors Permits Requirements (FMM)
Getting a FMM is not the same as it used to be. The Mexico Immigration Office no longer allows tourists to visit Mexico for up to 180-days automatically.
A FMM is a visitors permit, known as Forma Migratoria Multiple or FMM. It is what you need to enter Mexico legally.
When driving across the border you will be required to complete the FMM card at the immigration office.
Often times the desk for the FMM is in the same building where the desk is for the TIP (temporary import permit, for cars) is located.
The immigration official will ask how long you intend to stay in Mexico. Be sure to let them know your plans so that they provide you with sufficient days for your visit.
The immigration official may ask for proof of how long you are staying; such as hotel, Airbnb, and VRBO reservations.
If you are flying out, show the airline ticket.
Be sure to surrender your FMM and TIP when leaving Mexico!
Their new systems will keep track of your entry and departure.
The officials will look you up on their system before determining how many days they allow you to stay in Mexico.
You can learn more about the FMM here.
For your CAR to enter Mexico:
Bring your current Driver’s License. Make sure it will not expire while you are visiting Mexico.
Bring a few black-and-white copies with you. Again, no color copies.
Registration of the vehicle
Original and photocopy of the registration of the vehicle issued by a foreign authority in the applicant’s name. If the title or registration is in the name of a spouse, a marriage certificate must also be presented. Only the titled owner of the vehicle and/or their spouse can get a TIP.
Temporary Importation Permit (TIP) for your car
This allows foreign plated cars to cross the border into Mexico from other countries, such as the U.S. and Canada. TIPs are obtained at Banjercitos.
The good news is that the Columbia Bridge has a Banjercito on site. Note: deposit and fees apply.
Proof of temporary Mexico auto insurance for the car.
More detailed information on TIPs, driving with a leased car and more can be found at this very helpful website Mexperience.
For your dog to enter Mexico
Mexico does not require a health certificate for your dog.
However, bring the following documentation with you:
- An up-to-date rabies certificate
- Record of all vaccines and due dates
- Record of medications for flea/ticks/mites and lice. Plus, heart worm prevention.
Columbia Bridge Border Crossing Information
Point A – Enter Mexico at Colombia Solidarity International Bridge
If you are driving from the US or Canada this is one of the easiest and most straight forward border crossings from Texas into Mexico.
The popular name is the Columbia Bridge border crossing.
The official name is the Colombia Solidarity International Bridge.
It is about a 30-minute drive west of Laredo Texas by taking Mines Road heading west.
It is small and convenient place for processing all the immigration paperwork.
You are able to get a tourist FMM card and a TIP (temporary import pass) for your car. All in one building!
You cannot bring your dog with you inside the building unfortunately.
You do not need to show any paperwork for your dog. No one will inspect your dog; however, they will inspect your car.
Aerial View of Customs & Banjercito Building
Once you cross the bridge you will drive straight ahead to the Aduana/Customs and Banjercito building.
The building will be on the right. There is a small parking lot in front of the building.
On our first time crossing here we missed the entrance to this parking lot. We ended up parking at the car inspection station.
We were able to park there and walk back to the main building for our FMM and TIP.
Once you enter the building, head towards the right-hand side. This is where you will get your FMM card.
In the center of the building is a small shop with a photocopy machine in case you need it.
To the left-hand side (once you enter the building) is where you will get your TIP. This is the Banjercito office.
Get your FMM first, then get the TIP for the car.
The Banjercito no longer provides the holographic sticker to prove your car is legal to drive in Mexico. All you need is the paperwork they will provide you. Make copies and keep one in the glove box.
Be sure to use a credit card to pay for everything, especially the TIP. When you leave Mexico the deposit for the TIP will be refunded to your credit card.
Car Inspection
After you are done getting all the proper paperwork, drive your car to the inspection station.
Be prepared to open your trunk and doors. (We kept our dogs leashed and outside of the car while they inspected.)
They will ask you questions about what you are bringing in such a food and alcohol.
Bring copies of any purchase receipts for items that are new or items you may have a large quantity of. For example vitamins.
Be sure to take all items out of their retail box before packing.
After you are done with the inspection, set your GPS to Matehuala San Luis Potosi Mexico.
Regarding GPS apps. We found that using the WAZE App in Mexico was far superior to Google Maps.
WAZE never got us lost or sent us to the wrong location.
Getting To The Toll Road – Quota
When leaving the inspection area, head towards Highway 1 for a short drive to Highway 2.
Be very careful because Highway 2 is known for speed traps! It is a small two-lane road.
Highway 2 will take you outside the big busy city of Nuevo Laredo and take you directly to Highway 85D – which is a toll road (Cuota).
To tell the difference between a Calle Libre (free road) and a Cuota (Toll Road) look for the letter “D” after the number. If it has a “D” – then is it a Toll Road.
Try to use the Cuotas when they are available.
Cuotas offer a more direct route, and are continuously being repaired and repaved. I have even seen people cleaning the guard rails!
Point B – Stop for lunch in Saltillo Coahuila Mexico
Saltillo is about 2 ½ hours drive from the Colombia Solidarity International Bridge border crossing.
I suggest eating lunch at the Four Points Hotel by Sheraton in Saltillo.
It is conveniently located on Highway 40, on the right-hand side if you are driving south.
This is a pet-friendly hotel with a nice restaurant. There is a patio in the back where you can bring your dog and have lunch.
The parking lot is secure, so you can leave your luggage in the car while you eat.
If you need gas, there is a Costco gas station 5 minutes from Four Points Hotel on Highway 40.
Saltillo is one of the most industrialized areas in Mexico. It has one of the largest automotive clusters in Mexico, with plants such as Grupo Industrial Saltillo, General Motors, Fiat Automobiles, Chrysler, Daimler to name a few.
After filling up the car with gas, continue to head south to the 57D toll road towards Matehuala in the state of San Luis Potosi. About a 3-hour drive.
Point C – Spend the night in Matehuala, San Luis Potosi
In total, this town is about a 6.5-hour drive from the US border on the Pan American Highway – Toll Road 57D.
Normally folks spend the night in Matehuala and then leave the next day for their final destination.
Las Palmas Motor Hotel a perfect place to stay for the following reasons:
- Pet Friendly
- There are carports available for many of the rooms. This means you can park your car right next to your motel room door and never unload the car (if you wish).
- A safe place to stay; completely fenced in.
- Large grassy areas for dogs to walk or run around.
- The restaurant on site is decent and offers weekly specials.
- Nice pool, fairly large and clean.
- Friendly staff
Matehuala is the jumping off point to other cities in central Mexico:
- Aguascalientes
- Guanajuato and San Miguel Allende
- Guadalajara
- Querétaro
- Mexico City
I would like to suggest taking some time to visit (some not so famous) interesting places in this part of Mexico.
A really cool ghost town, an Opel Mine where you can mine your own opals, a great place to buy some wonderful cheese and wine, plus more.
All of these places are pet friendly and kid friendly too!
Read more about my pet friendly/kid friendly road trip!
Travel Resources
The GrinGO App for traveling in Mexico.
WAZE is the best app for directions and up-to-date information on accidents and where the police are. All information is supplied by other drivers. It is also a great resource to contact other drivers around you to find out why you find yourself stuck in traffic.
Another great resource is the private Facebook group called On The Road To Mexico. Even if you are not a fan of FB, this private group is well worth joining.
There are 56K+ members who can help to answer your questions real-time with up-to-date travel information all throughout Mexico.
Google Translate, as it allows you to use your phone’s camera to translate menus, signs, ads etc if you are not familiar with Spanish.
WhatsApp for free texting and internet phone calls all over the world.
Uber and DiDi for ride -share services. Very inexpensive in Mexico. Note: not all states in Mexico allow ride-share services.
As always… safe travels!
Hi Deborah,
Great information, well done.
We are crossing the Colombia Bridge in a couple of days.
Could you please tell me where you stayed State side before you crossed?
I am finding it challenging to find pet friendly lodging close to the Colombia Bridge crossing.
Thanks in advance.
Hola Rita,
There really is no place to stay near the Colombia Bridge crossing (nor would I want to).
We have stayed at these two places, which are about a 45-minute drive to the Columbia Bridge crossing:
– Hampton Inn by Hilton Laredo TX
– SureStay Hotel by Best Western Laredo TX
Both are clean and pet friendly. It all depends on how much you want to spend.
Hampton Inns by Hilton are all throughout Mexico and very pet friendly. We have stayed in a few of them.
Hope this helps! Drive safely! =8-)
Hola Deborah!
I am so glad I found you and looking forward to reading the rest of your blogs! We are planning to drive with our 13 year old dog who is now on a special diet. We are planning to bring several cans of his food with us. Do you know if too much dog food is something they have issues with when doing the car inspection? Thanks so much and thank you for your blog!
Hola Cindy! Thank you for letting me know that you found this article helpful. =8-) Fortunately, when driving into Mexico, the border agents are not concerned about dog food. Just make sure your cans of dog food are not in an unopened box. They are more concerned about you reselling it in Mexico. As long as it appears it is going to be used for personal use, you will be fine. For peace-of-mind, you could bring the receipt showing you purchased it for your dog. I highly doubt they will even ask. They will want to know how much alcohol… Read more »
Gracias, Deborah! This is such a relief to hear as it would have been so stressful to find alternate food that would be right for him and that he would actually eat. Great idea about the receipt! We are so looking forward to the trip and your articles are helping us get better prepared and excited for what’s to come! 🙂
Awwww… thanks for letting me know you find this website helpful. I do this because I want to share the knowledge. I don’t do advertising on my site because I am not in it for the money. I just want to help fellow travelers with their dogs. =8-)
Have a great time in Mexico!
Hola! I’m happy I found this resource, it is super helpful to know what to have ready for the border. I will be leaving from Michigan to Cholula Puebla in a couple weeks with my friend and my dog (all females) (I’ve been living in Cholula and my two cats are awaiting my return). I had always thought I’d cross at McAllen Texas to Reynosa, but now I’m wondering if this would be an unadvisable route? I’m looking for any information about crossing to Reynosa or Matamoros and whether those places are safe/ advisable crossings. My friend was expressing some… Read more »
Hola Sarah! I am happy you find this information helpful! Regarding crossing the border in McAllen or another route… I highly advise you to join the Facebook group “On the road in Mexico” by Bill Bell. You may or may not be a fan of FB, however this group is the best place to get real-time information about driving in Mexico. With 63k members they can advise you on which is currently the best route to take, places to be aware of, speed traps, etc… It is because of this group we successfully travel in Mexico without incidents. =8-) Buen… Read more »
Hi! I’m leaving MX by car in a couple of weeks. I am a permanent resident. I will be crossing at either Columbia or Laredo…do I need to get an FMM (like we get when we leave by air) before I cross back into the states? If so, where are these offices located (I don’t want to get into the line to cross and then realize I need this form). I usually only travel by air. Only asking about FMM (nothing to do with TIP or car stuff)…simply, do I need to stop for an FMM by land when exiting… Read more »
Hola Rich! The FMM is for tourists traveling in Mexico. Think of it like a VISA to enter Mexico. You are a permanent resident of Mexico. The question is… do you need a VISA to enter the U.S. now that you are a permanent resident of Mexico? That is a question I cannot answer. It is above my pay grade. =8-) My guess is if you are also a U.S. citizen with a U.S. passport, you will be able to enter the U.S. without obtaining a U.S. VISA. Here is a helpful site from the U.S. government that may answer… Read more »
Interesting I saw your post. Maybe you can help us. My wife and I are both Mexico Permanent Residents and need to cross the border going into Mexico. We have always flown in and out of Mexico and used the FMM when doing so. We left Mexico in 2020 to return to USA because of Covid. Have the requirements changed for Permanent Residents. We became Permanent Residents 2 days before Covid and had to leave Mexico. Covid sure was a set back for us. We have many questions in regards to crossing the border now because heading back to Mexico… Read more »
Hola Steve! Starting in the summer of 2022 much has changed in the immigration process to enter Mexico. They began phasing out the FMM cards in favor of new automated immigration kiosks. I read in Mexperience Newsletter that those who are residents should not use the kiosks. Link to the article here: https://www.mexperience.com/mexico-newsletter-march-2023/ Mexperience Newsletter does a great job of keeping expats up-to-date on the changing rules Mexico presents. They have an updated 2023 Immigration Guide that you may find helpful. BTW… we just flew into Mexico City and the flight attendants did not hand out FMM cards. We went… Read more »
Hola! I have a trip coming up from Austin to Mexico City at the end of this month(May) and all this information has put me a little more at ease. A few things I did want to ask though: Are there any gas stations between the Colombia bridge and Monterrey that you feel are safe or any that you advice to completely avoid? Has your car ever stopped working while on the road or soon after crossing? I’m hoping to have a backup plan just in case my car breaks down any where between Laredo and Monterrey. One of my… Read more »
Hola Dan! Thank you for the great questions. I suggest you get the most up-to-date answers from those who are currently traveling the route you plan on taking to CDMX. This can be found in the private Facebook group called “On The Road In Mexico”. You may not be a fan of FB, however this group is truly worth joining (at least temporarily while driving through Mexico). With regards to making sure you have help if your car breaks down… get a Mexico insurance company that offers roadside assistance with a 24-hour phone number to call. Again, this group will… Read more »
Hola! This blog has been super helpful, I’ve taken so many notes. We’re driving from NYC to Sayulita and wondering which TX crossing/route would be the best for my guy and our two big pups? We’re also trying to get the 180 traveler visa. Lastly, do you think it’s safe to have NY plates in Mexico?
Hola Alexa! I am happy you found this site helpful and you took notes! =8-) In Texas we have only used the Columbia International Bridge crossing. We like it because getting the FMM stamped and the TIP are all in one building. Very convenient. Not all border crossings are set up that way. Regarding your New York license plate… as long as you have a FRONT and back license plate you will be fine. Some states, like Arizona and Florida, do not have a front license plate and those cars will definitely be stopped (a lot) in Mexico. It’s a… Read more »
Hi would is the safest route to drive I’m a single girl with 2 dogs from Colorado to Oaxaca? Also do you know if tmobile works there? Thanks !
Hola Clarissa! We have T-Mobile and it works very well in Mexico. As for driving to Oaxaca, or anywhere in Mexico, there are certain guidelines to follow: 1. Try to stay on the Toll Roads (Cuotas) as much as possible 2. Never drive after dark so plan you trip accordingly 3. Don’t let your gas tank get below half, ever To connect with other people driving in Mexico I highly recommend joining the private Facebook group “On The Road To Mexico”. It’s a great community of people who can help you with any questions you have about being in Mexico.… Read more »
We’ve heard the Laredo area in Mexico is not safe any more, and friends have suggested we cross in Eagle Pass instead. We have a large dog, and are a little nervous about driving to San Miguel. But we’re not crazy about the alternative of putting him in Volaris cargo. Does anyone have experience, either crossing at Eagle Pass, or flying dogs on Volaris? Is there somewhere to check Volaris’ safety record for pets?
Hola Mark! From the chatter I read online (Private FB Group – On The Road To Mexico) – Eagle pass/Piedras Negras is the safest place to cross these days. I am not familiar with this border crossing, so I am not much help. Your friends can probably tell you where to get your FMM and TIP for the car. As for Volaris… in the past they had a poor maintenance record. I don’t know if they have fixed that. They are a budget airline. If it were me, I would choose Aeroméxico. They accept dogs in cargo and are a… Read more »
Buenos dias
We have received our FMM and TIP online and we are curious if this changes the process as we cross this border. Do we still go to the Aduana y Banjercito building? Or do we go direct to car inspection?
Gracias
Hola Patrick!
Great question! Thanks for posting this.
Yes, you need to get your FMM stamped. Bring your receipt, they will ask for it. Make sure the duration is correct – 180 days. Be sure to make copies once it is stamped and keep the original in a safe place.
Safe Travels!
Thanks Deborah 👍
This is great, Deborah, thanks so much for creating this new blog, you can’t imagine how that will make things easier for us!
How long did it take them to process everything at the border? (FMM, TIP, car inspection)
And at what point do they check the documentation for the dogs? Let’s say we have only proof of rabies, do you think that could create us any issues?
Oh, and are you still in Mexico? When possible, my wife and I (and the dogs, of course!) would love to meet you all one day!
Thanks again!
Hola Andre! Thank you so much for taking the time to read this blog post and comment.=8-) The amount of time for getting the FMM, TIP and car inspection was less than one hour. We spent most of that time just waiting in line. As for checking the dog’s paperwork, nobody will ask for that when you drive over the border. There is not an OISA office at the border. No one is there to inspect your pet or ask for paperwork. However, with that said, make sure you bring all the vaccine and parasite prevention documentation with you. You… Read more »