How to Pay Your Vehicle Registration

Written by Tropicasa Realty
January 29th, 2022

Our recent blog post helped explain how to pay your Puerto Vallarta property taxes online or in-person and save 15% off what is already a very affordable rate if you pay prior to the end of February. This week, we’re going to talk about another important detail to check off your 2022 to-do list: registering the license plates on your vehicle.

If you own a car in Puerto Vallarta or Riviera Nayarit, you’ll want to get your license plates (called “placas” in Spanish) registered prior to the end of March so that you’ll receive an early payment discount of 5%. Much like property taxes, the cost to register your car is very affordable and depends on the age and value of your vehicle.

There are two options for paying your plates for 2022:

ONLINE PAYMENTS

In Jalisco: https://gobiernoenlinea1.jalisco.gob.mx/vehicular/

In Nayarit: www.hacienda-nayarit.gob.mx/tenencia.php

Paying online is a great way to avoid crowds as we continue to protect the health of our community and to avoid long waiting lines. Both websites are in Spanish-language only, but simple to navigate. You will need to enter your license plate number (placa) and the serial number (número de serie) which is listed on your Tajeta de Circulación (registration card). The website will then provide your amount owning and cue you to the payment screen.

The payment screen can sometimes be a point of frustration. You can only pay with a Mexican bank or credit card (foreign cards are not accepted) and both sites have a reputation for generating several error messages before successfully processing a payment. However, you are able to print the bill generated by the website and then pay it (with cash if you only have foreign cards) at convenience stores or banks. Hold on to the receipt because it will be the legal proof required that your license plates are paid and you will need it when you visit the UNVIRSE office pick up your new Tarjeta de Circulación by the end of March. In some excellent progress, those registration cards have now been updated to include a QR code, so in future years, that information will be automatically digitally uploaded and there will be no need for the second step of going to UNVIRSE after payment.

PAYING IN PERSON

The other option is to make your payment in person at the UNVIRSE building located in Fluvial on Grandes Lagos 236. Hours of operation are Monday to Friday from 830am to 230pm. Your new Tarjeta de Circulación will be issued or updated on the spot.

If you are in Nayarit, you can do the same by visiting the tax office located at José María Morelos 2 in Bucerias.

Remember, for insurance or to sell your vehicle, it’s important to make sure your registration is up to date. Furthermore, failing to pay on time will be subject to fines. But with a little effort, it’s an easy task to accomplish.

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