We're starting 2026 with a Homeowner's Checklist that will keep your Puerto Vallarta home maintenance easy, organized and budget friendly. This week, we have another important item for your 2025 to-do list: the annual registration on your vehicle's license plates in Jalisco.
If you own a car in Puerto Vallarta, you need to renew your license plates (which are called "placas" in Spanish) every year. The cost is based on the age of your vehicle and its accessed value, but it's generally an affordable fee and if you are organized, you'll qualify for a 5% discount for payments made early in 2026.
The easiest way to manage your Puerto Vallarta vehicle registration payment is to use the Jalisco government online portal, which is in Spanish but simple to navigate, and you'll find all the information you need on your existing vehicle registration card.
- Visit: https://gobiernoenlinea1.jalisco.gob.mx/serviciosVehiculares/
- Enter your license plate number (placa)
- Enter the serial number (número de serie) which is listed on your Tarjeta de Circulación (registration card)
- Enter your full name as it appears on your registration card
- Enter the motor number (número motor). If your vehicle is American made, your motor number will not be an actual number, but rather "Hecho en U.S.A"
- Your amount due will be calculated and you'll be directed to the payment or print invoice screen.
PRO TIPS
Make sure you enter "U.S.A." exactly as written, including the punctuation, in the website field.
While there is an option to pay with a credit card, you'll likely encounter error messages while trying to complete a payment. You can instead choose to print the bill from the website and then pay it within 3 days at most convenience stores or banks.
If you prefer not to use the online portal, you can also make a payment in person at the UNVIRSE building located in Fluvial on Grandes Lagos 236, from Monday to Friday, 830am to 230pm. Note that you cannot pay with a foreign credit card, so bring your Mexican bank card or pesos with you.
Keeping your registration current is mandatory for insurance, to sell your vehicle, and to avoid fines, but it's an easy thing to tick off your 2026 checklist.
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