Understanding the Importance of License Plate Replacement
License plate replacement is a mandatory procedure that takes place every five years, with the primary objective of maintaining updated car registrations and ensuring road safety.
Why is Replacement Important?
Replacement is not just a collection procedure, but it serves several key purposes:
- Maintaining updated control of the car fleet helps authorities better identify each owner.
- The plates allow better control of vehicles and make it easier to identify the perpetrator of a crime or accident.
- Having updated license plates ensures that the car complies with safety regulations.
Who Needs to Replace Their License Plates?
Two groups of people need to replace their license plates:
- Owners of vehicles with plates issued in 2020: This group must renew them in 2025, since the 5 years have passed.
- Drivers with expired license plates: Although the period to renew license plates issued in 2019 and previous years passed in 2024, owners who do not comply with this deadline will also do so as soon as possible (to avoid fines).
Consequences of Not Performing the Replacement
Failure to comply with the replacement can have many penalties and problems, including:
- Fines: Sanctions can reach up to 20 Measurement and Update Units equivalent to more than 2,000 pesos.
- Vehicle removal: If necessary, it may involve the removal of the car.
- Impossibility of carrying out other procedures: Vehicles with “expired” plates will not be able to complete the verification, an essential requirement to circulate without restrictions.
- Loss of tax benefits: Those who do not comply with this will lose the right to benefits such as remission of vehicle ownership.
Steps to Carry Out the Replacement
The procedure can be done either in person or online. These are the basic steps:
- Check the information: Go to the portal of the Ministry of Finance of the State of Mexico to see requirements, prices and deadlines.
- Gather the necessary documentation: Gather all the necessary documents.
- Choose the procedure modality:
- On-line: Complete the form with your vehicle information, make the corresponding payment and schedule an appointment to pick up the license plate.
- In person: Go to a citizen service module with the documents and complete the process directly.
- Pick up your new plates: Present proof of payment and requested documents where requested.
Vehicle Verification After Replacement
Once you have your plates, you have a period of 60 calendar days to do vehicle verification. Remember, if you do not comply with this, you can be fined up to 20 UMAs, equivalent to more than 2,000 pesos.