Page at a glance
What you need to know before reading further.
A quick look at who this page is for, what it covers, and which official sources back it up.
Best for
What it helps you do
Core questions answered
- How much does the permit cost by channel?
- How does the deposit table work by model year?
- What payment-method rules create avoidable problems?
Official bodies in play
Related guides
Keep the research chain moving.
These pages cover closely related topics and are good next reads from here.
Best next steps
The most useful pages to read next based on where you are in the process.
Continue in Driving & Vehicles
More pages in the same section that go deeper on related questions.
Planning systems and printable versions
Printable guides and structured pathways that tie this topic into your wider move plan.
The answer first
If you want the cheapest permit channel, online is the lower-fee route — but only if you can satisfy the card rule.
The official SAT/Aduanas pages give the clean national framing: online processing is cheaper than border or consulate processing, but the online channel is also the strictest about payment method. So the ‘best’ option is not just the one with the lowest number. It is the one you can actually complete cleanly.
| Channel | Permit fee | Payment rule | Planning note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online | USD 45 + IVA | International credit card only, in the importer’s name. | Lower cost, but less forgiving if your payment setup is wrong. |
| Consulate | USD 51 + IVA | International credit or debit card, in the importer’s name. | Good for early planners who want the permit handled before border day. |
| Border module | USD 51 + IVA | Cash or international credit/debit card, in the importer’s name. | Most flexible in payment style, least calm in timing. |
The deposit table
The refundable deposit depends on the vehicle’s model year.
This is separate from the permit fee. Different pot of money. Different planning problem.
| Vehicle model year | Deposit (USD) | What it means for planning |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 and later | $400 | Highest deposit tier. Make sure the hold and eventual refund process will not surprise your card balance. |
| 2001–2006 | $300 | Middle deposit tier. Still very worth calendaring the refund-protection step correctly. |
| 2000 and earlier | $200 | Lowest current deposit tier. Still not something you want to donate by accident. |
Payment rules people miss
The card-name rule is not a cute suggestion.
It is one of the cleanest operational rules in the TIP stack, and one of the easiest to trip over if you are borrowing a card or assuming debit works everywhere.
The practical warning
The payment card needs to be in the importer’s name. And if you are using the online channel, the official rule is tighter still: international credit card only. Not debit. Not “my partner’s card should be fine.” Credit card, importer’s name.
Why the online route is not always best
It is cheaper, yes. But if your only workable payment method is a debit card, or the card is not in the importer’s name, the lower posted fee stops being the useful comparison.
Why border processing is not always worst
It is more expensive and more exposed to day-of-entry stress, but it gives you cash and card flexibility that the online route does not. For some drivers, that tradeoff is the real fit.
Why consular processing still appeals
Handling the permit up to six months in advance can be worth the extra few dollars if what you are really buying is calm.
A quick reality check on published fees
Use the national fee structure as your anchor, then confirm the exact operational amount with your chosen channel.
This is the kind of nuance that saves arguments later.
Why local examples still matter
The Denver/Banjercito consular page in the source pack publishes a practical fee example that does not present exactly like the simple national SAT numbers. That does not invalidate the national structure. It just proves, once again, that the operational channel deserves a final check before payment.
Best habit before you pay
Confirm the current fee, accepted payment method, and card-name rule with the channel you actually plan to use. Five minutes there can save a genuinely stupid border delay later.
The planning takeaway
- Budget for the permit fee and the deposit separately.
- Assume the deposit is only protected if the return is registered properly and on time.
- Pick the channel that fits your payment reality, not just the prettiest posted fee.
- Keep the return step in mind before you ever submit the application.
Use these next
Once the money part is clear, these are the next pages that usually matter.
Best companion pages
Sources and research basis
What this page is built on
This page uses the official SAT/Aduanas fee structure, the Denver/Banjercito channel example, and the move-logistics research that treats cost and deposit rules as one of the main execution pitfalls worth isolating clearly.