Uncertainty about the future of so-called “chocolate cars” (vehicles illegally imported from the US) is growing among owners of foreign-made vehicles in Coahuila and other parts of northern Mexico.
These cars, which originally entered the country without meeting formal import requirements, were part of a federal program that allowed them to be legalized under a simplified process. However, the legal landscape changed at the beginning of 2026, and now many owners are wondering: if I legalized my car before the program ended, can it be removed or confiscated this year?
The federal decree that allowed the legalization of “chocolate cars” definitively ended on December 31, 2025, according to federal authorities.
Since the beginning of 2026, there are no longer any active programs or available offices to legalize these cars under that scheme, and owners who still try to begin this process will not be able to do so.
This means that:
New processes under the decree are no longer possible.
The Public Vehicle Registry (Repuve) offices that handled these procedures have been closed.
Any offer to legalize unregistered vehicles (known as “chocolate cars”) through third parties or associations lacks legal standing.
However, there are important nuances depending on each owner’s situation.
For those who managed to complete the process before the decree expired, their legalized vehicle can circulate without major problems as long as:
The vehicle is correctly registered with Repuve.
All tax and documentation requirements were met before December 31, 2025.
Regular vehicle registration fees and taxes are paid.
Under these conditions, authorities cannot impound a vehicle that was already legalized under the previous system, provided its documents are in order. However:
Authorities can stop or impound vehicles that do not have current documentation or are circulating with license plates from civil associations or other invalid schemes.
Using license plates or services offered by unauthorized groups can result in your vehicle being impounded during traffic or security operations.
Driving without valid documentation can lead to fines and even vehicle immobilization.
For vehicles that were not registered before the decree expired, the legal situation has changed:
It is no longer possible to initiate a registration process under the previous program.
The only legal way to import foreign vehicles is now through formal customs import, a stricter and generally more expensive procedure.
Some recommended alternatives are:
Taking the vehicle off the road until a formal process is completed.
Exporting it back to the country of origin.
Selling it as scrap metal, subject to local regulations.
Authorities recommend avoiding scams and paying for purported legalizations, as there is no current regulation that supports these procedures outside of official channels.
Source: posta
