Customs Coordination for Heavy Equipment Going to Mexico
Moving machinery across an international border requires customs planning alongside transportation. Dobie coordinates the logistics surrounding each stage of the move.
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We got your request. To deliver your real quote — legalization included — customs law requires us to validate the VIN and title. Send us a photo of both on WhatsApp and your quote goes out today.
SEND PHOTOS ON WHATSAPP VIN ✓ · TITLE ✗With the VIN we can quote the transport right away — send us the photo. To include legalization, customs also requires the title: send that photo as soon as you have it and we deliver the full final price.
SEND VIN PHOTO NOW VIN ✗ · TITLE ✓The VIN is at the bottom corner of the windshield (driver side) or on the door-frame sticker. Send a photo of the VIN and the title on WhatsApp and your full quote — legalization included — goes out today.
SEND PHOTOS ON WHATSAPP VIN ✗ · TITLE ✗To quote with legalization included, customs requires both: the VIN (windshield or driver-side door sticker) and the title (your ownership document). Send a photo of each and we quote the same day.
SEND PHOTOS ON WHATSAPP NO VEHICLE YET · NURTURINGYou don't have the vehicle yet — that's the best time to plan. We'll send you typical costs for your route, the customs document checklist (VIN + title) and auction buying tips. Once you have it, your quote goes out the same day.
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Machinery imports are filed by an authorized Mexican customs broker: classification, value documentation, duties and the pedimento. Dobie does not replace the broker — it coordinates the transportation around the broker’s stages so the machine, the paperwork and the carriers hit the border in the same window.
Last reviewed: August 2026 · Reviewed by: Dobie Transport Cross-Border Logistics Team
Classification Sets the Cost
Every machine imports under a tariff classification that determines duties and requirements. Excavators, tractors and industrial equipment classify differently, and used equipment carries its own considerations. The broker determines classification from the specs and invoice — which is why accurate equipment identification is collected first.
The Filing and the Pedimento
The broker files the import, duties and taxes are paid, and the pedimento — the legal import record — is issued. For machinery this document matters long after the crossing: resale, registration where applicable, and proof of legal entry all reference it.
Timing Transport Against Customs
The expensive failure mode is a machine sitting at the border while paperwork is negotiated. Dobie sequences it the other way: the packet is broker-ready before the U.S. haul begins, the filing progresses while the machine travels, and the crossing is scheduled against a cleared import — not a hopeful one.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are the import duties on machinery?
They depend on classification, value and trade-agreement origin — USMCA-origin equipment often enjoys preferential treatment. The broker calculates the exact figure; your specialist walks you through the expected structure before booking.
Can Dobie recommend a customs broker?
We coordinate with established brokers on these lanes constantly and can connect the parties — the filing is theirs, the logistics are ours, and the two run as one plan.
What if customs flags the shipment?
Reviews happen; complete and consistent documentation is what resolves them quickly. It is another reason the packet is verified before the machine ever leaves the seller’s yard.
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