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Don't know why not, we see them periodically in CA.

My son, who is a cop in California told me as far as the police and the law goes it would only become a problem if you don't seem to be a visitor but a resident, then it would become an issue. That wouldn't be my main concern though, Given that some people are extremely anti-Mexico and anti-immigrant a Mx.plate could cause problems.

I have a Mx. plated car and I have noted that my plate is not an obvious non-U.S. plate so it might be ok, I haven't tried it yet because of my being so far from the border. I would like to see all of the generated hate subside before I would consider it.
I definitely would avoid red states. I know people who live in T.J. and work in the U.S have U.S. plates.

Actually, about half the cars we see when we cross into the U.S. at San Ysidro are Mexico plated. I’ve lived in Southern California and Mexico since 1972 and have never seen or heard of anyone being harassed for driving a Mexico plated car in California.

I am a retired cop in CA and the CHP for years has maintained a database on out of state plates that appear to be residents of CA.  Many people along the border states with very low vehicle registration fees will register their cars out of state to a friends address to avoid CA's high fees.  CHP will enter the plate in their database and if it pops up to many times around the same location in a short period of time you will get a nastygram from CA DMV.  I'm guessing they might do the same for MX plates.  But since we can't run MX plates so can't get an address to send the letter I doubt it. 

Bottom line it's perfectly legal for what you want to do.

It's not the police I would worry about, It's the vigilante types. California wouldn't be an issue but other southern states might.
I'm sure we are all aware of the self-appointed militias at the border. It would mostly be vandalizing your car while you are not in it I suspect.  the same mentality that tried to vandalize my high-end car when I was in the U.S., with U.S. plates might also feel entitled to vandalize a Mx.plated car.

Hi to all and mainly "melrosetoo", the question was about LEGALLY driving a foreign plated car in the US.

The answer is yes BUT...the insurance aspect is important lots of Mexican insurance companies covers the vehicle based on various options. One must be aware that the "no fault" is applicable to Mexico.

SO, the main item is to make sure with your Mexican insurance company that you have total LIABILITY coverage when you travel in the US not only your vehicle damage and your passagers injuries and lost of work $$$. Claim for injury to others (not yourself or your passagers) can be very costly in the USA.

Adios y buen dia a todos, GyC.

travellight wrote:

It's not the police I would worry about, It's the vigilante types. California wouldn't be an issue but other southern states might.
I'm sure we are all aware of the self-appointed militias at the border. It would mostly be vandalizing your car while you are not in it I suspect.  the same mentality that tried to vandalize my high-end car when I was in the U.S., with U.S. plates might also feel entitled to vandalize a Mx.plated car.

LOL

Short answer... No,no problema.

We purchased a car in Mexico and have driven to Texas in many occasions. The first time we crossed the border we had all of our documents ready to show, but were never asked. We still have our documents ready but it’s a non issue. The bonus is when you drive back into Mexico- you get to sail by all the folks with foreign plates who are being stopped and checked.
I do recommend that you become familiar with your insurance policy, however. You probably only will have 28 days of coverage outside of Mexico.

I drove my 69 VW to Central California and stayed there with it till I sold it.  I was there a year, never even talked to a policeman.  Sure got some funny looks from the local M/As though.