Margaret Schroeder May 12, 2010:

The tarjeta de circulación is just the vehicle registration, not a city permit, and not a driver's license.

If your car license is from another state, you can drive freely anywhere in Mexico, including in the DF. Similarly, if your car is licensed in DF, you can drive freely anywhere in Mexico.

The DF in Mexico is basically analogous to the District of Columbia in the US. Analogously, if your US car has a DC license, you can drive anywhere in the US. If you have an out-of-state license, you can drive freely in DC and any other state.

The chip thing is new, as your text implies; until now we just had our tarjeta de circulación in the form of a registration card and license plates.

Henry Hinds May 12, 2010:

Reemplacar Means getting new license plates, they are changed every so often, usually 2 years. There is also "canje de placas" where the old plates are exchanged for the new ones.

Elizabeth Nenque (asker) May 12, 2010:

Tarjeta de Circulación con chip Final clarifying questions:

Here is another article discussing the tarjeta de circulación con chip:
http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/679403.html

Both articles discuss a "Tarjeta de circulación con chip" in DF.

So, as I understand it, vehicle registrations are common across the country, but vehicle registration in the form of a card is only issued in DF (as far as we know). What is new about this card is that it will now carry a chip which will also track information. And for any citizen visiting the DF, the normal vehicle registration is sufficient for driving in the DF? Does that sound right? (Are the vehicle registrations for everyone else in paper form, then?)

Finally, what is the difference between the "tarjeta de circulación con chip" and "reemplacar"? or better said, what does it mean to "reemplacar"?

Thanks for your patience everyone and for helping me understand these nuances.

Margaret Schroeder May 12, 2010:

@Elizabeth: just a vehicle registration, not a city permit or a driver's license.

Elizabeth Nenque (asker) May 12, 2010:

Drivers license vs Vehicle Registration Yes, so in the US we have a card which is a photo identification card and a license to drive (authorization to drive a vehicle). It is always carried on our person.

We also have a registration of the vehicle which is usually renewed every year. Vehicle registration is usually made with the State and is in paper form and is kept with the vehicle. The registration contains the VIN, owner, license plate, and so on.

Some cities like Chicago have a permission to drive within the city. I am not too familiar with city driver's permits. I don't think they are very common in the US.

Given these distinctions is the "Tarjeta de Circulación" like a vehicle registration? It sounds as though it may be a combination of the registration and the city permit.

David Hollywood May 12, 2010:

is it ok to drive with just the card?

Margaret Schroeder May 12, 2010:

In DF (where Elizabeth's text is from) it's a card which confirms that the vehicle is licensed. So it's both a card and a license.

David Hollywood May 12, 2010:

at least that's the way it is in Argentina .. you have a driver's license ("registro") and a vehicle registration card ("cédula verde")

David Hollywood May 12, 2010:

my only doubt is that it's not really a license ... it's a card