Packing list for your first border pickup

Published April 18, 2026 · MyPackages

The first time you drive up to the US to pick up packages, you will almost certainly forget at least two of these things. Every item on this list comes from a real customer story ending in "...and that's why I never forget to bring ___ anymore." Print this, or screenshot it, before your first trip.

Paperwork (don't leave without this)

• Photo ID — passport or passport card. Enhanced DL works for returning to the US; passport is safer in both directions.
• Vehicle registration — especially if your car is registered in one country and you live in the other. Mexican officials occasionally ask.
• Mexican auto insurance — if you're driving a US-plated car into Mexico, your US insurance likely doesn't cover you south of the line. Print or have the PDF ready.
• Printed invoices/receipts for anything you're picking up. Amazon order summary, Best Buy receipt, whatever. Originals preferred.
• Your MyPackages notification or suite number so our staff can find your parcels instantly.

Securing the load

• Ratchet straps or tie-down straps — at least 2, ideally 4. The cheap $15 Harbor Freight set is fine for occasional use.
• Soft straps/edge protectors — critical if you're strapping down anything with a glossy or painted finish (a TV box, a grill, a piece of furniture). A bare ratchet strap will cut into cardboard.
• A tarp — cheap, folds small, and saves your load if rain hits unexpectedly. Baja gets surprise rain more than you think.
• Rope / paracord — for unexpected situations where a strap doesn't quite work.
• A bungee cord or two — for keeping the tailgate or hatch from slamming on oversize items.

Tools

• Box cutter or utility knife — for opening boxes at the warehouse if you need to verify contents before the drive.
• Phone charger and car adapter — the CBP Wait Times app, Google Maps, and your confirmation email are on your phone.
• Gloves — gardening gloves are enough; heavy boxes on hot parking lots eat up your palms.
• A few trash bags — for extra packaging you don't want to haul home, or to protect items from dirt.
• Permanent marker — useful if you're consolidating multiple boxes or need to mark up a declaration.

Cash and cards

• $40–80 USD in cash — for tolls on the cuota road, any "paquetazos" (small opportunistic fees) on the MX side, parking, a food stop, and — if you end up declaring — the pago simplificado window often prefers cash.
• Some MXN pesos — tolls take both, but pesos are simpler.
• A credit card that works internationally — not every credit card does, and many tolls and parking lots in San Diego accept only chip-and-PIN.

Comfort & contingency

• Water — the northbound wait at San Ysidro on a bad day is 2+ hours with the engine idling in the sun. Two liters per person is right.
• Snacks — not a joke; it's the difference between a normal trip and a miserable one.
• Sunscreen and sunglasses — the border lanes are exposed.
• A portable phone battery — your phone runs down fast on Google Maps + Waze + music during a long wait.
• A jacket — coastal San Diego can be surprisingly cold early or late, especially if you're loading heavy items outside.
• Paper copy of your destination address — in case your phone dies.

The "what if it doesn't fit" contingency

Measure your cargo area before you drive up. If your new item is borderline, call us before the trip — MyPackages can measure the actual box and give you exact dimensions. We've had customers drive up from Ensenada only to discover their sedan couldn't take a 65" TV box. Don't be that person — we'll hold your package free for an extra few days while you swap vehicles.

Realistic first-trip timing

• Plan for the whole thing to take longer than you expect. Budget a full morning or afternoon even from Tijuana.
• Arrive at our warehouse 30 minutes before closing at worst — loading oversize items in a rush is how things get broken.
• Check CBP Border Wait Times on your phone before heading back south (southbound waits are much shorter but still variable).
• Have a plan for where you'll pull over safely on the MX side to re-check your load before the open road.

Once you've done it twice, the list above collapses to about 8 items you keep permanently in a plastic tub in your trunk. The first trip is the hardest. Everyone who does it becomes a customer for life because the math and the convenience win so decisively.