So I entered Mexico yesterday through Agua Prieta. This is my first time driving into another country and I plan on continuing this road trip all the way down to Nicaragua. So when I arrived at the border checkpoint, passport and dog health certifications in hand and ready to go, I was surprised to find that I cruised right through without anyone so much as stopping me or asking any questions. Now I've been pulled over three times today (I made it as far as Durango) and lost a healthy chunk of change to avoid "jail time" because I don't have a visitors/drivers permit. Of course they waved me on each time, but I feel like I can't go forward securely without this, much less get into Guatemala.

What do I do?? I'm basically in the middle of the country now so it would really suck to have to turn all the way around back to the border and start again (at least two days and a lot of money). Is there anywhere I can go to in Durango to purchase this permit? Will I be able to talk my way into Guatemala without a Mexican stamp on my passport? Do I turn around? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

See: http://www.travel.state.gov/content/...ry/mexico.html - Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements

Did you read this before deciding to drive through Mexico?

http://travel.state.gov/content/pass...l-warning.html

It has been a while since we have driven into Mexico from Central America, but if I remember correctly, you are allowed free passage into the frontier zone, but once you are past that zone, you must have a personal tourist permit (which had to be paid before leaving the country), a permit for the car which included a sticker to place on the windshield, and a valid credit card which guarantees that the car will leave Mexico. When leaving the country (or returning to Central America in my case), we stopped at the same checkpoint and returned the car documents.

So I think, yes, you do need to go back and get the proper documents to start again. Pay now or really pay later.

See you in Guatemala?

Couple of things.
First, you're extremely lucky that you only had to pay mordidas instead of having your car confiscated. Which they would certainly be within their rights to do.
So, one step you need to take is go to/call the local hacienda office and see if you can get safe return back to the border. If so, that gives you like 5 working days to go the border and get your permit. I suppose it's within the realm of possibility that you could go to the Banjercito module near the Guatemala border. You may need an appointment and the letter they give you takes about a day to get. So, a couple trips. I doubt they can give you the permit.
http://www.sat.gob.mx/contacto/Pagin...o_modulos.aspx
Second, make a trip or call the local immigration office. Generally, they are helpful, but sometimes it depends on the agent you get. They close at 1 PM. Hopefully, they'll give you an FMM with maybe a small fine? I'd probably try to get the FMM before you go to hacienda.
http://www.expat-management.at/_TCgi...n%20Mexico.pdf
Good luck and I hope your Spanish is up to snuff. Let us know how it turns out.

Forgot to add that it's easy to NOT stop at some border crossings for the uninitiated. They used to have immigration/aduana checkpoints at the 21 KM marker, but to the best of my knowledge those are now gone. So it's incumbent on the traveler to seek them out right at the border instead of just driving on into Mexico.

Well, never mind what I said about going to hacienda in Durango. Apparently, this can now only happen (safe return) through Mexico City, according to this:
http://yucalandia.com/driving-in-mex...car-in-mexico/
I got it done locally a couple years back but stuff changes.

Please let us know what happens!