If you are someone who likes to take your vacation traveling by vehicle and you are planning to go to Mexico, there is something you should keep in mind. Your regular auto insurance will not cover you in Mexico!
Many people do not realize this. There are a number of people who have traveled along many of the states bordering Mexico and thought they would simply take a sojourn across the border. But your American or Canadian automobile insurance and coverage is not valid once you cross the border into Mexico itself. If you get in an accident, even if you are not at fault, you could still be put into jail for failure to have valid liability insurance coverage for Mexico itself. And just imagine the problems you would have with the Policia if someone is injured in an accident where you don’t have any coverage! More than likely you would be arrested on the spot and I don’t think anyone wants to spend time in a Mexican jail.
Another problem can occur if you damage your vehicle, or it is lost or stolen, and you need to either replace it or repair it while in Mexico. Once again, your Canadian or American policy will likely not cover it and you will need to find some way [probably inexpensive] to get back across the border into the United States to take care of your problem. You’re much better off having insurance that will cover these types of expenses within Mexico. Good Mexican car insurance will keep you from spending a lot of time dealing with Mexican authorities in many cases.
And always get an insurance policy that can quickly and be easily renewed or expanded beyond the cut off date if you want to or need to spend a few more days in Mexico. Of course, you should always make sure your insurance extends at least a little bit of time beyond your expected stay, but you should always be prepared for the unexpected, like Montezuma’s revenge! You never know what can happen and you should always be able to call and get a quick extension if necessary.
Another important aspect in getting Mexican insurance is getting a policy with a company who will have claims officers who will take your phone call and can speak in your language. Usually these phone operators are bilingual but you have to make sure before you need to. And you will have to make sure that the claims adjusters who are sent out to visit you are bilingual as well. It can save you a lot of headaches.
Before driving into Mexico, always check with your insurance agent to see what coverage you have and what you will need. Sometimes, Americans can find they do have some coverage and they simply need to buy more. Canadians on the other hand rarely have any kind of insurance that covers them for Mexico. And quite often the Mexican authorities will only recognize auto insurance written through Mexican insurance companies. Always make sure you know exactly what you have what you need before you leave home.
