Mexican Auto Insurance

[BajaGringo]

Without actually seeing your policy paperwork and not having participated in the actual purchase of the policy it is difficult to know. The bottom line is that the insured amount is the maximum they will cover on a covered claim. If the adjuster decides it is actually worth less, than the lesser amount will be paid out.

Originally Posted by mexliving

i am a bit confused... my insurance policy is through mapfre... and so was the students that rolled their honda suv.

on the paperwork, there was a space that had the value placed at 9,000 dollars.

on my insurance i told the clerk my value was 25,000 dollars.... this is separtate from the other amounts listed on the coverages from the insurance company.

so with the students, the adjuster came out to the tow yard and after checking the insurance coverage and car/truck value listed at 9,000 u.s. he told them they would get by mail -9% of the 9,000 dollars...

[jubilado]

i bought MX car insurance thru CSAA before i left northern CA; it was a service they provided but NOT AAA insurance; was cheaper for 6 months than for 2 months. it was nice to have it handled and not have to deal w/stopping in Nogales; price was the same.

[RVGRINGO]

Welcome, jubilado. Glad to see you here.

[G.Bledsoe]

Originally Posted by jubilado

i bought MX car insurance thru CSAA before i left northern CA; it was a service they provided but NOT AAA insurance; was cheaper for 6 months than for 2 months. it was nice to have it handled and not have to deal w/stopping in Nogales; price was the same.

The best insurance service for Mexico is provided by a company called Bajabound in San Diego. You can buy it on line, before you leave for Mexico, even on older cars. They allow you to select from four or five major companies, most are backed by US companies, and the level of coverage you want. It's easy. Click on this link:

Baja Bound Mexican Insurance Services - Mexico Auto Insurance Online

In this way, you do not have to deal with an agent, who might be pushing one company or another.

We use Bajabound.com for our trips and convoys down to Mexico for racing. In some cases, it is cheaper to buy insurance for six month or a year than for several separate trips, so I have both US and Mexican insurance year-round on my Suburban.

[mexliving]

you dont have to stop in nogales, you can call them and do everything by phone and e-mail.....

[HolyMole]

Just a reminder for residents of British Columbia:
You are entitled to a refund of your ICBC car insurance premium for the entire period your vehicle is out of Canada/USA....i.e. in Mexico. You just have to apply for the refund at any ICBC office, providing documentation to show the dates you entered and exited Mexico. I always ask Mexican Immigration to stamp my passport for both entry and exit, as well as keeping a copy of the receipt you get from Mexican Customs for the vehicle when you leave Mexico, which shows entry and exit dates.
In my case, the refund for the 6 months we spend in Mexico more than covers the cost of the Mexican car insurance policy.

[G.Bledsoe]

Originally Posted by HolyMole

Just a reminder for residents of British Columbia:
You are entitled to a refund of your ICBC car insurance premium for the entire period your vehicle is out of Canada/USA....i.e. in Mexico. You just have to apply for the refund at any ICBC office, providing documentation to show the dates you entered and exited Mexico. I always ask Mexican Immigration to stamp my passport for both entry and exit, as well as keeping a copy of the receipt you get from Mexican Customs for the vehicle when you leave Mexico, which shows entry and exit dates.
In my case, the refund for the 6 months we spend in Mexico more than covers the cost of the Mexican car insurance policy.

That raises another issue. If you are traveling on a FM-T visa, always have it canceled by Migracion when you leave the country, if it will expire before you plan to return to Mexico. Some border stations are charging $5 for each day it has expired, when you try to re-enter the country.

[RVGRINGO]

I have always understood the FMT to be a 'single entry' document. If you leave Mexico, it becomes void. Simply get a new one whenever you return.

[G.Bledsoe]

Originally Posted by RVGRINGO

I have always understood the FMT to be a 'single entry' document. If you leave Mexico, it becomes void. Simply get a new one whenever you return.

Coming in by car and by air are different. If you come in by car, you can use a FM-T to cross the border as many times as you will during the term of the visa. You also need to go into a bank and pay the $22 fee somewhere along the way.

But if you come in by air, the FM-T is good only one time. You can extend it, but everytime you fly into Mexico, you need a new one, even if you came in by car earlier and have one that has not expired.

My main point is, when you leave the country by car, you should stop at the Migracion office at the border and turn in the visa -- assuming you've paid the $22 -- and have the stamp in your passport canceled. Otherwise, the next time you try to enter the country by car, they will try to collect $5 for every day the uncanceled visa has expired.

[mexliving]

i was told to go to the SAT office to get a document giving you 4 days to exit the country with your vehicle...... i was also told there is no fee for that document... simply to have it while driving out...