Simply - Our online system is simple and easy to use, we automated the most important system’s sections, such as the verification of your zip code and vehicle’s identification number.
Quality - All the Mexican insurance companies we represent are the most financially secure and all of the best insurance companies in the cross-border industry.
Secure - BestMex.com works under security systems SSL to keep your information secure. In case of any eventuality, our personnel with more than 10 years of experience on the tourist insurance and with a complete knowledge and experience in Mexico will help you to resolve your case.
Convenience - You could plan your trip better without going out of your home. We suggest getting your policy and permits before your trip to avoid possible problems. We could get you informed about custom permits and general information for you trip.
Economical - You could get better prices, when you don’t need an insurance assistant to create your policy because some assistance has an additional charge to generate the policy.
Mexican law says that your insurance coverage must be from a company licensed under the laws of Mexico. When you go across the border with your vehicle, you subject yourself to the traffic laws of the neighbor country. For that reason you must secure coverage from a Mexican insurance company for your trip in case you come across an eventuality.
3. Can I use my US insurance for my trip to Mexico?
No, your USA insurance company is probably licensed to sell insurance to cover vehicles inside the USA territory only. A few of them will offer coverage for a few miles beyond the border and for a limited number of days. For that reason you must get a Mexican insurance policy for your trip to Mexico.
4. Should I buy the insurance at the border or in Mexico?
We don't recommend you buy auto insurance when you arrive at the border or in Mexico for various reasons. One, if your vehicle is financed your temporary import permit might be denied (temporary import permit) if you don't show a letter from the financing company authorizing you to take the vehicle to Mexico. To get the letter of authorization from your USA financing company you need to show them your proof of insurance. Second, you won't be loosing precious time from your vacations to buy insurance
The system will show various options of companies depending on limits and vehicle’s type that you quote. The biggest and prestigious Mexican insurance companies are:
AXA Seguros AIG México ACE Seguros GNP – Grupo Nacional Provincial Zurich Mapfre Tepeyac Quálitas
The cost is calculated taking into consideration the number of days of coverage, cost and type of vehicle and other details and they differ by provider. However, remember that depending on how long your trip is, it might cost you less to buy six months or one year instead of a daily policy. In any case the BestMex.com system, with at least six different providers, will show you all quotes available showing the difference in cost and tailored to your situation.
Note: The BestMex system doesn’t ask for any ID to prove that the user is 21 years old, however, by asking for a quote the user declares that he/she is 21 years old. If the driver is younger than 21 years he/she will have to contact the personnel of BestMex.com to create the adequate policy. Click here to Contact Us.
7. Is my credit card information secure in your site?
Yes, absolutely! The BestMex.com site provides SSL security - all transactions on the site are secure. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology is the industry-standard protocol for secure, on-line communications.
Liability is the legal minimum coverage required to cover your civil responsibility in case of an accident. Liability coverage includes indemnity for property damage and personal injury for people different from those riding in your vehicle. Liability only does not cover injuries or property losses of people traveling in the insured vehicle.
9. What is covered on a Mexican auto insurance policy?
To see the limits, go to the help option “?” on coverages, on quote’s page.
The available coverages are:
Collision, Roll Over/Turn Over and Glass: The company pays for loss to the insured car, for all damages in excess of a deductible amount caused by: collision, overturning and glass. Towing expenses are covered in order to move the vehicle to a place designated for repairs by the company.
Total Theft, Fire and Natural Disasters: This insurance coverage protects your vehicle up to the value you have stated on your policy for total theft, fire, lightning, explosion and meteorological phenomenon such as windstorms, cyclones, hurricanes and earthquakes. Vandalism and partial theft are excluded, as well as theft of parts, components or accessories (unless as direct result of the total theft of the insured vehicle).
Third Party Liability - BI/PD (Bodily Injury/Property Damage) –CSL (Combined Single Limit): Coverage for all sums in which the insured becomes legally obligated to pay to third parties (not vehicle's occupants) because of bodily injury (BI) or property damage (PD), and sometimes other wrongsdoings to which an insurance policy applies.
Medical Expenses: A covered loss occurring in Mexico where the driver and/or occupants of the vehicle sustained injuries will be paid. Medical Service Assistance is provided 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and includes the following: medical referrals, within the Mexican Republic the company will provide medical referrals, and ambulance service. If it becomes necessary, the company will provide the names and phone numbers of ambulance services and arrange for their dispatch, after costs have been authorized by the insurer. This coverage is up to $2,000 for each injured occupant but for no more than $10,000 per event.
Legal Assistance: Coverage provides legal services and payments of bail bonds required in the event of a covered loss. The company will appoint, upon request, the services of professional attorneys and will pay for the procedural expenses. The services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including a toll free telephone line from Mexico for legal assistance service.
Road Side Assistance: Should your auto become disabled on the road, call the Emergency Service Line, a service vehicle will be dispatched from an authorized local garage to help you. Benefits of this coverage vary depending upon the policy/company selected.
Note: Usually, vehicles valued under $3,000 or above $80,000; or over 15 years old, are not eligible for full coverage, depending on the Mexican Insurance companies these rules could vary. Motorcycles are not eligible for medical expenses.
*For complete definitions of coverage and exclusions, please refer to the General Conditions information that will be issued with your policy depending on the Mexican Insurance company. (Note: Some insurers do not offer the RoadSide Assistance, please see detail on the quote’s page)
If you wish to cancel your policy, you have to apply in writing, by sending an e-mail stating the reason you are requesting cancellation.
Restrictions for cancellation and reimbursement:
1. The only cancelable policies are those which coverage time is still in effect. 2. After the effective date it’s not possible to cancel policies that have been purchased with the option of 6 months or 1 year (non-refundable)
Penalties for cancellations:
1. The amount indicated on your policy as “Policy Fee”, is not cancelable, it is considered an unavoidable penalty. 2. If the application for cancellation of the policy is received before the coverage time enters into effect, it is possible to return 100% of the amount indicated as “Net Premium”. Otherwise the premium that can be cancelled will be calculated after applying the cancellation rules. 3. It must be taken into consideration that the tourist policies generally have a discount depending on the number of covered days selected. For that reason, if the policy has already started its coverage period, the cost of the “Net Premium” must be recalculated to find out how much is the new cost of the “Net Premium” to pay for covered days and how much is the new amount of the “Net Premium” left to return upon cancellation.
Example for cancellation of a policy purchased with the Daily Option:
Example of a cancellation policy that was purchased with the daily option for 365 days, when the cancellation is requested at half the covered time - 182 days (Note: Policies purchased with the option of 6 months or 1 year non-refundable, do not apply for this example of refund)
Cost of the Net Premium in a policy covering 365 days = $240.00 Cost of the Net Premium in a policy covering 182 days = $180.00 Amount to be returned for cancellation at 182 days in a policy that was original purchase for 365 days, the difference between the to amounts above is = $60.00
The policy will pay all events during the policy’s effective days caused by collision, total theft as well as third party liability, medical expenses and legal assistance, as long as the deductible(s) are paid for each event.
The coverage for roadside assistance will vary depending on the Insurance Company. Depending on the Insurance Company that you selected the number of covered events for road side assistance will vary from 1 to 3 events per policy. If you purchase a short term policy (not annual policy) you could be covered for just one event; or if you purchase an annual policy, you may be covered for 2 or 3 events during policy’s effective days.
13. How much liability insurance I need in my trip to Mexico?
The liability limits required in Mexico differ by Mexican states. Also, some states may allow the judge set the damages in a case depending on the circumstances. Comparing cases in Mexico and USA one can conclude than in general Mexican liability limits are usually lower than those required in the USA. We recommend that you buy a minimum liability of $50,000. If you have creditors for you vehicle debt, you should consult your creditors about which coverages and limits you should buy for a Mexican policy.
Some rental companies will let you take a car from USA into Mexico. Check with your car rental company of choice.
Remember to get your policy online with BestMex.com instead of buying expensive insurance with the rental car company.
16. Do I need to insure the trailer, boat, or another vehicle towed with my main insured vehicle?
You can choose to insure other vehicles or additional units you are pulling or carrying by the main vehicle to be covered by insurance. BestMex.com gives you the option to insure on the same policy other vehicles that are pulled in case you plan to drive them or additional units while been pulled/carried by the main vehicle.
No. But you must name in the policy the primary driver, and the title holder or the owner of the vehicle. The system will request both names.
Note: If the owner or title holder is not riding with you, carry a letter signed by the owner authorizing you to drive the vehicle to Mexico (If the owner of the vehicle is a company, you could register the company’s name where the system is asking for the names of additional insured drivers)
18. What are some important things to know before my trip?
TEMPORARY IMPORT FOR VEHICLES to Mexico:
In order to introduce an automobile with license plates different to those of Mexico, it is necessary to have a provisional importation permit or license. The permit can be obtained at any branch of BANJERCITO
Make sure your registration and driver's license are valid. Your vehicle can be impounded if these are not current. Purchase Mexican insurance. Make two copies of your Mexican insurance certificate; one to keep on your person and one to keep in the vehicle. Make a copy of your vehicle registration and keep the copy in your vehicle and the original on your person. In case the vehicle is stolen, it will facilitate proving ownership.
Driving & Safety Tips:
Traffic violation laws vary from state to state. Speed limits are stated in kilometers (1 mile = 1.6 kilometers). Yellow lights are a signal to stop, not just to slow down. You can get a fine for taking a right turn on a red traffic light although you will see many drivers doing it anyway. In many cases, the "fast lane" is a passing lane only. You should move over into the slow lane once you pass someone. Lanes can merge much quicker (with not much time to merge). Construction sights can come upon you suddenly with little warning. Using a cell phone while driving is a traffic violation. Watch for cross walks, in many areas pedestrians have the right-of-way. Driving boundaries or "comfort zones" are smaller, people will drive closer. Keep your distance from the vehicle in front of you as many times the brake lights do not work. Vigilance of the roads is necessary to avoid animals, people, and other obstacles. It is wise to avoid driving at night.
Crossing the Border:
Before you cross the border, be aware of the signs telling you where the declaration lanes are if you need to declare anything to the Mexican customs officials. If you need a vehicle permit or a tourist card, you may drive thru this lane as well, park, and obtain those documents.
If you don't need to declare anything, you may cross in any lane that says "Nothing to Declare" (Nada que Declarar). But this doesn't mean that you won't be questioned or searched by customs officials. When you cross, you will see a traffic light with a red and a green light. Red means you have been selected for secondary inspection and green means continue on your way unless an official tells you otherwise. If you are selected for secondary inspection, you must pull over into the customs facility. There, they will conduct for the most part, a quick search unless they find something that should have been declared. Usually they check the trunk and take a glance inside the vehicle.
Toll Roads and the Green Angels:
The green angels are mechanics who patrol the Mexican toll roads in green trucks to offer free assistance in case of a breakdown (labor and towing are free, but to replace a part would be the car owner’s expense). In addition, they are equipped to give tourist information as they are connected to government offices via a network. Although their services are free, tips are appreciated. Take notice of the emergency signs along the road with phone numbers. If your vehicle breaks down, pull over to the side of the road and lift the hood to signal them. Call one of those numbers depending upon which toll road you are on and the green angels are on their way to help. The extensive network of toll roads is country wide. To view a map of the routes that are patrolled by the green angels, go to this link. (Spanish only)
Military Checkpoints:
Military checkpoints are set up along certain roads and highways. As you approach the checkpoint you will see several young men dressed in army green uniforms with guns. Some tourists do get nervous at this sight, but their purpose is to find drugs and imported items being transported illegally. At some checkpoints you may even see a sign posted by the government for tourists so they feel more secure about the process. Be sure to slow down or stop if you are asked to. They may ask you a couple of questions (although not in English) to find out where you are coming from (¿De dónde vienen?) and where you are going (¿Adónde van?). They may do a routine check of your vehicle. Cooperation is the key for a smooth exit.
Purchase your Mexican auto insurance policy from BestMex.com. Take with you your photos ID’s. Take your vehicle registration. Fill up the gas tank. Check the tires. Change your dollars to pesos. Bring the directions of your destination and/or a map with you. Take more than one copy of your Mexican insurance policy.
No problem, if you entered your email address and a password into the BestMex.com system you will be able to log in, at any time and have access to "My Account" where you can see your purchasing history and reprint copies of your policy. It is a good idea to take more than one copy with you.
On the policy you will find the numbers to call if you get into an accident or if your vehicle is stolen. It is a good idea to print more than one copy of the policy and carry one with you. The insurance company will send an adjuster to take a report. Also, as soon as possible report the theft to the Mexican authorities and to the authorities at home.
You may face temporary incarceration if there are serious injuries or deaths in the accident. The Mexican law says that all involved in an accident must be detained while an investigation takes place. A bond will be required to let you go while the investigation takes place. Our legal assistance included with all our policies include bond and attorneys to assist you when the situation is covered under the general conditions of the policy.
23. Where do I call in case of an accident in Mexico?
There is a toll free number on the policy where you should call if you get into an accident or if your vehicle is stolen. It is a good idea to carry the policy with you. The insurance company will send an adjuster to take a report. Also, it is important that as soon as possible you call the authorities that will also take a report.
As soon as you can after an accident call the toll free number on the declaration page of your policy BEFORE you get out of Mexico. If you wait until you get back home to report an accident you will probably lose your coverage. The insurance company will send an adjuster to take a report. Also, as soon as possible make a report to the Mexican authorities. If you need to follow up on a claim from the USA you can also get in contact with our main office located in Texas, USA. Contact Us
The intention of the information here is to give travelers a general idea as a service to our clients and visitors; we gathered the information from various sources. BestMex.com and/or MXGA, Inc. assumes no liability for any reliance on the information provided here or general information on any other part of this site. The information is in no way legal advice or guarantee of totally accurate information neither describe any situation in particular. Always seek legal counsel for specifics, consult more than one source of information and review the general terms and conditions of the insurance policy thoroughly.
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