Many people are unaware that when purchasing insurance for Mexico, there are two different types: northbound and southbound insurance. This has a lot to do with border crossing and which portions of the policy will apply to crossing the border coming into the U.S. and going into Mexico.

Industry experts don’t recommend that travelers purchase insurance at the border. After all, your import permit may be denied if you are financing your car, particularly if you don’t have a letter from your finance company. Second, you will waste a great deal of time purchasing insurance at the border versus taking care of it before arriving in Mexico.

Insurance for Mexico is based on the amount of time you plan to spend in the country. Companies will grant policies for a certain amount of days, weeks, or months depending on the need of the consumer.

In general, Northbound insurance will cover Liability and Medical Expenses in the USA and Canada. With Southbound insurance on the other hand, you normally have multiple options, offering varying degrees of coverage. We strongly recommend that you choose the option that covers Physical Damage, especially if your vehicle is financed and you are still making payments on it.

• Option 1: Vehicle Property Damages, Vehicle Total Theft, Liability, Medical Expenses, Legal Assistance and Roadside Assistance.
• Option 2: Liability, Medical Expenses, Legal Assistance and Roadside Assistance.

A reputable insurance company will tell you everything you need to know about traveling into Mexico by car.

Gathering all of this information before your trip is an essential part of your travel preparations. The last thing you want is to get to the border and be surprised by any insurance requirements, especially if you don’t meet them. To avoid having this happen to you, find a reputable insurance company ahead of time and invest in a policy. Your insurance for Mexico ensures your policy falls within the realms of Mexican law and covers you and your vehicle in the event of an incident while you are visiting the country.