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Mexico Auto Insurance Coverage


What is Mexico auto insurance coverage?

When you drive your car, pick-up truck, SUV, motorcycle or RV south of the border, your domestic auto insurance is not legal evidence of insurance. In the Mexican republic, you need Mexico auto insurance coverage provided by an authorized Mexican insurance company. Below are the coverages you can expect to find on a Mexican auto insurance policy. Some will be familiar, and others are unique to the Mexican insurance experience.

The basic Mexico auto insurance coverage

These basic Mexico auto insurance coverages. Many will be similar to your US auto insurance:

  • Liability Insurance

    Coverage for property damage and injuries to others

    Liability insurance is the foundation of your Mexican auto insurance policy. Liability insurance is an important coverage and is typically mandated by Mexican law or regulation. It’s designed to protect you, your family, or those you list as insured on your policy from financial distress when you’re liable for the result of a car accident in Mexico. This coverage will also provide your bail bonds coverage as needed by the disposition of your accident with Mexican authorities.

    Bodily injury liability: This coverage is for medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses caused if you hit someone and they’re injured.

    Property damage liability: This coverage is to pay for damages to another person’s vehicle or other property.

    Example*: You run a stop sign and accidentally hit a vehicle in the intersection. You damage the other person’s car and injure the driver. Liability will cover the driver’s injuries and the cost to repair or replace the other party’s car. It will also pay any legal fees or bail bonds that may become required.

  • Physical Damage

    This coverage will include your collision and comprehensive coverage

    Comprehensive coverage provides protection for your car if there is a fire, theft, vandalism, animal strike, broken glass, or weather. This coverage normally has a deductible that is selected by you when you buy your Mexico auto insurance coverage. The deductible will apply simultaneously when your insurance company pays.

    If your car is damaged during an accident with another vehicle or object, Collision coverage pays to repair or replace your vehicle.  Collision covers you regardless of fault. Like comprehensive coverage, this coverage also includes a deductible that you select and is applied toward the cost of repairs.

    Note: this coverage will apply up to the selected value or limit in value on the policy.

    Collision example: You underestimate a turn and you veer off the road into a tree. The incident causes $5,000 in damage to your vehicle. Your deductible is $500, so you would pay the first $500 and your insurance company would pay $4,500.

    Comprehensive example: Your car is outside during a hail storm and there is some minor dimple damage to the roof, hood, and trunk lid. The damage amounts to $3,000. Your deductible is $500. You would pay $500 and your insurance company will pay $2,500.

  • Medical Payments

    Coverage for injuries to you or your passengers

    When you have this coverage, the insurance company will pay the medical expenses incurred – in Mexico – within the first 30 days from the date of a covered accident when occupying or driving an insured vehicle.

    Example*: While driving to the store with a friend in your passenger seat, you are hit by another driver. Both of you suffer minor injuries. Medical payments will cover both of your medical expenses up to the limit on the policy. A deductible may apply.

  • Towing and Labor

    Coverage to move your disabled vehicle

    If you have this coverage, the insurance company will pay the cost to tow your car to a repair facility and any labor and transportation expenses necessary if the disablement is the result of a covered accident involving the insured vehicle. The amount the insurance company pays is subject to the limit shown on the policy.

The “Plus” Package coverages

With some policies, this coverage is added automatically. With others, you may have to add coverage or purchase a separate travel policy. With IronPoint, if you quote and buy online, these coverages are added automatically to the Mas Plus package:

  • Emergency Roadside Assistance

    When you have this coverage your insurance carrier will pay for or reimburse you for the following services:

    • Fuel delivery
    • Flat repair or service
    • Jump starts
    • Towing services 

    Example: When driving in Mexico, you discover your batter has gone dead. You call the insurance carrier and they pay for a service provider to provide you a jump start.

  • Emergency Medical Expense

    If there is a covered accident or medical emergency during your Mexico auto insurance policy term, you can get coverage for certain medical services rendered in Mexico. This is subject to the limit and any deductible described on your policy.

  • Emergency Transportation

    If you have a covered accident or medical emergency during the policy term, the insurance company will organize and pay for the necessary transportation expenses for medical treatment for you. At the recommendation of a treating physician, this may include transportation to the nearest hospital in the United States.

  • Accidental Death

    If there is a death of travelers over eighteen (18) years of age, within 90 days of a covered accident, and as a result of that accident, where an insured person on the policy is involved. The insurance company will pay the limits shown on your declarations page. Typically this is paid to the beneficiary on the policy.

  • Funeral Expense

    If there is a death within 90 days of a covered accident involving a car on the policy, the insurance company will reimburse the funeral expense for a traveler listed on the policy who is under 18 years of age if their death is the result of the covered accident. The reimbursement amount is subject to the limits of the policy.

  • Repatriation of Remains

    If there is death from a covered accident or within 90-days of a covered accident, the insurance company will pay for the expenses to transport the mortal remains of travelers, including expenses for medical certificates, embalmments, coffins, cremations, permits, and legal filings, when the death involved an insured vehicle.

Claims for Mexico auto insurance coverage

When you have an accident in Mexico is your duty and obligation to report the accident to the Insurance Company and to the Mexican Authorities immediately. This must be done in Mexico before returning to the US.

  • Failure to report a claim in Mexico will result in the denial of your claim. You may try to prove to your insurance company that the accident occurred in Mexico, but there were extraordinary circumstances to prevented you from filing the claim in Mexico.
  • Liability and Medical Payment claims are typically handled by claims adjusters located in Mexico.
  • If, after reporting the claim in Mexico, the insured vehicle is allowed to return to the US. It may be repaired there and a US adjuster will be assigned to handle the claim.
  • With some companies, repairs in the US are permitted, however, they are subject to usual and customary labor rates for US cities along the Mexican Border. There may be specified rates on your application or declarations page that control the rate allowed.

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