This coverage protects you in the event you cause injury or death to another person or damage to property of others. This is an important coverage to protect you when you are at-fault in an accident. Limits for this coverage start at USD $50,000, with higher limits available.
Driving in Mexico without Third Party Liability auto insurance is a very risky proposition. Traffic accidents in Mexico are both a criminal and civil matter. By Mexican law, uninsured drivers may be incarcerated and their vehicle may be impounded. Usually, both happen because the police come to the scene of almost all accidents in Mexico.
Several states in Mexico have enacted laws that hold at-fault drivers responsible for higher financial amounts than under federal law previously in force. Whereas minimum limits of liability insurance used to be sufficient, we recommend you consider purchasing liability limits above the basic limit of $50,000.
If you like additional security, Click here to find out about the Deluxe Policy from Grupo Nacional Provincial (GNP), Plus Package from ABA/GMAC, the VIP Package from Quálitas, the Premier Package from HDI Seguros, or the Platinum Package offered by ACE Seguros (ACE). These broadened policies increase your basic limits of liability from $50,000 Combined to $150,000 from GNP and HDI Seguros, $170,000 from ABA Seguros, $200,000 from Quálitas Compañía de Seguros, or $100,000/$300,000 for Bodily Injury Liability and $100,000 for Property Damage Liability from ACE.
Damage to your Vehicle in an Accident
This coverage includes damage to your vehicle that occurs in an accident, turnover, glass breakage, and other related coverage. It is subject to the deductible you selected. This is valuable coverage that you should not be without if your vehicle has resale value or if you have a car loan or your vehicle is leased. An explanation of how deductibles work is provided further below.
This coverage includes Total Theft of the vehicle as well certain losses caused by forces of nature, such as lightning, windstorm, flood, fire, hail, earthquake, avalanche, etc. The deductible is 5% of your vehicle's value with a minimum of $1,000 for autos and $1,500 for all other vehicle types. Note that Partial Theft and Vandalism are not covered under the basic policy. Partial Theft is covered under the Extended or upgrade Packages, subject to a $1,000 deductible.
NOTE: The ABS Seguros, Grupo Nacional Provincial, Quálitas, HDI Seguros, and ACE Extended Packages enhance this coverage. A complete copy of these enhancements is found at the bottom of this page.
Deductibles (Damage to or Theft of Your Vehicle)
The standard deductible for vehicle damage or theft in Mexico is a combination of 1.) A deductible calculated as a percentage of the vehicle value, in conjunction with 2.) A minimum deductible amount.
For private passenger automobiles, the “Collision” deductible is 2% of the vehicle value, subject to a minimum $500 and the theft deductible is 5% of the vehicle values, subject to a minimum $1,000 for Theft.
For all other vehicles types (pickups, SUVs, RVs, motorcycles, trailers, etc.) the percentages remain the same at 2% and 5% but the minimums are $1,000 for Collision and $1,500 for Theft.
Following are examples of how the percentage deductible works for two different car values in a “total loss”:
As you can see, the higher the vehicle value, the greater the deductible dollar amount.
Following is an example for a pickup, SUV, or Van valued at $25,000:
Collision: 2% of vehicle value with minimum of $1,000: $25,000 x .02 = $500. Since $500 is less than the minimum, the deductible is $1,000
Total Theft: 5% of vehicle value with a minimum of $1,500: $25,000 x .05 = $1,250. Since $1,250 is less than the minimum, the deductible is $1,500.
For an additional premium a simple “fixed” deductible option is offered, which replaces the “percentage” deductible, with the fixed amount being $500 for Collision and $1,000 for Theft, regardless of the value or type of the vehicle. This is especially valuable for vehicles over $25,000.
The Extended Package offered by ABA/GMAC, Grupo Nacional Provincial, Quálitas, HID Seguros, and ACE automatically includes the “fixed” deductible of $500 for Collision and $1,000 for Theft.
Some auto finance companies and leasing companies will not provide authorization to take a vehicle to Mexico unless you purchase the “fixed” the deductible option.
Important Note: If you insure a towed unit (trailer, motorcycles, etc.) for Collision and Theft a deductible will apply separately to the towed units.
Guaranteed Bail Bond & Legal Assistance
As mentioned earlier, a liability accident in Mexico is a criminal as well as a civil matter. By comparison, except in serious situations, traffic accidents in Canada and the USA are matters of civil law.
Legal Assistance coverage will place a Mexican attorney at your disposal in the event you need to deal with authorities following a covered accident. Unlike some Mexican companies, our companies actually provide and pay for professional legal assistance at the time you need it. Other companies are known to require their customer to pay these costs out-of-pocket and then seek reimbursement from their insurer once the matter is resolved.
There is peace of mind knowing there will be knowledgeable legal support in Mexico to provide the legal assistance you may need, paid by your insurance company.
Travel & Roadside Assistance (Includes Towing)
Travel Assistance is a great help when you need it. Are you aware of the procedures if you lose your passport? Would you like the peace of mind of knowing that towing service for your vehicle or emergency medical assistance is only a phone call away? Travel assistance can help you during these situations. Our companies are there to assist travelers when they need help the most. They will also aid you with travel information, emergency flight/rental car reservations, and emergency roadside towing and assistance. You may never need these emergency services, but if you do, your company will be there to help.
When you choose to purchase optional MexVisit Travel Assistance coverage in addition to the regular Tourist Auto policy, your coverage includes not only coverage for your vehicle from Mexico's finest insurers, but also an excellent travel assistance package. MexVisit includes Emergency Medical assistance including emergency air evacuation to your place of origin in the U.S. or Canada, Travel Assistance, and Roadside Assistance.
Click here for a detailed description.
Basic Medical Expense for Occupants
The policy will pay medical expenses of the driver and occupants of the vehicle in Mexico for injuries sustained in a covered accident. Coverage is available for limits starting at $2,000 per person up to $10,000 for all occupants combined. Increased limits to $5,000 per person and $25,000 per accident are included in the special upgrade packages discussed further below on this page.
New Coverage Options for Mexico Tourist Auto
Standard Mexico auto insurance policies do not provide coverage that is as broad as U.S. and Canadian policies. In an effort to provide our customers with coverage that is more like what they are accustomed to we have worked with our partner insurance companies in Mexico to offer enhancements to the basic Mexico tourist auto policy.
ABA Seguros, Grupo Nacional Provincial (GNP), Quálitas Compañía de Seguros, HDI Seguros, and ACE Seguros (ACE) offer optional upgrades to their basic policies. While these upgrades are not as broad as typical U.S. and Canadian policies, they provide much better protection than the basic policy. Coverage provided in these upgrades differ by company.
| Comparison of "Extended" Coverage Upgrade by Insurance Company |
Coverage Description |
ABA Seguros |
GNP |
HDI Seguros |
Quálitas |
ACE Seguros |
Partial Theft |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Vandalism |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Fixed deductible |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Waive Collision deductible if 3rd Party is at-fault and uninsured |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Limit of Third Party Liability |
$170,000 | $150,000 | $150,000 | $200,000 | $300,000 |
Medical Payments |
$15,000 person/ |
$25,000 per |
$5,000 person/ |
$25,000 per accident |
$5,000 person/ |
Medical Payments when 3rd Party is at-fault and uninsured
|
Included in |
Included in |
Included in |
Included in |
Increased to |
Legal Assistance |
Increased to |
$25,000 included |
$20,000 included |
$20,000 include |
$20,000 included |
Increased cost of labor* for vehicle repairs in U.S. or Canada |
Varies by |
Varies by |
Included in Basic policy |
Varies by vehicle type |
Varies by vehicle type |
Updated November 2011
* “Labor rates” refer to the rate per hour that body shops charge when making repairs. The rate of repair varies by company and vehicle type. Following is an example of how this can result.
A customer opted to save a little money in premium and bought a “Standard” policy rather than the Extended.
He had an accident in Mexico, made modest repairs enabling him to drive to his home in the U.S. where
the cost to repair the damage was appraised at $5,200. However, since the Standard policy only covered
what it would have cost to repair the vehicle in Mexico, the insurance company paid only $750, after
consideration for the $1,000 deductible.
If he had purchased the Extended policy the insurance company would have paid $4,700 after consideration of only a $500 deductible.
MexVisit Travel Assistance Including Emergency Medical Evacuation
MexVisit provides emergency and non-emergency services in three basic areas, as follows:
Medical Transfer, including land and air ambulance within Mexico or to the U.S. or Canada
Medical Repatriation to the U.S. or Canada
Repatriation of remains to the U.S. or Canada
Convalescence lodging expense in Mexico
Medical and Dental referral and coordination within Mexico
Travel Assistance: a partial list includes
Tourist and travel information
Emergency contact/communication and messaging
Lost/stole credit card or travelers check assistance
Translating service
Emergency money transfer (to or from the insured)
Lost passport
Emergency Roadside Assistance: a partial list includes
Out-of-gas delivery of fuel
Flat tire service
Dead battery jumpstart
Locksmith service
Parts locating and shipping
Towing
2 days rental car and hotel if your vehicle breaks down
Plane ticket home if your car is stolen and not recovered
Plane ticket home and back to Mexico if there is a long delay in repairing it from damage in an accident
Click Here for a detailed description
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This information is intended to provide an overview of the various insurance company policies. The overview does not amend or alter in any way the terms and conditions of any policy delivered. Please refer to the Policy for complete details about the limitations, exclusions, and benefits of the Policy.
Mexico Tourist Auto Policy Details
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