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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions

The following is a list of frequently asked questions you may find helpful:

1. How do I receive the policy I buy on motormexico.com?
2. What information do I need to issue my policy on-line?
3. Is U.S. or Canadian insurance valid in Mexico?
4. How much does Mexican insurance cost?
5. Is it safe to pay for my insurance with a credit or debit card?
6. If I stay in Mexico longer than planned, what must I do to get coverage for the additional time?
7. I will only be in Mexico for a few hours. Do I need to buy insurance?
8. How much insurance will I need?
9. Do I have to pay a deductible if I have an accident?
10. Is the insurance provided by a reputable insurance company?
11. Does my Mexican insurance cover traffic fines in Mexico?
12. What is MexVisit?
13. How does the fixed deductible work?
14. Can I purchase a policy without expiration date, i.e., an opened ended policy?
15. Is there any problem if my driver license has expired?
16. Can I cancel my policy
17. Can I change vehicles on my policy?
18. Will an underage driver be covered by my policy?
19. I do not speak Spanish? What happens if I get involved in an accident?
20. My lien holder or leasing company needs a "Letter of Authorization" to take the vehicle to Mexico. What do I do?

1. How do I receive the policy I buy on motormexico.com?

After you receive your quote and select “buy now” for the policy you have chosen, you will complete a simple on-line application. After verifying the information is correct you will go to a final step which provides a link for you to open a file and print your policy documents, immediately.

You will also receive two emails, one confirming the purchase and the other providing information to print your policy in case you closed your browser after purchasing but before printing it.

If your computer does not have Adobe Acrobat, a link is provided for you to download Acrobat Reader at no cost.

2. What information do I need to issue my policy on-line?

You will need:

• The name of your U.S. or Canada auto insurance company
• The policy number of your U.S. or Canada auto insurance
• The expiration date of your U.S. or Canada auto insurance
• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
• License plate number
• Driver’s license number
• If you have a loan or the car is leased AND the lien holder or leasing company must give you a “Letter of Authorization” for you to take the vehicle to Mexico, you will need to add the lien holder/lessor’s name, address, and the loan number.
• A credit or debit card.

It will be convenient to have your U.S. or Canadian insurance I.D.card handy because it contains much of the information mentioned above.

3. Is U.S. or Canadian insurance valid in Mexico?

IMPORTANT: Regardless of what your U.S. or Canadian insurance company says, the Mexican government does not recognize or authorize them to extend coverage to Mexico. By Mexican law, liability coverage must be provided by an authorized Mexican insurance company. The liability coverage offered by a U.S. or Canadian insurance company is not recognized by Mexican authorities.

CONSEQUENCES: A motor vehicle accident in Mexico is both a Criminal and Civil matter. By law, if the driver can not demonstrate the ability to pay damages at the time of an accident, either in cash or with a valid Mexican insurance policy, the driver may be immediately incarcerated and the vehicle may be impounded; probably both will happen.

Some U.S. insurance companies may extend coverage for damage to your vehicle while in Mexico. Since this extension is between the insured and the U.S. insurer that is no problem under Mexican law. These extensions vary widely from one company to another. If coverage is extended into Mexico, it usually requires the policyholder to purchase coverage from a Mexican insurance company for Third Party Liability. Many companies have a restriction if you travel more than a specified number of miles south from the border. Other companies have restrictions based on the number of days the vehicle is in Mexico.

If in doubt, check with your U.S. insurance company, but remember, you must have a liability policy issued by an authorized Mexican insurer.

4. How much does Mexican insurance cost?

As in the U.S and Canada, the premium in Mexico will vary depending on your circumstances, such as the value of your vehicle, the limits of liability you chose, and the length of time you will be in Mexico. Since each case is unique, the easiest way to find out your cost is to obtain a quote. You can receive a quote in just a couple of minutes.

Get a quote and purchase your policy now!

5. Is it safe to pay for my insurance with a credit or debit card?

For security reasons, we do not retain customer credit/debit card information. That information only goes to and stays with the credit card processing company. The credit card processing company assigns a transaction number to each purchase. When communicating with the credit card processing company, we refer to the transaction number, rather than the customer’s credit/debit card number.

6. If I stay in Mexico longer than planned, what must I do to get coverage for the additional time?

If you extend your visit to Mexico, you need to purchase another policy that covers the extra period of your stay. Please remember that you can purchase your policy online anytime through this web site. All you need is Internet access and a printer.

You can easily issue a new policy from a previous policy without having to re-enter all of your information again.

Contact us if you do not know your login User Name and/or Password.

7. I will only be in Mexico for a few hours. Do I still need to buy insurance?

That depends on whether or not you have an accident. Since it is possible for you to have an accident two feet inside Mexico at the moment you cross the border, at a minimum you should have a policy covering you for Third Party Liability. You never know when you could have an accident . . . which is why it is called an “accident.” For security sake you should have a Mexico policy even if you will be in Mexico for just a few minutes. Please remember that liability coverage must be provided by a Mexican insurance company, no matter how long your stay.

For more information, please see the answer to question # 3.

8. How much insurance will I need?

On November 30, 2013 a revision to Mexican federal law significantly increased the amount of financial responsibility an at-fault person must pay in the event of death in an accident. The law affects all types of liability, including auto, watercraft, home/personal, aircraft, business, etc.

The amount of financial responsibility varies considerably among the states from as high as 7,068,800 Mexican Pesos FOR EACH PERSON YOU MAY INJURE. The equivalent in US or Canadian dollars will vary with the currency exchange rate. In mid-October 2019 this is the equivalent of US $370,000 PER PERSON INJURED in five states and the Federal District. Because of these new, much higher limits of financial responsibility we recommend that you consider purchasing the highest limit of liability offered.

9. Do I have to pay a deductible if I have an accident?

Liability, Medical Payments, Travel and Legal Assistance coverage do not have a deductible. For damage to your vehicle in an accident and for theft you will have to pay the deductible. The amount of the deductible depends on the type of policy you buy and the insurance company you buy it from.

To find out what the deductible is for the policy you are considering, simply click on the link titled “More Info” which is right underneath the cost of your policy. Following is an example of a quote result:

When you click on “More Info” a dialogue box will open which contains a detailed description of the coverage included in your quote.

10. Is the insurance provided by a reputable insurance company?

The companies we work with are among the most solid and reputable in Mexico: ABA Seguros, GNP, HDI Seguros, Quálitas, and El Águila. All have many years of experience operating in this market, and you can have confidence in their solvency. These companies, or their multi-national parent company, are all rated at least “B+“ (“Good”) by A. M. Best & Co. and most are "A-" or better ("excellent").

To learn more about our insurance companies, click here.

11. Does my Mexican insurance cover traffic fines in Mexico?

Sorry, it does not cover you for traffic violations. It is the responsibility of each driver to respect Mexico's traffic regulations.

NOTE: Coverage is specifically excluded if the driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of an accident.

NOTE: In the event of a covered accident, the insurance covers the expenses for a bail bond and legal assistance required to defend the insured. The amount of the bond depends on the type of policy and the insurance company.

To verify what coverage is included in your policy just click on the link titled “More Info” which is right underneath the cost of your policy. Following is an example of a quote result:

When you click on “More Info” a dialogue box will open which contains a detailed description of the limits of coverage.

12. What is MexVisit?

MexVisit is a robust package of travel assistance benefits. You can include it with daily, six month, and annual policies.

Other agents can offer coverages with the same insurance companies but none of them equal the quality of coverage provided with MexVisit.

a. Legal Assistance and Bail Bond related to an accident with the insured vehicle

b. Emergency Medical Assistance, including ambulance and emergency air evacuation within Mexico

c. Roadside Assistance (out of gas, dead battery, flat tire, keys locked in car)

d. Travel Assistance (lost passport, translation, car parts locater, and much more)

For more information about MexVisit, please click here.

13. How does the fixed deductible work?

A “fixed” deductible is just like your automobile Collision and Comprehensive deductible in the U.S. or Canada. It is a pre-set amount.

For U.S. and Canadian drivers, one of the most misunderstood features of the typical Mexico auto insurance is the deductible for Theft and Collision as a percentage of the vehicle value.

The amount of the deductible varies from company to company. It is very important that you understand how this works. The best way to find out how the deductible applies to the policy you are considering, please follow the instructions contained in the answer to question 9. above.

14. Can I purchase a policy without expiration date, i.e., an opened ended policy?

Unfortunately, it is not possible to have an “open” expiration date because the period of coverage must be stated on the policy to make it valid.

However, you do have lots of options, from one day up to one year, depending on your needs.

And, to make it easier for you, you can issue a new policy from an old one by entering the email address you used to purchase your last policy, and the Password that is printed on the policy confirmation sent to you via email at time of purchase.

If you travel to Mexico frequently, it is much more economical to purchase an annual policy. If your trip is longer than 30 days but less than six months, it is usually more economical to purchase a six month policy. If you request a quote for less than six months but only see Quote Results for a six month and annual policies, it is because the six month policy is less expensive then a policy for the shorter period you requested.

15. Is there any problem if my driver license has expired?

Yes! Your policy and Mexican law requires a valid driver license while driving. And, if you don’t have a valid license at the time of an accident, your insurance may not provide coverage. If in doubt we suggest you renew your license before driving in either Mexico or your home country.

16. Can I cancel my policy?

If you ask us to cancel your policy BEFORE it goes into effect, we can void the policy and you will receive a full refund. A written/email request to cancel a policy is required.

If your policy period is less than six months, for example, for 5 days, it can not be cancelled once the policy goes into effect.

You may cancel a six month or annual policy before it goes into effect or within the first 15 days after the initial effective date. In this case you will be charged for the number of days of coverage. The policy fee is not refundable. The companies do not calculate the premium being returned to you on a Pro-rate basis, thus refunds are less than one would expect. There is usually no refund if a six month or annual policy has been in effect more than 25-30 days.

17. Can I change vehicles on my policy?

Yes.

If your policy includes Theft and Collision coverage, and the vehicle you want to put on your policy has a value that is greater than the vehicle you want to remove, the company will charge an additional premium.

If your policy includes Theft and Collision coverage, and the vehicle you want to put on your policy has a lesser value than the vehicle you want to remove, the company will not offer a reduced premium.

The companies allow one change per year that involves an additional premium.

Get a quote and purchase your policy now!

18. Will an underage driver be covered by my policy?

The insurance policy specifies that in case of an accident, the coverage will only apply for drivers between age 18 and 79 years old who have a valid driver license. However, if you did not answer “YES” to the question on the application asking if there are any drivers under 21 years of age, the insurance company can deny any claims if a driver is less than 21 years of age.

19. I do not speak Spanish? What happens if I get involved in an accident?

All adjusters are supposed to be bilingual, Spanish-English. If your adjuster does not speak English and no one can help to translate, you should call the insurance company’s toll free number shown on your policy and request a bi-lingual adjuster.

Many people in Mexico are bi-lingual, thus it is likely that a bystander may offer to interpret.

20. My lien holder or leasing company needs a "Letter of Authorization" to take the vehicle to Mexico. what do I do?

This is easy.

But first a brief explanation. Lien holders have experienced problems collecting when their customers have an accident if the lien holder is not listed on the policy. There are also many cases of people going to Mexico with vehicle that has a loan or lease . . . and they have no intentions of returning to the U.S. or Canada nor of paying off the loan or lease once they move to Mexico. Essentially, this is theft.

To help mitigate these issues, in order to obtain a Temporary Vehicle Import Permit, Mexican Customs requires drivers of leased vehicles or vehicles with loans to obtain a Letter of Authorization from the lien holder or leasing company.

How to get the Letter of Authorization:

Check with your lien holder or leasing company to find out if they have special coverage requirements.

In completing the online application, you will be asked if you have a lien holder, and if the answer is “YES”, the application provides space to include the name, address, and loan number of the lien holder or leasing company. When you enter this information, it will print out on your policy.

You will then fax Page 2 of your policy to your lien holder or leasing company so they can verify the information is accurate. In most cases, lien holders issue Letters of Authorization within 24 hours. However, prior to heavy holiday travel, and especially in the month leading up to Christmas, it is highly recommended that you allow at least a week in advance to plan for this.

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