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Mexico Travel

5 Essential Factors To Look At While Buying Mexican Auto Insurance

By The SmartGringo Team · · 2 min read

Last updated:

A road trip to Mexico could be the perfect getaway this year. But let’s take a moment and see if you have got everything you need for the journey.

So, you got your travel documents, health check-ups, and your car spic and span ready for the trip. But is your Mexican auto insurance ready? Mexican federal law requires vehicles on federal roads and bridges to carry third-party liability insurance (Ley de Caminos, Puentes y Autotransporte Federal, art. 63 Bis). See what you need before you drive into Mexico for the documents and permits.

But many people tend to forget about this crucial piece of preparation simply because they tend to think that their existing insurance is all they need. Baja Bound's FAQ says US and Canadian insurance is not considered proof of financial responsibility under Mexican law, so you will want a Mexican auto insurance policy.

So even though you may be using this Mexican insurance for a short duration of your trip, it is still a good idea to carefully vet your options and get the best Mexican auto insurance.

And here are some pointers you can keep in your mind to buy the best Mexican auto insurance.

Cost

While cost is probably the foremost factor for consideration, do not rely only on cost to make your final decision. The cost would mainly differ based on your vehicle, travel duration, dates traveled, destination, and the coverage you seek.

Coverage

Besides the liability coverage, you can also seek additional coverage for theft assistance, vandalism protection, towing assistance, and more.

Reschedule And Cancellation Policy

As trip dates could get preponed, postponed, or even canceled, make sure the insurance policy can accommodate such changes at minimal cost or free of charge. Baja Bound's FAQ says its daily policies are not refundable once they have started, and that changes to a policy that has already started are made by speaking with one of its agents (Baja Bound FAQ).

24/7 Customer Support

Customer support is essential to make claims and get assistance on time. And also, make sure the support is available in your preferred language.

Trust Score

This is a significant factor as not every policy that looks great on paper will be good in reality. The insurance provider must have the proper infrastructure to support your assistance claims and provide valid services at the right time. To evaluate a company’s trust score, check its rating and who issued it, check whether it is licensed, and get referrals and customer testimonials.

SmartGringo’s guides explain the options and link to Baja Bound, which quotes and sells the policy. A quote needs details such as the make, model, and year of manufacture of your vehicle, plus trip details like the duration of the trip, destination, and travel dates. Get quotes from different companies, compare, evaluate and choose the best that fits your needs.

Only need it for a few days? Get covered before you go.

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