Do I really need Mexican Auto Insurance?
My U.S. insurance covers me 75 miles down into Mexico, do I need Mexican insurance as well?
Isn’t all Mexican insurance the same?
Why should I buy my insurance from Discover Baja?
What else does my Discover Baja Mexican auto insurance cover?
What is partial theft and vandalism coverage?
Can I take my car off-roading and still have it covered?
If my car is over 20 years old can I still get insurance?
Can anyone drive my car once it’s insured?
What if I want to drive multiple cars in Mexico?
What should I do if I’m in an accident?
Is there a deductible?
How are claims paid?
Can I change or cancel my policy?
How do I get another copy of my policy?
What do I need to get an insurance policy?
How do I get a quote?
How do I know the value of my car?
Can I get Mexican auto insurance for my leased vehicle?
Can I get Mexican auto insurance for my rental car?
Can I drive a car belonging to someone else to Mexico?
What if I’m towing something behind my vehicle?
What cannot be covered?
What happens if I get into an accident with an uninsured motorist?
What kind of additions or premium packages do you offer?
What kind of insurance do you offer other than Mexican auto insurance?
Do I really need Mexican Auto Insurance?
Yes. Mexican law requires that foreigners must be financially liable for any physical damage or bodily injury they might cause while driving in Mexico. Unless you have Mexican auto insurance, the only way to prove this financial responsibility is to have a pre-arranged bond with a Mexican bank or cash on your person in an amount large enough to cover liabilities, which can be as high as $333,000 with the new death liability in Baja. The easiest and cheapest way to meet the Mexican proof of liability is to purchase Mexican auto insurance through Discover Baja.
My U.S. insurance covers me 75 miles down into Mexico, do I need Mexican insurance as well?
Yes. Mexican law does not recognize U.S. or Canadian insurance, making your non-Mexican auto insurance useless in Mexico. Even if your U.S. auto insurance policy covers you in Mexico, it cannot pay damages that you would legally owe to others if you were in an accident and caused damage to another vehicle. Because Mexican law requires that a driver be able to show proof of liability for any physical and bodily injuries caused by an accident, all drivers must have at least liability coverage from a Mexican insurance provider. Many U.S. and Canadian citizens, as well as their insurance agents, are not aware of the Mexican laws requiring Mexican auto insurance, causing much confusion about this issue. The law is very clear—in order to drive in Mexico, you must at least have Mexican liability coverage, underwritten by a Mexican carrier.
Isn’t all Mexican insurance the same?
No. At Discover Baja, we offer two major advantages over other companies: customer service and high-quality insurance. There are lots of options for buying Mexican auto insurance, but there are big differences when it comes to issues such as getting your money back after a claim, convenience of where you can get your car repaired, the quality and range of products and services offered and reliability. At Discover Baja, we offer insurance through HDI and CHUBB, two of the most trustworthy underwriters in the industry. Because we’ve been in business for 30 years with an excellent track record, we’re able to offer our members deeply discounted rates and special policies that are available ONLY to Discover Baja members. You can’t get these deals anywhere else. We also stand by you every step of the way if you need assistance with a claim payment, are having problems while in Mexico, or have questions about anything. If you’re looking for the peace of mind and reliability, Discover Baja is your best option for purchasing Mexican auto insurance. We are your Baja experts—not just a Mexican insurance agency. We’re real people, in a real office, selling real insurance. Our staff receives frequent compliments and thanks for the care and level of service they provide with travel information, insurance service and claims assistance.
Why should I buy my insurance from Discover Baja?
Who you buy your Mexican vehicle insurance from can make a major difference in your insurance and Baja experience. We’ve been in business for 30 years and have a track record with the insurance underwriters as having members who are responsible and reliable drivers. Because of this, we’re able to pass along discounted deals and special coverage to our members that other Mexican auto insurance providers aren’t able to offer. Discover Baja is able to offer its members exclusive annual insurance policies with low rates that are NOT available to the general public—ONLY TO DISCOVER BAJA MEMBERS. In addition to premium policies at discounted rates, if you happen to have an accident while in Mexico, you receive excellent benefits and customer service throughout the claims process. You are provided a toll-free 800 number to call in Mexico to report the accident and initiate the claim process. The staff is bilingual so you can handle matters in English while in Mexico. After you return to the U.S. or Canada, any follow up can be handled using the toll-free 800 number to reach the U.S. claims office. If you ever have a problem or question about a claim, our staff is always ready to jump in and help you.
Better yet, perhaps, is that after settling your claim here at home, your vehicle can be repaired here in the U.S. Most people aren’t aware that most Mexican insurance companies will only pay to have your vehicle repaired in Tijuana or other parts of Mexico.
If you need to make changes in your policy, cancel your policy, or transfer the policy to another vehicle, we can help you do it quickly. If you need Discover Baja membership or insurance, or renewals of either, when our office is closed, you can easily and securely get quotes, review and purchase, then PRINT OUT your policy quickly and efficiently on our website.
What else does my Discover Baja Mexican auto insurance cover?
All Discover Baja policies cover the following:
- Roadside Assistance: towing, medical evacuation and plane tickets home if your car is not drivable
- Legal Assistance (includes attorney fees, court costs and/or bail bond, with nothing out-of-pocket) is provided at no additional cost
- Medical expenses for occupants in your vehicle.
- Towing service (up to $1,000 on a reimbursement basis), to the nearest authorized shop where repairs can be made.
- Repairs to your car can be made in the U.S. (rather than in Mexico like many other insurance policies require).
Travel Assistance programs can provide medical evacuation, air transportation home, car rental etc., in the event of an accident.With our Platinum or Premier packages you receive higher liability and medical coverage, partial vandalism and fixed deductibles.
What is partial theft and vandalism coverage?
Partial theft (of vehicle parts) and vandalism are excluded for most policies unless special premier or platinum coverage for the vehicle is purchased. Partial theft is included in our Premier or Platinum packages for full-coverage (not liability). It includes theft of anything stolen that originally came on the vehicle. There is a $1,000 deductible. Contents of a vehicle are never covered, that comes under homeowner’s policies. Vandalism has a $500 deductible.
Can I take my car off-roading and still have it covered?
Unfortunately, no. There is no coverage for vehicles involved in off-roading or racing. There are many dirt roads in Baja that are considered municipal roads and you will be covered when driving on these. A dirt road must lead somewhere with a destination and be noted on a map in order for you to be covered while driving.
If my car is over 25 years old can I still get insurance?
Vehicles over 25 years old, are generally only insurable for liability-only. If you would like full coverage on an older vehicle or RV, please call our office at 800-727-2252 as we are sometimes able to get approval from our underwriters for full coverage on older vehicles.
Can anyone drive my car once it’s insured?
Yes, with any of our liability or full coverage policies, any non-Mexican driver is insured to drive the car. The only exception is if you specifically purchased a driver’s license policy instead of getting a liability or full coverage policy on your car. A driver’s license policy specifically insures you as a driver to operate any car or pickup—it does not insure a specific vehicle.
What if I want to drive multiple cars in Mexico?
Discover Baja offers drivers license policies, which provide liability-only coverage for the driver, who may regularly drive more than one car or pickup. It will not provide coverage while driving a motorhome, motorcycle or other high-risk vehicle, or if pulling a towed unit.
What should I do if I’m in an accident?
It is extremely important that you report any accident WHILE YOU ARE IN MEXICO. Waiting until you return to the United States or Canada could result in claim denial or a reduced payment. Dial 911 for the police. Make sure that you get a police report. Get in contact with the insurance company ASAP. Call the toll free numbers provided for the insurance company from a Mexican phone or from your cell phone to report the accident (the insurance reps in the claims offices are bilingual, so you will be able to handle matters in English). Do not sign anything until the insurance company is involved—especially do not sign any settlement agreements with other parties because this could void your insurance coverage. For more information please see our claims and accidents page.
Is there a deductible?
There is a $500 minimum deductible for physical damage to your vehicle and $1,000 for total theft. If you have a collision, you will be responsible for paying the deductible when the repair is made. If your vehicle is stolen, the deductible is the amount the insurance company will deduct from the vehicle value before paying you.
How are claims paid?
The claims process is much like it is in the U.S. You must always remember to report any claims right when they happen when you are still in Mexico. You will need to call the 800 number printed on your policy. After you’ve filed a claim, all of the necessary information will be gathered and the amount of the loss will be determined. Another huge benefit to getting your insurance through Discover Baja is that your claim will be paid in U.S. Dollars which means you are able to get your call fixed at a repair shop back in the U.S. With other insurance policies, some underwriters pay claims based on Mexican Pesos and Mexican repair rates, meaning that the full cost of repair is only covered if you get your vehicle repaired in Mexico.
Can I change or cancel my policy?
If you need to change your policy or transfer it to another vehicle, we’re happy to help. To process a change (endorsement) on your policy, we need the information in writing which you can do by emailing us at ask@discoverbaja.com or by filling out our endorsement application here and faxing it or emailing it back to us. You can transfer a policy to another vehicle once in the lifetime of the policy. An insurance policy cancelled before it has gone into effect will receive a full refund of the premium, minus a $10 cancellation fee. If the policy is cancelled after it has gone into effect, the refund will be calculated based on the premium earned during the days the policy was in effect. Note that, due to the extremely low cost of annual policies, the premium is fully earned during the first 20 days after the policy goes into effect.
How do I get another copy of my policy?
If you currently have a Discover Baja insurance policy, you can call us at 800-727-2252 and we’ll be happy to re-email it to you. You can also log into your account and click on “My Account”, sign in and then click on “View Account.” If you scroll down, all current policies will be listed and can be reprinted.
What do I need to get an insurance policy?
To get your insurance policy, you can process your policy online here or give us a call at 800-727-2252. Please have the following information ready: driver’s license, vehicle registration, and U.S. or Canadian insurance company information.
How do I get a quote?
You can get an insurance quote from us online or by calling our office at 800-727-2252.
How do I know the value of my car?
You can look up the current value of your car by using Kelley Blue Book or NADA Guides. Do not underinsure your vehicle! You want to insure your vehicle for the Actual Cash Value–which can quickly be determined by using either of these links. We recommend using the higher retail value, because you do not want to risk underinsuring your vehicle.
Can I get Mexican auto insurance for my leased vehicle?
If your car is leased in the U.S., you need to check with the leasing company and lienholder who holds title to your car to get permission to drive the car into Mainland Mexico (not Baja). Leasing companies may have different procedures for granting permission to cross the Mexican border with their vehicle and for the type of verification you must obtain prior to travel.
Can I get Mexican auto insurance for my rental car?
If your car is rented in the U.S., the rental company may insist that Mexican insurance be purchased from them. If they allow the vehicle to be driven into Mexico, but do not offer Mexican insurance, Discover Baja can provide the necessary insurance with written permission from the renting company. Vehicles rented in Mexico cannot be covered with these policies, since they have Mexican license plates.
Can I drive a car belonging to someone else to Mexico?
If you are taking a vehicle into Mexico that is owned by someone else, a notarized letter of permission from the owner stating that you are authorized to drive the car into Mexico is required. The insurance policy will be made out in both the owner’s name as well as yours.
What if I’m towing something behind my vehicle?
Any towed boat, trailer, vehicle etc. must be declared on the policy. If this is not done, all coverage will be voided in case of an accident. The towing disclosure and coverage can be added to any existing policy by calling the Discover Baja office 800-727-2252. Towed boats on a vehicle policy are only covered while in tow—not on the water. On-water, liability or hull coverage, requires separate insurance. If you have a boat in a Mexican marina or if you’re launching from a Mexican marina, you need to have at least liability for your boat, which you can get through Discover Baja. You can read more on our Boat Insurance page or can call our office at 800-727-2252.
- Mexican drivers or vehicles (this includes Mexican rental cars). Discover Baja Mexican insurance policies are for tourist use only.
- Vehicles while involved in a race or off-roading -Vehicles not on municipal roads, ie. on the beach
- Vehicles for commercial use
- Policy coverage in null and void if the driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Pilferage of personal items from a vehicle is not covered by Mexican insurance policies. Most U.S. and Canadian homeowners or renters policies will cover such theft in a foreign country (or you can add such coverage) so check with your agent before traveling.
- Vandalism and partial theft (of vehicle parts) are excluded for most policies unless special premium or premier coverage for the vehicle is purchased
What happens if I get into an accident with an uninsured motorist?
If you have an accident with an uninsured motorist, your full-coverage policy will provide coverage for the physical damage to your vehicle as well as medical coverage for you and the passengers in your car per policy limits. A liability-only policy will provide the medical benefits and legal aide, but no coverage for damage to your vehicle or vessel.
What kind of additions or premium packages do you offer?
There are special provisions and coverage for partial theft and vandalism of a vehicle, roadside assistance including key lockout, flat tires, emergency gas and battery service, emergency transportation, accommodation and need for a rental car due to lengthy car repairs, etc. You can review these coverages, as well as additional features provided by premium or premier packages for policies, when getting an online quote.
What kind of insurance do you offer other than Mexican Auto Insurance?
In addition to Mexican auto insurance, Discover Baja offers the following:
- Insurance to cover your RV, motorhome, motorcycle, boat and trailer while in Mexico.
- On-the-water boat liability
- Mexican homeowners insurance.
