Frequently Asked Mexico Car Insurance Questions
We have answered the most common questions we get from our loyal car insurance customers. General, Coverage, Quote & Purchase, Claims and Policy related questions are covered in detail. Or you can search below.
General Questions
Do I need Mexico insurance?
Yes, when you are driving in Mexico, you are legally required to have Mexico liability insurance coverage, and it must be provided by a Mexico company.
Does my U.S./Canadian auto insurance policy cover me in Mexico?
Liability coverage from a Mexico insurer is required to drive in Mexico, and therefore your U.S./Canadian policy cannot provide the legal requirement. Your U.S. or Canadian insurer may provide comprehensive or full coverage insurance in Mexico. You will need to contact your agent to be sure.
Do I need to keep my insurance policy in my home country active while I am in Mexico? Can I place a freeze, pause, or even cancel coverage?
When you purchase a FULL COVERAGE Mexico auto insurance policy from Mexpro, we require you have existing Collision and Theft coverage already in place (in your home country) and maintain that coverage while you are in Mexico.
If you plan to be in Mexico more than 180 days, this condition is waived on Mexpro policies. You must, however, maintain your vehicle registration.
NOTE that some U.S. states require the registered owner to maintain insurance coverage to keep their vehicle registration. Ask your DMV about their insurance coverage requirements on registrations.
Your U.S. or Canadian vehicle registration is required no matter what policy you purchase. If the vehicle is unregistered, or the registration becomes invalid at any point during the policy dates, the insurance is then considered void.
If I only carry Liability on my current U.S. or Canadian car insurance policy, can I purchase full coverage Mexico auto insurance?
No, unless you will be in Mexico for more than 180 days. You will, however, be required to maintain your vehicle registration.
If the vehicle is unregistered, or the registration becomes invalid at any point during the policy dates, the insurance is then considered void.
Do I have to buy Mexico insurance in Mexico?
No. In fact it's better to purchase coverage before you get there, otherwise you will not be insured until you get your policy in Mexico. In addition, your policy may not be written in English; and you may not have access to bilingual claims adjusters.
How do I know if I can trust my Mexico insurance company?
Mexpro's Mexico insurance companies are all A-Rated by A.M. Best Company. They have many years of experience in Mexico insurance, have a high rate of claims satisfaction and are financially stable. Visit our partners page for more information.
Can my wife, friend, guide or someone else drive my car in Mexico?
Yes, as long as the registered owner is listed as the named insured and the driver has a valid non-Mexican driver's license. It is a good idea for the person driving to have written permission to drive the vehicle.
Your Mexico auto insurance policy will NOT cover any driver with a Mexican driver's license.
What if the person driving my car does not have a driver's license?
A person driving a vehicle without a valid driver's license is not covered under Mexpro's insurance policies.
If you forget to take your driver's license with you to Mexico, you are still covered. However, it may make things more difficult with authorities if you are pulled over or involved in an accident.
Can you insure my rental car in Mexico?
We can only insure rental cars rented in the U.S. with U.S. license plates. Additionally, you will need permission from your rental company to take the vehicle to Mexico. We can NOT insure rental cars with a Mexico License plate.
Can I get Mexico insurance on a leased vehicle?
Yes. However, you will need a permission letter from the lessor to drive the car into Mexico. And they may require you to get a full coverage policy. Be sure to list the lessor name and information on the policy application.
Can I purchase insurance from Mexpro if I'm driving in Central or South America?
No. Mexpro is only able to provide tourist auto insurance coverage in the country of Mexico.
Do you sell Temporary Vehicle Importation Permits (TIP)?
No, you can only get a Temporary Vehicle Importation Permit (TIP) through Mexico's Banjercito government agency. Mexpro has no affiliation, authority or connections with this organization. See our TIP FAQs for common questions for more information.
Can I insure my car while in Mexico if I have temporary paper license plates?
Yes, Mexpro's insurers do accept your paper license plates and you will be insured if you purchase a policy with us. However, and unfortunately, border agents will not always allow vehicles with paper temporary plates through the border. If you are concerned about getting through the border, you may want to wait for your permanent plates.
If you do purchase a policy with Mexpro and you are not permitted to enter Mexico with your paper-licensed vehicle, call us immediately at (855) 639-7761 to cancel your policy and get a full refund.
Coverage Questions
What's the difference between 'Liability' and 'Full Coverage' insurance?
Liability car insurance covers damages to other person(s) or property resulting from an accident you cause. It is the minimum required when driving in Mexico. Your vehicle is not covered with this policy.
Full coverage car insurance includes liability coverage, plus physical damage and theft coverage for your vehicle. Mexpro's premium full coverage policies also provide partial theft and vandalism coverage, higher liability limits, lower deductibles, gap coverage, uninsured motorist deductible waiver, U.S. labor rates, and MexVisit® travel, medical, roadside, & personal legal assistance coverage.
Can I get a full coverage Mexico Tourist Auto policy if I only have liability in the U.S. or Canada?
If you only have liability coverage on your current policy, then you cannot purchase a full coverage Mexico insurance policy. The exception is if the vehicle will be in Mexico for more than 180 days, in which case, you are eligible for full coverage while in Mexico.
What are Medical Payments?
Medical payments cover the driver and passengers. Limits vary depending on the policy and insurance company you choose. Motorcycles, ATVs and UTVs do not include this coverage.
Do I have Partial Theft & Vandalism coverage?
Yes, if you purchase a full coverage policy.
What is Gap Insurance?
Gap insurance pays out an additional 15% on top of the current market value of your vehicle at the time of loss. This can help pay off any balance owed to your finance company in the event of a total loss. The market or actual cash value is generally determined by the Kelly Blue Book or NADA Guide value. Gap coverage is only available on Mexpro's premium full coverage policies.
What is a driver's license policy?
A driver's license policy covers multiple vehicles under the same policy. It only offers liability coverage. Unlike our typical Liability Only policies, however, no medical payments is included.
What is MexVisit®?
MexVisit® is one of the best travel assistance products found in the Mexico insurance market. MexVisit® benefits include: travel, medical, roadside, auto liability legal, and personal legal assistance. MexVisit® is included in all our policies.
Quote & Purchase Questions
How do I get a quote?
Click here to get multiple quotes from multiple companies in just 2 minutes. You can also click the 'Get a Quote' or 'Buy Now' buttons on our home page at www.Mexpro.com. You will have the option to purchase when you are done. You can also get a quote through one of our licensed agents by calling (855) 639-7761 toll-free.
How do I purchase a policy?
Click here to purchase a policy online. Fill out the initial quote application. After reaching the quote results page, choose the coverage, price and insurance company that fits your needs and click on the 'Buy Now' button. You will then be taken to the remainder of our application where you will need to provide your:
- Vehicle ID number (VIN)
- License plate number
- U.S. or Canadian insurance information
- Lien holder information, if applicable
Then Review, Pay and Print your new policy. If you need help, you can call our licensed customer service agents toll-free at (855) 639-7761.
What does 'Actual Cash Value/ACV' or 'Current Market Value' mean?
Actual Cash Value, also known as 'ACV' or 'current market value', is the value the insurance company will give for your vehicle in the event of a total loss. It applies only to full coverage policies. Do not guess your vehicle value when filling out Mexpro's auto insurance quote form. Your vehicle will only be covered up to the vehicle value listed in Kelly Blue Book (KBB) or NADA guide. You can choose a vehicle value of $0 (liability only) if you do not want full coverage insurance.
What does 'Liability Limit' and 'CSL' mean?
Combined single limit, also known as 'CSL' or 'liability limit' is the most that can be paid out for any combination of bodily injury and property damage liability claims. Mexpro recommends purchasing a CSL of $300,000 or more, due to Mexico's current liability laws. Our full coverage premium policies automatically come with $500,000 CSL.
How do I list towed items on my policy?
If you only want liability coverage on your towed units while being towed, you do not need to list them on your policy, as it is automatically included, but ONLY while being towed and attached to the insured vehicle.
If your towed units are listed with their corresponding values on your quote application, then they will also be covered for physical damage, but only while being towed and attached to the towing unit.
Self-propelled towed vehicle(s)
If you want your auto, motorcycle, ATV and/or UTV insured once detached from the towing vehicle, you will need to purchase a separate policy for each vehicle. You should not list the towed units on the towing vehicle's policy because a separate policy covers them while in tow.
Towed Travel Trailers, Fifth Wheels, Toy Haulers, Boats, Boat/Vehicle/Utility Trailers, Pop Up Campers
For full coverage while in tow, you will need to list your towed unit(s), with a corresponding value on your quote application. Based on vehicle age and value, some units will not qualify for full coverage.
El Aguila is Mexpro's only insurer who provides physical damage coverage insurance on a non-self-propelled tow unit while detached.
Claims Questions
How do I file a claim?
If you have an accident in Mexico, immediately call the 01-800 number listed on the insurance claims instructions page, which you received via email after your purchase, and is part of your policy. Our adjusters will respond immediately and provide further instructions based on your specific situation. You can also find a quick claims checklist and claim contacts on our website.
What if I have an accident or get pulled over in Mexico?
Be sure you have a copy of your policy, declaration pages and claims information (which is emailed to you after your purchase) in your vehicle at all times. In the event you get pulled over for a traffic violation or have an accident in Mexico you will need to present your proof of insurance.
If you have an accident, you will need to contact the insurance company at the phone number(s) provided on your policy documents.
Policy Questions
What if I forgot to add a driver on my Mexico car insurance policy?
Anyone is covered as a driver of your insured vehicle, as long as they have a valid, non-Mexican driver's license, are over the age of 21 (unless you have paid for this surcharge) and have the registered owners permission to operate. On our quote application, you can list up to three people as additional drivers for peace of mind. However, if someone drives who is not listed, they are still covered under this policy as long as they meet the above conditions.
Why are the dates on my Mexican car insurance policy are wrong?
There are two reasons we receive this question regarding incorrect dates on our Mexican car insurance policies. The first has to do with the date format. Unlike the U.S., Mexico, and much of the rest of the world, uses the Day/Month/Year format. Because this is a Mexican insurance policy, this format is used. If you purchase a policy that begins on June 1, your policy will begin on 1/6/20XX.
The second reason the dates may be different than what you expect is that all our policies begin at 12:01 AM on the effective date of the policy. The exception is when the policy is purchased on the same day that you plan to enter Mexico, in which case it starts at time of issuance. And, your policy will end at 12:01 AM on the date following the expiration date. You have one minute of coverage on the day after your policy expires to ensure you have a full day of coverage. As an example, if you need coverage from June 1st to June 6th, your policy begins on June 1 at 12:01 AM and ends at 12:01 AM on June 7th. So, the dates on the policy would be as follows: 1/6/20XX - 7/6/20XX (day/month/year).
If neither of these examples match your issue, please call us, toll-free at (855) 639-7761 to correct the problem.
How do I make changes to my policy?
Simply fill out our online customer service request, and one of our licensed agents will contact you. If you need immediate assistance, call us at (855) 639-7761.
How do I cancel my policy?
Cancellations can be done by using our online cancellation form. Refunds will be credited back to the credit card used for the purchase.
Will I get a refund?
Policies canceled before the date the insurance coverage begins, will receive a full refund minus the policy fee. After the policy has started, daily policies are not refundable. Six-month and annual policies are discounted; any refunds will be prorated. Six-month policies over 20 days and annual policies over 30 days are not refundable. See the full cancellation terms on your policy terms and conditions (provided by email after purchase).