Driving in Mexico demands a special consideration of car insurance, as your auto liability insurance from the United States isn't going to be valid across the border, whether you rent a car in the country or drive across the border in your own vehicle.
Requirements for Car Insurance in Mexico All vehicles driven in Mexico, from those that are personally owned to rental vehicles, require insurance. Typically, your personal auto liability insurance won't transfer to your driving in Mexico. Any comprehensive coverage or collision coverage found through a domestic insurance policy won't be recognized in Mexico.
If you're driving a U.S. car, truck, motorcycle or RV across the border, you need insurance. If you rent a car in the United States and then drive south to Mexico, extra premiums will be charged to cover you for liability and damages on the other side.
Where to Buy Mexican auto liability insurance is essential for driving in Mexico and is available in cities right at the border. You'll want a full coverage insurance policy that provides liability, collision and comprehensive coverage.
Check your travel and health insurance for any coverage you'd have in Mexico in addition to your rental car insurance or auto coverage, in the case of travel accidents and medical emergencies.
Different Approaches If you're driving in Mexico and involved in a car accident, the Mexican police will take you into custody. Law enforcement will hold you until it determines who is to blame in the accident.
If you have to pay a penalty, you'll have to pay up front. Because of these measures, the State Department recommends that drivers in Mexico find policies that cover the cost of bail from prison.
Americans should be perfectly aware of how the law in Mexico treats drivers that don't respect the regulations of the road. A valid driver's license (such as your U.S. driver's license) will be acceptable. If you're driving a car, you're required by Mexican law to be the car's owner, and if you're not, your car will be impounded and never returned. Note that any auto insurance is invalidated if drivers are functioning under drugs and alcohol.
Varying limitations and restrictions guiding the purchase of rental car insurance in a foreign country exist, which depend entirely on national laws and the insurance laws of local rental car firms.