FAQ Insurance for Mexico
There seems to be a lot of confusion about Mexican Insurance so I thought I’d take a stab at putting together this little primer. My experience is primarily in Baja but I believe that this will apply ...
Forum Discussion
Hi All,
I have not had experience in using Mexican insurance for a RV, but I did have to use it last November for an accident my Mexicana wife had in our VW. The accident was not her fault and the guy flipped her the international greeting and drove off. Thankfully some folks working at a local store saw it all and confirmed my wife's version. I was at home and she called and came home. Much shaken and I asked first, if she and our daughter were OK, my next question was if she had called the insurance company. She did not. I quickly gathered her and our daughter and we drove back to the accident scene with the VW.
First let me caution everyone . . . . . . reporting an accident is not like in the USA. DO NOT LEAVE THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT AND DO NOT MOVE YOUR VEHICLE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, WITHOUT FIRST CALLING THE INSURANCE COMPANY CLAIMS ADJUSTER AND THEN GETTING THE PERMISSION OF THE ADJUSTER TO MOVE THE CAR TO A SAFER PLACE OR TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD.
Get photos first before moving the car, even if the adjuster is there. Get a photo (if possible) of the other driver(s) involved. Use your cell phone if that is what you have at hand. Get the licence number and the licence number of the other driver also get the name of his / her insurance company. A policy number is even better.
if you ask the other driver to see his insurance company card. Again take a photo with your cell phone of the ins card if possible.
If you do move the car before the adjuster gets there without their permission your policy could become null and void.
I can say that (at least in Tampico) that the response time of the insurance adjuster is faster than the police were. The insurance adjuster was there 15 minutes after I called them (once I had returned to the scene). I did ask them, when I phoned in the accident information, if I could move the car out of a dangerous position and the adjuster agreed.
I had full coverage for both my wife and myself. My yearly insurance cost for two cars is $462 USD a year. The insurance adjuster got all the information (was very thorough) and took several photos. I also took many photos including a photo of the odometer. The adjuster asked me if I had a certain place to take it, I said no. He suggested the VW dealer. I went to the dealer in C. D. Madero close to our home and they said they would have the car repaired in five days. I said OK. Three weeks later it was still not repaired. I called the adjuster and asked him, due to those circumstances, if I could take the car to the VW dealer in Tampico. He approved it. That dealer said the car would be repaired in four days. Indeed it was on time and very well done. I couldn't believe it.
It is a regular fiasco getting the bill paid at any dealer. First you get he bill, then you go to the bank with someone from the dealer and the dealer gives this paper of the costs to the teller. The teller takes a call )probably) to the insurance company. You give the teller the money and the bill is paid. Then you go back with the receipt to the dealer and the dealer rep gives you a paid receipt.
My insurance company was "ACE" insurance (I know, I know . . . what a name!) scares you to death doesn't it? (smiling) But I checked on them before buying and evidently they are the number two company in all of Mexico. They were excellent. Fast and courteous. I will continue to use them as long as they continue their excellent service. I found GNP (?) to be much more expensive.
Robert
I have not had experience in using Mexican insurance for a RV, but I did have to use it last November for an accident my Mexicana wife had in our VW. The accident was not her fault and the guy flipped her the international greeting and drove off. Thankfully some folks working at a local store saw it all and confirmed my wife's version. I was at home and she called and came home. Much shaken and I asked first, if she and our daughter were OK, my next question was if she had called the insurance company. She did not. I quickly gathered her and our daughter and we drove back to the accident scene with the VW.
First let me caution everyone . . . . . . reporting an accident is not like in the USA. DO NOT LEAVE THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT AND DO NOT MOVE YOUR VEHICLE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, WITHOUT FIRST CALLING THE INSURANCE COMPANY CLAIMS ADJUSTER AND THEN GETTING THE PERMISSION OF THE ADJUSTER TO MOVE THE CAR TO A SAFER PLACE OR TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD.
Get photos first before moving the car, even if the adjuster is there. Get a photo (if possible) of the other driver(s) involved. Use your cell phone if that is what you have at hand. Get the licence number and the licence number of the other driver also get the name of his / her insurance company. A policy number is even better.
if you ask the other driver to see his insurance company card. Again take a photo with your cell phone of the ins card if possible.
If you do move the car before the adjuster gets there without their permission your policy could become null and void.
I can say that (at least in Tampico) that the response time of the insurance adjuster is faster than the police were. The insurance adjuster was there 15 minutes after I called them (once I had returned to the scene). I did ask them, when I phoned in the accident information, if I could move the car out of a dangerous position and the adjuster agreed.
I had full coverage for both my wife and myself. My yearly insurance cost for two cars is $462 USD a year. The insurance adjuster got all the information (was very thorough) and took several photos. I also took many photos including a photo of the odometer. The adjuster asked me if I had a certain place to take it, I said no. He suggested the VW dealer. I went to the dealer in C. D. Madero close to our home and they said they would have the car repaired in five days. I said OK. Three weeks later it was still not repaired. I called the adjuster and asked him, due to those circumstances, if I could take the car to the VW dealer in Tampico. He approved it. That dealer said the car would be repaired in four days. Indeed it was on time and very well done. I couldn't believe it.
It is a regular fiasco getting the bill paid at any dealer. First you get he bill, then you go to the bank with someone from the dealer and the dealer gives this paper of the costs to the teller. The teller takes a call )probably) to the insurance company. You give the teller the money and the bill is paid. Then you go back with the receipt to the dealer and the dealer rep gives you a paid receipt.
My insurance company was "ACE" insurance (I know, I know . . . what a name!) scares you to death doesn't it? (smiling) But I checked on them before buying and evidently they are the number two company in all of Mexico. They were excellent. Fast and courteous. I will continue to use them as long as they continue their excellent service. I found GNP (?) to be much more expensive.
Robert
