Get car insurance coverage for driving into Mexico
Planning a trip to Mexico? If you'll be driving there, you may want to take a look at your car insurance coverage and see if you need additional car insurance to travel to Mexico.
Your U.S. driver's license is valid in Mexico, according to the U.S. Department of State. But, your U.S. car insurance policy likely does not cover you, your vehicle or your rental car if you get into a wreck in Mexico.
That's where Mexico auto insurance for tourists can help.
What is Mexico tourist auto insurance?
Mexico tourist auto insurance is a car insurance policy, separate from your domestic policy, that helps cover U.S. and Canadian drivers in Mexico.
This type of policy helps pay for medical bills and car repairs if you're involved in a car accident while driving your vehicle with U.S. or Canadian plates in Mexico.
In Mexico, each party involved in a car accident must provide proof of valid insurance or financial responsibility. And, drivers in Mexico must have insurance from a Mexican company.
Allstate works with insurance companies in Mexico to help provide coverage for you and your vehicle.
What does Mexico tourist auto insurance cover?
- Physical damage and theft
This type of coverage may help pay to repair or replace your vehicle if it's stolen or damaged in a collision, or by things like fire, hail or falling objects. Coverage limits are based on U.S. labor rates. - Bodily injury or property damage you cause to others (up to $500,000)
If you're found at fault for a car accident, third party liability coverage helps pay for the other party's medical expenses or property damage. - Medical payments for you and your passengers
If you or your passengers are injured in a wreck, this type of coverage may help pay for resulting hospital bills and services like X-rays or ambulance fees. - Legal assistance
This coverage may help pay for your legal expenses if you're involved in a car accident in Mexico. Coverage may include legal representation and court costs. - Loan or lease payoff for a totaled new car
This coverage helps pay off an underwater loan or lease on a car that's totaled in a covered claim. Gap coverage helps pay the difference between your car's depreciated value and what you still owe. - Roadside assistance
If your car breaks down, roadside assistance helps pay for services such as towing, changing a tire or jump-starting a battery. - Medical evacuation
If you're injured in a car accident, this coverage may help pay for expenses associated with emergency transportation to a hospital or treatment facility.
It's important to remember that each coverage has a limit, the maximum amount your insurer will pay for a covered claim. And some coverages have a deductible, the amount you pay out of pocket toward a covered claim. Coverages on the Mexico tourist auto insurance policy typically have low fixed deductibles.
Is my rental vehicle covered by car insurance when I travel to Mexico?
Yes, provided you rented the vehicle in the U.S. and then drove it into Mexico. The following are typically not covered:
- Rental cars when rented in Mexico
- Vehicles with Mexico license plates (must have U.S. or Canada plates)
- Commercial vehicles
How does Mexico car insurance for tourists work?
Whether your trip lasts for a couple days or a couple months, you can tailor your policy to the length of your stay, up to a year. You'll pay your premium at the time you purchase coverage – separate from the regular premium you pay on your domestic car insurance policy. Coverage usually begins on the date selected for the policy to start and can start immediately.
To get coverage on your Mexico policy, you must have similar, corresponding coverage on your domestic car insurance policy. For example, you must have collision coverage and comprehensive coverage on your U.S. policy if you want to buy physical damage coverage on your Mexico policy.
Am I eligible for a policy?
You may be eligible to buy Mexico tourist auto insurance if:
- You're over age 21 (additional service fee applies for younger drivers)
- You have a valid U.S. or Canada driver's license
Mexico tourist auto insurance costs will vary based on length of stay, and potentially other factors that an Allstate agent can walk you through. Get a quote for more information on whether Mexico tourist auto insurance should be a part of your travel plans.