BajaNomad

Insurance??

ddgman - 8-2-2005 at 06:20 PM

Anyone had any dealings with "Instant Mexico Auto Insurance". They have been in business since 1973 and seem to have the best rates for comparible coverage. They have quoted me $319 per year for full coverage. Anyone know the current price of diesel fuel?

[Edited on 8-3-2005 by ddgman]

Bob and Susan - 8-2-2005 at 06:56 PM

We've used...

http://www.bajabound.com/

Very Very easy....no claim....yet:lol::lol:

David K - 8-2-2005 at 08:27 PM

BajaBound is great for daily or short duration policies (GE), and easy online purchase. By their own admission, they cannot offer the lowest rates for annual policies, yet... at least the ones for tourists. I have used them frequently when I didn't have an annual policy in force... nice folks.

For annual policies (or 6 month policies)... the one that receives the highest positive mention on Baja Nomad has been Lewis & Lewis (selling Qualitas).

I personally have GE insurance purchased through Discover Baja Travel Club (as I am a member already, $39/yr.). Full coverage for my (now) $15,000 value truck is about $200. They cover the cost of repairs done in the U.S. according to DB's Hugh Kramer.

Ken Cooke - 8-2-2005 at 08:40 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by ddgman
Anyone had any dealings with "Instant Mexico Auto Insurance". They have been in business since 1973 and seem to have the best rates for comparible coverage. They have quoted me $319 per year for full coverage. Anyone know the current price of diesel fuel?

[Edited on 8-3-2005 by ddgman]



I've purchased one and two-day policies at Instant in San Ysidro in the past. They have a nice restroom in their office and the lady who runs the family business likes to visit with my Chihuahuas everytime we stop by. Real nice people.

Debra - 8-3-2005 at 12:27 AM

David, did you put in a claim with them for the damage done last summer in Bahia? Wondering how it all went....

bajajudy - 8-3-2005 at 08:40 AM

This is hearsay. But I have always heard that Discover's policy only covers you if you also have stateside insurance.
Just curious(again) if anyone knows if this is true.

Anonymous - 8-3-2005 at 09:12 AM

We had full coverage on a new station wagon that was totalled by a rollover caused by swerving to save the life of a donkey that was strolling across the highway on a blind curve. We suffered many injuries, the loss of a kneecap, broken arm, imbedded glass in flesh, horrible first aid at a hospital many miles away that created more infection problems later...a real nightmare.

We had reported the accident immediately to police and the insurance company. That was our first mistake.

Later, after arranging flights back to the USA from Mexico and flying home injured in wheelchairs and crutches, we contacted the insurance company again...the insurance company refused to pay a nickel. Many months went by and we sued through our US and Mexican attorneys..won the case, but the company never has paid us a thing, regardless of the judgement. I eventually decided to go back down to reclaim what was left of the car, as the chief of police there had told us in a translated phone conversation that the car was not too badly damaged and could be driven home. "Si, Senor..your car is okay! Come and get it!" I should have smelled trouble right there... My dad and I drove back down and found the car was in the impound lot...the charge for that was $500 US...We were asked to come see the local judge....another $500 to him as a bribe (right in front of his secretary). Now we got to see the car..or what was left of it after it had been hauled into police custody.

Everything possible other than the engine and tranny had been stripped...tires, stereo, speakers, mats...they even took the door lock pins! And then they told us we must move it or pay another $500 fine. We hired a trucker to haul it to the border...you guessed it, another $500!! It was getting hilarious by this point and all we could do was pay and laugh at the unbelievable nerve of these petty thieves. Like an old Hollywood sterotype of Mexican Banditos. Once at the border, we met a friend of my father who was a beekeeper heading north empty to service his beehives. Dad had called him and told him of the situation. We loaded the car onto the hive truck and that gentleman hauled it 600 miles north to our place...refusing to take any money, but we insisted on paying gas expense..and sent him a nice present.

The donkey was unharmed...but would be dead if we were to do it all over again. The station wagon's engine and power train make it a field sprayer today.

Mexican insurance?...bueno suerte!

backninedan - 8-3-2005 at 10:43 AM

Which insurance company?

David K - 8-3-2005 at 01:44 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Debra
David, did you put in a claim with them for the damage done last summer in Bahia? Wondering how it all went....


No, as I or another legal driver was not driving the truck when it hit the 'walking tree', I had no claim to make. I fixed most of the damage myself (broken lens, dent).
(note: don't let 14 y/o teenager who knows how to drive alone, take a friend for a ride).

Anonymous - 8-3-2005 at 02:16 PM

Backninedan....the company was Sanborn's...in 1979...the last time I ever bought bad Mexican insurance. Doubt they are in business anymore, at least I have never seen any sign of them, nor would I pay any attention to them if I did.

Ken Cooke - 8-3-2005 at 04:41 PM

Sanborn's Mexico Insurance

Sanborn's Mexico Auto Insurance is in business at 943 Imperial Ave. Suite B. Calexico, CA 92231 Phone (760) 357-6424. I purchased a 6 day policy from them the last time I was in Baja and their underwriter was GE Seguros.

The last time I needed assistance, I tried to call Zurich (purchased thru Discover Baja). No luck - their phone lines were down all that week. After sending in receipts to Discover Baja, I never got a dime from Zurich. I didn't feel like getting my attorney to write letters since that would just cost more $$.

backninedan - 8-3-2005 at 06:37 PM

Thanks anon. I am currently insured with Lewis and Lewis, they have been attentive and reasonable, but I have filed no claim, so I cant comment on that part of their business, but their reputation is very good, sure hope I never have to find out first hand.

Bruce R Leech - 8-3-2005 at 07:10 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Anonymous
Backninedan....the company was Sanborn's...in 1979...the last time I ever bought bad Mexican insurance. Doubt they are in business anymore, at least I have never seen any sign of them, nor would I pay any attention to them if I did.


they wont sell to anon. you must have a name:lol:

Anonymous - 8-3-2005 at 09:18 PM

Discover Baja sells GE insurance now, possibly because of the bad experiencs that Ken had (phone numbers not working). I believe Hugh and others were really going the extra mile to help resolve the problem. Desert Bull was quite the hero as well. Graham Mackintosh even mentioned the event in his third book, as he was up there when the Ford broke down... and Ken visited him seeking help or information.

David K - 8-3-2005 at 09:20 PM

Sorry, forgot to log in... that was me, above.

vandenberg - 8-4-2005 at 08:49 AM

2 or 3 years ago I had my Jeep stolen out of my driveway,while we were in Ca. It was recovered by the Loreto police. They stole everything removable,besides screwing up the console , door locks and the ignition lock. Total damage, over $2400.00. I had ins. with Lewis&Lewis. Their underwriter was only willing to reimburse us $300.00. Of course we complained to Lewis&Lewis and to our surprise they send us a check for $ 2000.00 out of their own funds. So, needless to say, they come highly recommended by us.:yes::yes::yes:

bajalou - 8-4-2005 at 09:12 AM

Must be a pretty lucrative bussiness for a agent to pay claims from their own funds.

:biggrin:

Cant comment on DB insurance

Hook - 8-4-2005 at 01:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajajudy
This is hearsay. But I have always heard that Discover's policy only covers you if you also have stateside insurance.
Just curious(again) if anyone knows if this is true.



But through the Vagabundos, if you want FULL COVERAGE on your vehicle in Mexico, the insurance company does require FULL COVERAGE in the States, for some reason.

For the life of me, I cant figure out why this is......

mcgyver - 8-4-2005 at 01:22 PM

Also do not under insure like the guy did a year or so ago with the $40,000 diesel pickup with Mexican insurance of $10,000. It was on all the forums at the time. The Mexican insurance company said "oh yes its totaled heres your $10,000."

PIZZA INSURANCE!

Oso - 8-4-2005 at 07:32 PM

Like I've always said. Drive a pizza chit and carry el cheapo liability. No worries, Mate! I use ADA-VIS attached to license. A few times when I was the bumpee, I've even been able to con the bumper out of cash when neither of us really wanted to wait around for the mordelones.