just curious. The rental rates for going over the border are exhrborent. cabaja was asking for almost 800. Also, do renters need to buy mexican
insurance? How expensive is it?joel - 3-2-2007 at 05:51 PM
I've heard that rental companies have tracking devices on many cars for just this reason. I have heard from one person who said his friend got nailed
for doing just this and that the company gouged him with a huge charge for it. Of course, it's a third-hand story....Cypress - 3-2-2007 at 06:00 PM
They might not, but what are you gonna say if and when they do?woody with a view - 3-2-2007 at 06:02 PM
they probably won't know. but when your insurer asks for your registration and sees it's a rental they may balk at covering you. but hey, it's mexico!
WTF! give it a shot....
[Edited on 3-3-2007 by woody in ob]Taco de Baja - 3-2-2007 at 06:13 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by iclarke
Also, do renters need to buy mexican insurance?
Yes.
No Insurance....have accident.....go to jail.......Plus pay for the rental car if,
and when you get out of jail.DanO - 3-2-2007 at 06:14 PM
Why take the chance? Rent a car in TJ for a lower rate. And yes, insurance is go-to-jail mandatory for everyone, just like here. Don't know about
stuff they offer renters, but you can get a policy from outfits like Instant Mexico and Discover Baja at a fairly reasonable daily rate.
Insurance is a pain in the butt, but it's not something I'd skimp on. I had an accident in TJ (I completely totaled a compact that stopped in front
of my truck for no apparent reason), and my carrier took care of everything quickly and professionally. I got a check for the minimal damage to my
truck, repaired at home, in less time than I've had claims paid by my stateside carrier. Policies to cover payments to a lawyer in the event of
problems are also available for cheap.thebajarunner - 3-2-2007 at 06:35 PM
nice people, reasonable rates.
mention Nomad and get a good discount.
DK sent me to them last month and it was a very good experience!!
and yeah, everything is just ducky until you have a crash with your "not supposed to be here" car.
hope you like cold bean burritos...
[Edited on 3-3-2007 by thebajarunner]Axel - 3-2-2007 at 06:57 PM
Don't do it. One of the products I manufacture is a tracking system for rental car companies so that they know if their car is in Mexico or anywhere
for that matter. Who knows if the company you rent from is using it but if they are, from what I understand the can shut the car down.Bob and Susan - 3-2-2007 at 07:31 PM
new bmw's are tuned from a sat link...
think about that...
BIG brother can track you anywherebajadogs - 3-2-2007 at 09:19 PM
My brother-in-law is a white-collar dude at a major rental company. They know more than the location of all of their rentals. Don't do it man.bajaguy - 3-2-2007 at 09:22 PM
Dollar rent-a-car in San Diego charges $25 a day for mexican Insurance.
So big brother's a German?
Sharksbaja - 3-2-2007 at 09:34 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Bob and Susan
new bmw's are tuned from a sat link...
think about that...
BIG brother can track you anywhere
Achtung!!! woody with a view - 3-2-2007 at 10:04 PM
Quote:
Achtung!!!
Salud!BajaDanD - 3-2-2007 at 11:05 PM
Rent in TJ and Buy insurenceBob H - 3-2-2007 at 11:29 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by iclarke
just curious. The rental rates for going over the border are exhrborent. cabaja was asking for almost 800. Also, do renters need to buy mexican
insurance? How expensive is it?
Don't do it. I'm not sure how long a rental you are talking about for $800, but if you have an accident you can compound that amount by many plus
enjoy a wonderful stay in a Mexican prison (guilty until proven innocent kinda thing man). cabaja is a very good deal and have provided great service
for some of my family members in the past.
Bob Hcapt. mike - 3-3-2007 at 08:21 AM
i rent cars in mexico all the time, easy cornveenient and cheap, relatively depending on where you are of course. i should import my "airport" beater
but i only take it around town locally. if i wanted to drive someplace fom my base i'd rent one and get the requirements attendant thereto in
place.Jack Swords - 3-3-2007 at 10:14 AM
Been hearing about the "have an accident, no insurance, go to jail" for years. Last month I was hit in La Paz by a gringo. Hit and run, caught when
he came back minus his car (he has a boat in the marina). Admitted hitting my car. Called police, 6 came and took info for report. The guy had no
insurance, no driver's license, no registration, and he said he sent the car back to Tijuana with a friend. Police said he was responsible for
damages, he said he couldn't pay. End of story. Called my insurance company (with Vagabundos), had adjuster come and make report, take photos. He
talked with guy, got same answer. So, my insurance will pay, I will pay deductable, and the guy still walks around La Paz and the Marina with no
cares. So, once again, it all depends....
Glad I had insurance, great response, will pay for repairs in US when I get back (hopefully-that's part of policy).
I'm just glad he didn't hit a child or Mexican who needs their car to go to work.thebajarunner - 3-3-2007 at 12:19 PM
Jack--- bummer!! Bet he has friends in "higher places" than you, amigo...
As to the rental deal,
the only reason I went to Cabaja was I needed a 15 passenger van. The rental places at the SD airport all had Mexico eligible vehicles, including
mini-vans, but not the stretch ones. I could have legally taken cars from almost any of them, but not the jumbo van.
As to the $800 cost... not sure what you are getting, and for how long but I found their prices to be reasonable.Jack Swords - 3-3-2007 at 12:38 PM
Actually not in this case (high up friends). Guy really has a very old boat, car was a beater too. Kinda a loner. Probably could have overridden
indifference with police or even pushed immigration for expulsion (as encouraged to do), but not what I am here for. Try to stay away from negativity.
Point of posting is that the "law" depends on the person enforcing it. There are no constants. Certainly not a bad reflection on the local police,
they really do a good job. Jail would be futile and the results the same.elgatoloco - 3-3-2007 at 01:07 PM
Re: traceable
A couple of years ago an eccentric friend of ours who owns a REALLY great winery in Napa decided he wanted to become a member of Sports Car Club of
America and race cars at Sears Point. To qualify to be a member you had to do some schooling and get a certain number of laps and time in the car. He
had yet to decide what type of car he would get so he would rent different cars and take them to the track and get his laps in. One day he was racing
and his right rear tire got off the edge and he overcorrected and ended up rolling the car and was upside down. The track safety crew and his buddies
responded and he was ok although very sore and bruised. They all flipped the car back on to it's wheels, it was in bad shape but fired back up and
they were sitting and chatting trying to figure out what story to tell the rental agency as it was likely that 'track racing' was not covered on the
rental insurance. About that time the local fire department pulled into the track with sirens blaring and lights flashing, all the safety guys looked
at each other and said who called those guys? When they hopped out of the truck they asked the guys 'we did not call you, what’s up?’ They said, "Oh
we got a call from Hertz that one of their vehicles was upside down and here are the coordinates". To this day when our friend travels out of town he
HAS to take his wife (she has different last name) because he is blackballed from every rental car agency in the free world.
The upshot was that when his daughter turned 16 she got a refurbed Mustang to drive to school.
Big brother is watching.Phil S - 3-3-2007 at 03:45 PM
Elgatoloco. You have answered a question that I've had for years. "Do rental agencies have a central clearing house to check if cars are brought
back with problems or not. Life & health insurance companies do. So why wouldn't rental agencies. Always someone wanting to test the "system" I
guess. Think that keeps our rates lower when we rent cars????? If we have a clean record & our cars are retured without "hidden
damage">>>thebajarunner - 3-3-2007 at 04:09 PM
Interesting side bar to all of this.
Having entered the "medicare eligible" era last year I have noticed on the bottom of all the major car rental contracts, promotions etc. the notation
"no rentals to under 21 or over 65"
HUH??!!
Anyone else notice that?
So far no one has raised the issue,
in fact it was on Cabaja's contract, she actually wrote down my birth year, and not a word was said.
(oh well, having married a 'child bride' I can always rent in Teresa's name)jettygirl - 3-4-2007 at 10:30 AM
Ya, I tried it just once ...that was all it took for me to never do it again.
Thought it was going to be an easy in easy out trip to drop a friend off at the TJ airport going through Otay Mesa. Well not so when your driving a
nice clean white brand new rental car with a rental sticker nicely displayed on the bumper. Dropped my friend off and was just about to make the turn
back to the border crossing when I was pulled over by a motorcycle cop. All he wanted to see was my insurance papers ... didnt care about a license,
just the insurance. After he pointed out that my rental car insurance didnt cover coming across the border things got real clear to me.
Needless to say after being told I was going to the TJ jail and the car was going to be impounded several times that I finally asked where the local
bank was and could I just take care of this unfortunate mistake of mine with him.
I always "try" to obey the laws in the states and I sure as heck always obey the laws while visiting Baja now.
...Plus pay for the rental car if,
and when you get out of jail.
