BajaNomad

New Mexican Insurance requirements?

ncampion - 8-13-2010 at 07:44 AM

Traveling North out of Ciudad Insurgentes a few days ago with friends in separate trucks headed for a few days at San Juanico. We were both stopped a couple miles out of town and asked for driver's license, vehicle regs. and insurance papers. We had everything and went through, but our friends could not produce their insurance papers and were told that a new Mexican law requires gringos to have insurance. They of course, got the typical, "You can go with us to Constitucion to pay the fine, or pay it to me right here". They got hit for 500 pesos!

Is there really a "new law" or has the Constitucion disease spread to Insurgentes??


.

DENNIS - 8-13-2010 at 08:01 AM

Never heard of a "Gringo Only" law concerning insurance. Sounds like yet another scam.

Udo - 8-13-2010 at 08:33 AM

Sounds like the mordida crew from Ciudad Constitucion moved to Ciudad Insurgentes:fire:

BajaGeoff - 8-13-2010 at 09:18 AM

Total scam.

jak - 8-13-2010 at 10:09 AM

US plates? If so the law does require you provide coverage while in Mexico and have the papers with you to prove it.
Mordida...yes....they were probably trolling US cars and if they caught one the hand goes out.

k-rico - 8-13-2010 at 10:43 AM

Are Mexicans required to have insurance?

Osprey - 8-13-2010 at 10:47 AM

Time for more questions. It is my impression that since Mexican law presents itself as penal or not penal on the highway, the judges won't play around much with contributory negligence -- somebody broke a law and the old rule of "he who hits, pays" is the usual rule of law: the guy who falls asleep in the middle of the highway and stops on a curve at night is rearended by a guy who has been drinking. The drinker has broken a penal law, is 100 percent at fault and needs all the financial responsibility money he can lay his hands on. To me, that's a better reason to buy Mexican auto liability insurance than any other argument I can think of. Napoleonic law guides the judge and you cannot always be in such a lawful posture to argue:
1. you broke no penal law
2. the other guy did

I don't bring this up to argue the above hypothetical argument but to see what you Baja travelers percieve to be your risks or salvations on Baja's highways and byways.

rhintransit - 8-13-2010 at 11:41 AM

I don't know about the law but the correct answer to the stop was to say okay let's go to the police station and/or write me a ticket.

DENNIS - 8-13-2010 at 11:59 AM

Hit 'n Run is one of the national pastimes in Mexico only because the middle class won'/can't buy insurance. Collision coverage here for nationals is really expensive.

Having insurance in Mexico for foreigners is not mandated by law....only common sense.

I'm sure rental vehicles have rules of their own.



After reading what I wrote, I think I have it all backwards.
Anyway, take what works and leave the rest.

[Edited on 8-13-2010 by DENNIS]

BajaGeoff - 8-13-2010 at 12:16 PM

For U.S./Canadian or other foreign plated vehicles the insurance is not mandatory to legally drive in Mexico. However, in the event you are at fault in an accident, you will either need to have a Mexican insurance policy to cover the damages to the other party(s), or enough cash on hand to pay for the damages. Así es.

toneart - 8-13-2010 at 01:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaGeoff
For U.S./Canadian or other foreign plated vehicles the insurance is not mandatory to legally drive in Mexico. However, in the event you are at fault in an accident, you will either need to have a Mexican insurance policy to cover the damages to the other party(s), or enough cash on hand to pay for the damages. Así es.


This has always been my understanding.

In addition, I have heard that it is a felony just to be involved in an accident. An insurance policy with their legal representatives can get you through it. Without insurance you are at the mercy of the police and the courts. It doesn't bode well for the uninsured Gringo.:no:

sancho - 8-13-2010 at 02:56 PM

I remember a number of 95% of Mex Nationals
drive without Ins. Don't know correct that is.
That 5 % is probably the wealthy in Mexico
City. I'll go with Baja Geoffs answer

BajaGeoff - 8-13-2010 at 03:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by sancho
I remember a number of 95% of Mex Nationals
drive without Ins.


Adding to that.....most Mexican auto insurance for tourists is "no-fault" insurance, meaning that if an uninsured motorist hits you, the policy will still cover your loss.

Osprey - 8-13-2010 at 03:42 PM

Geoff, isn't that the discription of Collision Coverage? The car is covered for damage by collision, period. What's with the no-fault?

BajaGeoff - 8-13-2010 at 04:21 PM

Semantics?

Osprey - 8-13-2010 at 05:31 PM

Advertising?

MsTerieus - 8-13-2010 at 05:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by toneart
In addition, I have heard that it is a felony just to be involved in an accident.


I find that impossible to believe.

David K - 8-13-2010 at 05:50 PM

If someone is injured or killed.

SDRonni - 8-13-2010 at 07:23 PM

Be smart. Buy the insurance......

DENNIS - 8-14-2010 at 05:23 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by sancho
That 5 % is probably the wealthy in Mexico
City.



Maybe so. One thing to consider is the Nationals can't buy Drivers License insurance or cheap liability like we can with a foreign plated car. If they could buy coverage for 150 bucks per year, more would do so, I'm sure.

Having a dinner here at the Campos...

mcfez - 8-14-2010 at 06:52 AM

Read this post yesterday. Last night at our Campos (Campos Ocotillo SF) get together...I ask the locals who had insurance......smirks and smiles were given back....

DENNIS - 8-14-2010 at 07:24 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by mcfez
Read this post yesterday. Last night at our Campos (Campos Ocotillo SF) get together...I ask the locals who had insurance......smirks and smiles were given back....
I know the smirk and smile look. I used to ask my Mexican neighbors in Capistrano Beach if they had Green Cards.

k-rico - 8-14-2010 at 08:06 AM

Full coverage on our 2003 Jetta in Tijuana is about $500 a year (Mex plates).

DENNIS - 8-14-2010 at 08:17 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by morgaine7
I pay a little over 1400 pesos /year for my Mexican-plated car (liability, third party, legal assistance).

Kate


That isn't as bad as I thought. The full coverage price is high.

Mexicorn - 8-14-2010 at 09:35 AM

How do I get Mexican plates and wht will happen to my Sentri?

Woooosh - 8-14-2010 at 10:16 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Hit 'n Run is one of the national pastimes in Mexico only because the middle class won'/can't buy insurance. Collision coverage here for nationals is really expensive.

Having insurance in Mexico for foreigners is not mandated by law....only common sense.

I'm sure rental vehicles have rules of their own.



After reading what I wrote, I think I have it all backwards.
Anyway, take what works and leave the rest.

[Edited on 8-13-2010 by DENNIS]

The locals know how to get their cars fixed fast and cheap after a wreck. Why pay for insurance? My nephews girlfriend was broadsided in a hot and run a few weeds back. She got a "new" driver and rear passenger door for $50 and was out of the shop for under $100 with paint. Insurance for Mexicans doesn't make economic sense. That's not right imho- but it is waht it is.

woody with a view - 8-14-2010 at 10:23 AM

so now she has at least 3 different colors on her vehicle, right?

edit: broadsided and needed doors on both sides???? that was a pee poor driver that hit her. lucky she wasn't standing on the curb or it coulda been much worse.:light:

[Edited on 8-14-2010 by woody with a view]

DENNIS - 8-14-2010 at 10:26 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Woooosh


The locals know how to get their cars fixed fast and cheap after a wreck.


Some do. When you see a vehicle parked in a yard, covered with a blue tarp, you know what happened.

Marc - 8-16-2010 at 05:22 PM

I do not understand gringos who drive without insurance in Mexico.