->Road Construction from San Felipe to Highway One is moving along. We just received information from one of our friends that the road is coming
along but they said it takes 4 hours to drive from San Felipe to Hwy 1 and 2 of those hours are in the area that is not complete. I want to
remind everyone, the Mexico insurance policy states that coverage will only be afforded on a road that is maintained for public use. Therefore when
you travel on this road to Hwy 1 no coverage is provided in the last two hours. Be safe and take it easy.
AKgringo - 6-16-2017 at 11:31 AM
Interesting perspective, but I would argue that it is being maintained for public use!
Commercial truck traffic has been going that way for several years that I am aware of, and traffic controls are used that would not be necessary if it
was just a construction project. It really is no different than some of the detours around construction zones on Mex 1.David K - 6-16-2017 at 11:33 AM
Rediculous! That a road is not paved does not mean it is not maintained. Any road that has a graded surface and is re-graded as needed, is
"maintained". The 23 unpaved Highway 5 miles is WELL Maintained... construction crews are on it every day of work on the new road, next to it.
Buy HDI or other brands that don't have such an insane policy (most here use Discover Baja Travel Club or BAJA BOUND... all of Baja's roads are how
(and sometimes why) we go to Baja. Paved roads don't go everywhere! This post would make your vehicle not covered if you drove to Jardines for dinner,
a mile's drive on a dirt road!Howard - 6-16-2017 at 11:34 AM
Yeah, go try and argue with a Mexican insurance company, good luck.
Let me know the outcome of what you think is correct and their rules.BajaGeoff - 6-16-2017 at 12:01 PM
HDI and ACE would definitely cover vehicles traveling on this road. It's regularly transited by local traffic, it is maintained (graded), has signage,
and is listed on maps (like the Baja Almanac) labeled as a graded gravel dirt road.
The same goes for the graded dirt roads found all over Baja....like the north road into Erendira, the crossover road from Valley de Trinidad to
Highway 1, the dirt road out to Santo Tomas, Punta San Carlos etc. etc. etc.
What is strictly excluded is off-roading on rough roads and trails that are not maintained where you are putting the vehicle in a high risk situation
where it will likely be damaged.mtgoat666 - 6-16-2017 at 12:06 PM
My recent policy from Baja Bound/ACE Seguros stated:
4TH CLAUSE. GENERAL EXCLUSIONS UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES THIS INSURANCE WILL COVER:
g. PROPERTY LOSS OR DAMAGE SUFFERED OR CAUSED BY THE VEHICLE DUE TO DRIVING ON NON-CONVENTIONAL ROADS OR CONVENTIONAL ROADS IN IMPASSIBLE CONDITIONS.
From definitions:
5. Impassable road Road closed to traffic, destroyed, of difficult, rough or complicated movement, which does not allow free movement of the
insured vehicle, or that are not recognized by the authority as a lane for
vehicles.
1.6 - EXCLUSIONS
This policy does not provide assistance coverages for the following:
8. The Insured is illegally in the country...
12. Damages caused from traveling on nonconventional or non municipal roads.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
I take this to mean I should get a tourist card, and not count on insurance coverage on nonconventional or non-municipal roads...
Life is risky, and then you die! David K - 6-16-2017 at 12:08 PM
Thank you, Geoff and Goat!
Is HDI worded the same as ACE?mtgoat666 - 6-16-2017 at 12:11 PM
HDI and ACE would definitely cover vehicles traveling on this road. It's regularly transited by local traffic, it is maintained (graded), has signage,
and is listed on maps (like the Baja Almanac) labeled as a graded gravel dirt road.
I have seen some supposed graded gravel dirt roads on maps that I would not attempt in my stock 4x4, and I would be surprised if any insurer would
agree is a covered road because it is on a map!
But, agree, hwy 5 south of san felipe to hwy 1 should be covered road.AKgringo - 6-16-2017 at 12:15 PM
BajaGeoff, because I carry liability only with my US coverage, is that is all that I can carry in Mexico?
If so, would the liability coverage still be good in areas that are excluded from vehicle coverage?BajaGeoff - 6-16-2017 at 12:16 PM
As you quoted above Goat, that would be "conventional roads in impassable conditions."
If it looks like a bad idea, it probably is! BajaGeoff - 6-16-2017 at 12:22 PM
AKgringo...that depends on the insurer. However, both HDI and ACE now allow you to get full coverage for Mexico even if you only have liability
coverage in the US.
Exclusions are for the whole policy. There is no coverage at all in an off-roading/rough trail situation. BajaGeoff - 6-16-2017 at 12:24 PM
And yes DK...same rules apply for the coverage offered by HDI. willardguy - 6-16-2017 at 12:42 PM
I can see where an insurance company could squabble over the term "maintained", remember, in the past the only maintenance that road received was not
from the mexican government but entirely on Don Rafa's dime. now with the road crews....???? I wouldn't want to have to argue it!mtgoat666 - 6-16-2017 at 02:03 PM
I can see where an insurance company could squabble over the term "maintained", remember, in the past the only maintenance that road received was not
from the mexican government but entirely on Don Rafa's dime. now with the road crews....???? I wouldn't want to have to argue it!
Regarding maintenance of the most major uber imporant awesome highway of Baja,... from appearances over the past few years, one would reasonable
conclude that Hwy 1 south of Catavina has been abandoned by the authorities and is no longer maintained. Your insurance no longer applies, eh?
BajaGeoff - 6-16-2017 at 03:15 PM
Good one Goat! We actually did have a client last year that damaged their vehicle near Catavina because they hit a pothole (or likely a series of
potholes) on Highway 1. They were towed back to Ensenada, adjuster came out and made a report, the vehicle was repaired and the claim was paid. mtgoat666 - 6-16-2017 at 03:31 PM
Good one Goat! We actually did have a client last year that damaged their vehicle near Catavina because they hit a pothole (or likely a series of
potholes) on Highway 1. They were towed back to Ensenada, adjuster came out and made a report, the vehicle was repaired and the claim was paid.
that's good to know. i figure that potholes are my worst enemy in baja, just a matter of time before one swallows my vehicle in an inattentive moment
