David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64746
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Discover Baja Travel Club and Mexican Auto Insurance
We talk a lot about Mexican auto insurance here and while Baja Bound is great, sponsors this website, and one of the owners is a regular member here
and they are great people to deal with, I also want to remind readers that Discover Baja has been around a long time and can provide members of their
club with discounts on the cost of the insurance. The owners and staff are great, too. Daily policies are available to non- club members, as well.
In my opinion, Baja Nomads have two great sources to get their Mexican auto insurance at. When you like both, it's not easy to only mention only one.
I have tried to always include the other when mentioning one.
Discover Baja Travel Club sells the same brands of insurance as Baja Bound. Club membership (I have been a member since almost their beginning) also
provides you with other discounts in Baja and services at the club. Including discounts on the largest selection of Baja books and maps for sale (and
they sell to non-members, too). You can purchase my mission history books there. They also have an on-line purchasing system for the insurance. www.discoverbaja.com
I have purchased policies from both and received great service from both.
So, like a good news service should do, I am reporting about both companies and you can decide!
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Whale-ista
Super Nomad
Posts: 2009
Registered: 2-18-2013
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Sunny with chance of whales
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I'll add a note of appreciation for Discover Baja: When returning north recently, I called the office to ask for details on getting to the SENTRI lane
in TJ (I usually cross at Otay).
The person who answered my call was able to provide directions that made the return much easier.
I have used DB's services and insurance at various times, while living and traveling in Baja, going back over 20 years. They provide good value and
great expertise.
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
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Quote: Originally posted by David K  | We talk a lot about Mexican auto insurance here and while Baja Bound is great, sponsors this website, and one of the owners is a regular member here
and they are great people to deal with, I also want to remind readers that Discover Baja has been around a long time and can provide members of their
club with discounts on the cost of the insurance. The owners and staff are great, too. Daily policies are available to non- club members, as well.
In my opinion, Baja Nomads have two great sources to get their Mexican auto insurance at. When you like both, it's not easy to only mention only one.
I have tried to always include the other when mentioning one.
Discover Baja Travel Club sells the same brands of insurance as Baja Bound. Club membership (I have been a member since almost their beginning) also
provides you with other discounts in Baja and services at the club. Including discounts on the largest selection of Baja books and maps for sale (and
they sell to non-members, too). You can purchase my mission history books there. They also have an on-line purchasing system for the insurance. www.discoverbaja.com
I have purchased policies from both and received great service from both.
So, like a good news service should do, I am reporting about both companies and you can decide! |
Shilling for your friends? Any California surplus lines brokerage can sell insurance though Mexican based carriers.
People. Do your due diligence about the carriers who these brokers are offering.
It is true that some are really better than others. Check out the public response to the carriers and not the brokers.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64746
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Just want to be fair and I want my Internet friends to know my thoughts about these two San Diego companies. If I mention Baja Bound more, it
shouldn't be construed that I like Discover Baja less. I like them both.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Check out the track record for the brokers also. Who will personally answer the phone when you call after an accident.....been there, done that and
have the T-shirt to prove it..........I will "shill" for Bajabound every time.
| Quote: Originally posted by Bajahowodd |
Shilling for your friends? Any California surplus lines brokerage can sell insurance though Mexican based carriers.
People. Do your due diligence about the carriers who these brokers are offering.
It is true that some are really better than others. Check out the public response to the carriers and not the brokers. |
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mooose29
Nomad
Posts: 201
Registered: 10-1-2008
Location: Encinitas/Punta Chivato, Rancho Partera
Member Is Offline
Mood: All Smiles
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I love Discover Baja. Been a member forever and have used many of their services. The thing I love the most is their Great customer service and
friendly atmosphere on the phone and in person. Not hey are always willing to help.
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BajaMama
Super Nomad
Posts: 1107
Registered: 10-4-2015
Location: Pleasanton/Punta Chivato
Member Is Offline
Mood: Got Baja fever!!
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Another good club is Vagabundos del Mar - they do "group" travel activities in Baja for newbies, insurance, FMMs, fishing licenses, etc. We have
been with them since starting our Baja adventures in 2003.
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Jack Swords
Super Nomad
Posts: 1095
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Nipomo, CA/La Paz, BCS
Member Is Offline
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And...we have had a claim with Vagabundos and it was handled professionally and completely with repairs in the US. Heard good reports on claims
settlements with DB and BB also. Most importantly, have Mexican insurance when travelling south.
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Martyman
Super Nomad
Posts: 1904
Registered: 9-10-2004
Member Is Offline
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FMM's and fishing licenses are more expensive through the travels clubs.
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SFandH
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7084
Registered: 8-5-2011
Member Is Offline
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I wonder how much of a profit the US based Mexican car insurance sellers make?(Bajabound and DiscoverBaja). There could be a significant markup, I
dunno.
Has anyone ever stopped by an insurance agent's office in Mexico to see how much the same policy would cost? There may be a substantial savings on
annual policies.
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sancho
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2524
Registered: 10-6-2004
Location: OC So Cal
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: Originally posted by SFandH | I wonder how much of a profit the US based Mexican car insurance sellers make?(Bajabound and DiscoverBaja). There could be a significant markup, I
dunno.
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Good ?. I'm thinking maybe not much. I believe the $ for writing a policy may be close to the same, in the US/Mex, 1 of the above replies is from a
San Felipe based ins.
Brokers I'm familiar with. Never did understand the buying fmm's or fishing
licenses from the travel clubs, even if one is already a member.
Paying an extra $12 dlls. + for an fmm, don't know the markup
on the license. What is the interest in a prepaid tourist card?
Cost more, time saved nada. I have to say reports from Bajabound show Geoff does his best in the event of an incident,
although the Mex Ins Co seems to have the option to live up
to the policy. Was a post re: not being offered the insured
amount on a policy after a theft, they generally go off the
mid range private mkt. value of the vehicle as opposed to
what amount 1 may insure it for on the policy
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del mar
Banned
Posts: 1057
Registered: 7-23-2016
Location: the cantina of course
Member Is Offline
Mood: lil' fuzzy
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over the years i've bought yearly policies from all the players, factor in travel clubs membership fee's and pricing is really close. now I choose to
use mexican brokers, the pricing is still about the same.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64746
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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If pricing is about the same (I believe it is), then is it not beneficial to have someone who strongly supports our love of Baja and is motivated to
have more Baja Nomad clients by treating any claims problems quickly and completely? The San Diego based dealers mentioned want our repeat business
and so they are motivated even beyond the norm to make sure the Mexican companies provide excellent service.
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del mar
Banned
Posts: 1057
Registered: 7-23-2016
Location: the cantina of course
Member Is Offline
Mood: lil' fuzzy
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| Quote: Originally posted by David K | | If pricing is about the same (I believe it is), then is it not beneficial to have someone who strongly supports our love of Baja and is motivated to
have more Baja Nomad clients by treating any claims problems quickly and completely? The San Diego based dealers mentioned want our repeat business
and so they are motivated even beyond the norm to make sure the Mexican companies provide excellent service. |
most here will urge folks to buy building materials,gas,food,alcohol here rather than bringing it in from the u.s. people come down for inexpensive
medical and dental....whats the difference with an insurance policy? spend and keep the money in mexico?
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64746
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Representation if there is a claim, and that you will be driving for some distance before getting to your agent in Mexico. What if you are hit in
Tijuana 3 blocks from the border on your way to try and find an agent. Is he open when you cross the border? Just lots of reasons to get covered
before you enter Mexico, on-line.
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Member Is Offline
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If you enter Mexico without Mexican insurance are you not illegal?
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del mar
Banned
Posts: 1057
Registered: 7-23-2016
Location: the cantina of course
Member Is Offline
Mood: lil' fuzzy
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| Quote: Originally posted by David K | | Representation if there is a claim, and that you will be driving for some distance before getting to your agent in Mexico. What if you are hit in
Tijuana 3 blocks from the border on your way to try and find an agent. Is he open when you cross the border? Just lots of reasons to get covered
before you enter Mexico, on-line. |
my bad david, what I didn't make clear is like many here I don't cross the border, im sure most full time expats also use a mexican broker, it doesn't
make sense to buy a mexican product in the u.s.
that said even if I were a tourist I would still support a mexican broker for a yearly policy. jmho
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64746
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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I think the two San Diego agents and the one up by Sacramento also named are not after Mexico residents to sell tourist policies to as much as the
rest of us who live north of the border and vacation in Baja. We want to be covered the second we are in Mexico.
Tom, you do not have to buy any insurance if you own your car in full, but liability alone would always be wise. Financed cars must have full coverage
if your bank is allowing you to take the car into Mexico.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
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Not if you have a passport and an FMM. You're just sol if you have an accident
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