Driving to Tijuana: Border Crossing & Buying Mexican Auto Insurance (2024)

FAQs

Driving to Tijuana: Border Crossing & Buying Mexican Auto Insurance? ›

Do I need Mexican Auto insurance to drive in Mexico? Yes, you absolutely need Mexican auto insurance to drive in Mexico and you can be thrown into jail if you don't have it. Mexican law requires that you be able to prove your financial responsibility in case of an accident while driving in Mexico.

Yes, car insurance is required for visitors to Mexico, and your United States auto insurance policy won't be valid there. To be protected, you'll need a separate Mexico car insurance policy that covers you for liability while you're in the country.

U.S. drivers need to buy a separate Mexico auto insurance policy while driving in Mexico. Your Mexico auto policy will provide you with liability coverage, the only coverage you're legally required to carry while in Mexico, but you should consider additional coverage for theft, collision, and more scenarios.

Similar to car insurance policies in the U.S., Mexican car insurance costs will vary from provider to provider and from person to person. For most providers, rates can be anywhere between $1 to $70 per day depending on your length of stay and vehicle type; we'll do a deep dive into both below.

It is better to think of this as covering only your vehicle losses in Mexico, but it cannot cover your financial responsibility to others (liability). Mileage restriction - Generally, U.S. auto policies have a mileage restriction into Mexico (usually between 25-100 miles).

Mexican law requires that any vehicle operating on federal roads carries third-party liability insurance to provide coverage for damage caused in an at-fault accident. As stated earlier in this page, your US insurance policy will not cover your vehicle while driving in Mexico.

Since U.S. liability insurance is invalid in Mexico, you'll need proof of Mexico auto insurance for a road trip south of the border. AAA can help you get what's required through one of Mexico's largest and most reputable insurance companies.

U.S. citizens must present a valid U.S. passport book or card, and an entry permit issued by Instituto Nacional de Migración. Enter Mexico with valid proof of automobile registration, even if remaining in the border zone.

As a general rule of thumb when driving in Mexico or any foreign country for that matter, keep your wits about you and travel in pairs, especially when you're not being escorted by a tour guide. in Tijuana, stick to the more populated areas and park in well-lit areas.

No, Tijuana is not safe but driving is safer than walking. You need to take some basic precautions when visiting Tijuana. Make it a point to avoid honking at people in Tijuana. You never know who is in the other vehicle and what they are up to.

Do you need special insurance to go to Mexico? ›

There are currently no requirements that require U.S. citizens to carry medical or travel insurance as a condition of entering the country. However, since Mexico is still considered a developing country, many Americans purchase travel insurance before going.

Green Angels (Ángeles Verdes) is the Mexican version of AAA in the USA. Unlike in the US where AAA is a private organization, in Mexico, Green Angels is a government run organization and falls under the Ministry of Tourism. The one difference is that Green Angles focuses primarily on highways.

The average cost of travel insurance for trips to Mexico is $157, according to data from Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison provider. This is for an average trip length of eight days and an average trip cost of $2,837. In general, you can expect travel insurance to cost 5% to 6% of your total trip expenses.

First of all, driving in Mexico with a US license is allowed, as is any other license written in English or Spanish.

Documents You Will Need

All U.S. citizens need U.S. passport books if re-entering by air. Land and sea border crossings accept additional travel documents, such as U.S. Passport cards and Trusted Traveler cards. Child travelers have additional options - see the Traveling with Children section.

If you are entering Mexico as a Permanent Resident, you may not bring a foreign plated car into Mexico on a TIP. Instead, you must nationalize the car. Nationalizing the vehicle gives you permission to keep it in the country indefinitely.

Remember: No trip is too short for travel insurance protection. Why do you need insurance? Even if you only plan to cross the border for a few hours, serious illness or injury can happen unexpectedly at any time, requiring costly medical attention in the United States.

U.S. health insurance plans typically do not cover regular and routine medical care required overseas. This means your health insurance won't pay for care if you need to visit a doctor for a prescription medicine, or if you need treatment for a condition that is not considered an emergency.

The particular type of travel insurance that is best depends on the expected length of your visit. Short-term visitors should look into travel insurance plans, while those planning on residing in Mexico for an extended period should consider an international health insurance plan.

Even though you always have the right to remain silent, if you don't answer questions to establish your citizenship, officials may deny you entry to the U.S. or detain you for search and/or questioning. Agents may search any person, the inside of any vehicle, and all passenger belongings.