Job Discussion Forums

Mekyn · Joined: 16 Jan 2009 Posts: 30 Location: Cuernavaca

So I have searched the forum and can't find this anywhere. I am planning on buying a car in a couple weeks and I am told that I don't need car insuarance in Cuernavaca but I'd better have it if I plan on traveling to DF or they will lock me up and through away the key. Does anyone know if this information is correct?

TeresaLopez · Joined: 18 Apr 2010 Posts: 601 Location: Mexico City

If you have an accident ANYWHERE in Mexico and you are judged to be at fault, they might still lock you up. Whoever told you you don't need insurance gave you some VERY bad advice. Especially if there is an injury of any kind.

notamiss · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 10:22 pm Post subject:

Even with insurance, no injuries, and a fairly clear case that you didn�t cause the accident, you may have to sit all day and evening at the police station until they decide whether there are grounds to hold you (or else until they decide the accident analysts will not have time to get to your case that day, so you can go home), but at least the lawyer sent by your insurance company will stay with you the whole time until they let you go. How do I know this? Yes, insurance is essential.

Phil_K · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own

Maybe the information the OP got was that when the police do a routine check (which is illegal, but that's another story!), the only things they want to see is your licence (Br. spelling!) and tarjeta de circulaci�n. Insurance is your responibility and you can see from the previous posters what can happen if you don't have it.

Mekyn · Joined: 16 Jan 2009 Posts: 30 Location: Cuernavaca

Yes...i believe the people who told me this were thinking I won't need it if i am pulled over. So now that I know i definitely need insurance can you tell me about how much it costs. The car I buy will probably be older so I will just need liability...assuming they have the choice between full coverage and liability like in the states...

roberto.porter · Joined: 23 Jul 2010 Posts: 1

If you�re looking at the minimum liability regulated by State, you�ll need, $25000 Bodily Injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $10000 property damage liability per accident. Rates quoted for car insurance vary from company to company. You can check some good companies like Geico, Progressive and The Hartford to get a quote that will give you a fair idea of your insurance expense.

Higo · Joined: 25 Feb 2010 Posts: 26

Roberto, you listed info for NEW Mexico. Smile

To the original poster -- check out Sanborns for auto insurance. I agree with the others, you need it. It's pretty inexpensive if you get a 6 month or year policy vs. a week or 2 of "tourist" insurance.

Phil_K · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own

Another good reason for having insurance:

A week ago someone backed out on me and dented my rear wing. My insurance has expired, and as I'm about to sell the car, I didn't renew. No problem (I thought) as the 3rd party admitted responsibility and called his insurers. After three days I received the valuation from his insurers - $1547. I then got two quotations: one from a friend of a friend for $4300, and the other from a General Motors agency for nearly $7000. The insurers gave me the opportunity to visit their offices to discuss the claim. They finally adjusted the amount to $2700!!!!

I believe that if I had involved my insurers (If I had had one!) they would have sorted out the claim between themselves, with no cost or inconvenience to me.

Enchilada Potosina · Joined: 03 Aug 2010 Posts: 344 Location: Mexico

aog5003 · Joined: 16 Feb 2009 Posts: 14 Location: Puebla, Mx

DONT GO WITHOUT INSURANCE IN MEXICO. Someone hit ME and I was blamed strictly for being a foreigner. Their exact words were, "If you were in the USA, this would not be your responsibility, but here in Mexico it is." Very unfair. And the car that hit me was a brand new mercedes benz. Luckily just a big scratch in the Mercedes, and my insurance did cover the 15,000 pesos cost. Ridiculous! Get insurance! There are a lot of cheap insurances you can get, especially if you are getting an older car. Suerte!

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

I've been told by some here that if you have no insurance and get into an accident, make sure the other party is dead. Cheaper that way. Shocked

Phil_K · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own

aog5003 · Joined: 16 Feb 2009 Posts: 14 Location: Puebla, Mx

Well it was not viewed the same way where I was. I didn't follow through too harshly because my insurance did cover everything and, because it was my last year in Mexico and therefore my last year with my Mexican car and insurance, I didn't have to worry about paying the increase in insurance that probably would have followed the second year. Plus, there was no damage to my car so my life was not affected.

I was pulling into a parallel parking spot with my right blinker on so the person behind me knew where I was trying to park. Surprisingly, the guy did stop and let me parallel park. As I was parking, I guess he gave up patience and tried to get around me. That is how he hit me.

Phil_K · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own

I was a transport manager - among other things - in England and therefore have a lot of experience dealing with insurance companies. Unfortunately, and at times unjustly, the person doing the "unusual" manoeuvre is held responsible. i.e. you were moving in the opposite direction to the flow of traffic. My boss used to say that the insurance companies only offer no-claim discounts, not no-blame discounts!